Early weaning of beef calves - a good strategy during drought and dry conditions

Large-scale disease surveillance puts industry on front foot

The Fast Break

Spring may bring foot problems in sheep

On-Farm Emergency Water rebate scheme

Controlling fruit fly in Maryborough

What's New - latest from the Profitable Stonefruit Network

New app an industry first for table grapes

Improve your nursery irrigation with water workshop

Harvest clean to keep mouse numbers lean

Young Farmer Business Network group on Facebook

Young Farmers Business Bootcamp in Kerang?

Look over the farm gate activities

Planning support for small-scale pig and poultry producers

What's On

Save-the-dates

Early weaning is a strategy worth considering this season with the feed and water challenges faced during the prolonged dry seasonal conditions.

Agriculture Victoria has lots of information available to farmers to help with these key decisions.

Farmers are strongly encouraged to check out our Feeding Livestock website for advice, tools and key resources all in the one place and for free.

We’ve put all the key resources in one place to make access straightforward, including our popular drought books.

These essential guides to feeding livestock can be accessed in full online or by calling 136 186 or by dropping into your local office.

Key reasons for early weaning

Maintain herd fertility

Early weaning helps beef producers to maintain cow condition and therefore fertility of their breeding herd during and after a drought.

For example, by weaning spring calving herds before cows fall below a fat score of 3 will mean they only need maintaining to calving for acceptable post- calving return (interval) to oestrus and conception rates.

Cows down in condition are more likely to cycle and conceive sooner after calving, if the calves are weaned prior to joining.

Save your pasture

It is more efficient to convert feed directly into calf weight than milk for a cow and calf pair. Weaning early will reduce the dry sheep equivalent demand on your property. When combined with feeding appropriate quality and quantity of feed to dry cows and weaned calves, rather than cows with calves at foot, significant feeding cost reductions can result.

Cows that have had their calves weaned early can be shifted to more marginal country so only ‘growing’ stock are run in the best paddocks. Cows will need less feeding later on because they will have lower weight loss once calves are weaned.

Better utilise supplementary feed

Buying supplementary feed during a drought is a costly exercise. Early weaning will enable you to better allocate supplements to different classes of animals. By weaning the calf off the cow early, the cow returns to maintenance requirement energy levels.  This separation can provide a 30 per cent savings in energy across the farm.
High energy and protein feeds can be fed to young growing stock, and lower quality feeds (that is, poorer quality hay) to the dry cows. This will reduce the overall cost of supplements during the drought.

Save water

Early weaning can reduce water requirements of cows by up to 60 per cent. Lactating cows require up to 100 litres per day. Although a calf’s water intake approximately doubles when it is weaned as it’s no longer getting liquid via its mother’s milk, there is a significant net saving in water from early weaning.

Sell cull females earlier

Early weaning will enable earlier pregnancy testing and mouthing and the earlier sale of non-productive, cull or aged animals.

Age of weaning

In most cases it is preferable to wait and wean calves at 12 weeks old or around 120kg, because they will then require less protein and be easier to feed. If cow survival is of concern, calves can be weaned earlier than this, but a milk replacer will be required if calves aren’t going to be sold as bobby calves. In a drought, all calves older than five to six months should be weaned and fed separately.

Deciding when to wean

Cow condition is a major consideration when deciding when to wean. Wean early in order to maintain cow herd productivity.

The appearance of calves should also be considered. Calves with dry, coarse coats (woody calves) are almost certainly not receiving adequate milk from their mothers.

Early weaning is the best policy in this situation. Calves with glossy coats are receiving an adequate diet and early weaning can be delayed.

Pre-weaning

Expose calves to the post-weaning supplement while they are still on the cow.

For example, if calves are going to be given silage post-weaning, feed silage to the cow-calf mobs a few times prior to weaning.

Rumen microbial populations can require up to 14 days to completely adapt to a new diet. Consider introducing calves to post-weaning supplements slowly via creep-feeding two weeks before weaning.

Weaning

Avoid combining stressful procedures like castration and dehorning with early weaning. If yard weaning, where possible keep the yards damp to minimise pink-eye.

Fly traps and backline insecticides will also reduce flies, a vector for the disease. Eye ointments and patches of heavy material will provide relief for affected calves and prevent fly access.

When penning calves allow four square metres per calf at a minimum, increasing to 6-8 square metres for larger calves approaching 150kg.

Provide high quality hay, such as clover, vetch or lucerne hay. If these quality hays are not available then oaten hay combined with high protein cattle pellets will supply the weaners nutrition. 

Weaned calves need to have an adequate fibre source such as a barley straw in a feeder at all times, this will help their rumen development.

It’s important to clean water troughs regularly as young weaned calves will not drink fouled water.

The high-quality ration required by early weaned calves will increase their risk of developing pulpy kidney so a 5 in 1 vaccination for clostridial diseases is very important.

