Forward this email | View in web browser
Gippsland Ag News
 
Thursday, 29 July 2021
In this edition:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Victorian Government has announced the lockdown will be lifted state-wide from 11.59 pm Tuesday 27 July.

Changes have also been made to tighten Victoria’s cross-border bubble with NSW. The City of Wagga Wagga, Hay Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council and Murrumbidgee Council will no longer be included in the cross border bubble.

These local government areas will be included under the Extreme Risk Zone from 11.59 pm Tuesday 27 July, in line with the rest of NSW, and residents will need a Specified Worker Permit,  transit permit, or an exemption to enter Victoria.

For information about the travel permit system visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

A new jointly funded package from the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments has been announced, giving Victorian small and medium businesses the extra support to recover from the recent lockdown.

See the joint Statement from the Prime Minister and Premier for details.

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

New generation takes to online whole farm planning

Over the past two decades, thousands of farmers have benefitted from Agriculture Victoria’s Whole Farm Planning course.

Farmers of all ages and experiences, on properties of all sizes have participated in FarmPlan 21, to outline the vision for their livestock or mixed farming operation, and identify the steps they need to take to make it a reality.

Now, as with so many education courses, FarmPlan21 is being delivered online. Agriculture Victoria’s Tess McDougall said the move to online has been positive, making the course available to a whole new group of landholders.

“We are seeing younger people complete the course, the next generation of farmers who may have been out working and have now come back to the farm and want to know how they can put a plan in place to achieve their goals,” Tess said.

“We are also seeing more women take up the course, women who have had careers off-farm and have taken up agriculture later in life.”

In the past FarmPlan21 has been a six-day course run at a fixed location for six hours a day. The new free online course is run over 12 sessions, with two sessions a week.

Each session takes about two hours and the sessions are recorded, so those who can’t make the scheduled time can catch up when it suits.

“More families are able to take the course, and we are also seeing multiple people from the same farm business complete the course together,” Tess said.

“Most farm businesses can only spare one person at a time to attend an off-farm course. But this way, couples can do the course together, we have a mother and daughter team enrolled, it’s opened it up to so many more people.”

FarmPlan21 covers soils and land classing, farm design and layout, farm water supply and emergency preparedness, pasture and grazing management, biodiversity and shelterbelts, farm biosecurity, climate, and outlining your farm vision and goals.

The online version of the course also includes digital farm mapping, where participants learn to use farm planning mapping systems and work on a map of their own farm.

An online course for fire and flood affected farmers, consisting of 11 two-hour online sessions, will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, running from 24 August to 14 September 2021, then 8 February to 22 February 2022.

The summer break will provide an opportunity for participants to begin their farm plan mapping, practice mapping skills and take soil samples and participate in on-farm visits.

“It’s a great course for people who want to define their farm’s vision and goals to give their business more structure,” Tess said.

For more information or to register for the course is available on the Agriculture Victoria website or contact Tim O’Donnell at tim.o'donnell@agriculture.vic.gov.au

To express interest in another online course please contact Tess McDougall at tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Victorian scientists selected for national leadership program
 

Agriculture Victoria research scientists Dr Sally Norton and Dr Jo Newton have been selected for the prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).

The ARLP is Australia’s longest and most in-depth leadership program designed to build leadership capability in people throughout rural, regional and remote Australia.

Dr Norton is a senior research scientist at the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG) based at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park and Dr Newton is a research scientist on the DairyBio research program at Agribio in Bundoora. They are two of 29 chosen participants who will attend 50 days of practical learning and mentoring.

above: Senior research scientist Dr Sally Norton and left: Research scientist Dr Jo Newton

Dr Norton said she is thrilled to be selected and is looking forward to getting started this month with an initial online training component before joining her cohort for learning experiences in regional Australia and potentially overseas over the next 15 months.

“Regional and rural Victorians have been facing a host of challenges in recent years including drought, bushfires and floods, so the mentorship in this program will offer guidance on how to look at these events as opportunities to work together and build resilience.

“This course will also provide the opportunity to really get out of my comfort zone and challenge both myself and my cohort to become stronger leaders.”

