• National plan to combat climate change in agriculture
• New urban network to bolster our plant health
• Tertiary scholarships for students in dairy communities
• Tapping into Victorian craft produce
• Soils Community of Practice update
• Finding Australia's next generation of lamb leaders
• MLA responds to Red Meat 2030 – an ambitious plan for the future
• Farmers2Founders Early Adopter Program – applications now open
• Drought and dry seasons support services and information
• What's on:
• Agriculture Investment Plan webinar tomorrow
• APAL Future Business Risk Management Workshop
• APAL Grower R&D Update
• NLIS Database – two-part webinar 11 and 18 November
• Dairy Australia Farm Business Fundamentals

Agriculture ministers from around Australia came together in Melbourne last week to endorse a national program, led by Victoria, that will see governments work together to help farmers meet the challenges of climate change.

Much of Australia is facing severe drought and dry conditions are set to become more frequent and extreme as a result of climate change.

It is vital that governments across Australia work together to build the country’s response to droughts and our farms’ preparedness for ongoing difficult seasonal conditions, through a coordinated national approach that gives Australian producers access to support that will provide relief immediately and well into the future.

Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes welcomed the decision of the Agricultural Ministers’ Forum to commit to the national climate change work program, which will provide certainty to the agriculture and business sectors while supporting producers to build resilience against changing conditions.

Victoria led the development of the program, which focuses on four priorities:

• Delivering information and tools to improve on-farm decisions and risk management
• Driving research and innovation to support adaptation and mitigation technology
• Strengthening market opportunities and farming business models to build resilience
• Preparing for increasing biosecurity risks as the risk of pests, diseases and weeds changes.

A new Climate Change Task Group will oversee the delivery of the program, regularly reporting to the Agriculture Senior Officials' Committee and Ministers on its progress.

Urban gardeners will have the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge to ensure the health of their plants with a new Urban Plant Health Network.

Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer Dr Rosa Crnov launched the Urban Plant Health Network at the Horticulture Industry Network meeting in Melbourne last week.

“Plant health and biosecurity isn’t just for farmers or commercial crop growers, everyone has an important part to play in keeping unwanted pests out of Australia,” Dr Crnov said.

“All of us need to keep our gardens clean and free of plant pests, diseases and weeds.”

The Urban Plant Health Network connects home and community gardeners with industry and government experts to help identify and manage new or ‘exotic’ plant pests and diseases.

“These exotic 'nasties' can spread easily from small urban gardens to rural areas, threatening our environment and our agricultural industries, who help customers around the world enjoy high quality ‘clean and green’ food and fibre.”

The network will publish seasonally relevant information and articles about managing unwanted garden pests and diseases through a new website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

The network will also provide an opportunity to connect urban gardeners with a team of skilled professionals who can provide advice on how to look for, manage, and report exotic plant pests or diseases in a home or community garden.

“Last summer, Agriculture Victoria responded to Brown marmorated stink bug detections in three locations in suburban Melbourne. Our urban population’s support of our surveillance was critical to the success of the response,” Dr Crnov said.

“With International Year of Plant Health just around the corner, it’s an ideal time to join the network and be involved in sharing opportunities to promote and participate in activities that support plant health.”

AUSVEG, Citrus Australia, CESAR and the Horticulture Industry Network are involved in the Urban Plant Health Network, with funding support from the federal Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Victoria.

For more information visit https://extensionaus.com.au/urbanplanthealthnetwork/home;
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanplanthlth; Twitter: @urbanplanthlth.

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.

In 2019, Gardiner Foundation was able to increase the number of scholarships awarded from four to seven thanks to a very generous bequest from the late Niel Black.

“This has meant we are able to provide more opportunities to students from rural communities,” said Gardiner CEO, Dr Clive Noble.

“Young people in regional areas often have to move away from home to complete their tertiary education. This puts them at a significant financial disadvantage and can impact on their ability to take up these opportunities.”

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.

Students who have received Gardiner Dairy Foundation Tertiary Scholarships in the past have used the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities while studying, which expands their knowledge and skills.

Madi Gallagher, from Heyfield in Gippsland, is entering her final year of study after receiving a tertiary scholarship in 2018. She says the funding has relieved the financial stress of paying rent, “[allowing her] to concentrate on her classes and other extracurricular agricultural activities”.

Another tertiary scholar, Matthew Roache is a dairy farmer from Woolsthorpe, south-west Victoria, who moved to Wagga Wagga to complete his Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University. Matthew also credits his Gardiner Tertiary Scholarship with giving him greater flexibility.

