• Pulse field day draws a crowd next
• New Rural Assistance Commissioner appointed
• Thirsty crops seeking moisture
• Hepburn producers set to benefit from new artisanal hub
• Rabbit action network celebrates international accolade
• CFA haystack warning after spate of fires last summer
• Improve grain storage for a trouble-free harvest
• Help keep Australia free from African swine fever
• The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award
• Agricultural Health and Medicine scholarships
• International Rural Women's Day
• Extension for say on sheep and goat levy until 31 October
• Pulse researchers seek crop samples
• What's on

Close to 250 pulse growers, researchers and industry representatives from Victoria, interstate and even abroad gathered at Horsham on Tuesday for the annual Southern Pulse Agronomy Field Day.

The large crowd took the opportunity to hear about new pulse varieties, and what they might add to their cropping rotations.

The day also featured presentations on chickpea and faba disease management, advances in herbicide tolerance and pulse agronomy.

Of particular interest were three new variety releases; a faba bean – PBA Amberley; a chickpea – PBA Royal; and a lentil – PBA Highland XT.

The field day also marked the official opening of the Australian Pulse Conference which continued on Wednesday, 16 October and Thursday, 17 October at Horsham.

The second and third days of the conference covered important issues for the pulse industry, including pushing up yields, smart farms and remote sensing, expanding pulse production, accessing new markets and value-adding.

A number of keynote speakers from both Australia and overseas presented, including Dr Judith Burstin from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research, and Nevin Rosaasen from Alberta Pulse, Canada.

For more information, including a list of Conference abstracts, please go to https://apc2019.com.au/

The Victorian Government has appointed a new Rural Assistance Commissioner to engage with Victoria’s agricultural communities and provide advice to government on how they can best be supported into the future.

The former Victorian Farmers Federation President Peter Tuohey will take up the role to provide insight on the challenges and opportunities facing regional and rural communities.

Responding to ongoing drought and dry seasonal conditions, challenges within parts of the dairy industry and opportunities to boost Victoria’s agriculture output will be a key focus while Mr Tuohey engages with communities and workers across the sector.

The Commissioner will also focus on the rollout of the recently announced $31 million drought support package, and the impacts and needs of the dairy industry transition in Northern Victoria.

Mr Tuohey will engage with farmers and rural communities to identify any immediate and emerging issues coming out of difficult seasonal conditions and industry transition, as well as informing what assistance might be needed in the future.

Alongside Mr Tuohey, the Victorian Government will continue to work with local governments, business groups, industry bodies and community organisations to make sure regional and rural Victorians are getting the support they need.

The last month has seen an increased demand for moisture by some of the Wimmera and Southern Mallee's large crops.

Consequently, in the Southern Mallee and Wimmera crops are starting to drop some of their high yield potentials as they grow on the deep residual soil moisture reserves deposited in summer.

For a detailed analysis of soil moisture levels across the region, download the latest edition of the Soil Moisture Monitoring report.

Subscribe at: agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Small-scale and craft producers in the Hepburn Shire will be better equipped to identify and deal with challenges, support each other, connect to the community and thrive thanks to a new Premium Produce Hub.

The new project, which will receive $570,000 from the Victorian Government, as part of a joint effort with local government to support artisanal producers, other premium businesses and peri-urban communities in the region.

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes, Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas launched the new project at Danny’s Farm in Blampied – a small-scale farm which aims to reconnect people with their food and its origins.

The hub will provide an opportunity for small-scale and craft producers to have a direct say in what services are needed to help them build their skills, knowledge and access the resources they require to grow their businesses.

The funding, which will be boosted by an additional $150,000 from the Hepburn Shire Council over the next three years, recognises the important contribution that artisanal agriculture and premium food producers make to vibrant and thriving regional communities.

The Central Highlands Regional Partnership advocated for the development of a Hub for Premium Produce as one of its priorities. The Partnership secured $50,000 for a business case as part of the 2018 Victorian Budget.

This complements the Artisanal Sector Program which has provided grants to 248 recipients across Victoria totalling $1.1 million., supporting small-scale businesses to invest in skills and training, equipment and small scale infrastructure, and consultancy and advice services.

Members of the Victorian Rabbit Action Network gathered in Melbourne last week to celebrate their prestigious United Nations Award.

Agriculture Victoria received a United Nations Public Service Award this year for its work with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) in ‘delivering more inclusive and equitable services to leave no one behind’.

Representatives from Agriculture Victoria and VRAN travelled to Azerbaijan in June to receive the award.

Over the last six years, the network has delivered an innovative and integrated approach to managing rabbits in partnership with community, to address the destructive and costly pest, the European rabbit.

Chair of the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, Gerald Leach, said the event was about the network coming together and celebrating this significant achievement.

