• Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
• New mulesing regulations
• Yersiniosis – a possible cause of ill-thrift and scouring in your herd
• Online training brings irrigator savings
• Fox bounty collection details
• Improving digital literacy in challenging times
• Citrus supply chain video
• The Fast Break
• Game Management Authority appointments
• PhD fellowships in the dairy industry – apply now
• Primary producers bushfire support programs
• Drought and dry seasons support services and information
• Upcoming webinars
• Ellinbank Seminar Series 2020

The Victorian Government has announced further restrictions to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

From 11:59pm on 1 July, the following restricted postcodes moved to Stage 3 stay at home restrictions until at least 29 July:

• 3012 -Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray
• 3021 - Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans
• 3032 - Ascot Vale, Highpoint City, Maribyrnong, Travancore
• 3038 - Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens
• 3042 - Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie
• 3046 - Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park
• 3047 - Broadmeadows, Dallas , Jacana
• 3055 - Brunswick south, Brunswick west, Moonee vale, Moreland west
• 3060 - Fawkner
• 3064 - Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickelham, Roxburgh Park, Kalkallo

If you live outside these locations, there are only four reasons to come in:

• shopping for food and supplies
• care and caregiving
• exercise, and
• study or work – if you can’t do it from home.

In all activities, farmers are asked to be considerate. Be cautious. Use your common sense. And if you don’t have to do it – don’t.

Stay safe by maintaining good hygiene, keeping your distance from others and if you feel unwell stay home.

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

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

Victorian producers are now required to administer a registered pain-relieving product if mulesing sheep.

The new provisions, which come into effect from 1 July 2020, have been introduced as part of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (POCTA) Regulations 2019.

The new requirement will ensure better animal welfare outcomes for Victorian sheep and will enhance the reputation of Victoria’s sheep industry.

Agriculture Victoria Program Manager Livestock Welfare Compliance, Rachael Holmes said only pain relief products that are registered for use on sheep by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) can be used when mulesing.

“Sheep producers are encouraged to seek advice from a veterinarian or animal health consultant regarding available treatment options for their own situation,” she said.

From July 1, infringement notices and fines can be issued to anyone mulesing a sheep without providing pain relief.

Dr Holmes said as with any agricultural or veterinary chemicals used on farm, producers should keep records of the pain-relieving products used.

“Full records of any pain relief products used must be kept,” she said.

“Details should include the product trade name, species/location of animals, identification numbers/description, the date the treatment has been applied and the dose rate used.”

More information about farm chemical record keeping requirements can be found by searching the Agriculture Victoria website.

Dr Holmes said Victoria’s Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Sheep (Revision Number 2) was also available to provide a technical guide for those using mulesing as part of a flystrike management program.

“If undertaken, mulesing should only be done as part of an integrated approach to flystrike management including crutching and shearing, good worm control, strategic use of chemicals, genetic selection of sheep and paddock grazing management,” she said.

Details about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019 are available from Agriculture Victoria – agriculture.vic.gov.au/animalwelfare

Dr Jeff Cave - District Veterinary Officer

As we move into the winter months, ill-thrift and scouring in herds occurs relatively commonly, and multiple causes should to be considered. One possible cause of these signs is yersiniosis.

Yersiniosis is a bacterial infection that can infect cattle, sheep and goats.

This infection does not usually cause ill-health in livestock and may go unrecognised.

However, Yersinia bacteria can cause clinical problems if livestock are under stress or if there is damage to the gut wall due to other factors, such as a large worm burden.

In these situations, signs of ill-health are most commonly seen in younger livestock. Typically, there may be a history of ill-thrift and ongoing scouring that has not responded to drenching.

The good news is most stock recover from infection and become immune to this disease. Death can occur but treatment with antibiotics is often successful.

Steps can be taken to prevent losses from yersiniosis and other similar diseases.

Simply optimising pasture utilisation during these colder months, practicing good parasite control, and minimising stress will help protect livestock.

