Donnybrook Open Farm Day to be held Sunday, May 2

13/4/99
Primary Industry Minister Monty House said that building on the success of last year's Open Farm Weekend in Donnybrook, local farmers would open their gates to visitors on Sunday, May 2, providing an insight into the region's key agricultural activities.
"Western Australia's dairy, fruit and alpaca industries will be showcased at five farms during Agriculture Western Australia's popular Open Farm Day in Donnybrook next month," Mr House said.
He said the Open Farm Scheme was initiated in York in 1997 and had expanded to include farms in the Donnybrook region. More than 400 people, mainly from Bunbury, visited the Donnybrook farms last year.
Mr House encouraged other regions to consider hosting their own Open Farm Day, based on Agriculture WA's scheme to raise awareness of agriculture.
He said the event offered an opportunity for urban residents to enjoy rural WA while learning more about the role agriculture played in the State.
"Public support of the Open Farm Scheme over the last two years has seen the event become a regular feature on the agricultural calendar," he said.
"The Open Farm Scheme is an opportunity for other agricultural regions to showcase their farms to the public, particularly in areas where there are large city or town populations who wouldn't normally have the opportunity to visit a farm."
Mr House said the Donnybrook Open Farm Day was organised specifically for people living in and around Bunbury to spend time on a working farm.
The five open farms include:

• the Old Goldfields Orchard and Cider Factory - consisting of 40 acres of apples, pears and stone fruit trees. Visitors to the farm will see how fruit is picked, packed and apples made into cider;
• Rosedene Alpaca Farm - a small 16ha working farm on the fertile river flats of the Preston River. The alpacas produce a fine, silky fleece for both home spinners and commercial processing. Fleeces produced on the property have recently been exported to Japan. Rare Wiltshire horn 'self-shearing' sheep are also bred at Rosedane;
• White Rocks and Barbetti Dairies - two working dairy farms which supply milk to Masters, Peters & Brownes and Casa Cheese. Both farms use a rotary system for the daily milking. White Rocks farm also hosts a museum, which showcases local and dairy industry artifacts; and -
• Jay Jay Farm - a working orchard growing apples, pears, plums and peaches. As well as packing and selling the fruit, Jay Jay farm has recently diversified and now produce 'Joshua Creek Fruit Wine'. Visitors to the farm will see the orchard, packing and distilling shed, as well as being able to sample the fruit wines.

Farm tours will be conducted between 10am and 5pm. Visitors need to register at the Donnybrook-Balingup Tourist Information Centre in Donnybrook and collect tickets, information booklets and maps to the farms.
The cost to visit all four farms is $10 per couple and $6 for individuals. Children under 15 are admitted free. Proceeds will be directed to local landcare projects and the farmers involved.
For more information contact Agriculture WA on (08) 9368 3218
or the Donnybrook Information Centre on (08) 9731 1720
Media contact: Julie Cole (08) 9481 2044