During the first week of weaning observe any small calves or shy feeders that are being pushed away from the feed source.

It is best to draft these off and pen them as a smaller mob in another yard, so they have adequate opportunity to feed with less stress.

Yard weaning is the best option as the calves are contained, don’t wander, learn to stay as a mob, are close to feed and water, best to socialise calves to human contact, plus daily observation and feeding is easier. 

Yards should be soft floored, free of dust and mud, have adequate access for stock to feed and water trough space.  Shade and shelter can be provided by using shade cloth along the exposed external fences. 

Yard weaning is also an ideal opportunity to quieten down stock by regularly moving through the mob or teaching them to move slowly through gates and walk through the crush without any stress.

Leaving the farm ute nearby with the radio playing gets stock accustomed to voices and sounds and helps prepare them for future yarding or market noise. 

Once weaned and accustomed to people, the mob can be taught to move with dogs or vehicle in the paddock or kept within in a stock containment area until adequate pasture/groundcover returns to your paddocks. 

Post-weaning nutrition

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. The younger the weaning age of the calf, the higher the energy and protein levels need to be. Unless the feed has adequate energy density, feed intake and animal performance may be restricted by small rumen capacity.

Much of the pasture hay and silage made in Australia is by itself unsuitable for early-weaned calves.

Introduce any concentrate (for example grains) slowly. Introduce initially to calves at 300g per head per day and increase the amount by 100g per head per day with access to hay.

Supplement the mix with a buffer to prevent acidosis.
Insufficient protein in the ration of early weaned calves will result in short, dumpy cattle.

Likely sources of protein to use are lupins, peas, linseed meal, canola meal, lucerne and soybean meal.

Feed merchants can supply high protein calf grower pellets comprising of 16 per cent protein and 13ME (metabolisable energy) which are safer to feed than grain mixes.

If using grain mixes ensure it is a formulated ration with adequate protein, energy and a pH buffer and introduce the new feed slowly to the weaners. 

Avoid changing ration mixes if at all possible or if necessary, to change blend the new and old mix over a 10-day period to ensure smooth transition to the new diet.

Ideally, roughage should be chopped and mixed with the other components of the calves’ diet, before feeding.

Palatability is important to get calves to eat sufficient fibre. Consider adding a sweetener such as molasses or grape mark to a mixed ration for young calves.

Calcium is the mineral most likely to be needed in a diet for calves. Generally, calcium carbonate (such as ground limestone) should be added to a grain-based diet at the rate of 1½ parts per 100 (that is 1.5 per cent) by weight of the grain in the diet. 

A manufacturers' grain mix or pellets will already have the calcium added.

Although good quality roughage (lucerne or clover hay) provides a reasonable supply of Vitamin A, some supplementary Vitamin A is usually necessary for early weaned calves if they only have access to a dry ration and have not had access to green pasture for some time, for example three months.

This can be included in the feed, given orally or by injection. Alternatively, complete rations in the form of pellets or grain mixes are available from commercial suppliers.

Post-weaning management

Rather than letting calves roam barren paddocks, consider weaning into containment areas where they will tend to rest and feed, conserving energy and minimising damage to paddocks. Six weeks after weaning, draft off tail-enders into a separate management group.

Repeat this process four months after weaning.

For more information visit feedinglivestock.vic.gov.au

For more information about managing during drought and dry seasonal conditions go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

Agriculture Victoria scientists have completed a large-scale disease management project that will significantly improve the productivity and biosecurity of Australia’s grains industry.

The six-year research project, which involved disease surveillance of more than 800 crops, 83 field experiments and 700 extension activities to growers and agronomists nationwide, found that unmanaged diseases resulted in yield losses of at least 25 per cent - a great cost to the Australian grains industry.

Project leader and Agriculture Victoria Research Scientist Dr Grant Hollaway, said the breadth of research has provided the Australian grains industry with the skills, knowledge and tools to significantly reduce crop losses caused by disease.

“This research gives industry the tools to cost-effectively manage diseases and prevent crop losses,” Dr Hollaway said.

“Diseases are a constant and changing threat and there is an ongoing need to protect the grains industry from diseases as they evolve.

“In the absence of good disease management, we cannot grow crops to their full potential.”

Diseases affect grain yield and quality, increase production costs, limit rotation options and contribute to production uncertainty.

The research identified new diseases, the dominant diseases and diseases of increasing importance.

It also provided new information on the best fungicide application timings and developed field-relevant disease ratings for high-priority diseases.

An example of this is the development of the septoria nursery at Agriculture Victoria’s Hamilton research centre in response to the re-emergence of the wheat fungal disease, Septoria tritici blotch, as a high-priority disease in Victoria.

“We recognised and created a service that is clearly needed by industry and it will continue to support breeding and pre-breeders with their breeding effort,” Dr Hollaway said.

