Two DairySA Ladies Lunches will be held in both the Central and South-East regions of the State during November, expecting to attract up to 100 women from the dairy industry.

The highly anticipated events provide an opportunity for women in the dairy industry - including employers, managers, employees, service providers and other dairy industry members - to take time off farm and enjoy a two-course meal in a relaxed setting and experience inspirational stories and ideas from outside the industry.

The two ladies lunches will be held on:

• Tuesday 9 November, Adelaide Hills Details: Central DairySA Ladies Day Out - Jurlique Farm Tour and two course lunch at The Haus.
• Wednesday 17 November, Coonawarra Details: South-East DairySA Ladies Lunch- Brands Laira Coonawarra with guest speaker, photographer Benedetta Rusconi

Join MFMG, the Grassland Society of Southern Australia and the Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan on a Driving Field Day looking at soil fertility in the Limestone Coast! The day will be facilitated by Dr Melissa Fraser, PIRSA Rural Solutions, and will encompass visits to a number of sites to investigate soil fertility.

What you'll see:

• The composting process and end-products
• Winter- and summer-active multispecies cover crops
• Soil profiles that have been mixed with a rotary spader (Farmax), and deep tilled with a chisel plough (Bednar Terraland and Kuhn Performer)

What you'll learn:

• How organic waste is transformed into a valuable soil conditioner and how to use it on farm
• The Mulbarton Business story – stacking enterprises for success
• Farmer experience on the challenges and opportunities of cover cropping and establishing summer-active feed
• How to select the right tillage implement for your soil conditions
• Hear about a new MLA investment to improve feed production on sandy soils – have your say on what you want to see trialled

Hosts & presenters:

• Phil Giles & Hamish Verco
• David Kuchel & Nathan Tink
• James Verco
• Simon March & Wickham Flower

Date & Place:

Tuesday 9 November 2021. Meet at Mulbartons Compost , 1054 Beeam  Parsons Road, Pathaway.

Registrations essential! Call PIRSA at Struan House on 8762 9100 or email Melissa Fraser to register.

The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund provides a sustainable source of funding to help remote, rural and regional communities, and farmers, become more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought. The Fund is part of the Government’s Drought Response, Resilience and Preparedness Plan.

The Networks to Build Drought Resilience Program is one of the Fund’s foundation programs. It is designed to build community capacity by strengthening social and community networking, support, engagement and wellbeing.

The aim is to build an enduring resilience to the impacts of climate change, drought, and enhance the public good in agriculture-dependent communities.

For more information about this grant please go to the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal website.  

Integrating trees within agricultural enterprises can provide financial, social, and environmental benefits, including helping to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions. The School of Ecosystem and Forest Science at the University of Melbourne is looking for farmers to interview about its decision making process and the biophysical and business characteristics of its farm.

The University of Melbourne has more information or please contact Dr Rachelle Meyer  or Dr Hugh Stewart if you would like to take part.

For more information on shelterbelts please access the resources below:

• Shelterbelts Fact Sheet 1 - Dairy Australia
• Shelterbelt webinars - Dairy Australia
• Revegetation site planning - Limestone Coast Landscape Board
• The economic benefit of native shelter belts - Basalt to Bay Landcare network
• A Landscape Approach to Determine the Ecological Value of Paddock Trees - Land and Water Australia and the SA Native Vegetation Council

Landcare Australia is pleased to call for the submission of abstracts and posters for the 2022 National Landcare Conference. The bi-annual event will be held from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 August 2022, at the International Convention Centre Darling Harbour in Sydney.

The theme for the 2022 National Landcare Conference is Power of Landcare | Shaping Our Future which affirms the importance of looking to the future when addressing the issues and opportunities open to Landcare. Presenters are asked to explore how their submission ties in with the 2022 theme.

We invite abstracts from individuals, groups, networks and organisations involved in protecting, enhancing or restoring and educating about the natural environment in their local community through sustainable land management and conservation activities.

For more information and to submit an abstract please go to the 2022 National Landcare Conference website. 

It is easy to get involved in Landcarer – a FREE online community platform designed for people with a shared vision to protect, enhance or restore the natural environment in their local community through sustainable land management and conservation activities.

Landcarer is an easy-to-use tool to help you share, learn, and interact with like-minded individuals, groups, organisations and project stakeholders who are involved in landcare and natural resource management activities. It’s the only online platform dedicated to promoting landcare.

Here’s a video about Landcarer from a landcarer user’s perspective, as well as more information.

The new season showcases eight South Australian Focus Farms identified by the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program. Focus Farms have been established to provide an opportunity for producers to learn from the experiences of other livestock producers.

Listen to the stories of how SA livestock producers have implemented changes in their business through the adoption and practical application of AgTech, biosecurity best practice and data-based decision making.

Topics covered in season 3 include:

• using eID to measure and monitor sheep production and allow data based decision making
• pregnancy scanning and improved lamb survival
• the use of eID in a beef operation
• benefits of remote water monitoring technologies and management software.

In addition to the podcast series you will also find useful resources including videos and case studies. Visit the Livestock Tech Talks webpage to learn more.

Congratulations to Cara Peek who has been announced as the 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award recipient.

The Broome-based lawyer and advocate was awarded for her work in driving employment opportunities for First Nations people in remote Australia through the organisation Saltwater Country.

Clinical psychologist and farmer Stephanie Schmidt, from Worlds End, was South Australia's finalist. She is the founder of Act For Ag, an online toolkit offering practical strength and resilience training for farmers, businesses and families.

You can read more about the awards and the other finalists on the ABC Rural website.

Landcare are inviting nominations for the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards which recognise individuals, communities, and community groups across the country for their outstanding contributions to preserving the unique Australian landscape.

Eight national award categories are now open for nominations:

• Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award
• Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award
• Australian Government Landcare Farming Award
• Coastcare Award
• ACM Landcare Community Group Award
• Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award
• KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award
• Steadfast Young Landcare Leadership Award
• Green Adelaide Urban Landcare Award

Applications close December 6 2021

For more information or to nominate someone go to the Landcare Australia website.

The Fire Danger Season dates have been declared for 2021/2022.

In our region, bushfire is a real threat. Be sure to understand your bushfire risk so you can prepare your property and know what to do if a bushfire starts. Preparing for a bushfire will not only help to mitigate the impact of fire on people, homes, animals and businesses but also helps to protect our regions natural resources.

We can all be bushfire ready. There are nine simple steps to surviving a bushfire. 

1. Do your 5 minute bushfire plan.
2. Talk about your plan to family, neighbours & friends.
3. Have flexibility in your plan.
4. Clear around your property.
5. Have an emergency kit ready.
6. Know when to leave and where to go.
7. Listen to the weather and know your total fire bans.
8. Subscribe to the CFS warning email.
9. Check radio, website, social media and news updates.

For more information about preparing for bushfire season go to the CFS website or visit the Limestone Coast Landscape Board for a collation of resources (sourced from a variety of organisations such as the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, CFS, Australia Red Cross, Department of Environment and Water and Department of Primary Industries and Regions)

Get involved!

AgConnect promotes the latest sustainable agricultural news and events across the Limestone Coast. If you have an upcoming event or agricultural news you would like to share contact us:

Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators

Skylea Mclean: skylea.mclean@sa.gov.au

Eykolina Benny: eykolina.benny@sa.gov.au