Forward this email | View in web browser
Barwon South-West Ag news
 
Thursday 2 April, 2020
In this edition:
Latest news
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

Farmers and producers are vital to all Victorian communities and play an important role during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Premier has implemented Stage 3 restrictions of non-essential activity aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Everyone who can stay at home must stay at home.

There are only four reasons to be out in public:

  • shopping for what you need – food and essential supplies
  • medical, care or compassionate needs
  • exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements
  • work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely.

The new measures include a limit on gathering to no more than two people, except for members of immediate households and for work or education and social physical distancing rules of 1.5 metres between people should also be observed outside the home.

Stage 3 measures were effective from 11.59 pm on Monday, 30 March, and will be reviewed after four weeks.

The agricultural supply chain is essential to maintaining the flow of food to our supermarkets and kitchen tables.

We are working closely with industry to ensure that the essential services provided by the agriculture sector continue to operate as we move to Stage 3 measures to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The situation continues to change rapidly and we urge you to regularly check the Department of Health and Human Services website for the latest update: coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

The Victorian Chief Veterinary Officer has also developed a factsheet with advice for animal owners during the pandemic.

More information is available on the website at http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/emergencies/coronavirus

Contacting us

We’re continuing to serve the community but you may need to contact us in different ways.

If you can do something online then this is the best way. You can also call us 136 186 for a range of information including how best to contact us.

Agriculture Victoria office receptions across the state are now closed in order to reduce face-to-face contact between staff and members of the community. The decision is in response to the latest advice to help prevent the further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please consider whether the activity you are contacting us about is necessary at this time. Visit the Department of Health and Humans Services website for the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) advice.

Better weather data to give farmers more certainty

Farmers across the Wimmera and Southern Mallee can now make vital management decisions with more confidence, as the new Rainbow weather radar begins to transmit real-time data across the region.

The new Doppler radar fills a gap in the radar network, giving farmers more accurate data to make more informed, time-critical decisions about harvesting, crop planting and the use of chemicals and fertilisers.

The radar will also provide better short-term rainfall forecasts and additional information for emergency services and Bureau of Meteorology experts during severe weather events.

The $9.3 million Rainbow Radar project is a partnership between the local community, Wimmera Development Association (WDA), the Victorian Government and the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Victorian Government provided $5 million for the construction of the Rainbow radar and the Bureau of Meteorology has committed $4.3 million for its maintenance and operating costs for the next 15 years.

The dual-polarised radar’s construction was in response to a WDA business case, which highlighted the significant cost savings and productivity benefits the radar would bring to the Wimmera and Southern Mallee.

Data from the Rainbow Radar is now available at bom.gov.au/australia/radar. For more information about the radar, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/rainbowradar.

Keeping our community safe during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions

Farms and agribusinesses are continuing to keep Victorian supermarkets stocked and food on tables through the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Chief Executive Dr Emily Phillips said Agriculture Victoria was working hard to support farmers and the Victorian community through this difficult time.

“Farmers, particularly those impacted by bushfires, drought and dry seasonal conditions and other challenges, should be reassured that support and services will continue to be delivered,” Dr Phillips said.

“We have been working hard to deliver and, where needed, redesign our services to ensure the safety of farmers and the people who live and work in our rural and regional communities.

“Your safety is our number one priority at this time.

“Many of our workshops and events will now be delivered by phone or via a digital platform, including our seasonal climate outlooks, the autumn livestock webinar series starting in May, and our financial literacy program which will be available soon.

“We will continue to provide our usual compliance and biosecurity services but with modifications to ensure your safety, and the safety of our staff.”

In recent weeks the fox and wild dog bounty collection centres have been operating with changes to enable physical distancing which included establishing drop off and exclusion zones.

The bounty program will continue; however collection events will be suspended from 30 March 2020.

Hunters are strongly encouraged to continue to collect fox scalps and wild dog skins within their properties during the suspension of collection events.

These pieces can be frozen or dried and submitted for reward when the fox and wild bounty collection schedule resumes, in line with bounty terms and conditions.

Arrangements have been made with a private company to enable us to continue to provide pig vaccine manufacturing and diagnostic services when the Pig Services Centre suspends its services from Friday 27 March.

The Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) program has rescheduled all visits while schools are closed. Animal Welfare Victoria will continue to work closely with schools and preschools to resume the program once schools re-open and the restrictions on non-essential travel and physical distancing allow.

Animal Welfare Victoria is also exploring options to deliver the key dog safety messages live via online learning to maintain the interactive components of the program.

For information about changes to planned workshops and events follow Agriculture Victoria on Facebook or Twitter or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au. For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19) visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

Giving jobseekers a fresh start in agriculture

The Victorian Government is giving workers who have lost their jobs a fresh start in agriculture and ensuring primary producers have the workers they need to keep producing at high levels during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaclyn Symes launched the $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan yesterday, which will provide practical support for critical food industries, helping the sector and regional communities.

The plan will match workers who have lost their jobs with employers in the agriculture sector, helping agribusinesses and primary producers to meet their labour and operational needs during this difficult period.

It’s part of the Government’s $500 million Working for Victoria Fund, established to help workers who have lost their jobs find new opportunities.

Agriculture Victoria and Regional Development Victoria are working together to match displaced workers to vital industries such as horticulture, dairy, meat and food production and manufacturing, as well as transport and logistics services.

The initiative will also help pay for training to ensure redeployed workers have swift access to any necessary upskilling.

It will aim to match workers to roles within their regions and towns, while looking across Victoria to fill unmet demand in food supply chains.

Workers will be given support to relocate if needed, which   will   provide   flow-on   benefits   for   the accommodation sector, which in some areas has been hit by the double impact of the coronavirus pandemic and bushfires. This will be done with the highest health and hygiene protections, and social distancing controls.