“Last year the nursery transitioned to a fee-for-service model for industry and we screened more than 5000 wheat lines for septoria in one year alone.”

A large part of the six-year research was communicating surveillance and research outcomes to industry to help prevent and minimise crop losses as new issues arose.

The 2016 cropping season, which was marked by consistent wet conditions, put Victoria’s field crops under immense disease pressure. 

In response to this threat, Agriculture Victoria scientists and communication experts worked with the Grains Research and Development Corporation to deliver timely and effective disease management recommendations to industry through 50 extension activities.
                                                             
“This demonstrated our capacity to respond to issues as they happened, allowing growers and agronomists to act swiftly on disease management and minimise crop losses,” Dr Hollaway said.

“It is how we translate our research to value on-farm at times when farmers need it most.”

This project is part of the Victorian Grains Innovation Partnership between the Victorian Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, which aims to increase the profitability of southern grain growers through world-class research.

31 October 2019

Welcome to the "Fast Break" climate e-newsletter.

Click here to see Victoria's soil moisture, climate driver summary and climate predictions from October run models.

Agriculture Victoria partners with the GRDC to develop monthly climate model outlooks for South Australia, Southern New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.

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

Dr Jeff Cave
District Veterinary Officer

A common animal health issue in spring may include foot problems in sheep.

Even during dry conditions, in spring conditions footrot can still be an issue, therefore the question often is ‘is it a foot abscess or footrot?’.

In a spring with sufficient feed, sheep become unusually heavy and this coupled with standing on moist pasture or muddy ground for an extended period leaves them susceptible to developing foot abscess.

A sheep with foot abscess will usually be very lame in just one foot. This is an important difference from footrot where more than one foot will invariably be affected.

Although foot abscess is associated with the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum it is not contagious.

The foot of a sheep with foot abscess will appear hot, swollen and painful. The abscess can be present in either the toe or the heel of the foot.

A foot abscess contains pus and can be treated by hoof paring to provide drainage for the pus. Antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian will also help.

The severity of the effects of footrot, which are inflammation between the toes and underrunning of the hoof, will depend upon whether the strain of bacteria is benign (mild) or virulent (severe).

Footrot, caused by the bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus, spreads readily in warm, moist conditions.

Virulent footrot can be eradicated, but a long, hot, dry summer is needed. During spring footrot can be controlled through foot bathing.

For further advice please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer, or in NSW your Local Land Services.

The On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme is now available for the purchase and installation of emergency water infrastructure for livestock.

The scheme is available to eligible farm businesses in a number of local government areas, including: Campaspe, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Loddon, Strathbogie, Swan Hill, Mildura and Buloke.

Farm businesses outside of the above local government areas can make an application if they can demonstrate a critical water need for livestock resulting from current seasonal conditions.

These applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The scheme is available for water infrastructure purchased since 1 July 2018 – guidelines and application details can be obtained from Rural Finance, call 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au

Maryborough residents can play a vital biosecurity role in their backyards this spring by helping to control Queensland Fruit Fly.

Agriculture Victoria identified the pest in Maryborough earlier this year.

While the pest has been identified for some years in a range of other locations – including Bendigo - it is a relatively new pest to Maryborough.

With that in mind, Agriculture Victoria is holding a community talk next week to raise awareness and help residents take action.

Thursday 14 November: at 11.15 am at the Maryborough Street Harvest, corner of Nolan and Alma Streets

Fruit Fly Action Plan Senior Project Officer Jane Ryan said both talks would give gardeners the critical information they needed to help deal with Queensland Fruit Fly and a chance to ask any burning questions.

“Managing fruit fly requires a combination of control measures throughout the year.  Gardeners can make a difference and – if everyone gets involved – these actions can be highly effective in controlling fruit fly numbers,” she said.

“If you find a piece of fruit with maggots in it, for example, make sure you destroy the fruit and maggots because just throwing it onto the ground or into your compost will help the fruit fly continue its lifecycle.

“Seal the fruit in a plastic bag and place it in the sun – ideally for seven days - to destroy eggs and maggots – and talk to your neighbours so they can check any fruit and vegetables in their gardens for stings or fruit fly maggots.

“Installing male monitoring traps can identify whether Queensland fruit fly is in the area, and let you know whether it’s time to ramp up your management.

“If you have fruit trees in your garden but don’t manage them, it’s best to remove them so they don’t become a haven for fruit fly and grow a population in your area.”