“We share this award with the VRAN committee members, mentors, government agency staff and broader communities in recognition of their tireless work and energy in sharing our states rabbit problem and solutions,” Mr Leach said.

About 30 people including network members, mentors, key contributors, founding members and Agriculture Victoria staff gathered at the Melbourne Museum last week to celebrate the award.

Agriculture Victoria Acting Executive Director for Biosecurity Services Michael Rosier said it was proven that the most effective approach to manage pests was a suite of integrated management techniques owned and led by community who work in collaboration with one another.

“The network has shown exceptional leadership in being willing to take on an issue that knows no boundaries, and is incredibly invasive and costly to our agriculture,” Mr Rosier said.

Additionally, Mr Rosier acknowledged three of the VRAN committee members who had recently been accepted into the Academy of Community Engagement, recognising exceptional accomplishments in engagement.

“We’re recognising the great contributions of the community members to the network, and how their support and cooperation has helped make this network an international success.”

Since its establishment, VRAN has reached 6,000 people, covering more than 2.5 million hectares on public and private land. By the end of 2019, it is expected that a total of 10,000 people will have been engaged with the network.

For more information about the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, visit https://rabbitaction.com/

Dry conditions in some parts of regional Victoria similar to those seen last year have led to a warning to all farmers to exercise extreme caution with the cutting, baling and storage of hay.

CFA Chief Officer Steve Warrington said firefighters responded to a record number of haystack fires last fire season.

“Over the previous fire season CFA crews responded to close to 90 haystack fires – more than any season before," he said.

“North West Victoria was a hot spot last fire season and remains a concern for CFA.

"Dry conditions have meant some crops have failed with farmers having to cut crops for hay raising the potential risk of haystack fires.

“It is important for farmers when you’re preparing your property for the fire season that your haystacks are prepared, put away and stored safely.”

Mr Warrington emphasised that haystacks can pose a great danger and occupy crucial firefighting resources for days during a potentially extreme fire season.

“What people don’t realise is that when a haystack catches fire, it continues to smoulder over a long period and CFA crews need to continue monitoring it for several days to make sure it doesn’t spread and get out of control," he said.

“Haystack fires can start quite easily from lightning, equipment and machinery, but another major source is spontaneous combustion.”

Spontaneous combustion can occur when hay is either not properly cured before baling, or not stored to protect it from rain or damp conditions which means moisture content in the bales is higher than the recommended level.

They are then stored in environments with high temperatures and little airflow, which triggers a chemical reaction that leads to fire. This can happen to any bale regardless of size.

“The advice is clear and simple; cure your hay properly and then store it in multiple locations and away from assets to avoid large losses if a fire occurs,” Mr Warrington said.

“If you’re storing hay in a shed, make sure air can circulate around the haystacks, monitor stacks on a regular basis, check for heat levels and avoid walking on stacks in case they collapse due to internal heating.

"Please make sure to keep your haystacks out of the rain to avoid fluctuating moisture content."

Since 2008, CFA has responded to more than 1500 haystack fires.

"By storing your haystacks properly you can avoid adding to those statistics and save yourself from the costly impact of a fire,” Mr Warrington said.

Important tips

• Ensure hay is well cured before bailing
• Know the history of the hay you purchase
• Keep haystacks to a limited size
• Monitor moisture and temperature of your hay regularly
• Watch for unusual odours such as pipe tobacco, caramel, burning or musty smells
• Store hay in separate stacks or sheds away from farm equipment and other buildings
• Keep your hay dry – protect it from rain, leaking rooves or spouts, and runoff and cover stacks with tarps or hay caps
• Don't stack hay right to the top of a hay shed; allow some air to circulate at the top - this helps to carry away moisture.

Temperature Guide – what to do when your hay is overheating

Use a thermometer in a probe or insert a crowbar into the middle of the stack for two hours

• Less than 50°C (can handle bar without discomfort): Check temperature daily
• 50°C – 60°C (can only handle crowbar for short time): Check temperature twice daily.  Remove machinery from shed
• 60°C – 70°C (can touch bar only briefly): Check temperature every two to four hours. Move hay to improve air flow
• Over 70 °C (bar is too hot to hold): Potential for fire. Call 000 immediately. Avoid walking on top of haystack.

Grain growers are encouraged to consider upgrading and improving their storage infrastructure in advance of this year’s harvest.

Storage expert Chris Warrick says now is the ideal time for growers to “take a step back” and look at where storage can be enhanced.

“Those improvements don’t need to be complicated or expensive – simple tweaks and adjustments can make all the difference in ensuring successful and trouble-free storage of grain from this year’s harvest,” said Mr Warrick, who co-ordinates the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Grain Storage Extension Project.

“Ultimately, we should aim for best practice storage management for safer and easier to use systems.”