It is important to remember that other causes of ill-thrift and scouring can look like yersiniosis, so it is best to contact your veterinarian to investigate these cases.

For further information contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria animal health staff on 136 186.

Agriculture Victoria’s Mallee Irrigation team recently delivered a live online training session with farmers using the IrriSAT program.

IrriSAT is a satellite-based decision support tool providing farmers with access to satellite imagery of their property.

The live online training format, piloted for the first time in partnership with Dried Fruits Australia, has enabled 11 farmers to use the farm management tool from their home computers at no cost.

Agriculture Victoria Irrigation Extension Officer Maxine Schache said the satellite imagery could be used to create maps demonstrating how healthy crops were or how well they were growing. 

“Unhealthy portions of the property are easily highlighted which may then guide field investigations to determine the cause.”
“The service can also assist farmers in estimating crop water requirements.”

Agriculture Victoria can now offer ongoing training to farmers wanting to access and understand the components of the system free of charge.

“Any farmer who wants to learn about problem spots on their property or access a free irrigation scheduling and recording service can now do so using this technology,” Ms Schache said.

She said while pilot training took place in the Mallee’s Sunraysia irrigation district, the technology could benefit irrigators and dryland farmers across the state.

For more information about IrriSAT or to sign up to the next online training on 16 July contact Maxine Schache on 0428 507 855 or maxine.schache@agriculture.vic.gov.au or Natalie Mason on 0427 516 984 or natalie.mason@agriculture.vic.gov.au

IrriSAT was developed by the CSIRO’s Dr John Hornbuckle. To create an IrriSAT account, visit https://irrisat-cloud.appspot.com/

Designated fox and wild dog bounty collection centres are now operating in line with physical distancing requirements including established drop off and exclusion zones.

During the suspension period, bounty participants were encouraged to continue to collect fox scalps and wild dog body parts on private properties as part of pest control activities, and to freeze or air dry them.

Hunters are encouraged to refresh their knowledge of the terms and conditions of the bounty to ensure what they submit is acceptable. Participants can submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and entire wild dog body parts for a $120 reward during scheduled collection times.

Bairnsdale collections (fox and wild dog) 35 Bairnsdale – Dargo Road, Bairnsdale

Time: 12 – 2 pm

Dates:

• Tuesday, 14 July
• Tuesday, 8 September
• Tuesday, 6 October

Ellinbank collections (fox and wild dog) Depot, 1301 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank

Time: 2 – 4 pm

Dates:

• Monday, 13 July
• Monday, 7 September
• Monday, 5 October

Maffra collections (fox and wild dog) Depot, 1 Stratford Rd, Maffra

Time: 9 – 11 am

Dates:

• Wednesday, 15 July
• Wednesday, 9 September
• Wednesday, 7 October

Woori Yallock collections (fox only) Depot, Symes Rd, Woori Yallock

Time: 12 – 2 pm

Dates:

• Thursday, 16 July
• Thursday, 10 September
• Thursday, 8 October

Yarram collections (fox only) Rodgers St, Yarram

Time: 2 – 4 pm

Dates:

• Wednesday, 15 July
• Wednesday, 9 September
• Wednesday, 7 October

For more information about collection schedules visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty

Agriculture Victoria is supporting farmers to improve their digital literacy with a technology audit and digital webinar series.

The audit will help farmers understand the technology they currently have on the farm and how to build on these to assist decision making during challenging times such as drought and dry seasonal conditions.

Free digital literacy webinars will also help farmers to better understand the range of available connectivity, the Internet of Things, and how social and professional networks offer support to farmers in different ways.

The audit and webinar series are part of the 2019-20 Drought Support Package, with input from Horticulture Industry Technology Coordinator Andy Clark.

“Farmers make important decisions every day - choosing and using technology is one of them,” Andy said.

