Plans are currently underway for the Agriculture Victoria BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef Conference and dinner to be held in a new location this year in Ballarat on 19-20 June.

The conference will be held over 2 days, 19 June BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef on 20 June.

Further details will be coming as plans are finalised.

ON-FARM SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOP

Eskdale Hall - Wednesday, 17 April 9 am
Speakers: Brad Costin (Agriculture Victoria), Lachlan Campbell (NECMA), Julian Carroll (Mudgegonga beef producer)

STOCK CONTAINMENT AREA WORKSHOP: DECISION-MAKING, PLANNING, DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION

Corryong - Monday, 22 April 10 am
Speakers: Sophie Hanna (Riverine Plains Livestock Officer) and Jane McInnes (Riverine Plains Senior Project Officer)

Registration is free for all events, to register CLICK HERE.

The Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) have released the upcoming shearer and wool handling training course schedule for 2024 that is fully funded by AWI and available for participants who meet certain criteria, with the following offered:

Novice Shearing and Wool Handling Course
This is a 5-day practical shearing course for new entrant shearers to learn the skills required to be a professional shearer.

Improver School
This training is intended for those already working in industry and have experience in shearing. With limited spots available, it is recommended to register early.

If you are interested in attending any of the above courses, please contact the AWI team at ghaynes@swti.edu.au.

To view the full 2024 schedule visit the AWI website.

The Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC) is excited to announce their third biennial Livestock Conference with the overarching theme of Environmental challenges and opportunities for Australian livestock industries.

Sessions will include keynote speakers and group workshop activities and cover the following:

• Improving land, air and water
• Solutions for human capacity
• Economic considerations and market impacts.

Click here for more information about the upcoming conference.

If you would like to register for conference updates you can join the mailing list here.

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Is there a technology, innovation or research finding that you’re keen to test on farm? 

Agriculture Victoria in partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) are conducting a producer demonstration program with the opportunity to establish five new demonstrations.

The program is inviting expressions of interest from Victorian sheep and beef producer groups to design and conduct their own three-year projects.

The demonstrations are conducted on group members’ farms (preferably three sites per project per year) and involve participation by members in group activities, including skill development, site monitoring and discussion of results.

The program aims to increase adoption of key management practices or commercially available technologies that improve business profitability, farm productivity and sustainability.
Selected projects will focus on demonstrating systems or technologies in one of four priority areas:

• manage and adapt to a changing climate or specific regional conditions (e.g. addressing feed gaps, grazing system, enterprise mix)
• reduce emissions or emissions intensity, (e.g. reproductive efficiencies, feed types and quality, soil fertility management)
• manage animal health and welfare risks resulting from increasing/ emerging biosecurity threats in a changing climate
• implement on-farm innovations that improve production and management efficiencies – (e.g. recent research findings, genetics, ag tech).

Expressions of interest close on Monday, 13 May.

For more information and to receive an expression of interest form, please click here or contact Bindi Hunter, Project Leader Farming Systems Demonstration at bindi.hunter@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

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Agriculture Victoria is renewing and expanding the membership of the Biosecurity Reference Group (BRG).

Members of the group will help guide the implementation of Victoria’s new Biosecurity Strategy, including where and how effort and resources will be invested. 

We are looking for diverse expertise from across Victoria’s biosecurity system, including Traditional Owners, the agricultural sector, supply chains, community and environment.

Submit your application to join the Biosecurity Reference Group today.

Applications close 5 pm Wednesday, 3 April.

Download the terms of reference and complete the application form at agriculture.vic.gov.au/brg.

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Cam Nicolson of Nicon Rural Services recently delivered a series of interactive workshops with Agriculture Victoria at Hamilton, Colac, and Ararat. These workshops focused on how to make complex farm decisions and what resources can be used to inform those decisions.

Participants learnt how decision making is a skill and how to become better decision makers. This included a practical exercise to understand risk through a fun farming scenario, it was interesting to see how daring some people might be!

During the workshops participants learnt about feed budgets, and digestibility and discussed pasture growth rates. Participants examined how average rainfall can be difficult to rely on, due to variability and how rainfall makes up only part of the information gathering required to make informed decisions. Cam worked through and generously shared his resources for working out stocking rates, feed availability and how he gathers the information used in those calculations.

Participants were introduced to a decision-making matrix as a tool to work through complex decisions. As a group participants worked through a common dry seasonal scenario; ‘to keep and feed or sell animals?’ The technique helped participants to work through the problem in an objective manner and avoid making hasty decisions.