Mr Warrick has provided growers with straightforward, practical advice on what they can do to improve their storage via a GRDC webinar that is also now available through the GRDC’s YouTube channel.

The grain storage upgrades webinar was the third in an ongoing series providing growers with convenient, timely and relevant information and advice about all aspects of storing grain on-farm.

In the latest recorded webinar, Mr Warrick – who is also a consultant with Primary Business – states that regular maintenance of storage is essential.

“Make use of the weeks before harvest to fix damaged hatches, repair rust and other damage, check the seals, and conduct a three-minute half-life pressure test if the silo is gas-tight sealable," he said.

“As part of that pressure test, check the oil levels in the oil relief valves. And if you need to replace the valves, consider replacing them with a larger valve that lets more air through.”

Mr Warrick advises that while retro sealing can be applied to existing storages, the cost of doing so can be high and the success rate low.

“Rather than retro sealing, I would suggest investing the money in additional storages that are gas-tight sealable to the Australian Standard 2628,” he said.

Adding aeration cooling to existing storages is a common form of upgrading infrastructure, providing considerable benefits in terms of grain quality and insect pest control.

Mr Warrick suggests installing one or two small fans per silo for efficient and effective cooling, and venting should be considered.

He said a small investment in monitoring equipment is justified given the amount of valuable grain stored on-farm these days.

“Insect traps and sieves, thermometers and moisture meters can greatly assist in monitoring grain in storage," he said.

"It’s also worth setting up and maintaining a system of keeping record of what you have detected and what you did in response.” 

Ladders and walkways should also be reviewed.

“It’s important to be able to get to the top of the silo via safe and easy access so you know what’s going on within the grain stored in respect to mould and insects," Mr Warrick said.

“Existing ladders can be improved with a cage, platform and handrails, and a walkway across multiple silos is a safe way to monitor grain. When working at heights, a safety harness is also advisable.

"Grain storage systems can be inherently hazardous so any measures to increase safety are highly recommended.

“Safety is about identifying potential hazards, the likelihood of those hazards coming into play and the potential severity of incidents and accidents.” 

Tips to reduce hazards include:

• Installing danger signs to advise of overhead powerlines, especially if tip trucks and augers operate nearby
• Installing danger signs to advise of phosphine fumigation being undertaken
• Removing any obstacles that pose a trip or head knock hazard
• Blocking off child access to ladders
• Considering guards on augers, belts and conveyers
• Levelling gravel bases under augers to reduce movement
• Installing lighting for safe use of storage at night.

Meanwhile, two more free-of-charge grain storage webinars, facilitated by BCG (Birchip Cropping Group), will be conducted over the coming months:

• November 12 – grain protectants
• December 10 – aeration cooling.

“The webinars are a convenient way of accessing the latest advice without having to leave the farm or office, and offer an opportunity to ask questions of the experts – they are extremely interactive,” Mr Warrick said.

For more information about the webinars and to register, go to http://storedgrain.com.au/event/webinar-planning-storage/ or contact Amy Harwood at amy.harwood@bcg.org.au or 0456 979 561.

More information on all aspects of grain storage can be found on the GRDC’s Stored Grain information hub at storedgrain.com.au.

Pig owners, hunters, campers, and people ordering food from overseas can all help to keep African swine fever (ASF) out of Australian pig populations.

ASF is a highly contagious exotic disease of pigs caused by a viral infection.  Severe forms of the disease can lead to the death of up to 100 per cent of a herd.

The disease has spread through China, Vietnam, Cambodia, North and South Korea, the Philippines and was recently detected in East Timor – just 650 kilometres from Australia.

Australia is free of the disease, however, evidence of the virus particles in confiscated meat products at the national border earlier this year sent a warning that it’s not enough to rely on biosecurity inspections alone.

Pig owners can help to prevent the spread of exotic animal diseases by not feeding pigs meat scraps or food that has been in contact with meat or imported dairy products. Feeding these items, also known as swill, is illegal.

Whether you have one pig, 20 pigs, a pet pig or are fattening a pig for the holiday season – you must get a free Property Identification Code (PIC) from Agriculture Victoria. Agriculture Victoria can use PICs to contact animal owners if there is a disease outbreak.

Campers, hunters and people enjoying picnics and the great outdoors can help by ensuring all food scraps are disposed of responsibly, preventing their consumption by pigs or other animals.

High-risk pig products are prohibited from entering Australia. When buying food and other goods online, always consider where they are coming from and whether they will meet biosecurity requirements before ordering them. Do not feed imported meat to pigs. Pet food containing animal or plant material requires an import permit.

For more information about notifiable animal diseases visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases.

The AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities.

The Award provides a platform to inspire and support Australian women to use and develop their skills to benefit their industries and communities.