“Understanding exactly what technology and connectivity they already have on farm and where the gaps are is crucial when it comes to knowing how improvements can be made.

It will also help avoid unnecessary or duplicated expenses.”  Andy said the digital technology audit and webinars are designed to work together.

“The two will give farmers the confidence to connect digitally, use the technology they already have more efficiently and ensure they have access to information to assist decision making.”

The free 30-minute audit will be conducted by phone. Sessions can be booked starting in late June. 

Farmers will be asked to identify what type of internet connectivity they have, whether they have access to wi-fi and how they use technology on their farm.

Participants will be provided with questions in advance so they can collect the information needed to complete the audit. The results will be collated into a report for each farmer and will include a map of their property identifying key technologies which can be used as a guide for adding new technology. 

To register for the audit contact Andy Clark on 0436 804 656 or book a time at bit.ly/2VbBXBK

The free digital literacy webinar series will be offered in July, each session will be held 1.30 - 2.30 pm.

If you need help registering please contact Gavin Beever, Cumbre Consultants on 0438 234 886.

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

Agriculture Victoria has partnered with Citrus Australia to trial traceability technologies along the citrus supply chain.

Consumers around the world are demanding more information on how and where their food is produced, and we are always proud to put the Victorian stamp on our quality produce.

Watch this new video to understand how improved traceability can make supply chains more efficient, strengthen Victoria’s reputation for premium food and fibre products and give consumers confidence they’re buying authentic Victorian grown produce.

This is the first of a series of videos following the trial from tree to table.

Check it out here https://bit.ly/31tAniv

The Fast Break for June gives you all your seasonal climate risk information in one hit.

As well as rainfall and soil moisture, The Fast Break also provides a snapshot of how ocean temperatures and pressure patterns will impact your patch.

Subscribe or download here.

Three new board members have been appointed to the Game Management Authority (GMA), bringing new skills and experience to the independent regulator.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes recently announced the appointment of Dr Bronwyn Orr, Corrie Goodwin and Owen Cavanough for a term of three years. Ian Maxfield has also been reappointed to the GMA Board.

Dr Bronwyn Orr will bring significant animal welfare expertise to the GMA Board as a veterinarian with a Master of Science in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law. Dr Orr grew up in regional Queensland and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy, focusing on the health of hunting dogs.

Ms Goodwin brings additional expertise in land management and public administration to the GMA Board, adding to her extensive regulatory experience in the Australian Dairy Industry.

Aboriginal culture and identity knowledge is maintained, with new director Mr Cavanough also bringing practical experience in sustainable and responsible game hunting.

The new appointments bring the GMA Board membership to eight directors, increasing diversity with country Victoria-based members, gender equality, and Aboriginal representation.

The GMA works with the community as an independent regulator overseeing game hunting in Victoria through education, research and enforcement to ensure game hunting is conducted in a responsible and sustainable way.

The GMA is continuing to adopt best practice approaches to managing deer, duck and quail hunting; investing in research and new technologies to ensure evidence-based regulation.

Victoria has more than 50,000 licensed game hunters who contribute to the economies of towns and regional centres across the state, supporting jobs both directly and indirectly.

The Victorian Budget 2019/20 delivered a $6 million funding boost to the GMA, which has increased staffing by almost 80 per cent, improved research and hunter engagement, and provided new equipment for officers.

The Victorian Government acknowledges the work of outgoing inaugural board members Deputy Chairperson Margaret Donnan and Mark Little for their leadership, hard work and oversight since the establishment of the GMA.

In partnership with the University of Melbourne, Agriculture Victoria is offering 17 PhD research fellowships in the dairy industry.

Based at our world-renowned research centres at Ellinbank and Hamilton, successful applicants will be rewarded with a $33,000 per annum scholarship, access to state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities for professional development and overseas travel.