As a result of the workshop, participants improved their skills and knowledge and were equipped with the techniques and resources to enable them to make better on farm decisions.

Feedback from these workshops included comments such as: 'very informative', 'fantastic valuable day' and 'keep up the good sessions!'

There was great excitement in the Colac session as Geelong football superstar, Tom Hawkins came along to learn more about managing his own beef herd.

This Farm Business Resilience Program workshop was jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund. More events are being planned so keep an eye on the Events Alert!

Further information about the program and the Future Drought Fund can also be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.

For further information about his session, please contact Hannah Manning at hannah.manning@agriculture.vic.gov.au or on 0400 532 595.

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Sheep and cropping farmer Jack Armstrong knows that in agriculture it pays to be proactive with safety, particularly when it comes to managing the risks of fatigue during peak periods.

During what can be a higher-risk time for farming workplaces, Jack, who farms at Yalla-Y-Poora, south-east of Ararat, is encouraging farmers and workers to have important conversations around health and safety and managing fatigue risks.

WorkSafe data shows March and November are peak months for workplace fatalities in agriculture, corresponding with the busy sowing and harvest seasons.

Jack said he could see the dangerous role fatigue could play in contributing to workplace incidents on farms through his own experiences.

'There are some horror stories of people having massive incidents. A farmer near here was bailing one night after working massive hours and they crashed the tractor into a power pole. He ended up being okay but the machinery was toast. It's having stories like that in the back of your mind that you need to learn from,' Jack said.

'It's just a shame that it takes something bad to happen to create some good – you'd prefer to be proactive rather than reactive.'
Jack is adding his voice to WorkSafe’s emotive campaign, It's never you, until it is, which is making a return with advertising across regional television, radio, print and digital media to offer practical safety solutions for farmers and encourage conversations around safety.

Jack describes fatigue among farmers as 'extremely common', particularly at busy times.

'The work that we do can be different to other jobs – it can be very manually intensive and the hours can be quite exhaustive and that can really catch up to a person,' he said.

'I think a lot of farmers can have the misconception that if they work really hard and work long hours they'll get more done and be more efficient when you sort of just end up burning the candle at both ends.'

WorkSafe Inspector Dallas Braam urged farmers and farm workers to listen to their bodies and not shrug off the signs of fatigue.

'Fatigue affects your decision making and when your decision making is affected not only are you affecting yourself, potentially, but the people you're working with, who are usually family and friends,' he said.

'Taking a break to get hydrated, have some food, or call a friend could prevent an injury out there and you'll be going home to see your loved ones at the end of the day – that's the difference.'
Families and communities are reeling from the loss of two lives in workplace incidents on farms already this year, taking the number of work-related deaths in agriculture to 34 since January 2020.

Farmers and farm workers who suffer serious injuries also face a long road to get back on the job, with more than 25 per cent of those injured still unable to return to farming one year on from a serious incident.

WorkSafe Executive Director Narelle Beer said every conversation about farm safety helped remove the stigma around health and safety in agriculture.

'We're working for a future where safety is at the centre of farming operations and where deaths and injuries are seen to be preventable, not inevitable,' Dr Beer said.

'Every time a farmer or farm worker talks about farm safety helps to make a real difference in preventing families and communities from losing loved ones.'

More information on the It's never you, until it is campaign and farm safety can be found HERE.

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Above: North Central CMA Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator Darren Bain holding the soil guide

A new resource will serve as a one-stop-shop for farmers and gardeners keen to understand and improve their soil health.
North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Agriculture Victoria have teamed up to create the region’s new Soil Health Guide.

North Central CMA Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager Mandy Coulson said the guide included a physical and digital book, a step-by step website, and instructional videos on how to understand, test, and improve your soil.

'Soil is central to a lot of the challenges farmers face, so understanding the makeup of soil and how to improve it can go a long way to helping them make the right decisions,' she said.

'No matter whether you’re in a paddock, at your desk, on the lounge, or in the garden, you’ll have access to the information you need to test and improve your soil.

'These resources are perfect for our catchment, but the knowledge can be easily used anywhere around Victoria or Australia.'

Agriculture Victoria Grains Regional Manager Rebecca Mitchell launched the guide at Pyramid Hill, and said the resources offered practical information and solutions.

'The Soil Health Guide is a toolkit and identifies a range of simple tests anyone can do to determine management actions to improve soil health,' she said.

'The Soil Health Guide looks at ground cover, biological activity, soil colour, pH, texture, topsoil, structure, compaction, and stability.