Over the past two decades, the Award has gained a significant profile, and is recognised as a program of influence among parliamentarians, industry, media and Award alumni.

Each state and territory winner receives a $10,000 bursary for innovative ideas and projects, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.

AgriFutures Australia is committed to the future growth and advancement of the Award as a means of identifying, celebrating and empowering women.

The Rural Women’s Award is one of many AgriFutures Australia initiatives ensuring our rural industries prosper now, and into the future

Applications close 31 October.

For more information, click here

Over 600 rural and regional women gathered at 30 different locations across the state this week to share stories and knowledge, enjoy a cuppa and celebrate International Day of Rural Women as part of the Victorian Rural Women’s Network’s #CountryCuppas initiative.

Victorian Rural Women's Network held a Country Cuppas gathering at Parliament House on Tuesday morning to honour the vital contribution rural women make to the state’s communities and economy, including the $14.1 billion agriculture sector.

Rural business and community leaders, young farmers, mothers and disability and gender equality advocates attended the event, which provided guests with the opportunity to forge new connections and strengthen old ones, share ideas and experiences and create lasting networks.

For more information about the Victorian Rural Women’s Network, visit: https://extensionaus.com.au/VRWNetwork/home

The closing date for input on the duty paid by sheep and goat producers has been extended until October 31.

Sheep and goat producers and industry are invited to have their say on the future amount of the state’s sheep and goat duty, which is under review.

The duty, charged on the sale of sheep and goats in Victoria, was set at 12 cents in 1999 and has remained at that rate since.

Currently, the funds support projects and program benefitting industry, such as raising awareness of biosecurity practices.

The Sheep and Goat Compensation Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Minister for Agriculture about expenditure. The fund also allows for compensation to be paid to producers for sheep and goats in the circumstance they are affected by a declared endemic disease.

This review comes on the back of the sheep and goat industry going through major reform, having transitioned from a mob-based identification process to an electronic identification system over the last few years.

There are six options provided for the ongoing sheep and goat duty amount.

For more information on the consultation and to submit your feedback at: engage.vic.gov.au/sheep-and-goat-duty-review

Agriculture Victoria researcher Dr Josh Fanning is calling on growers and agronomists to send in pulse and oilseed samples from crops where disease is suspected.

New disease sampling kits have been developed making the collection of plant samples easier. The disease samples will help to ensure researchers are using current samples that are regionally relevant.

Dr Fanning said since diseases change from one season to the next it is important that research and breeding programs have access to the latest samples.

"The information generated from these samples ensures growers have access to current information on the resistance of each variety and researchers can continue to improve disease resistance in new pulse varieties," he said.

"We have recently received a few reports of sclorotinia in lentil and chickpea crops and samples would be appreciated."

Crop samples with suspected soil-borne diseases are also sought as part of the National Soil-borne Disease project being run by Agriculture Victoria in partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Growers and agronomists are being asked to report crops exhibiting poor thrift so that they can be tested for root disease.

Dr Fanning said some of the soil-borne diseases the project was targeting included rhizoctonia and root lesion nematodes.

“In general, we don’t know which soil-borne diseases are causing losses in pulses and oilseeds,” he said.

"The results of the disease testing would enable researchers to undertake research into management strategies for the priority diseases.

“Growers and agronomists are being urged to get in touch if they suspect root disease or have seen it previously in particular areas.”

“We have sampling kits that we will send to agronomists which include instructions on how to collect the samples and a replied paid envelope. If growers don’t have an agronomist, they can contact us, and we can collect the sample with them.”

If you are able to help, please contact Joshua Fanning at Agriculture Victoria on (03) 4344 3335 or email joshua.fanning@agriculture.vic.gov.au to request a sampling kit.

Agriculture Victoria is conducting hands-on workshops for producers using the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.

Ballan Mechanics Institute Complex
143 Inglis St, Ballan
Friday, 18 October 10 am – 3 pm
(Lunch provided)

Participants will learn how to update their Property Identification Code (PIC) details, complete a Property to Property (P2P) transfer and use the database features.

TOPICS

• Setting up, navigating and using the NLIS database
• Updating your Property Identification Code (PIC) details
• Completing Property-to-Property (P2P) transfers on the NLIS database.
• Sessions include catering, please provide dietary requirements at registration.

Book your free tickets online here then select ‘NLIS Database Practical Workshop – Ballan’

For more information, or if you have trouble registering, please call (03) 5761 1647. Numbers are limited to allow for a hands-on practical session, so be quick to secure a spot.

Please arrive from 9.30 am to allow time to set up your laptop and get connected. Computers will be provided on the day or you can bring along your own laptop. Participants are required to set up their NLIS account prior to attending the workshop, information will be provided at registration.

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