For more information on managing Queensland fruit fly, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff 

HANDY HINTS

A combination of activities will help manage QFF;

• Exclusion: Place physical barriers over trees and plants to prevent QFF reaching the fruit. Effective options include netting, gazebos, bags and these are available from your local nursery or hardware retailer.
• Good garden hygiene: Pick fruit and vegetables as they ripen. Collect and destroy all fallen or unwanted produce. Produce can be placed in a sealed plastic bag and left for seven days in the sun. You can also freeze, boil or microwave produce to destroy QFF larvae. Do not add unwanted fruit to your compost or worm farm or place it directly into your rubbish bin. Consider removing fruit trees that you no longer want to prevent fruit fly breeding on those trees and spreading around town.
• Regular monitoring: Monitoring will let you know when fruit fly is active so you can start using control strategies.
• Baiting and trapping: Traps and baits targeting QFF before they attack fruit can be purchased from hardware stores, nurseries and online. Look for traps that will kill both female and male flies. Traps for control need to be placed at closer spacing than monitoring traps.
• Spraying Insecticides: Spraying insecticides that kill QFF on contact should be used with caution and are available from local chemical or home garden retailers.

For more information and a full list of crops they can attack go to the Agriculture Victoria website visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff

• Irrigated scheduling for RDI

Irrigated scheduling for regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) in Stonefruit (pdf)
• The RDI technique
• scheduling RDI from ETo
• RDI with flood and furrow irrigations

• Pest pocket guide

An online e-book version of the popular Agriculture Victoria publication Pests of Pome and Stonefruit and their Predators and Parasitoids.

This guide is intended to assist in the identification of pest and beneficial insects and mites found in orchards.

This information is brought to you by Agriculture Victoria.

• Introduction to orchard technology

Researchers at Agriculture Victoria will be testing technologies to determine their application to support research, automation and on-farm capability.

Australian table grape growers will have important real-time chemical application information at their fingertips, following the development of the industry’s first mobile phone app.

The Australian Table Grape Association Inc. (ATGA) developed the “ATGA MRLs Search” app, which provides real-time information on maximum residue limits (MRLs) and withholding periods (WHPs) for both domestic and export markets.

“Breaches of MRLs or WHPs not only threaten to destroy the reputation of an individual grower, but also Australia’s reputation as a clean, food safe supplier of fresh product,” ATGA CEO Jeff Scott said.

For an industry valued at more than $800m in the 2018/2019 financial year, with its export market value approximately $555.2 million (and growing), having instant access to such information will help Australian table grape producers remain vigilant and protect Australia’s global reputation.

ATGA MRLs Search, which is now available from Apple and Google app stores, delivers important progress for the table grape industry.

“A number of administrative functions within the table grape sector have recently moved to online platforms, which is a reflection of the next generation of younger, tech-savvy growers entering the industry and taking over the family farming enterprises,” Mr Scott said.

The app provides access to real-time pre- and post-harvest chemical application data, including MRLs and WHPs based on domestic and export market, target pest or disease and/or active constituents.

With an easy-to-use interface, growers can use the app anywhere and anytime due to its offline capability.

The final result of a project funded by Agriculture Victoria’s Horticulture Innovation Fund, the app was developed in partnership with the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).

In 2011, the ATGA and AWRI collaborated to deliver the first agrichemical compliance tool for the table grape sector, adapted from the AWRI’s highly regarded “Dogbook”.

That online platform, while updated over time for a number of export markets, had since become obsolete, with growers unable to access current MRL data.

The current project provided the opportunity for the ATGA and AWRI to collaborate again to further drive the industry’s technological advancement.

It allowed for the research, analysis and development of the app, as well as an upgrade to database software and hosting to maintain the original online search portal, and a review of MRLs for three new markets.

ATGA MRLs Search is now available for free download.

Agriculture Victoria is offering a two-day workshop for nursery irrigators who are interested in the latest information on nursery irrigation management.

Normally valued at over $500, Agriculture Victoria is providing this workshop free to Mallee irrigators.

Presenters are Agriculture Victoria Irrigation Manager (Mallee) Jeremy Giddings and Bill Yiasoumi, nursery irrigation consultant.

Mr Giddings said the WATERWORK workshop had been run for many years throughout Australia helping the nursery industry meet its environmental guidelines for waste water.

“Most nurseries can save large quantities of water and nutrients by lowering their system application rates and improving their evenness,” he said.

Mr Giddings said nursery managers doing the workshop had reported better plant quality with faster and more even growth and significant water savings.

“The outcomes are a win for the nursery and environment,” he said.

The WATERWORK workshop is a combination of lectures, practical exercises and classroom exercises, conducted over two days.

The participants are introduced to three important measurements that can help them evaluate their irrigation system: Mean Application Rate — MAR, Coefficient of Uniformity — Cu % and Scheduling Coefficient — Sc.

The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 13 November from 9 am – 4 pm and Thursday, 14 November from 9 am – 3 pm at SuniTAFE Farm, 161 Dairtnunk Avenue, Irymple.