'The guide also discusses the valuable role played by existing soil carbon stores and how they offer great benefit to both agricultural productivity and the wider environment.'

To find out more, and to access the free resources, click here.

This project is delivered by the North Central CMA and Agriculture Victoria, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Applications open in March for Nuffield Australia’s 2025 Scholarship program, which for the second year that includes scholarships aimed at drought resilience study topics.

The Future Drought Fund (FDF) is investing $1.6 million dollars through Nuffield from 2024-25 to help farmers increase their knowledge of drought resilience, adapt innovative technology and practices from overseas share these learnings to better prepare themselves and their communities for a changing climate.

Scholars will have the opportunity to travel overseas to study drought resilience and learn from international leaders in the field.

Each scholarship is valued at $35,000 and farmers and others working in food and fibre production aged between 28 and 45 should apply now.

Find out more about the Nuffield Drought Resilience Scholarships and apply at: nuffield.com.au/how-to-apply

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Churchill Fellowships offer Australians from all walks of life the opportunity to travel overseas and investigate a topic they are passionate about. No formal qualifications are required. Applicants design their own itinerary and travel for four to eight weeks at a time of their choosing. The options are virtually limitless, providing the project has potential to benefit Australia and applicants are willing to share their findings when they return.

Aside from general fellowships, specific sponsored opportunities are also available this year relating to agriculture, horticulture and food production, including the Ron Badman Family Churchill Fellowship for projects focussing on seed production, pasture development and irrigation; the Hort Innovation Churchill Fellowship to cultivate new ideas in horticulture; the Jack Green Churchill Fellowship for projects relating to the dairy industry; the Saskia Beer Churchill Fellowship to support innovation in food production or farming; and the Caroline Welsh Churchill Fellowship to support the agriculture industry’s response to climate change.

A series of information sessions have been recorded including a dedicated session for the agriculture and horticulture sectors hosted by former ABC Rural national editor Leigh Radford. Click here to view.

Applications close 1 May. To find out more visit www.churchillfellowships.com.au.

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The Livestock Biosecurity Funds (LBF) Grant Program funds projects and programs that prevent, monitor, and control diseases, thereby enhancing animal health, biosecurity and market access for the benefit of Victorian cattle, sheep, goat, swine and honey bee industries.

Applications for the 2024 LBF Grant Program are open until 11.59 pm, Monday 15 April.

Applications must support projects and programs that prevent, monitor, and control diseases, enhancing animal health, biosecurity and market access for the benefit of Victorian cattle, sheep, goat, swine and honey bee industries.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be:

• private sector businesses
• universities and research institutions
• cooperatives where the objectives of the cooperative align with the LBF
• State Government department or entity
• local governments
• incorporated associations.

2. The project must benefit the respective Victorian livestock industry and conduct the proposed activities in Victoria.

3. Meet all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards.

4. Agree to participate in future program evaluation activity.

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Victorian farmers can now have their say on proposed amendments to the state’s planning regulations for animal production (Clause 53.AA Animal Production).

The Clause provides guidelines for the location, design and management of new and expanded animal production industries in Victoria, including pig and poultry farms, intensive dairy farms and feedlots. These reforms do not apply to grazing animal production.

A risk-based approach has been taken for relevant planning permit applications to reduce regulation for low-risk animal production facilities, while ensuring appropriate controls are in place for high-risk facilities. This approach aims to reduce regulatory burden while continuing to protect the health of communities and the environment.

The proposed regulations have been co-designed with industry, community, consultants, technical experts, and state government agency partners. Public consultation for the final draft Clause is now open for submissions on Engage Victoria and closes on 22 April 2024.

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BWBL Networks contact: Alison Desmond, Project Leader 

M: 0409 424 274 E: alison.desmond@agriculture.vic.gov.au 

How do weather forecasts help you manage your flock during severe weather?

All sheep producers know that cold, wet, and windy (severe) weather is a threat to newborn lambs and off-shears sheep. As well as having a financial impact, losses can create animal welfare concerns.

Many producers use forecasts issued by the Bureau of Meteorology to make decisions about protecting their flock from severe weather. Forecast and observation products include: 

• text-based town and district forecasts: Riverina Forecast (bom.gov.au)
• graphical forecasts in MetEye: MetEye (bom.gov.au)
• the network of rain radars: National Radar Loop (bom.gov.au)
• the Warning to Sheep Graziers, issued when severe weather is forecast.

