• Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
• New online training for horticulture workers
• Fox and wild dog bounty collections suspended at two locations
• Improving safety for Victorian farms
• The Very Fast Break – out now!
• How to find and manage serrated tussock in winter
• GrazFert Program: nutrient planning for farmers
• On-farm digital technology audits
• Gardiner Foundation Nuffield Scholarships
• Primary producers bushfire support programs
• Drought and dry seasons support services and information
• What's on – upcoming webinars

The Victorian Premier, the Prime Minister and the Premier of New Sout Wales (NSW) have agreed to temporarily close the border between Victoria and NSW from 12.01am on Wednesday 8 July. This closure is being enforced by NSW.

There are also restrictions in place for Victorians travelling into South Australia (SA).

For more information about the NSW border restrictions and cross border management in that state, including entry permits, visit Service NSW website, or call their dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) information line on 13 77 88. No permit is required to enter Victoria from NSW.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries provides a coronavirus (COVID-19) concierge service to support primary producers to navigate the current restrictions. This concierge service can be contacted directly at covidinfo@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

For more information about the South Australian border restrictions, visit the South Australian Government COVID-19 website, or call their dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) information line on 1800 253 787. 

For the most up to date information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and current restrictions in Victoria, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website. People in Victoria can also call the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398.

Restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

Stage 3 "Stay at home" restrictions were reinstated across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire on Wednesday 8 July. For people who live in regional Victoria, where case numbers remain low, current restrictions will remain the same for now.

All restrictions are subject to the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and the continued and effective management of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The situation continues to change rapidly so please regularly check the Department of Health and Human Services website for the latest update.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) you should get tested.

People in Victoria can also call the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398.

More details about these restrictions is available at the Department of Health and Human Services coronavirus (COVID-19) www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

New workers starting at Victorian horticulture businesses will be quickly brought up to speed to get to work quicker thanks to an online training package supported by the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes this week announced $70,000 for SuniTAFE to develop the Horticulture Farm Worker Induction Program, as part of the $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan.

The program will help upskill new workers and allow them to quickly gain an understanding of the horticulture industry. It will also help ensure that a reliable harvesting workforce is trained and ready for the 2020 season and beyond.

The program will be rolled out over the next eight months and includes development of 12 interactive units covering topics such as industry awareness, safety, machinery use and harvesting skills.

Sections of other TAFE-accredited courses will be included to make the transition to certificate and diploma qualifications easier for workers wanting to further upskill in the future.

The training will be free for the industry and jobseekers, including those registered with Working for Victoria.

The induction program is part of the Victorian Government’s broader $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan, supporting regional businesses across Victoria during the coronavirus pandemic.

Other measures in the plan include Business Adaptation Grants to help workplaces meet health and physical distancing requirements, the creation of more than 80 agricultural jobs through catchment management authorities, and funding for worker relocation, transport and training.

For more details or to register interest as a jobseeker or business, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/agworkforceplan.

The Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty collections have been suspended at Woori Yallock and Broadford to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

These collection centres will be closed until 11.59 pm Wednesday 19 August 2020 in line with the current Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions for those areas.

All other collection centres remain open at the scheduled times.

Due to this, the bounty program will be extended from the end of October 2020 until the end of November 2020, to allow for additional collections across all centres.

Agriculture Victoria intends to reopen Broadford on Thursday 20 August 2020 and Woori Yallock on Thursday 10 September 2020, subject to the advice of the Chief Health Officer in relation to Victoria’s coronavirus (COVID-19) restriction levels.

Hunters are still encouraged to continue to collect fox scalps and wild dog body parts, while following coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions relevant to their area.

These pieces can be frozen or air dried and submitted for reward at an alternative collection centre or when the suspended collection centres reopen, in line with bounty terms and conditions.

All participants are reminded that they must comply with coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions when attending collections centres.

All hunters are reminded to use common sense when hunting and when it comes to attending bounty collections. Stay safe by abiding by coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions that apply to your area, stay local, practise good hygiene, keep your distance from others and, if you feel unwell, get tested and stay home.

Please continue to check the Agriculture Victoria website for the latest information, as the collection schedule is subject to change in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation: visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty

A newly established Farm Safety Council is providing advice to the Victorian Government and agriculture sector on how to reduce injuries and deaths of people on farms in Victoria.

The council, established by Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes has been meeting to provide guidance on the activities that could be prioritised by government to make farms safer and change farm safety culture, ultimately reducing the number of deaths and injuries on farms.

The agricultural sector is overly represented in fatality statistics, making up less than three per cent of the Victorian workforce but more than 30 per cent of workplace deaths.