Day 1 - Overhead sprinklers, mobile booms, hand watering. Practical Session: Evaluating sprinkler performance • drip irrigation • bottom watering systems • operating and scheduling irrigation systems • irrigation system audit • irrigation system design

Day 2 - Water supply and irrigation requirements • water treatment (includes water testing) • water disinfestation, drainage and recycling, site assessment for drainage • drainage system design • dealing with drainage water • review and wrap-up

To register contact Jeremy Giddings on (03) 5051 4566 or jeremy.giddings@agriculture.vic.gov.au by tomorrow (8 November).

Minimising grain on the ground after harvest will assist in maintaining current low populations of mice across Australia’s grain growing regions.

That’s according to pest experts who are encouraging growers to harvest as cleanly as possible and practice good farm hygiene, especially around grain storage facilities, to reduce the availability of food for mice.

Lead researcher Steve Henry from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, says food resources left in paddocks after harvest could sustain mouse breeding and lead to higher mouse numbers when next year’s winter crops are sown.
 
“Given it has been a variable season right across the grain belt, we know that many growers will be conscious about getting as much grain as possible into the silos so that will certainly help to reduce the potential for any build-up in mouse populations,” Mr Henry, whose mouse-related research is through a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment, said.

“We also recognise that some crops may not be harvested at all, and in those situations it would be advisable to consider using livestock where possible to remove potential food for mice.”

Mr Henry, who recently completed a spring monitoring exercise with his colleague Wendy Ruscoe, said mouse numbers remain low across all grain-growing regions in Australia, largely because of the continuing dry conditions in many parts.

“In South Australia, mouse numbers are low across the northern Adelaide Plains, the Mallee, Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, while the situation is similar in Victoria where abundance is low in regions such as the Mallee and Wimmera.

“In northern, central and southern New South Wales, there has been no mouse activity, while numbers in Queensland are very low throughout the Darling Downs and around Goondiwindi. In Western Australia, mouse abundance is also at a low level.”

Mr Henry said to further assist with monitoring efforts, a new benchmark site and a further 10 rapid assessment sites have been set up at Parkes by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Benchmark sites at Mallala in SA, Walpeup in Victoria, the Darling Downs in Queensland and now Parkes in NSW involve the collection of live trapping data for use in population modelling.

Quantitative rapid assessment sites involve the use of mouse chew cards and assessment of active mouse burrows.

In addition, qualitative monitoring networks comprising farmers and agronomists in 11 local areas assist in the gathering of regional mouse population and activity intelligence.

Mr Henry said mice started to breed in early spring and numbers are expected to slowly increase through the remainder of spring and summer to reach a peak in late autumn 2020.

Mouse numbers are not expected to rise enough to cause any problems for 2020 sowing programs.

In the meantime, he encourages growers to actively monitor mouse activity via chew cards or active burrow counts, as isolated patches of higher mouse activity can occur where conditions are favourable.

“I urge growers to report and map mouse activity – presence and absence – using MouseAlert (www.mousealert.org.au) so other growers can see what activity is being observed in their neighbourhood and via Twitter using @MouseAlert.”

Mr Henry said weather events, such as hail, intense wind and late spring or early summer rains can damage mature crops and also produce a flush of summer weeds which can contribute to mouse food sources over summer.

The GRDC’s major mouse-related research, development and extension program is continuing to reveal new insights about mice in Australian broad acre cropping systems.

As part of the suite of GRDC investments, CSIRO researchers have been undertaking bait substrate trials to determine what is driving a perceived reduction in efficacy of zinc phosphide bait and testing potential new bait substrates that might be more attractive to mice.  

Researchers are testing the willingness of mice to transition from one food to another and then determining whether mice will continue to eat that alternative food source once zinc phosphide bait has been applied.

The work being undertaken by CSIRO is outlined by Mr Henry in a GRDC podcast at http://bit.ly/2WyolPA and video at http://bit.ly/305AayV.

Another experiment has aimed to determine the acceptance of different toxic bait substrates by mice when challenged against a different background of food types.

The next phase of the research will examine the role of available alternative food on commercial zinc phosphide bait effectiveness.

The GRDC mouse-related investments include a focus on mouse ecology.

This work will involve a series of experiments aimed at understanding how mice function in zero and no-till cropping systems.

Mouse ecology research will address five key topics – farming practices, managing refuge habitat, understanding mouse movements, mouse burrows and bait delivery.

Results from bait substrate experiments, in conjunction with the results of the work in the five key mouse ecology priority areas, will form the basis of a series of recommendations for improved mouse control strategies for Australian grain growers.

A comprehensive GRDC Mouse Control resource hub is available at http://bit.ly/2ImjEEn.

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.

Agriculture Victoria is taking expressions of interest to run a Young Farmer Business Bootcamp in Kerang.

We need a minimum of ten businesses for the program to go ahead.