Employers and workers in the agriculture and food production sectors will also benefit from payroll tax refunds and deferrals contained in the Government’s $1.7 billion Economic Survival Package.

Other measures have been put in place to ensure business continuity, including lifting truck curfews to speed up restocking efforts and supporting important food processing facilities to continue safe production.

Individuals, farmers and businesses who wish to register for the Agriculture Workforce Plan can do so at vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.

The Fast Break - March 2020

Some early autumn rain caused a flurry of excitement in March, but it has gone quiet of late. There were some increases in stored soil moisture, but once again it was patchy and confined to north of the Divide.

Oceans to the north of Australia are still capable of providing more moisture. Most models predict these warmer waters to hang around for some time.

In the Central Pacific, things are primed with generally more cool water than warm, from which four models are getting sniffs of a possible La Nina. The Trade Winds are also blowing a bit stronger which would need to happen for a La Nina to form later this year. Cloud patterns have come back from being El Nino like, to normal and pressure patterns are also normal. History tells us anything could happen in the Central Pacific from now on.

The Indian Ocean is just warm all over, with no phenomena apparent. Three models predict a negative IOD could pop up in late winter, but it’s very early for them to be making predictions about that, given IOD predictability isn’t very good this far out. Their signals are probably coming from a patch of undersea warmer water off Indonesia – so we’ll be watching that over the coming months.

Rainfall trigger mechanisms have shown drier tendencies. The SAM has been weakly positive and while it’s erratic in autumn, a neutral or negative SAM would fill you with more frontal confidence.

Pressure patterns are now in a summer pattern, not ideal for autumn and are forcing fronts and lows further south, where pressure has been higher, leading to stable weather over Victoria for much of the month.

Interestingly, there are some sniffs of 'wetter' from a number of models, but they are quite divergent as to what area of Victoria might get it. Tantalisingly, these suggestions of 'wetter' continue into the four to six-month outlook period, but at this time of the year it’s just eye candy.

For the near term, on balance most models are sitting on the neutral fence for the next three months, with drier, average and wetter and warmer, average and cooler all just as likely – code for plan for anything – but at least there is moisture about if the right event drops by.

Seasonal climate update webinar

Do you want to hear the latest science, insights and innovations happening in the climate and agriculture space? Then, why not log in to the 2020 Climate Webinar series.

Taking part in these webinars are climate specialists from Agriculture Victoria, BoM, CSIRO and other agencies. The series will run during morning smoko or lunchtime, or listen to recordings at a time that suits.

The next webinar will focus on seasonal climate outlooks for Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Southern New South Wales.

Date: 10am and 12pm, Wednesday 15 or Friday 17 April

Presenter: Dale Grey, Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Agriculture Victoria

During this 45-minute webinar Dale will explain in detail what the climate drivers and indicators are up to and predictions for winter and spring.

More information is on the Agriculture Victoria website or email heather.field@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

For a closer look at how the rains impacted your place, click on this link.

GRDC seeks Southern Region Panel members

An invaluable opportunity to contribute to Australian grains research and, in turn, on-farm profitability is being offered to primary producers, industry stakeholders, scientists and others involved in the agricultural sector.

Applications are open for positions on the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Southern Region Panel.

The regional panels provide a critical link between growers, the research community and the GRDC and play an important advisory and strategic role helping to guide GRDC investments across the research, development and extension (RD&E) spectrum.

Applications for the GRDC Southern Region Panel positions close on Wednesday, 15 April. Successful applicants will take up the part-time positions from 1 September and appointments will be for two years.

GRDC Managing Director Dr Steve Jefferies said the regional panel system helped ensure that GRDC’s RD&E investments delivered gains in profitability to Australian grain growers by assisting to draw out and prioritise local, regional and national grains industry issues.

The GRDC’s primary focus is improving grower profitability and we all know there are many factors, both on and off farm, that influence growers’ returns,” Dr Jefferies said.

“The regional panels play an important role in sourcing feedback from growers and industry about regional production constraints, as well as opportunities, and bringing that information back to GRDC to help guide investment direction.

“Diversity within these panels is an integral part of the system’s success so each is comprised of primary producers, agribusiness practitioners, scientists and the GRDC’s executive managers with provision for other industry experts.”

GRDC Southern Region Panel Chair John Bennett (pictured above), a mixed farmer at Lawloit in the West Wimmera, said panel membership was a unique and richly rewarding experience, from multiple perspectives.

“Being a member of the GRDC Southern Panel is a position of privilege – you are a representative of your industry and your peers, and have influence in directing investment in research, development and extension to generate solutions on their behalf,” he said.

“The GRDC Regional Panel model delivers industry good. Through a transparent process, it ensures that the interests of growers are well served and that their levies are invested in targeted research that addresses their most important challenges and needs.

“Knowing that you are playing an important role in providing growers with opportunities to grow their profitability is incredibly satisfying.

“The rewards are many – you get to work alongside like-minded people from diverse backgrounds with a mix of skills and expertise, who are intent on serving the best interests of our growers.

“You are exposed to cutting-edge science, and have the good fortune of meeting people from across Australia and around the world who are leaders in their fields. It’s an honourable and fulfilling role to be in.”

Mr Bennett strongly encouraged people with an interest in primary production from throughout Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania to consider applying for a panel member position. An understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with farming systems in the southern region, grains industry knowledge, and good communication skills would be advantageous.

To apply go to www.grdc.com.au/vacancies. For information on Regional Panel recruitment, please refer to the Regional Panel Member Information and Application Form or email RP2020@grdc.com.au.

Young farmer business network

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.

Subscribe to Grampians Ag News

Enjoying the Grampians 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-us/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: justine.severin@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.