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Gippsland Ag News
 
Thursday, 8 July 2021
In this edition:
Coronavirus – (COVID-19)

The Victorian Government has announced a further easing of restrictions from 11:59pm tonight, Thursday 8 July.  See the Statement from the Minister for Health for details.

Keep up to date with all the latest restrictions and requirements at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

Latest ag news
Supplement feeding – grain poisoning risk

Dr Jeff Cave
District Veterinary Officer

Some producers may be considering supplementary feeding their livestock with grain or pellets. Such feeding can bring many benefits, but also carries the risk of grain poisoning.

Grain poisoning occurs when large amounts of starch are eaten and then rapidly fermented in the rumen or first stomach. This leads to the excessive production of lactic acid, which is absorbed into the animal’s body, reinforcing the condition’s other name, lactic acidosis.

Grain poisoning may occur when:

  • grain or pellets are introduced too quickly
  • there is a sudden increase in the amount of grain or pellets being fed
  • there is a change in type of grain or pellets being fed
  • there is insufficient feeding space leading to the dominant animals overeating
  • farmers not being aware the same precautions need to be followed when feeding pellets
  • accidental overeating due to storage areas not being sealed.

The clinical signs of grain poisoning should become apparent within 24 to 36 hours after the access to grain or pellets. In mild cases, cattle and sheep may show a decrease in appetite and appear quieter than usual.

In more severe cases, cattle and sheep may show weakness, lameness, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea ranging from porridge to water consistency, depending upon the severity of the condition, leading to dehydration. Severe cases of grain poisoning can be fatal.

Reducing the animal’s access to grain or pellets and increasing the availability of roughage can treat mild cases.

More severe cases may need to be drenched with sodium bicarbonate to neutralise the lactic acid. Unfortunately, severely affected animals are unlikely to respond well to treatment.

Following treatment, affected animals may develop hoof problems and lameness due to hoof damage caused by grain poisoning.

Like for many animal health problems, the best treatment is prevention, and the key to prevention is to gradually increase the proportion of grain or pellets in the diet at a rate at which the animal’s body can acclimatise.

Feeding guidelines are available in drought feeding guides for sheep and cattle, freely available from Agriculture Victoria at Home | Feeding Livestock | Agriculture Victoria

For further advice please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria Veterinary or Animal Health Officer, or in NSW your Local Land Services.

Small-scale and craft program workshop at Beechworth
Small business image

There is still time to register for the Small-Scale and Craft Better Business Workshop at Beechworth.

We are heading out to Beechworth on 12 July, so book your spot below to find out ways to better your business.

Agriculture Victoria is hosting Better Business Workshops for Small-Scale and Craft growers and producers through the Small-Scale and Craft Program in Victoria on ways to improve your business with a focus on good business practices, accounting and online tools, legal advice and cyber security.

Five expert panel members will discuss the below topics with a focus on small-scale growers and producers.

Emma Coath – Facilitator, Rocket Seeder
Emma is the Managing Director of Rocket Seeder Limited in Australia and a Director of ‘GROW’ Agrifood Tech Accelerator in Singapore. She has worked in the food and agriculture sector for the past 25 years and has a passion for building a sustainable food and agriculture sector through supporting innovative entrepreneurs.

Jacqui Brauman - Principal Solicitor, TBA Law
Legal advice
Jacqui has been running TBA Law for 9 years. Her speciality is succession planning and focuses on helping family businesses to prevent legal disputes from arising. Learn what could bring your business down, even if everything else is soaring. Identify areas you can focus on to prevent a legal dispute, find out the business assets you have that need protecting, and how to get legal support.

Sean Dillon – Partner, PKF Melbourne
Accounting practices and online tools

Sean is an expert in providing accounting and advisory services to the SME market across a diverse range of industries. Sean will address accounting and how that supports business owners to navigate the vast array of online tools available in the market, including the challenges faced.

Matt Gaffney - Director, Enindico
Business Planning

Matt is an expert with helping owners and leaders create and develop businesses plans and has worked with wineries and craft breweries in Victoria. Matt will discuss practical tips for owners and leaders of small-scale and craft businesses to consider how they can commit to delivering and building a business plan that can be a ‘blueprint’ for leading and managing a better business.

Solo Kombani – COO, Airculus
Cyber security

Solo is an expert in providing a customised, cost-effective and long-term cybersecurity framework to effectively manage cyber risk and compliance.  Learn practical tips on how to adapt and better secure your business against cyber attacks.

