• Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
• Focus on education programs to help make farms safer
• Beef and sheep seasonal webinar series
• Latest Mallee podcast
• Farmplan21 course for south-west farmers
• Calling on Victorian rural women to lead the way
• Improving digital literacy and connectivity on-farm
• Keep an eye out for Russian wheat aphid
• The Millewa Forum
• Fox and wild dog bounty collections suspended at two locations
• Young farmer business network
• Novel weed management tactics for mixed farming systems
• What's on

Face covering mandatory for Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

People living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are now required to wear a face mask when leaving home for one of the four permitted reasons: shopping for food and supplies, medical care and caregiving – including to be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19), exercise, and study or work if unable to work or study from home.

Victorians outside metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are being asked to use common sense when it comes to visiting friends and family, especially those who are more vulnerable.

That means seeing only those you need to – if you need to.

Stay safe by washing your hands regularly, keeping your distance from others and staying home if you feel unwell.

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

For more information, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services website

Border travel restrictions

Restrictions on the movement of Victorians across our borders with South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW) are now in place.

The Victorian Premier, the Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW agreed to close the border between Victoria and NSW from 8 July 2020.

From midnight Wednesday 22 July, a border zone, defined along the Murray River, has been established.

Entry to NSW from Victoria will be restricted, and exemptions for NSW residents travelling from the Victorian side of the border zone will be limited.

Permits issued up until the commencement of the border zone expired at midnight 21 July. Individuals eligible under the new rules will need to apply for a new permit. This closure is being enforced by NSW Police.

There are also restrictions in place for Victorians travelling into South Australia. People from Victoria may not enter South Australia unless they are an Essential Traveller.

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.

No permit or approval is required to enter Victoria from another state – however you will need to adhere to the restrictions and directions that are in place to slow the spread of coronavirus in Victoria.

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.

Two new educational programs supported by the Victorian Government will be rolled out for rural and regional school students to start changing attitudes towards safety on farms from an early age.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes this week announced the programs at the beginning of National Farm Safety Week to reinforce the Victorian Government’s commitment towards reducing deaths and injuries on farms.

Kidsafe Victoria will receive a $97,000 grant to support their work preventing unintentional death and injury of children by delivering a farm safety campaign and creative competition in primary schools over three years.

The National Centre for Farmer Health will receive a $108,500 grant to deliver twenty ‘Gear up for Agriculture Health and Safety’ workshops to Victorian secondary school students who have an interest in agriculture.

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) found that children aged younger than 15 in Victoria’s outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in our major cities.

MUARC recommended addressing this problem through increased education and awareness of known injury hazards such as dams, farm equipment and off-road motorbike use.

Drowning is the leading cause of death of children on farms – providing a fenced play area away from water hazards such as dams is one example recommendation of what can be done to help make farms safer for children.

Teaching children about farms as workplaces as well as homes is a vital part of changing attitudes, with information showing children influence the decisions their parents make, in turn improving farm safety for the whole family.

These grants are part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program which is addressing skills and safety issues in the agriculture sector.

To find out more about the educational programs visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Agriculture Victoria’s beef and sheep networks’ winter/spring webinar series is on again with expert presenters helping farmers answer all the challenging questions to get them through the next few months.

Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Tess McDougall said this series is aimed at decision-making with a focus on managing pastures, conserving fodder and livestock health and nutrition.

“Producers can join the afternoon sessions via their phone and/or computer, tablet or smartphone.

“They are easy to join and provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues with our presenters,” she said.

“Each webinar will be recorded if you can’t attend, so please register to receive a copy of the recording via email.”

Webinar 1: Animal health and nutrition (13 August, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

Learn more about animal nutrition, trace mineral deficiencies, winter/early spring feed budgeting and livestock health issues to watch out for. Presented by Dr Jeff Cave, District Veterinary Officer and Nick Linden, Sheep Industry Development Officer.

Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841172010

Webinar 2: Fodder conservation (3 September, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

This webinar will explore questions such as how much is conserving fodder really costing me? How much of my farm should I cut and how can I produce high quality hay and silage this spring? Presented by Michele Jolliffe, Dairy Extension Officer and Claire Waterman Farm Business Economist.

Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841535096

Webinar 3: Spring pasture (17 September, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

Discussion will focus on what nutrients need to be replaced after fodder conservation, the importance of tillering and key grazing management practices for a successful spring. Presented by Fiona Baker, Beef Extension Officer.

Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841709618

For further information or if you have trouble registering contact Tess McDougall 0409 841 492 or tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria has produced a new podcast series focussing on livestock and land management in the Mallee.

The new podcasts, hosted on the Mallee Sustainable Farming website, provide timely information for Mallee farmers through the winter months.

This Friday evening Agriculture Victoria Lamb Industry Development Officer Nick Linden on weaning livestock.

