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Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator appointed
Water management survey open - drainage and wetlands
We're changing NRM in South Australia
Lucerne Australia partner in major project to secure pollination for more productive agriculture
One Biosecurity - South Australia's farm biosecurity program
nrmFarm - updated September 2018
Redlegged earth mite - insecticide resistance detected near Bordertown
Spring fox control makes "cents"
Spring into weed control
Sheep Technology and Innovation Day
Title of the story goes here
Blueprint aims to beef up industry by $200m
 
Upcoming Events

September


20  MFMG Keith Trial Walk, Keith
26  Rock breaking & raised beds sticky beak walk, Bool Lagoon
27 Saltland Redemption Crop and Pasture Walk, Meningie East
30/9 - 1/10 Kingston Show

October

3 Harvest fire workshop, Kaniva
6 Keith & Tintinara Districts Show, Keith
6 Mil-Lel Show
10  SADGA SE Durum Crop Walk, Wolseley
13-14 Naracoorte Show
19  Sherwood Crop Walk - Trevor and Trish Menz Property
19-20 Mount Gambier Show
20 Coonalpyn Show
25  MFMG Millicent Cropping Field Day
26-27 Penola Show

TBA Grassland Society of SA Pasture trial site open day

TBA Grassland Society of SA Pasture update

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Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator appointed

The South East Natural Resources Management Board has been announced as one of 47 organisations selected through an open tender process to deliver the Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator project for 2018-2023.

The South East region covers 28,000 square kilometres of land and supports diverse industries including livestock, cropping, horticulture, viticulture, dairy, fishing and plantation forestry.

Through the Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator, we are looking to sustain those industries by working in partnership with land managers, industry groups and researchers to improve the management of the region’s highly productive land and resources such as water and soil.

Louise Densley has been appointed to the role. She is based at the Natural Resources Centre in Keith and will be a central contact point for industry and community groups.

The Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator is funded by the Australian Government as part of its $450 million Regional Land Partnerships program, and is an important second phase of the $1 billion National Landcare Program.

For more information on the Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator contact Louise Densley on 0437 030 765 or louise.densley@sa.gov.au.

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Water management survey open - drainage and wetlands

The South East Natural Resources Management Board and the South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board have opened a community survey, looking for input to inform a new Drainage and Wetlands Strategy.

The strategy will help managers of land and water in the region to better understand the challenges and opportunities of surface water management across thousands of kilometres of public and private drains, floodways, wetlands and water courses

If you are interested in wetlands, the drainage network, irrigation or other surface water management issues, or have ideas or issues with how they are managed in your area, please take the time to fill out our survey and let us know. It closes on 30 September 2018.

Further information:

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We're changing NRM in South Australia

The South Australian Government has committed to a range of reforms to the natural resources management system. These include:

  • Replacing the Natural Resources Management Act with the proposed Landscape South Australia Act
  • Creating a simpler, flexible and accessible system for managing natural resources, with decentralised decision-making
  • Putting people at the heart of managing our natural resources, recognising that those who work and live on the land are well placed to manage and sustain it
  • Creating nine landscape Boards and Green Adelaide to replace existing NRM Boards
  • Making soil quality, pest plant and animal control and water management major priorities
  • Capping annual land and water levy rises at a rate set by an independent body or according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
  • Establishing a Grassroots Grants program, a $2 million statewide annual fund for volunteer, community and not-for-profit groups to access

Get involved at the Your Say website.

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Lucerne Australia partner in major project to secure pollination for more productive agriculture

Some of the most important questions and concerns currently facing pollination-dependent industries will be answered in an Australian first, multi-million dollar research project.

The ‘Securing Pollination for More Productive Agriculture: Guidelines for effective pollinator management and stakeholder adoption’ project is supported by funding from the Australian Government.

It will support collaboration between Australia’s most knowledgeable bee and pollination researchers to assess the contribution of pollinators to nine Australian crops, investigate re-establishing native vegetation to support pollinator food and nesting resources, and use new technologies to communicate the findings to farmers.

The agricultural sector will be represented by an number of project partners including Lucerne Australia.

From securing productive agricultural environments, to improving vegetation, to future proofing against disease and pests like Varroa and boosting honey bee colonies, this project will help agricultural and horticultural producers to improve yields and rates of pollination.

Further information:

 

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One Biosecurity - South Australia's farm biosecurity program

One Biosecurity is South Australia's new on-farm biosecurity management program.

The new voluntary biosecurity program will help producers better manage, protect and promote South Australia's already strong biosecurity regime and animal health practices.

One Biosecurity has been developed in collaboration with the livestock industry, in particular with the assistance and support of Livestock SA.

The first release of the One Biosecurity program targets sheep, beef cattle and dairy cattle industries – and producers can sign-up to One Biosecurity at onebiosecurity.pir.sa.gov.au.

Watch an overview of the program on You Tube .

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nrmFarm - updated September 2018

nrmFarm is a web based farm management tool which allows you to create and save a map of your farm including property boundaries, paddocks and infrastructure via secure login. It also allows you to record information like chemical applications, sowing dates, yield data, livestock movements, soil test results, weed sightings and much more.

It has undergone a refresh and upate in September 2018.

This free and easy to use program was developed by the South East and SA Murray Darling Basin NRM Boards to assist landholders with farm management and records keeping.

Start mapping now!

For previous nrmFarm users, if you need access to the data recorded in earlier versions of nrmFarm, please contact the Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator.