The two-day bootcamp is suited to those who are young or new to managing a farm business and wanting to forge a long and successful career in beef, sheep and mixed farming enterprises by developing the skills required to respond to risks, such as dry seasonal conditions.

The bootcamp is delivered over two days - 5 and 12 Februrary 2020.

Participants can expect to improve their understanding of profit and loss and cash flow budgeting, balance sheets and gross margins, planning for and managing risks and financial planning and analysis.

Participants register here on eventbrite.

If you are unable to register using eventbrite or would like further information, please contact Sarah Wallis on (03) 5761 1573.

The bootcamps will be delivered by Tristan Wardley, Farm Business Economist, Agriculture Victoria.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need to attend both days?

Yes, this is a two-day program.

What can I bring into the event?

Course materials are provided.

To support farmers dealing with drought and dry seasonal conditions, the Look Over the Farm Gate program is funding the screening of a new film “Happy Sad Man”.

There is no cost to attend and the screening will be followed by a discussion lead by the National Centre for Farmer Health.

Check out happysadman.org/screenings for a screening near you.

Provides Victorian small-scale pig and poultry producers with funding of up to $3,000 to help them with the costs related to obtaining a land use planning permit.

Who can apply:

At a minimum, you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be seeking a land use planning permit for an existing or proposed small-scale pig or poultry farm located in Victoria
• complete a small-scale pig and poultry planning workshop prior to applying for the grant program

Other eligibility requirements may apply.

Deadline to apply: Applications close: 31 May 2020

Applications will remain open until 31 May 2020, or when the funding allocation is expended, whichever occurs first.

Contact information: 13 61 86 or psai@ecodev.vic.gov.au

APPLY HERE: Planning Support Program for Small-Scale Pig and Poultry Producers VIC

Gardiner Dairy Foundation is offering up to seven tertiary scholarships for students commencing full time study in 2020 in a field which will benefit dairy communities. Each scholarship is valued at $10,000 per annum for up to three years.

The tertiary scholarship program not only encourages students to return to dairy regions on graduation to contribute their new skills, but also places value on community contribution and personal development.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Pursuing a field of study that will directly benefit the dairy industry or dairy communities
• Commencing their first year of full-time tertiary study in 2020
• Required to live away from home in order to pursue their chosen course.

Applications must be submitted online by 5pm on Sunday 24 November 2019.

Further information and application forms are available at: https://gardinerfoundation.typeform.com/to/LrK1j9.

Agriculture Victoria will cancel workshops on Code Red fire danger days

FREE Dry-time regional forums for growers
Growers are invited to attend the dry-time regional forums which offer practical information on:

• Nutrition status of eroded paddocks
• Soil nutrition and budgeting
• What to expect from weeds and managing herbicide residues
• Crop / variety selection to sow following erosion and / or rebuilding good stubble cover
• Soil, fallow and herbicide residue management
• Sheep feeding strategies
• Cash-flow planning and debt management
• Accessing and utilising government services (grants and application support)

Presenters will provide locally relevant content and will include panel sessions to get your questions answered.

Each attendee will receive a resource kit to assist farm management decisions in the dry.

The forums will be held as follows:

BALRANALD: FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER
8 am – 12.15 pm
Senior Citizens Hall - 106 Market Street, Balranald

The workshops are free but registration is essential so we can cater accordingly and ensure you have an information kit.

To register visit:  http://bit.ly/DealingwiththeDryNov 

Or call Tina on (08) 8332 3277.

Agriculture Victoria is hosting a series of free workshops to help new and existing small-scale pig and poultry producers prepare a land use planning permit application.

Attending participants will be eligible for the supporting grants program offering up to $3000 for expenses related to on-farm works, consultancy, or training that supports the preparation of a land use planning permit application.

These workshops will provide information and advice on:

• Planning requirements
• Property development, locality and nutrient management plans; and
• Identification of site improvements needed to support planning permit applications

Locations and dates remaining;

• Benalla, Tuesday 12 November
• Broadford, Tuesday 19 November

Webinar - online option

Thursday 21 and 28 November, 12.30 - 2.30 pm (must attend both dates to qualify).

Face-to-face workshops run 9.15 am - 3 pm (lunch provided).

For more information https://agvic-pig-poultry.eventbrite.com.au or more information contact Ann McDowell at ann.mcdowell@agriculture.vic.gov.au or (03) 5561 9903.

Event Name: Herbicide Behaviour Workshop (Melbourne)
Date: 12 November, 8.45 am - 1 pm

Description: A thorough understanding of how herbicides work assists agronomists and growers to maximise herbicide performance.

When confronted with a range of weed problems and environmental conditions, the challenge is to optimise the results in the field.

Knowing what weeds will be controlled from a herbicide application is the easy bit – it’s on the label.