The podcasts are delivered by Agriculture Victoria with funding from the Victorian Government’s 2019–20 Drought Support Package and can be downloaded here https://msfp.org.au/podcast/

For more information about other drought and dry seasonal conditions support from Agriculture Victoria go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

Do you want to make your farm more resilient, sustainable and productive? Have you developed risk management strategies for the next fire, flood or drought? Do you want to pass your land to future generations in a better condition than when you started farming?

Agriculture Victoria Land Management Officer Clem Sturmfels said if you answered yes to any of these questions then you should sign up for this online whole farm plan course coming up in August and September.

“The primary aim of whole farm planning is the protection and best practice management of critical farm assets; your soil, water and vegetation - which underpins farm productivity.

“If you are keen to improve your farm design and layout, enhance areas of native vegetation, improve habitat for birds and insects and improve the quality of your soil and water and can you commit a few weeks this spring to make your farm a more attractive place to live, work and raise your family – this is the course for you.”

Agriculture Victoria is specifically offering an online course to farmers in south-west Victoria this spring.

Preference will be given to famers in the Casterton and Coleraine districts, but other farmers are encouraged to express their interest. Numbers will be capped at 15 to ensure an interactive program.

The course will run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for six weeks and participants will need good internet service and basic computer skills.

It will be run by Agriculture Victoria staff with support from the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

For more information or to register your interest please contact Tess McDougall, 0409 841 492, tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

The Victorian Government is inviting women from country Victoria to build their leadership skills, with the 2021 Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program now open.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes is encouraging rural Victorian women involved in agriculture or the agricultural supply chain to apply for this year’s intake, with 14 funded places on established leadership courses starting later this year and early in 2021.

The government has provided $500,000 funding to the Victorian Rural Women’s Network to support the program, which has so far provided 24 rural women with professional leadership training.

The Leadership Program partners with four established leadership training providers delivering highly regarded programs suitable for emerging and experienced leaders.

Applications are now open for funded places on the 2020 Women’s Leadership Program as well as for the 2021 intake of The Observership Program and Williamson Leadership Program

Participants in the Leadership Program build expertise in areas such as how to effectively build teams, financial and business management, governance and networking.

The Observership Program offers the opportunity for emerging leaders to gain first-hand board experience by sitting as an ‘observer’ on a not-for-profit board.

The Victorian Rural Women’s Network was re-established in July 2017 with a $1.7 million commitment over four years from the Victorian Government.

The Leadership Program, alongside other initiatives including AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award and the Invisible Farmer Project, is part of the Victorian Government’s ongoing support for rural and regional women.

For more information and to apply for a funded place on a leadership program, see the Victorian Rural Women’s Network website at extensionaus.com.au/VRWNetwork.

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

Webinar 2 – Getting the most out of video meeting software

Tuesday 28 July, 1.30 – 2.30 pm

Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86270444624

Webinar 3 – Internet of Things (IoT)

Tuesday 4 August, 1.30 – 2.30 pm

Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89327853496

Webinar 4 – Online networking to better communicate on-farm and service farm businesses

Tuesday 11 August, 1.30 – 2.30 pm

Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84433966881

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

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AUDIT

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, 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.

image - Supplied by GRDC.

Grain growers in Victoria and Tasmania are advised to continue monitoring crops for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) but only consider treatment if infestations are approaching potentially damaging levels.

Colder conditions since March – in comparison with 2019 – are likely to have slowed aphid population growth during establishment and early tillering stages.

“This is fortunate, because RWA growth rates are also influenced by plant growth stage, with younger plants supporting faster aphid reproduction than older plants,” said Jessica Lye from research organisation cesar.

“If there is wet weather during late winter and spring, as predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology, this is also likely to suppress RWA,” said Dr Lye, whose work is supported through a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment.

Despite this outlook, monitoring and making threshold-based decisions remains key to effective long-term management of this aphid.

“Growers and agronomists are advised to monitor for RWA during tillering and stem elongation, keeping in mind current recommended thresholds if they observe any infestations,” said Dr Lye.

Australian intervention thresholds are currently based on overseas advice, which recommends a spray application when more than 20 per cent of all seedlings are infested with aphids up to growth stage 30 and more than 10 per cent of tillers are infested with aphids from growth stage 30.

Through research investments by the GRDC, being led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (the research division of Primary Industries and Regions SA) and cesar, a biological and ecological profile of RWA is being developed to provide grain growers with scientifically robust management tactics for the future, including economic thresholds for Australian farming systems.

A RWA resource portal which includes updates on current research efforts and the latest RWA management advice, hosted by cesar, is available at http://bit.ly/2Px67tu.

Rural Assistance Commissioner Peter Tuohey talks about all the decisions he's faced on his farm and how expert independent advice has helped him.

**WATCH** Peter Tuohey – Millewa Forum.

Agriculture Victoria has put together The Millewa Forum: Planning for Success, a series of free webinars designed specifically for farmers in the region, with a focus on business decision making and succession planning. The three webinars include

FINAL WEBINAR

Improved Decision making with John Gladigau of Bulla Burra Operations. John will discuss looking after yourself and others in times of stress, having a process in place to aid decision making, the risks of emotional decision making, and engaging advisors.