Date: 12 July
Time: 11.30 am
Venue: The George Kerferd Hotel, Beechworth
Address: 22 Oak Ave, Beechworth

Book now for Beechworth workshop here.

The Very Fast Break
The Very Fast Break banner

Welcome to the Very Fast Break seasonal climate update video clips.

We are partnering with the GRDC to bring you these short summaries for South Australia and Victoria and for the first time this year Southern NSW.

Click on the appropriate state to see the short YouTube video (5 min 07 sec).

If you have comments, questions or feedback address them to Dale Grey at the.break@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Very Fast Break is produced by Agriculture Victoria as part of the GRDC (Southern and Northern Region) "Increasing grower and advisor capacity and confidence in seasonal forecasting - Southern region and SNSW" project.

Telehandler tragedy a catalyst for new guidance

A tragic incident at a Wimmera feedlot in November 2020 was the catalyst for a new Telehandler Safety handbook for Victorian farmers.

Twenty per cent of on-farm injuries are caused by farm machinery, including telehandlers. Key risks include tipping by over-balancing the load, failing to see workers while reversing, creating a blind spot by not lowering the boom, and touching high voltage power lines.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Farm Safety Team partnered with the TeleScopic Handler Association to develop the Telehandler Safety handbook – a practical guide for farmers that highlights key safety considerations.

A two-page flyer is also available that can be printed for employees, posted on noticeboards or made available in machinery sheds and tea rooms.

Key messages for telehandler users:

  • Make sure that the view from the cab is not obstructed by the boom, cab pillars or other parts of the machine
  • Lower the boom during travel to lower the centre of gravity and maximise stability and avoid contacting overhead powerlines
  • High Risk Work Licences are required for operators of telehandlers with a load capacity over three tonnes. For telehandlers with a load capacity under three tonnes, the TSHA Operator Gold Card training is strongly recommended.

In addition to this guidance document, two safety advisors are available to provide advice and support to all Victorian farmers, free of charge.

The safety advisors spend three to four days a week visiting farms all over Victoria, undertaking safety audits and consulting with farmers.

The VFF Making Our Farms Safer Project is funded to deliver this work by the Victorian Government through the Growing Victoria’s Agriculture election commitment and Smarter Safer Farms program.

To contact the VFF Farm Safety Team, phone Farm Safety Advisors John Darcy on 0432 156 223 or Richard Versteegen on 0499 772 472.

You can also visit the Making our Farms Safer page on Facebook or Twitter.

Extra support for farmers to build harvest workforce

The Victorian Government is backing key horticulture regions through a program designed to help farmers attract and retain workers they need for the coming harvest season.

Food and Fibre Gippsland received a $49,500 grant to help connect jobseekers to employment opportunities with local growers, and improve communication with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the region.

The grant will also be used to help farmers understand transport requirements for workers - a common barrier that prevents people from taking on horticulture work.

Third-generation asparagus producer Adrian Raffa is one of Australia’s biggest producers and exporters of asparagus at his farm at Tooradin in South Gippsland. At peak harvest Raffa Fields employs more than 200 workers each year.

Raffa Fields is one of the many farms in the region’s $1 billion horticulture industry that will benefit from Food and Fibre Gippsland’s project, with a greater understanding of the needs of local jobseekers as it looks to boost its seasonal workforce for this season and for seasons ahead.

The grant is part of the government’s $1 million Seasonal Workforce Industry Support Program (SWISP), which provides support for industry groups to employ additional staff and deliver new initiatives that assist farm businesses in priority harvest regions to recruit and retain seasonal workers.

Under the program, Agribusiness Yarra Valley also received $100,000 to develop a seasonal workforce hub to connect employers with workers, as well as a targeted campaign to entice jobseekers to horticulture work.

Cobram and District Fruit Growers received $51,000 to connect more young workers to horticulture jobs, and Ausveg Vic received $56,700 to produce videos in multiple languages to highlight the COVIDSafe protocols of Victorian vegetable farms.

The program is part of the government’s comprehensive $76 million support package to assist the industry to address the workforce challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, and to develop targeted solutions driven by local communities.

The Victorian Government continues to provide support to farmers through the Seasonal Harvest Sign-On Bonus and the Pacific worker quarantine arrangement with Tasmania.

Economic and risk project to support farmers’ feeding and housing system decisions
Dairy cows at milking image

Dairy farmers who plan to change their businesses to zero-grazing and contained housing systems will be supported by a new economic and risk analysis collaborative project led by Dairy Australia, Agriculture Victoria and NSW Department of Primary Industries.