Victorians who live on or interact with a farm, including children, suppliers and contractors can also be at risk of an unsafe workplace.

The council includes members from ten organisations, including Kidsafe Victoria, National Centre for Farmer Health, Victorian Agriculture Horticulture and Conservation Training Network, Australian Workers Union, Victorian Farmers Federation, United Workers Union, Worksafe Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services, Agriculture Victoria and the Department of Education and Training.

The council creates links with other programs that focus on the safety, health and wellbeing of farmers and their families.

This includes the $6 million Quad Bike Rebate Scheme, mental health support being provided through drought and bushfire recovery, and industry-led services such as Dairy Australia’s farm safety programs.

The Farm Safety Council is part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program and Making our farms safer election commitment, which are addressing skills and safety issues in the agriculture sector.

Welcome to the "Very Fast Break" seasonal climate update video for July.

Agriculture Victoria partners with the Grains Research and Development Corporation to bring you this short summary for Victoria.

**WATCH THE VERY FAST BREAK**

Dr Jeff Cave, District Veterinary Officer

Genuine closed herds are uncommon as most producers have purchased or agisted livestock at some time.

If you consider the time and money spent keeping your herd healthy, add up the investment you have made and consider the steps you should take to protect this investment and prevent the introduction of disease.

Diseases are commonly introduced into herds by the introduction of livestock. Once introduced, they can potentially have a major impact on the health and sale-ability the herd, as well as take time, effort and money to control or eradicate.

Practicing good farm hygiene and biosecurity assists keep diseases off your property. It also assists prevent the spread of disease from your herd to another.

If your herd is known or suspected to have an infectious disease, you have a duty of care to ensure that other herds are not placed at risk of infection through your action or inaction.

The risk of introducing a disease can be minimised by obtaining a thorough history of the livestock to be introduced.

Background enquiries could include: Did the vendor breed them? Is the vendor's herd closed? Has the vendor provided a declaration relating to the disease status of the properties on which the livestock have been kept? Are the livestock derived from a tested or accredited herd? What is their drenching and vaccination history?

Once the livestock are on your property, it is highly recommended that you quarantine the newly purchased livestock in a separate area. This is a practical way to reduce the spread of diseases or weeds if they have inadvertently been introduced onto your property.

During the quarantine period, the introduced livestock can be monitored for diseases, including parasites. It also offers you the ideal time to drench and vaccinate before introduction to the rest of your property and your herd.

To help manage your property’s biosecurity risks, it is essential to have your boundary securely fenced to prevent the introduction of stray livestock from neighbouring properties.

If using roadside verges, consider the risk posed by livestock that may have grazed there previously and what weeds could potentially be introduced onto your property. It is also wise, when bringing supplementary feeds from other properties, to consider the likelihood of introducing weeds.

Commercial pig and poultry farmers have long understood the risks posed by human movements and routinely maintain a high level of hygiene within and between farms.

Contaminated clothing, boots and equipment can be vectors for disease and weed introduction and spread. Clean boots, clothing and equipment are advised, especially when moving between farms.

Stop disease at the farm gate – think of biosecurity every time you plan to move livestock and practice good farm hygiene.

For further information please contact your local veterinarian, Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.

Serrated tussock has infested over 250,000 hectares of land in Victoria, and has caused great damage to agriculture and native grasslands.

Now is a good time to inspect your property for serrated tussock, due to the increased visibility due to frost bleaching. In frost prone areas, the tussocks are bleached a golden yellow to white colour by frost during late autumn and winter.

Serrated tussock has white swollen leaf bases (like a shallot) while the tips of old leaves often have a bleached fawn tip.

The change in colour makes the plants easier to spot in a paddock, making now a good time to do a survey of your property. The recent rains and autumn break in some parts of Victoria has been good for crops, but unfortunately, also good for the growth of serrated tussock.

Controlling serrated tussock before the plant goes to seed is critical to prevent further spread, lost productivity and increased control requirements.

Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) can be a long-lived perennial that can invade poor soils and survive fire, drought and frost.

Surveying and treating plants over winter and spring is ideal to prevent the huge early summer seeding events. Seeds are spread by the wind, machinery and also by water and animals.

The seed remains viable in the soil for more than 10 years and can dominate if there is no competition from other pasture species.

Depending on the size of the infestation, winter plants can be removed manually using a hoe or spade, or spot sprayed using a registered herbicide when the conditions suit.

Recently- germinated seedlings will appear bright green until they are bleached by frost, and will be erect and stand out from the other grasses in a pasture.

The Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) has a host of information on treatment options and case studies, including videos and information sheets that can be posted or email to landowners.

The VSTWP are asking landowners to conduct assessments of their properties before spring, when the grass starts to flower.