To find out more visit https://go.vic.gov.au/wyePVD

Victorian winemakers and wine grape growers affected by the recent summer bushfires now have access to expert support and technical advice to help them make decisions about their current vintage.

The program includes online technical workshops on recognising and addressing the effects of smoke exposure, evaluation of 2020 wines by expert sensory panels, support to produce test batches for evaluation and access to a benchmarking kit to help winemakers assess their own wines.

The program will also include winemaking trials to evaluate techniques for treating smoke-affected wines and research activities to better characterise the impacts of smoke on a range of locally important varieties.

The Wine Grape Testing Rebate Program, provides growers with up to $1200 for smoke-exposure testing. The rebate program remains open to eligible growers through Rural Finance.

For more information on support for the wine industry after the bushfires visit agriculture.vic.gov.au or call 136 186.

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 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 Drought 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.

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.

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.

Fertility is a significant driver of profitability in beef breeding enterprises. Join us for a discussion on how bulls can be the missing link in herd fertility and how management decisions can ramp up fertility to the next level and improve profitability.

Presenter Dr Shane Thomson, Holbrook Veterinary Centre.

Shane is a veterinarian and partner at the Holbrook Veterinary Centre which specialises in production and breeding services to the beef industry.

DATE: Wednesday 15 July

TIME: 7.30 to 9 pm

VENUE: Online or via phone

For those unable to join the webinar platform, a phone service is available, the details are on the registration page.

A recording of this event will be available afterwards.

REGISTER ONLINE:

Click the link to register: https://login.redbackconferencing.com.au/landers/page/6ea123

For further information or if you have any problems registering contact Cathy Mulligan at cathy.mulligan@agriculture.vic.gov.au
or 0438 341 970.

Do you want to know more about all the pain relief options for livestock?

Join us for a free webinar with one of Australia’s leading cattle and sheep vets, Dr Andrew Whale.

Over the last few years it seems the options for pain relief within the livestock industry has exploded, resulting in confusion as to what’s best for your operation.

Andrew will take you through the range of different products available how to use them and when to use them?

WHAT: Pain relief in livestock. What's the best fit for my operation?

WHEN: Thursday 9 July

TIME: 8 – 9 pm

WHERE: Online

COST: Free

REGISTER:  follow the link: https://bit.ly/2BHMfm0

Agriculture Victoria is delivering a series of four webinars to improve farm business resilience, hosted by ORM managing consultant Matt McCarthy. Farmers and farm business managers should register for the webinars to identify how to safeguard their core business operations when unexpected situations occur.

Register for each of the webinars below to attend or receive a link of the recorded event.

Grassland is a crucial resource for the ruminant livestock industries within the agricultural sector. In most temperate regions globally, this land is predominantly sown with ryegrass: a high yielding species that can provide good quality forage but is reliant upon the application of sufficient nitrogen fertiliser, and susceptible to drought. Nitrogen fertiliser is expensive and has a high carbon and nitrogen footprint. Therefore, multiple research projects in recent years have investigated the replacement of monoculture pastures with mixed-species leys. Their aim has been to achieve acceptable yields of good quality forage for livestock production whilst having a positive and long term impact on the environment.

In this webinar, Anna Thomson, who previously worked at the University of Reading (UK) before joining the Ellinbank team, will discuss her previous research into mixed-species pastures as part of a collaborative 5-year study: ‘The DiverseForage Project’ and also summarise the findings of other notable European studies on this subject matter.

The Energy Efficient Communities Program - Dairy Farming Business Grants will provide grants to help dairy farming businesses save energy and lower bills by:

• replacing existing equipment with higher efficiency equipment
• installing or replacing component/s to help an existing system run more efficiently
• carrying out on-farm energy audits
• carrying out monitoring of energy usage and emissions.

Dairy farming businesses can apply for a grant of up to $20,000 with no co-contribution required.

Please note, applications close on 17 August 2020.

Find out more at https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates/dairy-farming-energy-efficiency-grants

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