The Victoria component of the project is co-funded by Dairy Australia and Agriculture Victoria.

The proposed project aims to support dairy farmers who are evaluating their options and who may decide to move down a path that transitions them to a new feeding and/or housing system.

This will be achieved through a sound economic and risk analysis of both partial and total mixed ration feeding systems.

For more than ten years, Agriculture Victoria has provided tailored and extensive support to dairy farm businesses through their feeding transition, and enquiries are not slowing.

Agriculture Victoria Dairy Program Manager, Terry Batey said there was a handful of farmers considering this type of investment and transition ten years ago and over the last few years has grown.

“We have supported many farm clients on the zero-grazing journey since 2006,” he said.

“Farmers are looking for information in Australia and overseas to support their planning and decision-making.

“We need information, data and advice in context of the Australian dairy industry which is why this collaboration is so timely and important.”

For more information on the project, and on the Adapting Dairy Farm Systems program, visit dairyaustralia.com.au/adaptingdairyfarmsystems

Fox and wild dog bounty resumes
Fox bounty banner

The Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty collections resumed in regional Victoria on Monday 7 June 2021.

Agriculture Victoria has a COVIDSafe Plan in place for each bounty collection centre.

If you are attending a collection centre, you must comply with COVIDSafe principles including using QR code to check-in, physical distancing, good hygiene practices and wearing a face mask indoors (unless you have a lawful reason not to).

All hunters are reminded to use common sense when hunting and when it comes to attending bounty collections. Stay safe by following COVIDSafe principles, if you feel unwell, get tested and stay home.

Metropolitan Melbourne residents are reminded to adhere to the restrictions in place in Melbourne.  Stopping the spread of COVID-19 means knowing the restrictions that apply to you and making sure you follow them.  For more information, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au

Please continue to check this webpage for the latest fox and wild dog bounty information, as the collection schedule is subject to change in response to the COVID-19 situation.

Australian Biosecurity Awards – nominations now open
Aust. Biosecurity Awards banner

Australians can now nominate individuals and businesses who have made outstanding contributions to the protection of our $66* billion agricultural industries and the health of our animals, plant and people through the 2021 Australian Biosecurity Awards.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards highlight the important role that everyone plays in keeping Australia safe from biosecurity risks.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards acknowledge and recognise individuals and groups that show a commitment to supporting and promoting Australia's biosecurity and the systems upholding it.

Nominations for the 2021 Australian Biosecurity Awards are open until 30 July 2021.

For more information on the Australian Biosecurity Awards, including the nomination form, visit: awe.gov.au/ABA

This year’s biosecurity champions will be announced at the Australian Biosecurity Awards dinner in November 2021.

AgVic Talk latest podcasts
AgVic Talks banner

Have you checked out the new ‘AgVic Talk’ podcast series yet?

Each AgVic Talk podcast episode covers contemporary problems and solutions including dry seasonal conditions, weather and climate, as well as some fantastic inspiring stories from young farmers.

All information included in our episodes is accurate at the time of release.

Contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or your consultant before making any changes on-farm.

Subscribe to AgVic Talk

You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts.

What's on?

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

Irrigation AgTech, what’s in it for you

The eighth webinar in our irrigation webinar series, Irrigation AgTech, what’s in it for you, will run on Thursday 15 July, from 1 pm.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Irrigation Extension Officer Rob O’Connor said the webinar is particularly relevant for farmers and service providers who want to find out more about irrigation AgTech equipment and the recently announced Victorian Digital Grants program for farmers.

The webinar will cover:

  • types of irrigation AgTech equipment and Internet of Things (IoT) services available for irrigated farm businesses
  • recent findings from the AgVic IoT Project and the on-farm dairy, cropping, horticulture and sheep trials
  • the IoT catalogue of apps, devices and suppliers
  • what irrigation AgTech can do for your farm business
  • AgTech funding and the Victorian Digital Agriculture Investment scheme.

Agriculture Victoria Industry Technology Coordinator Mark Sloan will be giving an overview of the past two years while working alongside farmers in the Agriculture Victoria On-Farm IoT Trial, to investigate the benefits of IoT technology on farm. Mark will provide an insight into the devices and connectivity relevant to irrigated farms.

To register in advance for this webinar, go to https://bit.ly/AgVicWMW8.  After you have registered you need to save the confirmation email, which will contain information about joining the webinar, including a password.

