• Climate webinar series will keep you informed
• Pet pigs and small herds a focus for PICs
• The Very Fast Break
• Boost your business: Food Innovation Voucher Stream
• The On-farm Drought Resilience Grant Program
• Look over the farm gate grants
• What's on?

Agriculture Victoria is running a lunchtime climate webinar series in 2020, where participants will hear from a broad range of expert speakers from Agriculture Victoria, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), CSIRO and other agencies.

Agriculture Victoria Climate Specialist Graeme Anderson said these webinars are great for busy people who want to keep informed but can’t attend face-to-face seminars, with the flexibility to connect into the webinar from anywhere with a mobile or internet connection.

“Participants can hear from experts on a range of current topics as they enjoy their lunch or they can simply watch and listen to the recording at a time that best suits,” Mr Anderson said.

“This climate webinar series will tap into a range of expert speakers so we can hear the latest science, insights and innovations in this space.”

Some of the webinar speakers include BoM’s Luke Shelley who will discuss their new Local Climate Guides for the Victorian regions, and CSIRO’s John Clarke will share the new Victorian Climate Change Projections 2019.

Also from BoM, Climatologist Andrew Watkins will discuss the new BoM seasonal forecast products and new multi-week and seasonal outlooks.

“There will be several Agriculture Victoria presenters, including myself talking about weather forecasts, seasonal outlooks and climate change projections and what they can and can’t do,” Mr Anderson said.

“Agriculture Victoria Senior Irrigation Officer Rob O’Connor will discuss our irrigation products and services and how using BoM evapotranspiration (ET) data can assist in determining plant irrigation requirements.

“Plus our Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Dale Grey will present the Break Seasonal Forecast updates, including both autumn, winter and spring outlooks.”

More subject experts presenting through the 2020 webinar series include:

• Cam Nicholson from Nicon Rural Services who will share valuable insights on farm decision making 
• Geoff Steendam, Senior Manager Hydrology and Climate Science, DELWP will discuss the Victorian Water and Climate Initiative and findings
• Agbyte’s Leighton Wilksch who will walk attendees through farm weather stations and examples of how they are being used to provide value for farmers.

For more information and to subscribe to stay up-to-date with these upcoming climate webinars visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/weather-and-climate/climate-webinars or contact Heather Field on 5336 6607 or heather.field@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria is reminding pig owners that every property with livestock is legally required to have a Property Identification Code (PIC).

Live now, the campaign ‘Get your pig a PIC’ is aimed at people who might have a pet pig, or a small herd, through advertising on traditional and social media.

Victoria’s Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Cameron Bell said PICs were a key part of Victoria’s biosecurity system.

“It doesn’t matter whether you have one pig or hundreds of pigs, it’s important that everyone with livestock has a PIC,” Dr Bell said.

“PICs are used for locating properties to provide advice to livestock owners, to help manage animal welfare issues and to assist in the event of emergencies such as fire, flood or an exotic animal disease incursion.

“Victoria is free from many devastating diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease and we can keep it that way through a strong biosecurity system,” he said.

“Get a PIC, identify your pigs correctly, register with PigPass and record all pig movements on the PigPass database.

“Now that summer has arrived and with it the bushfire season, it’s yet another reason to apply for a PIC if you don’t have one already, or make sure your details are up to date.”

Dr Bell said PICs were free and easy to obtain through the Agriculture Victoria website.

“It is also crucial to keep pigs healthy by ensuring they are not fed swill.”

Swill includes meat, butcher’s shop waste, bakery food that contain meat and vegetables that have been served with meat, and imported dairy products.

“Swill feeding is illegal in Australia, to help protect our livestock from exotic animal diseases.

“Pigs should be fed commercial pig rations, grain, fruit and vegetables. If in doubt, do not feed leftover food to your pigs.”

Remember, get your pig a PIC. Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/PIC or call 136 186.

The final ‘Very Fast Break’ for 2019 is here.

Catch the year in review, the winner of ‘The Break Award for notable climate model performance’ and hear from this year’s 'player of the seasons' climate indicator.

Wishing you a safe harvest and hoping 2020 bowls up a ripper ...

Watch it here.

The Food Innovation Voucher Stream is a new initiative of the Victorian Government that helps companies access the know-how needed to innovate, diversify, improve productivity and take new and innovative products to market.

The vouchers and associated Food Innovation Network will deliver on the Victorian Food and Fibre Sector strategy.

Round 4 of Boost Your Business closes Sunday 22 December.

Potential assistance

• Up to $10,000 for early stage feasibility and testing
• Up to $50,000 for process innovation, product development and research and development.

Eligibility - Applicant businesses must be a small to medium enterprise with an operating presence in Victoria and be registered as members of the Food Innovation Network.

For more information please click

This program is now open to assist eligible farm businesses to invest in on-farm drought preparedness and to seek business advice.

A grant of up to $5,000 (GST exclusive) per farm business is available to assist eligible farm businesses to implement on-farm infrastructure improvements and or undertake business planning and advice activities.

The scheme is available to eligible farm businesses in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District. Eligible irrigation farm businesses, including those that have transitioned from irrigation production systems to dryland production since 1 July 2018, located in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID).

For more information and to access the grant call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au

For more information about other drought and dry seasonal conditions support from Agriculture Victoria go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

Farmers and communities facing drought and dry conditions across northern and north west Victoria should apply now for funding under the Look Over the Farm Gate Program.

Look Over the Farm Gate events are an opportunity for farmers to take a break from the farm, reconnect with their community, access professional support and participate in mental health training.

You know what your community needs, so we encourage community groups to think creatively about what single event or series of events would be most effective.

It could be anything from a barbeque and comedy night, regular fitness meet-ups in the park, or a family movie night.

Look Over the Farm Gate is a mental health and wellbeing initiative funded by the Victorian Government and managed by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Country Women’s Association, Country Fire Authority, and National Centre for Farmer Health.

Applications are still being accepted for events and are assessed on a first in best dressed basis.

For more information about eligibility and how to apply, visit the website at lookoverthefarmgate.org.au

Agriculture Victoria will cancel workshops on Code Red fire danger days

2019 is coming to an end and Christmas is nearly here, which means APAL’s annual Post-harvest Seminar is just around the corner.

After a surge in popularity last year, this year’s event will take place over three days and will include a Future Business workshop and an orchard tour.

Date: 22 – 23 January 

Time: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm followed by dinner

Location: The Woolshed @ Emerald Bank, 7719 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Kialla, Victoria

The seminar and orchard tour will feature a mix of keynote presentations, panel discussions and practical demonstrations in the heart of the Goulburn Valley growing region.

With a focus on managing production and packing for optimal post-harvest quality, themes will include:

• Pre-harvest orchard management for post-harvest quality and storage
• The future of packing and storage
• Post-harvest food safety
• The future for DPA
• Quality and maturity testing
• The changing retail landscape.

Held in Australia’s apple and pear growing heartland the seminar will provide apple and pear industry players with first-hand perspectives that will drive change in the way they manage fruit storage and leads to improved profitability and challenge our supply chain members thinking on post-harvest management techniques.

APAL’s 2020 Post-harvest program will offer attendees the chance to connect over a BBQ dinner, a one-day Orchard Tour taking in some of the Goulburn Valley’s state-of-the-art orchards and pack houses, research updates, and more.

To find out more or to register click

Click here