Serrated tussock flowerheads develop a distinctive purple colour as the seeds ripen in late spring and early summer.

During winter you will be able to see the plants easily when they are bleached a lighter colour.

The VSTWP has developed an online video and information sheets to help landowners identify the noxious weed, which can be viewed at www.serratedtussock.com, and clicking on identification.

GrazFert is a farm nutrient management program that enables livestock farmers to make better fertiliser decisions.

It provides an opportunity for farmers to access independent support and advice to optimise their soil management with information on interpreting soil tests, minimising nutrient losses, reducing soil acidity and maximising the economic returns from fertiliser and lime inputs.

What's involved?

• Farm visit to collect two soil samples to assess a range of soil parameters including nutrients, pH and cation-exchange capacity
• Attendance at two local workshops focused on soil test interpretation and nutrient budgeting
• Preparation of a nutrient management plan by Agriculture Victoria staff.

To learn more about the GrazFert program, check out the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qr7N_UYTsw

Cost:

• $150 for each farm business (maximum of 12 farm businesses/program).

Dates:

• Soil sampling – commences late August 2020
• Workshop 1: Soil test interpretation – October 2020
• Workshop 2: Nutrient budgeting – December 2020.

Location:

• Local workshop venue to be confirmed.

Registrations:

Please register your interest by Friday 21 August by contacting Ian Gamble, Agriculture Victoria, Rutherglen on 0437 362 620 or email ian.gamble@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

This project is supported by North East CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare program and Agriculture Victoria.

An opportunity exists to participate in an on-farm digital technology audit conducted by phone by Agriculture Victoria, to understand the technology you already have available on-farm and how you can improve its efficiency.

Participants will be asked to identify what type of internet connectivity they have, where they have access to WiFi and how they use technology on their farm.

Participants will have time to prepare for the audit and will receive a property map and report of results.

REGISTRATION

To register for the audit please book a time at https://bit.ly/2VbBXBK

Contact: If you need help registering or would like more information please contact Andy Clark at Agriculture Victoria, on 0436 804 656 or andy.clark@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support call 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

Preference will be given to participants from Central and East Gippsland, the GMID and the Millewa region of North-West Victoria.

Applications are now open for the Nuffield Farming Scholarship for a Victorian dairy farmer.

The scholarship, sponsored by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation and Nuffield Australia, provides a chance for the successful applicant to travel and investigate their field of interest. It is open to applicants between the age of 28–45 years.

Further details on the program is available at on the Gardiner Foundation website. Applications close on 11 September.

Information on the full 2021 Nuffield Scholarship Program is available at https://www.nuffield.com.au/

Young Farmers of Victoria – this is your network to talk about farm business management with other like-minded young farmers through social media, articles, online and face to face forums.

Click here to join and learn more about the Young Farmer Business Network Facebook group.

Producers in fire-affected regions can access up to three free one-on-one Back to Business sessions with a local farm management consultant to help put their business back on track.

All red-meat producers, including sheep, cattle and goat, who have been affected by the recent bushfires are eligible to apply.

The Back to Business program in Victoria is being coordinated by Agriculture Victoria. For more information or to register, contact:

• Lyndon Kubeil on 0418 532 085 or at lyndon.kubeil@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• Jo Cameron on 0419 832 704 or at jo.cameron@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• MLA at backtobusiness@mla.com.au

Online registration is also available here.

For more info visit mla.com.au/bushfire-recovery.

The new $10,000 Small Business Bushfire Support Grants are open.

• it's easy to apply
• you aren't required to upload any financial documents if you don't have them right now
• you can apply if your business was indirectly affected by the bushfires.

The grant is available for small businesses and primary producers in East Gippsland, Towong, Alpine, Indigo, Wangaratta, Mansfield and Wellington shires who have experienced significant income loss as a result of this season’s bushfires.

Find out more at www.vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery-victoria

Concessional loans of up to $500,000 are available to support small business, primary producers and non-profit organisations impacted by the Victorian bushfires that began on 21 November 2019.

The loans are for restoring and/or replacing damaged assets and/or to meet working capital expenses.

They are available for eligible wine grape growers in Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Indigo, Mansfield, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga.

For further information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

Grants of up to $75,000 to assist primary producers directly affected by the 2019–2020 bushfire with recovery costs. Eligible activities include rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure, including fencing and trellises.

Wine grape growers who are located in eligible fire affected local government areas and have had crops affected by smoke taint may be able to claim for costs associated with the salvage, harvest and disposal of the smoke taint affected crops. Where no fire has occurred on the property, evidence of smoke impact, such as smoke taint testing results are required.