More information about the Victorian Digital Agriculture Investment Scheme can be found here:  https://www.ruralfinance.com.au/industry-programs/digital-agriculture-investment-scheme

For more information about the irrigation webinar series please call Rob O’Connor on 0408 515 652, or for technical issues call John Paulet on 0429 158 500.

SAVE THE DATE – Riverine Plains holding inaugural Innovation Expo
 

Planning is in full swing for Riverine Plains Innovation Expo with a mountain of work going on behind the scenes to bring you this exciting new event.

The theme for the Expo is Farming Ahead of the Curve, which reflects the hugely important role that innovation plays in improving our farming systems. 

The Expo will take place over three days, beginning with the Riverine Plains / Upton Engineering Welcome Drinks on Wednesday 4 August.

This will be followed by the Innovation Field Day and Riverine Plains / New Edge Microbials Black Tie Gala Dinner on Thursday 5 August and will conclude with the Riverine Plains / Seed Force Innovation Conference on Friday 6 August.

The Innovation Field Day will be held at the Corowa Showgrounds on the morning of Thursday 5 August, and will feature a range of innovative equipment solutions for the management of local farming systems issues.

Stay tuned for more announcements about ticket sales, partner and speaker updates, via their twitter account (@RiverinePlains) and Facebook page (@Riverine Plains).

SAVE THE DATE – upcoming field days

Agriculture Victoria is excited to be attending the following field days coming up in August.

Sheep Connect
Date: Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 August
Location: Hamilton Showgrounds, Shakespeare St, Hamilton

For more information visit the Sheep Connect website.

Mallee Machinery Field Days
Date: Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 August
Location: 2574 Sunraysia Highway, Speed

For more information visit the Mallee Machinery Field Days website.

SAVE-THE-DATE – Gippsland Red Meat Conference

This year the Gippsland Red Meat Conference will replace the East Gippsland Beef Conference, and will be organised and delivered by Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG) with the support of Agriculture Victoria.

It will be held on Tuesday 31 August at the Riviera Convention Centre in Bairnsdale.

Topics to be covered at this year’s conference include:

  • Resilience and recovery: How a former NSW Farmer of the Year traded his way out of two and half years of drought
  • How a family-owned sheep stud which lost its entire ewe flock in the 2015 Pinery (SA) bushfires has bounced back
  • Succession planning: Moving the farm from one generation to the next, without tears!
  • Financial literacy: If the CapEx fits, do you wear it? Or will you EBIT and ROAM?
  • Analysing the market forces that are shaping beef and sheep meat prices
  • What does it mean to be carbon-neutral, how can we achieve that, and what is in it for us?
  • Did you hear about the $500,000 carbon credit trade to Microsoft? Hear from the bloke who sold those credits
  • Soils ain’t just soils, Sol. What is happening underground and how can we profit from that?

Plus, Masterclasses in:

  • Stock trading
  • Precision lambing
  • Crossbreeding and heterosis.

As well as:

  • Stock handling and labour-saving equipment
  • Auto-drafts and walkover weighing
  • Compliant stockyards
  • Digital agriculture: drones, robots, remote sensing and other clever stuff.

At the end of the day there will be a gourmet paddock-to-plate dinner, to which you are all invited, featuring, you guessed it, red meat!

This event will be an immersive, challenging and inspiring experience for all members of the farm business, and we guarantee that sheep and beef producers will find real value in attending.

Tickets will soon be available. Put the date in your diary now.
And finally, we all love a competition, don’t we! We are looking for the best agricultural photos to display at the conference.

They can be funny, interesting, whimsical, historically-accurate, historically-dodgy, every-day, matter-of-fact, anything-at-all: as long as they are about agriculture. Let’s show our industry in its best light.

Celebrate what we all love about our industry:

  • the outdoors
  • the animals
  • the pastures
  • the people
  • the work ethic
  • the history
  • the innovations.

We want the photos that say “I love farming because….” and they are probably in your phone right now.

Thanks to Elders, we have a prize to give away to the best such photos, and we will feature them at the conference, so all your mates can be blown away by your skill with the Box Brownie!

Send your entries to Craig Bush, Gippsland Red Meat Conference Event Manager on 0427 943 155 or redmeat@gippslandag.com.au

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Call 136 186 from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (except for mobiles and public telephones).

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au.

All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/contact-us.

Don't forget to check out Agriculture Victoria's social media sites for up-to-date information and news.

 

 

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