Dr Newton said she is grateful to the Foundation and to Agriculture Victoria for the opportunity to undertake ARLP and become a more effective leader and contributor to Australian agriculture and its communities.

“Many of my role models across agriculture in rural and regional Australia are ARLP alumni, and I am honoured to be following in their footsteps.”

The program gives participants valuable opportunities to enhance their capacities and create a network of like-minded leaders to positively influence their organisations, industries and communities.

For more information visit the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation website.

Apply for Livestock Biosecurity Grants

Grants are available to support cattle, sheep, goat, swine and honey bee industries through the Livestock Biosecurity Funds – Grant Program.

The grants program, now open for applications, has been developed collaboratively between Agriculture Victoria and the livestock compensation advisory committees.

Agriculture Victoria Executive Director Sally Fensling said the program aims to fund projects that prevent, monitor, and control diseases, thereby enhancing animal health, biosecurity and market access for the benefit of Victoria’s livestock industries.

“Grants are available for projects that provide innovative solutions, use emerging technologies and resolve livestock biosecurity issues, needs or gaps for these local industries,” Ms Fensling said.

“This program shows the collaboration and shared responsibility between government and industry in biosecurity, and champions projects that aim to strengthen our biosecurity in Victoria.”

Funded projects from last year include the Victorian Farmers Federation’s producer-led biosecurity extension program for cattle, sheep and goats, the Livestock Saleyards Association of Victoria’s ‘Managing Transit Stock in Saleyards’ project, and HiveKeepers’ ‘Smart Sentinel Beehives Pilot Program’.

Other projects previously funded include the National Livestock Identification System tag subsidy for both sheep and cattle,

Significant Disease Investigation programs, animal disease investigation courses, abattoir-based pig health surveillance, and prevention of anthrax.

Applications are invited from private sector businesses, universities and research institutions, co-operatives, government agencies and local government, and incorporated associations.

Any organisation looking to apply should consider the guidelines and eligibility criteria, review the relevant Statement of Strategic Intent, and complete the online application form.

The grants are made possible through funds established under the Livestock Disease Control Act, which enable the collection of duties generated by the sale of cattle, sheep, goat and pigs and their carcasses in Victoria, and the registration fees for beekeepers.

“This program reinvests duties back into industry, to the benefit of industry and agriculture more broadly in Victoria,” Ms Fensling said.

Applications are now open and will close 11.59 pm on Friday 17 September 2021.

More information, about the Livestock Biosecurity Grants is available on the Agriculture Victoria website or calling the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.

The Fast Break Newsletter – July edition out now

Seasonal climate risk information for Victoria
Volume 18 | Issue 7 | 26 July 2021

The July edition of the Fast Break is now available, detailing oceanic and atmospheric climate driver activity over the last month and summarises three month model predictions for the Pacific and Indian Oceans, rainfall and temperature for Victoria.

July rainfall in Victoria has been average to wetter so far, due to many fronts passing over the state. As is typical of such conditions, Gippsland has been drier as a result of moisture coming from the north west.

Soil moisture has pleasingly started to increase in the north west quarter, but elsewhere it’s wet, wet, wet and a long winter of waterlogging looks likely. Mallee probes have finally started to detect moisture at 30-40 centimetres and are keen for more as the days start to lengthen. Read the full July edition here.

Farmer wants a bookkeeper
Karleigh Martin

How online learning is helping Victoria’s young farmers secure their future in agriculture.

Young farmer Karleigh Martin has a lot on her plate.

The 28-year-old works on the family farm while working three days a week at a not for-profit-disability organisation and studying primary school teaching.

Karleigh is part of a growing band of young farmers taking every opportunity they can to develop their farm finance skills.

Read the full story in The Victorian Connection.

Gippsland Rural Skills Connect
Rural Skills Connect have your skills qualified
Rural skills connect checklist
Partners in Wellbeing
information graphic

The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline offers free and confidential one-on-one access to wellbeing coaches, financial counsellors and business advisors.

Small business owners can call the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline on 1300 375 330 seven days a week.