More challenging questions include:

• Why do herbicides perform or fail in some situations?
• Critical comments on the label. Why do they exist and how were they developed?
• How do adjuvants and water conditioning agents work? What should be used, when and why?
• How does resistance affect different herbicides? What strategies can be used as resistance emerges?
• How do residual herbicides work and what influences their breakdown?

This workshop for grains advisers goes into the science underpinning how herbicides work.

Participants will leave with a better understanding of the key factors dictating herbicide performance and what can be done in the paddock to ensure weed control is maximised.

These small group workshops will run for 1.5-days. Participant numbers are limited to ensure active participation and discussion.

Many previous workshops have ‘sold-out’, so registration is essential to secure your place. While the workshop content is targeted to experienced agronomists, interested growers are welcome to register.

Cost is $165 ($150 + GST) per workshop.

Start time day 1, 8.45 am for a 9 am start, finish at 5 pm, day 2, 8.30 am start finish 12.30 pm.

Location: Best Western Airport Motel, 33 Ardlie St, Attwood

REGISTER ONLINE

Contact name: Erica McKay
erica@icanrural.com.au
(02) 9482 4930

Contact website: https://www.icanrural.com.au

Date and time

Monday, 11 November from 8 pm

Monday, 18 November from 9 pm

Agriculture Victoria is conducting this interactive two-part webinar to assist Victorian livestock producers to use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database to complete transactions, including Property-to-Property (P2P) transfers.

This two-part webinar is relevant to cattle, sheep and goat producers.

All sheep and goats and cattle tagged with an EID NLIS tag must be transferred on the NLIS database when they are moved between two different Victorian Property Identification Codes (PICs).

This interactive two-part webinar will walk producers through setting up and using the NLIS database.

Topics to include:

• Setting up, navigating and using the NLIS database
• Management of livestock movements onto your property
• Property-to-Property (P2P) transfers on the NLIS database.

This is a two-part webinar, delivered 8 - 9pm Monday, 11 November and 8 – 9 pm Monday, 18 November.

You must attend both parts to participate.

Numbers are limited to allow for an interactive session.

If you have any problems with registering online please call (03) 5761 1647.

On Tuesday 12 November, the Victoria Gorse Taskforce (VGT) is holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 1.30 pm at State Government Office in Ballarat.

The VGT will conduct a short presentation outlining major activities and achievements that have occurred over the last 12 months and announce their 2019/20 grant recipients.

The VGT are also currently accepting nominations for committee positions in 2019/20, at which all current committee positions will be vacated and a new committee will be formed.

The VGT are looking for highly motivated individuals, that have a passion for weed control and want to take positive actions to help local community groups implement integrated Gorse control programs across Victoria.

As a member of the state-wide committee you will have a shared responsibility to oversee the coordination and implementation of the Victorian Gorse Control Strategy 2014-2019 (VGCS).

Nominations for the 2019/20 VGT committee will be accepted up until Friday 1st November 2019.

If you or your organisation are interested in attending, please RSVP to our Executive Officer, Nicole Garfi on 0417 593 250 or by email to info@vicgorsetaskforce.com.au by Friday 1 November 2019.

For more information about the VGT, visit the VGT website to find more information and to view the Victorian Gorse Control Strategy.

Wednesday, 13 November – 9 am – 4 pm
Thursday, 14 November – 9 am – 3 pm

SuniTAFE FARM – 161 DAIRTNUNK AVENUE CARDROSS

Agriculture Victoria is offering a two-day workshop for nursery irrigators who are looking to receive the latest information on nursery irrigation management.

Normally valued at over $500, Agriculture Victoria is providing this workshop free to Mallee irrigators.

Presenters are Jeremy Giddings, Agriculture Victoria and Bill Yiasoumi, nursery irrigation consultant.

WATERWORK PROGRAM

Day 1 – Irrigation systems

• Overhead sprinklers, mobile booms, hand watering • Practical Session: Evaluating sprinkler performance • Drip Irrigation • Bottom Watering Systems • Operating and Scheduling Irrigation Systems • Irrigation System Audit • Irrigation System Design

Day 2 – Water supply and treatment

• Water supply and irrigation requirements • Water Treatment (includes water testing) • Water Disinfestation

Drainage and recycling

• Site assessment for drainage • Drainage system design • Dealing with drainage water • Review and Wrap-up

REGISTER WITH: Jeremy Giddings, Agriculture Victoria on (03) 5051 4566 or at jeremy.giddings@agriculture.vic.gov.au 

RSVP: Friday, 8 November

Numbers strictly limited.

A series of free grain storage webinars delivered by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will provide growers with convenient, timely and relevant information and advice about all aspects of storing grain on-farm.

One webinar will be held every month for the remainder of 2019 – each being 30 minutes and focused on different topics.

12 November – grain protectants
10 December – aeration cooling

Click here for more information and to register or contact Amy Harwood via amy.harwood@bcg.org.au or 0456 979 561.

