What a dynamic 4 months it has been since our last newsletter! The OMC and Metasource are preparing to plant 1 million trees in Esperance.

The OMC and Metasource are entering into a joint venture to further develop the harvester with support from the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture (QLD). The OMC has also just released an Offer Information Statement seeking to raise capital for further R & D. (See Comments from the Company for full details.)

Casting my mind all the way back to March, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended the Oil Mallee Seminar and OMA’s 6th AGM. The day was a great success, with the 60-odd attendees treated to some great presentations from leading industry personnel during the morning seminar, while the afternoon was spent constructively, dealing with Association business at the AGM.

The OMA’s 6th AGM saw a number of important motions discussed and voted on, one of which was the adoption of a new Constitution.

The motion in question was carried unanimously, with members voting to adopt the new, revised Constitution.

Essentially, the 2001 Constitution reflects the Association’s new role in the industry more accurately. OMA is now primarily a promotional body, with its main priority to look after the interests of its members and regional groups.

Membership of the OMA is now free to all existing growers and those with orders placed (and fully paid) for the upcoming season. Members will continue to receive copies of Dinkum Oil as usual and will be updated on latest industry developments as they occur.

Copies of the new 2001 Constitution are available from this office upon request. Those interested in obtaining a copy can either contact me at the office on 9478 0330, or email me at jason@oilmallee.com.au

For those not yet aware, we now have our own website, which can be viewed at:

www.oilmallee.com.au

The website has been designed with farmers and students as the main target audience, with technical support along the lines of weed control, site preparation etc available to download.

The website also contains the latest industry news, such as press releases, seedling prices for the upcoming season, NHT support for 2002 etc. The contacts page on the website contains the details of all industry personnel and has hyper links to their email addresses, enabling easier communication (eg: interested growers can notify their RM that they are interested in placing an order for next season by emailing them and awaiting a follow-up).

Finally, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all those growers from last season who took the time to complete and return the grower surveys. The response across the state was very encouraging and has helped us to identify areas that need further R & D.

The results of the survey highlighted in particular, the need for sound management of mallee plantings—particularly in the first 18 months. This is especially true with regard to weed control and excluding stock for the first 18 months or so. Good management will result in good establishment and increased rates of productivity. This equates to a better mallee crop, more biomass on the trees and therefore better returns for you, the grower, when they are harvested.

If anyone has any particular topic, issue, or question that they would like looked at in the next edition of Dinkum Oil, please feel free to write in or email me, and I will endeavour to answer your questions or look at the issue in the next edition of Dinkum Oil.