Available in eligible fire affected local government areas across Victoria. In the areas of Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Indigo, Mansfield, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga, and the alpine areas of Falls Creek, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Mount Stirling.

For further information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

The Victorian Government’s Household Financial Relief Program delivered by the CWA and the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant  all close on 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

The Victorian Government is waiving the $235 application fee for new domestic and stock bore construction licences (BCL) for landholders in eligible areas of Victoria.

This initiative will help landholders secure their domestic and stock water supply needs in areas experiencing drought and dry conditions.

Apply online at the Victorian Water Register waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-trading/my-water#Online_BCLs

The CWA of Victoria’s Household Financial Relief Program has been provided a funding boost by the Victorian Government for the provision of household financial relief

The program can provide up to $3000 to eligible farming families, farm workers and farm dependent contractors to reimburse them for household expenses like school costs, utilities, food and medical bills.

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

For more about the program and other available drought support visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

For anyone seeking a copy of the application form or requiring assistance to complete the application, please contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email the CWA on drought@cwaofvic.org.au

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority received funding for the Drought Employment Program from the Victorian Government last October.

The program provides off-farm employment training for farmers, farm workers and individuals affected by drought and dry seasonal conditions to expand or obtain transferable employment skills.

For further information:

Phone East Gippsland CMA on (03) 5152 0600

Email egcma@egcma.com.au

Visit workways.com.au: Gippsland drought employment

The maximum value of the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants has increased from $5,000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services whilst still enabling farmers to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.

Eligible farm businesses can now apply for:

• up to $5000 for business decision making activities (with no-contribution required)
• up to $5000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required).

There are three new eligible infrastructure investments under the resilience grants:

• technologies to improve mobile phone connectivity
• weed control (e.g. purchase of registered herbicide)
• soil moisture probes (as an explicit investment under soil moisture monitoring activities).

Farmers in drought-affected areas of East Gippsland and Wellington shires also impacted by the bushfires can reapply for the grant where previously funded investments through the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants, Pasture Recovery and Management Grants or the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants were destroyed or damaged.

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

For more information and to access the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants program, call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au.

Farmers are encouraged to apply early to ensure they do not miss out on funding.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to the Agriculture Events page to find out what's on.

Young farmers can learn the ins and outs of managing money, debt and talking to banks at the Farm Finance – Getting Prepared online workshop on Friday, 24 July.

The 90-minute online workshop will help young farmers understand the finance options available to achieve their goals.

Host Jane Foster is a Senior Consultant specialising in agribusiness at ORM and brings a wealth of experience in farm debt management and financial data analysis.

The online workshop is free to attend on Friday 24 July at 12.30pm, and the session will be recorded and made available for those who register.

Registrations (via Zoom) can be made here:
zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0of-ytqjotGtbyo1ynhItVJXApFjOkJM3i

For more information and to register, contact Sarah Wallis on 0419 571 208.

Want to know more about improving your digital literacy and connectivity? Need confidence to access technology to improve your on-farm decision making?

CONNECTIVITY WEBINARS

Join extensionAUS and Agriculture Victoria for a series of webinars which will provide a unique opportunity for you to address on-farm connectivity issues and help you to understand available digital technology – how to measure it and how to make it work as best as possible for you and your business.

WEBINAR DATES AND TIMES

Contact: If you need help registering please contact Gavin Beever, Cumbre Consultants on 0438 234 886 or gavin@cumbre.com.au

This project is supported by the 2019–20 Drought Support Package.

Preference will be given to participants from Central and East Gippsland, the GMID and the Millewa region of North-West Victoria.

The Grassland Society of Southern Australia is running its 61st Annual Conference – Growing with grasslands.

DATE: 22 July – 19 August

TIME: 7.30 – 9.30 pm AEST

We invite you to join us for the 61st Annual Conference - and our first ever virtual conference! It will take place online via Zoom from 7.30 – 9.30 pm AEST every Wednesday evening for five weeks.

Find out more at www.grasslands.org.au

The Rural Press Club of Victoria has launched its 2020 Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards, with increased prize money to recognise the best work across the state.

This year has been challenging for regional journalists and photographers, with many publications reducing or stopping coverage.

To reflect the challenges this year has brought, RPCV award category winners will receive $500 and a trophy, while winners of the overall awards including Journalist of the Year, Photographer of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year will each receive $1,000 and a trophy.

The awards are open to all journalists, photographers and media outlets in Victoria and Tasmania. Journalists and photographers can enter the awards until 31 July.

To enter the awards, you need to be a member of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. You can sign up for membership and enter the awards on the club’s new website ruralpressclubvictoria.com.au.

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