Grower R&D Update Future Orchards®

Connect with 80+ growers, agronomists and scientists to explore the latest research findings from the world of pome fruit.

Refreshed as a standalone event in 2019, the programme is dedicated to share the latest research projects, focusing on orchard management techniques to lift production and improve fruit quality.

On day two, we are teaming up with Future Business to hold their first workshop “Powerful changes secure cost savings”.

Why attend?

High-calibre agenda: World-renowned researchers and fellow growers will challenge your thinking on your orchard management techniques.

Unparalleled networking: Held at the iconic MCG, connect with growers and researchers throughout the day and enjoy a behind the scenes tour, finishing up with a drink at the Stumps Bar.

News you can use: Our packed agenda will provide you with the R&D insights and first-hand perspectives to drive change in your orchard.

Key topics:

• Transforming your orchard irrigation with sensors and monitoring
• How soil characteristics can improve water and nutrient use efficiency
• Water efficiency and techniques for a sustainable future
• Securing pollination through revegetation
• Biodiversity of pollinators in Apple orchards
• Pollination in protected cropping – learnings from NZ
• What you can do now to improve pollination and what you need to start thinking about to safeguard your business into the future
• Tatura Smart Farm – introduction to the Sundial experimental orchard
• Precision automation, the new frontier for crop loading
• Making sense of AI, machine learning, and data science
• The pros and cons of protective netting
• Combating codling moth with the mastrus wasp
• Real-time monitoring for the presence and location of fruit fly
• Cold chain disinfestation and quality management for market access
• Preparing for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Click here to download the full agenda with session outlines

Utilising technology to improve labour efficiency and fruit quality

This spring, join us as we take a stroll through Chaplin orchard and hear from global experts on how you can utilise agri-technology to maximize production, improve fruit quality, and optimise labour to remain competitive.

Being spring the field session will also discuss and demonstrate the latest knowledge regarding the critical spring tasks particularly thinning.

Following the orchard walk Fruit Growers Victoria will be holding their AGM from 1pm to 2pm.

For further information
APAL Southern Victoria Front Line Adviser – Camilla Humphries on 0419 107 245 or via email chumphries@eemuir.com.au

https://apal.org.au/events/spring-future-orchards-walk-southern-victoria/

25 - 28 November (4 days)

Description: On behalf of the Victorian branch of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society (APPS), we invite you to participate in our 22nd Biennial Conference to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Melbourne, Australia from 25 – 28 November.

This conference will be the climax of the APPS 50th birthday celebrations, where we celebrate our “Strong foundations and highlight the latest advances in plant pathology that will lead to “Future Innovations”.

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC), 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf

Contact name
Shelley Turner
shelleyt@icmsaust.com.au
(03) 9382 0500

Contact website
https://www.apps2019.org/

Cost (in AUD$): $1,485
Members (in AUD$) $1,210
Non-members (in AUD$) $1,485

REGISTER ONLINE

26 - 29 November (4 days)

Description: The event brings together plant scientists from across Australia and will be held at AgriBio, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Included in ASPS 2019 is a Grains Satellite meeting on Friday 29 November.

The conference will cover diverse aspects of plant biology including:

• Student session
• Breeding for Human Nutrition
• Reproductive and Seed Biology
• Plant Nutrition
• Genome Regulation: tissues and cells
• Phenotyping Technologies
• Medicinal Agriculture
• Plant Development
• Communication and Education
• Abiotic stress
• Biotic Interactions

Location: AgriBio at LaTrobe University at Bundoora
Bundoora

Contact name:
Rudi Appels
rudi.appels@unimelb.edu.au
0404 448 337

Contact website: https://www.asps.org.au/

Agriculture Victoria is hosting an Occasional Counsellor™ workshop facilitated by David Cherry, a clinical and forensic psychologist. 

This workshop is for service providers and support workers who are not employed in a counselling role but are called upon to give others emotional support.

The focus of the workshop is on teaching participants strategies for assisting individuals who are sad, upset, bewildered, confused, angry or have suicidal concerns.

Date – Monday 2 December 2019    
Time - 10.30 am - 4 pm 
Location - Agriculture Victoria, Acacia Room - Koorlong Avenue and 11th Avenue, Irymple.
Catering – Lunch and afternoon tea provide

Workshop content:

• the skills of the helper including the importance of empathy and when not to empathise
• understanding professional boundaries, including your role and the limits of your role
• the difference between emotional support and counselling
• simple, practical strategies for supporting individuals who may be acutely emotionally distressed, including making appropriate referrals, while keeping yourself safe and remaining in your role
• self-care for the worker

Register online -  https://irymple2019.eventbrite.com.au or contact Rachel Jacobson 0436 814 241 if you need help registering.

For event information - contact Rob O’Shannessy 0400 821 588

For more information about assistance available to help farmers manage during drought conditions call 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

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