“It doesn’t mean you do nothing, but it means you can focus more on your studies and that will help in the long term,” he said.
Matthew’s time at University has solidified his thinking in that “[he wants] to return home and work in dairy agronomy”.

The scholarship funding has given students the freedom to explore career pathways and gain extra experience that may not have been possible had a Gardiner Tertiary Scholarship not been available.

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.

Victoria’s small-scale and craft producers are being supported to grow – creating new jobs and attracting more visitors from interstate and overseas to enjoy our locally-made food, beer and spirits.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes visited King River Brewing in Whitfield recently to launch the Victorian Government’s $10 million Small-Scale and Craft Program, encouraging all small-scale producers across Victoria to apply.

Two streams of funding are available under the new program:

• Stream One – Small-scale and Craft Business Development: Grants of up to $25,000 are available to eligible small-scale and craft producers for projects that support businesses to scale up, expand their operations and diversify their products – with applications closing on 6 December.
• Stream Two – Job Creation and Economic Development: Grants of $25,000-$200,000 will go to eligible small scale and craft agribusinesses for significant projects that will deliver benefits to the community and generate jobs. Projects involving multiple businesses are particularly encouraged to apply, with Expressions of Interest, which close on 31 December.

King River Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery based in the King Valley that produce small batch and preservative-free boutique beer. It has an onsite taproom giving visitors an opportunity to taste the range of beers available as well as serving up wood-fired pizzas.

The brewery produces a range of beer styles, ranging from light and easy drinking Kolsch and Pale Ale to more complex styles like Belgian Tripel and Doppelbock. The brewery is also known for its seasonal beers such as the Fig Porter that often sell out within weeks.

This new program follows on from the successful Artisanal Sector Program, which delivered grants to businesses in Victoria’s highly valued and diverse artisanal produce sector, helping them grow production, enhance their farmers’ market potential and take their local produce to the world.

King River Brewing was one of 248 recipients in the Artisanal Sector Program, receiving $5,000 to enclose the brewery and install a climate control system, in order to enable year-round manufacturing of their beers.

Victoria is renowned for its premium produce and the Government is proud to support agricultural businesses that not only provide unique specialty produce, but create jobs, attract tourism and ensure regional communities are vibrant destinations to live and visit.

To find out more about the program, eligibility requirements and to apply, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/food-and-fibre-industries/artisanal-agriculture.

The September/October edition of the Soils Community of Practice update is now available.

This edition features a range of local, national and international news including links to articles on poo-eating beetles, remote sensing in the vegetable industry, and field trials for carbon capture with fungi.

Get the Soils Community of Practice newsletter delivered to you by subscribing here.

Are you, or do you know someone, aged 18 –35 years who is passionate about the Australian sheep and lamb industry?

Well, we'd like to let them know that the LambEx 2020 Young Guns competition is open!

Six finalists will be selected from round one of the LambEx 2020 Young Guns competition to attend the conference in Melbourne, receive travel assistance up to $800, and will be provided with professional development opportunities during the event.

Entering the competition is easy! LambEx wants to hear your vision on how to connect the Australian sheep and lamb industry with city consumers.

Simply capture your vision in three minutes or less using any digital medium(s) including (but not limited to) video, photography with voice overlay, digital storytelling, graphics, animation, GoPro etc.

Unleash your creativity over the coming months to prepare and submit your entry by 31 January 2020.

For information go to: lambex.com.au/young-guns/

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has welcomed the release of Red Meat 2030, which sets out the high-level strategic direction of the Australian red meat and livestock industry over the next decade.

MLA Managing Director Jason Strong said Red Meat 2030 provides a unifying strategy for the Australian red meat and livestock industry that will help ensure the whole supply chain is working together, with the vision to double the value of Australian red meat sales by 2030.

“We need an ambitious and challenging plan looking out to 2030 to help guide the investment of producer research and marketing levies, with all industry organisations having an important role to play,” Mr Strong said.

“Collaboration will be key to meeting the goal of doubling the value of Australian red meat sales and to strengthen the profitability, sustainability and global competitiveness for all participants in our industry.”

As a Rural Research and Development Corporation (RDC), MLA’s role is to prioritise, invest in and evaluate research, development, adoption and marketing activities that benefit Australian red meat producers and the wider supply chain.

Mr Strong said that MLA would continue to focus on delivering its extensive body of work as outlined in its current Strategic Plan and Annual Investment Plan, which cover the period until mid-2020.