Thursday 30 July: 12 – 1 pm Improved Decision making with John Gladigau bit.ly/3g9rNtj

For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

The webinar is delivered by Agriculture Victoria and funded by the Victorian Government’s 2019–20 Drought Support Package.

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 11.59pm 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

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.

An innovative long-term research project investigating weed management strategies for no-till and mixed farming systems in southern Australia has identified some novel and effective tactics for growers to implement on-farm.

The project, Weed Management in Mixed Farming Systems: Strategies to Combat Herbicide Resistance, was a collaborative partnership involving the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Adelaide (UA). A separate, but concurrent project supported by Meat and Livestock Australia ensured the research addressed weed management across the entire farming system.

Conducted at sites across southern New South Wales, southern Victoria, the Victorian Mallee, and South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula and Mid North, the research trialled diverse weed control and management approaches in a range of agroecological zones over five growing seasons.

Trials focused on key weeds identified as having varying levels of herbicide resistance through comprehensive surveying conducted early in the project. These targeted weeds included annual ryegrass, brome grass, windmill grass, fleabane, wild radish and Indian hedge mustard.

As part of this research, trials were established to assess the weed suppression mechanisms of competitive wheat, barley and canola, targeted weed control strategies combining chemical and cultural tactics and the impact of long-term rotational strategies on in-crop seasonal weed management and seedbank dynamics.

Charles Sturt Research Professor of Plant Biology Leslie Weston, from the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, led the multidisciplinary team at CSU along with Professor Chris Preston who directed research conducted by UA.

Professor Weston said the long-term project had captured extensive information about the extent of herbicide resistant weeds across southern Australia’s mixed farming zones and proved the effectiveness of a range of chemical and non-chemical weed management strategies.

“The key findings from our research were that rotations with diverse and competitive crop types, along with early crop vigour and high total crop biomass in canola, barley and wheat varieties, correlated strongly with effective weed suppression across multiple locations and years in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia,” she said.

“Post-harvest weed management in fallow was significantly influenced by the type and amount of crop residue and its decomposition.

“Our findings also revealed different crops, including cereals and annual pasture legumes, release significant quantities of metabolites into the soil during breakdown that appear to influence weed suppression.

“We found evidence that the breakdown of different crop residues resulted in the release of compounds into the soil that  were strongly correlated with summer weed suppression in the field and phytotoxicity in the laboratory.”

Professor Weston said the opportunity to run trials through five growing seasons of rotational crops had enabled researchers to understand the longer-term implications of these weed management approaches.

“What we found across multiple locations in non-moisture limiting conditions was the weed seed density of annual weeds was successfully depleted under rotations which featured diverse and competitive grain crop genotypes,” she said.

“In addition, early crop vigour and high total crop biomass in canola, barley and wheat correlated strongly with effective weed suppression in all locations, in all years.

“The ability of wheat and barley to develop a canopy that is dense and reduces light at the soil surface also proved critical in reducing in-crop weeds.”

“Interestingly, some wheat genotypes were observed to release weed suppressive metabolites (phenoxazinones) during the growing season, offering potential for in-crop weed suppression in the area immediately surrounding the wheat roots.

“The project also evaluated different canola varieties for their ability to suppress annual weeds under high, medium and low inputs over multiple years in NSW, Victoria and SA and found newly released cultivars of hybrid canola exhibited competitive traits and, in combination with chemical controls, were most effective in suppressing weeds for season-long management.”

Professor Weston said the research also delivered new knowledge on the distribution and biology of weed species and how they were influenced by the adoption of different farm management practices across southern Australia.

“As a result of this research we have been able to identify why specific weeds such as barley grass are a problem in continuous cropping and mixed farming systems and determine their impact on crop, pasture and livestock production,” she said.

“Understanding and evaluating these different management approaches to weed control in an environment where herbicide resistance has proven to be problematic has been a key part of offering growers genuine information about what works most effectively, in which situation.”

Professor Weston said findings from the project would help equip southern Australian growers with the tools to optimise the use of both chemical and non-chemical weed control tactics in no-till cropping and mixed farming enterprise.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. 

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 12.30 pm, 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.

Agriculture Victoria and the Glenelg Hopkins CMA invite you to participate in an online whole farm planning course to be run between August and September this year.

Please note first preference will be given to farmers from the Casterton and Coleraine districts of South-West Victoria.

DATES: To be confirmed

DAY: Tuesday and Thursday for six weeks

TIME: 8.30 – 10.30 am

VENUE: Online via Zoom

CONTACT: Tess McDougall on 0409 841 492 or  tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au

RSVP: By email with contact details before Monday 3 August

COST: The course is fully sponsored by the Glenelg Hopkins CMA.

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

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

Enjoying the Grampians Ag News? Then why not forward to a friend or subscribe yourself.

It's easy – simply click this link.