 

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Redlegged earth mite - insecticide resistance detected near Bordertown

Evidence of the easterly spread of insecticide resistance in redlegged earth mite (RLEM) has recently emerged from a GRDC-funded resistance screening project.

cesar researcher Dr Aston Arthur has identified resistant mites found on a property near Bordertown, SA. The mites were taken from a pasture paddock where organophosphate sprays were used but failed to provide adequate control of mites. Dr Arthur has now found that the mites had acquired moderate resistance to chlorpyrifos and low levels of resistance to dimethoate. Genetic tests for resistance to synthetic pyrethroids are underway.

Resistance to synthetic pyrethroid and organophosphate chemicals has been detected previously in RLEM populations in Western Australia and in South Australia in areas 50 km north west of this site.

The spread of resistance is likely to be slowed if techniques described in the recently updated resistance management strategy for RLEM are applied.

Further information

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Spring fox control makes "cents"  
Spring fox control makes "cents"

Annually it is estimated that foxes cause $230 million dollars per year in impacts and control costs, with their direct impact being on sheep production, totalling about $18 Million dollars per year. 

Anecdotal reports have indicated that up to 30% of lambs are lost through fox predation and as such, foxes are an ongoing issue in the South East for landholders.

The past years have been optimal for fox breeding, which has resulted in an increase in populations. 

Many landowners have integrated programs which include, baiting, follow-up shooting and den fumigation.  There are also new technologies including Canid Pest ejectors (CPEs) which deliver a spring loaded capsule of 1080 directly to the target species.

Coordinated group baiting programs are an effective way of controlling foxes and can be beneficial to prime lamb production and biodiversity protection. 

Transient foxes will repopulate an area, so baiting needs to be done regularly. 

Further information:

NRM Officers at Mt Gambier 08 87351177 or Keith 08 87551620.

Visit us at the Keith and Kingston shows!

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Spring into weed control

Effective weed control is one of the easiest ways to improve and maintain the profitability and sustainability of your property.

Late Winter into early Spring is the key time to start your own priority pest weed control programs and be successfully implementing them.

Under the NRM Act 2004, the South East NRM Board is responsible for ensuring declared pests on roadsides are effectively controlled, via a region wide program.

Where you choose to undertake your own roadside weed control, it must meet the following requirements:

  • Obtain local government approval before undertaking roadside works.
  • Notify your local NRM Officer.
  • Use dye to show where treatment has occurred
  • All roadside weeds in the area must be controlled by the end of winter.
  • Organic industries or landholders concerned with the use of chemicals are advised to contact their local NRM Officer to discuss alternative control methods on adjacent roadsides to ensure the equivalent standard of weed control is achieved.
  • Any works not completed satisfactorily, or completed, but not notified may result in the NRM Officer carrying out the works and invoicing the adjoining landholder.

Alternatively if you do not wish to undertake or arrange your own roadside weed control, Natural Resources South East can ensure that your roadside weeds are controlled according to the required standards.

Further information:

NRM Officers at Mt Gambier 08 87351177 or Keith 08 87551620.

Visit us at the Keith and Kingston shows!

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Sheep Technology and Innovation Day

Sheep and wool producers are invited to attend the Sheep Technology & Innovation Day in Hawker on 26 September where the latest innovations and advice helping shape South Australia’s sheep and wool industry will be on show.

The morning session will include presentations from industry experts on a range of topics including yard and shed design, satellite and other water telemetry, virtual fencing and how drones may play a role in broad-acre agriculture and pastoral enterprises.

The day will also include demonstrations and trade displays on topics like water management, sheep handling equipment and farm and livestock software.

Further information:

Sheep Connect website.

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Title of the story goes here

Grant applications are now open for the 2019 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

If you’re 18-35, this is your chance to apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund your project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue that will benefit Australia’s primary industries.

The Science Awards encourage young scientists, researchers, innovators and others active in the agriculture sector who have an original project that will contribute to the ongoing success and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. 

There are thirteen industry Science Award categories open for applications: cotton, dairy, eggs and poultry (layers), established, new and emerging rural industries, fisheries and aquaculture, forest and wood products, grains, health and biosecurity, meat and livestock, pork, red meat processing, viticulture and oenology, and wool.

Further information and application:

ABARES website

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Blueprint aims to beef up industry by $200m

A blueprint to guide the growth and development of the South Australian beef industry by more than $200 million per year has been launched.

The South Australian Beef Industry Blueprint targets increasing supply of stock bred here in South Australia by 60,000 per year increasing the total beef value chain revenue in the state by more than $200 million per year.

The major opportunities for the South Australian beef industry outlined in the blueprint include:

  • Consistent supply of highly credentialed premium product to high value markets
  • Product differentiation based on product quality and integrity attributes
  • Equipping producers with the knowledge and skills to cost effectively increase productivity and return on farm assets managed
  • Capitalise on new data recording and technology platforms both on-farm and through the value chain for enhanced decision making and management
  • Unlocking the increased production potential in key regions
  • Expansion of finishing opportunities for stock bred in the pastoral zone

The SA Beef Industry Blueprint is an industry initiative of Livestock SA with funding support from the University of Adelaide through the Davies Research Centre, Primary Industries and Regions SA and the Australian Government through the Better Regions Fund.

Further infomation:

LIvestock SA Website

 

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Get involved! Communicate your latest Sustainable Ag news and events here.

AgConnect aims to promote the latest sustainable agricultural news and events across the South East and surrounding regions.  If you have an upcoming event or agricultural news you would like to share contact:

Natural Resources South East Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator

Louise Densley louise.densley@sa.gov.au  or 0437 030 765
 

 
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