“However, we will be guided by Red Meat 2030 and the Australian Government’s Science and Rural Research Priorities to inform the development of MLA’s next five-year strategic plan, which will come into effect in July 2020.

"We will also continue to consult with producers, Peak Industry Councils and other stakeholders to seek their important input on MLA’s activities.

"Red Meat 2030 is an ambitious document and, importantly, it is designed to challenge us as an industry as we look ahead to the next decade."

The Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) is the custodian of the Meat Industry Strategic Plan. RMAC worked with the Peak Industry Councils and the three red meat Rural Research and Development Corporations, as well as consulted with people working in the industry on the development of Red Meat 2030.

“As a key stakeholder, MLA played an active role in the process led by RMAC in developing Red Meat 2030. I would like to acknowledge the producers and all those who gave their time to contribute to the development of the plan,” Mr Strong said.

To read the plan visit www.redmeat2030.com.au.

Key outcomes for participants are:

1. Support to de-risk the process of searching for, filtering, and accessing new technologies that solve key challenges on farm; and
2. Access to a community of other innovative farmers across Australia to share challenges, ideas, and solutions for getting the best out of technologies.

The program is largely run virtually, using a chat group (e.g., whatsapp) and video conference meetings. In the final phase, participants are invited to an in-person workshop with a hand-picked group of technology vendor(s) to scope out a trial or pilot. Travel subsidies are provided to attend.

Applications close 15 November. More information is available at https://www.farmers2founders.com/early-adopter-program.

Farmers impacted by drought in Central and East Gippsland are reminded that grants under the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants Program and the Pasture Recovery and Management Grants Program are still available. 

Details on the new funding support will be available soon.

Pasture Recovery and Management Grant Program

A grant of up to $5,000 (ex-GST) is available to assist eligible farm businesses implement pasture restoration and other land management activities that may aid in pasture recovery. Eligible farm businesses are required to provide at least dollar-for-dollar matching funding co-contribution.

On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to eligible farm businesses in Central and East Gippsland and Northern and North West Victoria to assist farm businesses implement on-farm infrastructure that improves drought management and preparedness. Eligible farm businesses are required to provide at least dollar-for-dollar matching funding co-contribution.

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

Drought employment program

The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority received further funding for the Drought Employment Program in the recent drought funding announcement by the Victorian Government.

The program has been providing temporary employment for people across the East Gippsland and Wellington shires impacted by the drought. Details about the next round and other drought and dry seasonal conditions support will be available soon at agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons.

Have you dropped into our offices at Bairnsdale, Maffra or Swifts Creek lately?

Did you know you can make an appointment to talk to a staff member about a pasture recovery grant, drought assistance and technical workshops in the region?

You can also make a time to have a one-on-one consultation.

You will find us at:

• 574 Main Street, Bairnsdale (same place as the DELWP office)
• 1 Stratford Road, Maffra
• 13 McMillan Avenue, Swifts Creek (same place as the DELWP office)

As always you can also get more information, tools and advice online at agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call us on 136 186.

Producers are encouraged to access the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme for the purchase and installation of emergency water infrastructure for livestock.

In Gippsland, the scheme is available to eligible farm businesses in the Wellington and East Gippsland shires.

Farm businesses NOT in these 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.

The on-farm energy assessment and grants are available to eligible primary producers until March 2020 or until available funding is exhausted.

Grants will be provided on a dollar-for-dollar cash co-contribution basis. Recipients are required to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total cash costs of the project.

An on-farm energy assessment is required to access one of the grants under the Agriculture Investment Energy Plan (AEIP).
An energy assessment is not required for the Streamlined Dairy Grants.

Note: There is no deadline to register. If you are new to Webex webinars, please log in 15 minutes prior to the start of the session to ensure Webex is set-up on your computer.

For more information on the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan visit: the Agriculture Victoria website or contact Sarah Clack at Agriculture Victoria Tatura on (03) 5824 5502 or sarah.clack@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

More information is available here.

RSVP: emily.crawford@agriculture.victoria.vic.gov.au or on (03) 5824 5512.

Agriculture Victoria is delivering a two-part webinar for producers using the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.

Participants will learn how to complete a Property-to-Property (P2P) transfer and use the database features.

Topics include:

• Setting up, navigating and using the NLIS database
• Completing Property-to-Property (P2P) transfers on the NLIS database.

Book your free tickets online at Eventbrite then select ‘NLIS Database Practical Workshop – Webinar’

For more information, or if you have trouble registering, please call (03) 5761 1647.

Numbers are limited to allow for an interactive session, so be quick to secure a spot!

Click here