Forecasts are available online, through the BOM app, and are broadcast and published in the media.

The Bureau of Meteorology wants to understand how sheep producers use these forecast products including:

• How do you access them?
• What do you do in response?
• Do you have suggestions for change or improvement?

The information collected in this survey will help the bureau improve its service to the sheep industry.

Click here to participate in the survey. 

If you would like further information contact Andrew McLean, Livestock Customer Lead at agriculture@bom.gov.au or on 0417 052 495.

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After three years of consecutive growth, the Australian sheep flock is set to decrease by 2.9% to 76,500,000 in 2024, according to the latest Sheep Industry Projections from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Key points:

• The sheep flock is expected to reduce slightly driven by record lamb slaughter and elevated sheep turnoff.
• Lamb slaughter is projected to reach record levels two years in a row, climbing 23.7 million in 2024.
• Sheep slaughter to remain high, driven by a large and productive breeding flock.

During the 2020-2022 rebuild phase, producer focus on productivity and genetics has led to impressive marking rates across the sheep flock. However, the shift from beneficial weather conditions to average conditions in 2023 led to elevated turnoff of unproductive breeding stock, resulting in a 46.7% lift to sheep slaughter.

According to Stephen Bignell, Manager of Market Information at MLA, as the sheep turnoff will mostly be limited to older, unproductive ewes, this year’s lamb cohort is expected to remain solid, but slightly smaller, than previous years.

'The current resilience of the sheep flock means that high lamb slaughter will have a less intense impact on the national flock size than in previous maintenance periods. Meaning that there will be a decrease in overall flock numbers, but not as dramatic as in comparative years,' Mr Bignell said.

'After 2024, the flock is expected to stabilise and remain above the ten-year average.'

Slaughter and production are projected to peak in 2024, causing record supply of Australian sheep meat into the global market.

This comes after Australia produced the most lamb on record in the calendar year 2023, with 599,461 tonnes of lamb being produced in 2023, putting it 11.6% higher than 2022, which was another record year.

As the largest exporter of sheep meat, high Australian production will increase globally traded sheep meat volumes.

'Economic resilience in the United States and emerging markets will drive demand for lamb, while the outlook for consumer demand in China remains uncertain,' Mr Bignell said.

'Regardless, a shortage of competitor proteins will encourage imports of sheep meat in high protein consumption markets.'

Lamb production is set to break a new record in 2024, beating the previous year’s record achieved in 2023.

It is projected that lamb production will reach 621,000 tonnes in 2024, a 9% or 54,000 tonnes increase compared to 2023 figures. If this eventuates it will be 21.3% or 109,359 tonnes above the 10-year average.

Next year, the lamb production forecast is set to ease to 587,000 tonnes and then rise in 2026 by 19,000 tonnes to 606,000 tonnes due to improved carcase weights.

Mutton production will be the largest since 2006, set to produce 254,000 tonnes in 2024 up by 3.14% on 2023 volumes. Production will remain elevated in 2024 due to a small lift to slaughter.

In 2025, fewer breeding ewes will be turned off. The forecasts for 2025 and 2026 will reach 229,000 and 207,000 tonnes respectively, as the industry moves towards a transitional period where production will stabilise as the industry enters an average season.

To view the full Sheep Industry Projections report,  click here.

BetterBeef Networks contact: Darren Hickey, Project Leader 

M: 0457 609 140 E: darren.hickey@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Following three years of herd growth leading to the largest cattle herd in 10 years in 2023, the Australian cattle herd is anticipated to decrease marginally by less than 1% to 28.6 million head by 30 June 2024, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) latest Cattle Industry Projections.

Key points:

• In 2024 the Australian cattle industry will maintain current turnoff rates, causing the herd to ease slightly.
• Slaughter will increase pending processors’ capability to gain access to required labour.
• The United States’ herd rebuild will have considerable impact on global beef markets, driving up demand for Australian beef.

Female retention remains above long-term averages, particularly within northern production systems, illustrating that the herd has entered a maintenance phase as elevated turnoff has been driven by high supply rather than producer intention to destock.

According to Stephen Bignell, Manager of Market Information at MLA, female retention remaining above average is an element that is contributing to the Northern Australian cattle herd staying in a growth phase.

'Following an above average west season across much of the north of the country, the cattle herd is expected to grow further, especially as consistent rainfall events brought on by cyclones and low-pressure weather systems continue throughout the summer,' Mr Bignell said.

'For the Southern herd, we expect it to constrict further into 2024 as it reaches maturity.