Alternately, a live chat function is available on Business Victoria website here.

Wellbeing coaches are available from 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 5 pm on weekends.

Victorian Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy – have your say
Victorian Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy graphic

Help us shape Victoria’s first Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. Comment on the development of the strategy by 7 September.

Victoria is responding to the growing international threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with the development of our first Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy.

Antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines have treated infections for many decades and saved millions of lives, but their efficacy is under threat by misuse and over-use.

As antimicrobials are used within the human health, animal health and agriculture sectors, a co-ordinated, broader ‘One Health’ approach is required across these sectors to address AMR.

AMR is a major problem around the world. We’re already seeing increasing resistance worldwide to common bacterial infections and resistant organisms in the animal, food production and the environment sectors have the potential to affect food security and cause economic loss.

At least 700,000 people around the world die every year from drug-resistant infections and by 2050 this number could reach 10 million.

The World Health Organization has declared AMR one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.

Consultation is now open for the first Victorian Antimicrobial

Resistance Strategy 2021-2031 to enable key stakeholders and the community to provide input into the strategy’s objectives and priority actions.

How to participate

Read the consultation paper and complete the survey on Engage.vic by 7 September and complete the survey here.

Fox and wild dog bounty collections resume
Fox and wild dog bounty collections resume in Victoria

Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty collections will resume in Victoria from 2 August 2021, starting at Bendigo for the north west region of the state.

Check the Agriculture Victoria website for the collection schedule.

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

Webinars for dairy farmers on new EPA regulations
New EPA regulations webinars

A new Victorian Environment Protection Act and regulations came into effect on 1 July 2021.

Dairy Australia, in partnership with the UDV and EPA Victoria, invites dairy farmers to a series of online webinars for dairy farm businesses on what the changes mean for their day-to-day business operations.

The new Act and regulations represent a significant change in environmental management across Victoria, with a move from prosecution to prevention of environmental damage.

There will be six webinar times to choose from throughout July and August. Each webinar will be the same, however the ‘Large Herd’ webinar, held on Thursday, July 29, will also include information specific to farmers with larger herds who are managing larger volumes of wastes and other materials.

All sessions will include time for questions, and a recording of the presentation will be available afterwards, along with supporting documents to assist farmers with their understanding of the changes.

To sign up to a session visit the Dairy Australia website.

For more information on the new regulations and what it might mean for you, visit Government Regulations.

Storm and flood recovery hotline

The Storm and Flood Recovery Hotline is a single state-wide number that Victorians impacted by the June 2021 storms and floods can call for help or assistance.

Operators can assist you with registering for Clean-Up of structures on private property or accessing your own Recovery Support Worker, mental health and wellbeing support, financial counselling and information on available payments.

The Recovery Hotline is open from 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) and 9 am to 1 pm on weekends.

Storm and flood recovery support hotline
Gippsland Food and Fibre awards
Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards
 

Entries are open for the 2021 Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards.

Now is the time to be recognised, celebrated and rewarded for your contribution to the Gippsland region.

Food and fibre producers and businesses of all sizes are encouraged to enter.

Entries close 17 September 2021.

Submission details can be found on the F&FG website – Gippsland Food and Fibre awards  Food and Fibre Gippsland.

Season two of ‘AgVic Talk’ is now live!

The new season of the ‘AgVic Talk’ podcast series highlights personal stories of people who have overcome daily challenges.

You’ll hear from a diverse range of people, including rural women and young farmers about how they recover, grow, modernise, protect and promote Victorian agriculture.

Subscribe to AgVic Talk

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

Pru Cook

In this episode of ‘AgVic Talk’ Wimmera agriculture communications specialist Pru Cook talks about being an inspiring community leader. 

Her story encourages others to acknowledge that you don’t need to know everything to take up new and challenging opportunities.  

To hear Pru search 'AgVic Talk' wherever you usually get your podcasts or listen in 🎧 here: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

Jessie Holmes

In this episode of ‘AgVic Talk’ Jessie Holmes gives her take on what good advocacy sounds like and how to be clear about what your community needs.

For Jessie, storytelling is a big part of advocating for agricultural communities of Victoria. 