'This leads to increased turnoff while the cattle cycle enters a herd maintenance phase. This dynamic is influenced by the 2023 New South Wales female slaughter rate (FSR) averaging 48%, above the long-term benchmark of 47%.'

A focus on productivity and genetics from Australian cattle producers during the 2020-22 rebuild has resulted in a resilient breeding herd.

'This means that the herd reaction to higher turnoff rates will be less severe than in previous years. We expect solid numbers of young cattle in the coming seasons both through the northern and southern systems,' Mr Bignell said.

MLA also projects a lift in the slaughter rate which will drive production close to record levels in 2025. However, labour availability remains a concern for processors, especially as the number of processor-ready cattle increases.

Carcase weights will fall during these high production years, through will remain well above long-term averages, thanks to the investments in genetic profile, and consistent improvements to Australia’s feedlot sector.

The United States remains Australia’s key supply competitor, alongside Brazil, who export beef to key markets shared with Australia.

With the United States forecasting an easing to their drought condition across key cattle producing regions, a strong and extensive herd rebuild is expected to start during 2024.

The result is expected to be a contraction in the American supply, which will create an opportunity for Australian beef in global markets. Additionally, solid domestic supply will support strong demand for live cattle exports into major markets.

Last year was a significant year for weather events, with an El Niño event and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) declared in September, followed by four cyclones making landfall in the 2023/24 wet season so far.

For this year, Australia is expected to remain within a neutral IOD, while the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) outlook, which indicates an El Niño or La Niña event, notes that we are likely to move out of the El Niño phase by May. Long-term forecasts for a La Niña event in 2024 are varied.

This year is looking to be a positive year for the cattle industry with the herd staying within a maintenance phase. While forecasts remain crucial for business management, the expected relative climate stability in 2024 suggests that decision-making may not be as reactive to long-term forecasts as observed in the reactive markets of 2023.

To view the full Cattle Industry Projections report, click here.

At this time of year silage is often being fed to cattle, as they near finishing and are sent off to slaughter.  The quality of the silage can have a big impact on the performance of those stock.  It is recommended that cattle be growing at >0.8 kgLW/day to minimise the risk of dark cutting in the carcase of the animal.  Of particular importance is ensuring this growth rate is maintained in the two weeks prior to slaughter (CRC Fact sheet).

For example, A beef producer was about to feed silage to a mob of steers soon to go to slaughter.  He had two different batches of silage.  Both paddocks were locked up at roughly the same time, but there was 11 days difference in cutting time of the silage.  The results from the feed analysis are in the following table:

From this information we can determine the estimated growth rates of the cattle if they were to consume the silage.  As there was very little pasture available, it was assumed that silage was the sole feed.  For this example, we will work with 550 kgLW steers.  To grow at least one kg/day, steers need roughly 13 per cent crude protein in their diet.  Any crude protein in excess will cost the animal energy to process and excrete from their system.  For each one per cent crude protein is in excess of requirements, it takes 0.18 MJME/kgDM to process and excrete out.

The following steps need to be worked through to determine the estimated growth rate of the cattle:
Step 1 – calculate maximum intake
Step 2 – calculate total energy intake
Step 3 – determine any excess protein impacts
Step 4 – calculate steer maintenance energy requirements
Step 5 – calculate estimated growth rate.

*Note equation varies for different weight classes of cattle.  For cattle >500 kgLW it is minus 1; for cattle 300-500 kgLW it is minus 1.1; for cattle <300 kgLW it is minus 1.2

As can be seen, silage 1 will allow the cattle to grow at just under 1 kgLW/day.  However, silage 2 will only allow a growth rate of 0.5 kgLW/day. 

Feeding Silage 2 to the steers in the lead up to slaughter could have left the steers at a high risk of dark cutting once slaughtered.  Instead, Silage 2 was fed to a younger mob of cattle (not destined for slaughter?) on the property.  It is important to know the quality of the feed on offer to livestock to ensure good feeding decisions can be made.

Resources are available to assist in feed budgeting for your stock.

Drought feeding and management of sheep and drought feeding and management of cattle booklets can be downloaded or viewed at https://www.feedinglivestock.vic.gov.au/.  These booklets contain tables outlining the energy and protein requirements of stock.

Reference:
CRC Fact Sheet – Producers can eliminate ‘dark cutting’ http://www.beefcrc.com/documents/publications/fact-sheets/FS10-ProducerscaneliminateDarkCutting.pdf

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