To hear Jessie search 'AgVic Talk' wherever you usually get your podcasts or listen in 🎧 here: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

What's on – online and on-farm events

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can be found in one spot on our website. Log on to the Events page to keep in touch with upcoming events.

To trade or breed cattle: what are your stocking options?
Group of black cattle

Are you weighing up your options about whether to trade or breed cattle?

Farmers in Gippsland and the Upper Murray are invited to join a free evening webinar on Tuesday 3 August to explore stocking options for a more profitable farm business.

Join Farm Business Consultant Paul Blackshaw and Livestock Extension Officer John Bowman when they discuss the following topics:

  • financial considerations for beef herds when choosing to breed, breed and trade, or trade only
  • optimising pasture growth and allocation for breeding and trading enterprises.

When:  Tuesday 3 August 28 July, 7 – 8.30 pm

Where: Online via Zoom

Register for this free event on Eventbrite.

Enquiries:  Tim O’Donnell, Agriculture Recovery Extension Officer on 0448 540 741 or at tim.o’donnell@agriculture.vic.gov.au

New EPA regulation webinars for dairy farmers

Dairy Australia, in partnership with the UDV and EPA Victoria, invites dairy farmers to a series of online webinars for dairy farm businesses on what the upcoming changes mean for their day-to-day business operations.

There will be six webinar times to choose from throughout July and August, including a session for large herds.

  • 30 July, 12–1.30 pm
  • 4 August, 12–1.30 pm
  • 9 August, 12–1.30 pm

All sessions will include time for questions, and a recording of the presentation will be available afterwards, along with supporting documents to assist farmers with their understanding of the changes.

For more information and to sign up visit dairyaustralia.com.au/VicEPAWebinars.

FarmPlan21 – Whole Farm Planning Course Gippsland (Online)

Making your farm more resilient, sustainable, and productive

Agriculture Victoria invites farmers in Gippsland to participate in FarmPlan 21, an online whole farm planning course.

The course consists of 11 two-hour on-line sessions held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, starting in August 2021 and concluding after a summer break in February 2022.

 
People inspecting whole farm plans

DAYS: Tuesdays and Thursdays

TIME: 10 am to 12 pm

DATES: 11 sessions from:

  • 24 August – 14 September 2021
  • 8 February – 22 February 2022

ONLINE: Delivered via Zoom

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:

  • Computer farm mapping
  • Soils and land classing
  • Farm design and layout
  • Farm water supply and emergency preparedness
  • Pasture and grazing management
  • Biodiversity and shelterbelts
  • Climate, vision, and goals
  • Farm Biosecurity

COST: Free – This course is sponsored by the Local Economic Recovery (LER) program.

RSVP: By COB 5pm Friday 6 August 2021. Numbers are limited so book early.

INFORMATION / BOOKINGS: Tim O’Donnell, M: 0448 540 741, E: tim.o’donnell@agriculture.vic.gov.au

“Attending the FarmPlan21 course and developing a whole farm plan will lead to an increase in the farm’s productivity, profitability and sustainability. I would strongly recommend this course to other farmers.” Troy Smith, Manager, “Mawallock”, Stockyard Hill

“Regardless of the scale of your farming operation FarmPlan21 will be of great value. It has given us a blueprint of how we manage water on our property, and specifically helped design a stock water reticulation system.” Mick and Susan Davis, Moyston

Supported by: The Local Economic Recovery “On Farm Recovery Support Services” project which is jointly funded by the Victorian Government and Commonwealth Government under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Rural Press Club upcoming webinar
Rural Press Club advert
Subscribe to Gippsland Ag News

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

It's easy – simply click this link.

Contacting Agriculture Victoria

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.

 

 

'Like' our Agriculture Victoria Facebook page.

 

Follow us on Twitter @VicGovAg

 

Subscribe to the Agriculture Victoria YouTube channel. 

 
 

Privacy | Email: helen.x.vaughan@ecodev.vic.gov.au

 
Unsubscribe
 
 

If you would like to subscribe, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/about-us/media-centre

This newsletter is distributed by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.