• Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
• Finalise your livestock fire plan now
• Avian influenza update – movement controls still in place
• Helping farmers get the workers they need this harvest season
• Backing agriculture for Victoria’s strong future
• Readiness planning for plague locusts in Gippsland
• Be wise and report the floating water weed
• Ask the researcher forum – genetic improvement
• Exciting opportunity for students finishing Year 12
• Horticulture guidelines for seasonal workers
• Gippsland agribusiness award winners announced
• Weed management after fire – supporting native species recovery
• Animal welfare fund grants – round 9 applications are now open
• Have your say on a new animal welfare Act
• Tune into the AgVic Talk podcast series
• Primary producers bushfire support programs
• What's on – upcoming webinars

Victorian Border Crossing Permit

From 11.59 pm 21 November, permits are required for everyone arriving in Victoria who lives in or has travelled through South Australia. For more information and to apply for a Victorian Border Crossing Permit, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au

Update: safely reopening Victoria

The coronavirus (COVID-19) roadmap for reopening provides steps on easing restrictions, dependent on how many active coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are in the community and public health advice.

From 11.59 pm on 22 November, changes are being made to restrictions across Victoria. Read the Premier’s statement or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au for more details.

COVIDSafe Plans are required for all Victorian businesses

It is mandatory for every Victorian business to have a COVIDSafe Plan.

To ensure compliance, random spot checks are underway.

Your COVIDSafe Plan must set out:

• your actions to help prevent the introduction of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace
• the level of face covering or personal protective equipment (PPE) required for your workforce
• how you will prepare for, and respond to, a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace
• this plan must demonstrate how you will meet all the requirements set out by the Victorian Government. Some higher-risk industries or workplaces have additional requirements of employers and employees.

Businesses must review and update their COVIDSafe Plans routinely, especially when restrictions or public health advice changes. Organisations with multiple worksites must complete a COVIDSafe Plan for each worksite.

If you own a business in a high-risk industry, you must have a High Risk COVIDSafe plan.

In both metropolitan Melbourne and in regional Victoria, your business is operating in a high-risk industry and requires a High Risk COVIDSafe Plan if you are:

• an abattoir or meat processing facility
• a seafood processing facility
• a poultry processing facility
• in seasonal horticultural work.

For more information and for templates and guidance on how to create your COVIDSafe Plan, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au

Victorian primary producers are more aware than most, particularly after the devastating 2019/20 bushfires, of the importance of being prepared and having a plan in place for their livestock.

Effects faced include:

• damaged fencing and other infrastructure
• facilities and supplementary feed stores
• burnt pastures and
• devastating loss of thousands of sheep and cattle.

Producers were also required to move around 160,000 livestock to alternative locations across Victoria and interstate urgently both prior to, during and post the bushfires.

Now is the time for livestock owners to get prepared and have a clear strategy to apply in the possibility of a fire emergency on their farm.

A key factor in minimising the threat to livestock during a bushfire or on extreme fire danger days, is to identify safer areas on-farm where livestock can be moved to.

The area you choose will depend on the type of livestock and their expected behaviour during a bushfire.

To reduce potential injury and death to livestock you should consider relocating stock to designated low risk areas during days of high fire danger and Total Fire Bans. Low risk areas include:

• ploughed paddocks, areas cultivated and kept free of combustible vegetation
• bared-out paddocks, provided they are well defended by fire breaks
• irrigated paddocks or paddocks containing green summer crops (green feed does not burn easily)
• stockyards that can be wet in advance— however, the yards must be well defended as the fire front passes.

All low risk areas should have sufficient drinking water to enable stock to remain in the area for extended periods of high fire risk and high temperatures, be protected by firebreaks and be free of leaf, twigs and bark build-up.

Areas where there are dams and swamps are another possible option.

For more information see stock containment areas for emergencies.

Stockyards have been known to successfully hold livestock during a bushfire, if protected by a firebreak.

If this is your preferred option, consider using a sprinkler system, similar to stock being held together on a hot day, they can suffer heat stress.

Horses should not be locked up in small areas or stables but moved to an open paddock with minimal vegetation, so they can move freely.

Horses are good at moving themselves to safe open areas and usually suffer minimal burns if left to do so.

If equipment such as rugs, halters and flyveils remain on horses, the plastic may melt, and metal buckles can burn the animal.

Therefore consider using rope halters for easier handling and management.

It’s crucial not to open gates that may allow stock access to public roadways, as any animals will be a hazard to traffic in smoky conditions.

On days of extreme fire danger or on the day before, stock should be moved into lower risk areas on-farm, or to a safer property.

Agriculture Victoria advises livestock owners to act early and not get caught trying to move stock as a bushfire approaches, listen to weather forecasts and observe your own environment to help you decide when to put your plan into action.

For further assistance on preparing a farm and livestock bushfire plan see the emergency management pages or contact the Agriculture Victoria Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Agriculture Victoria is continuing surveillance in the East Gippsland Shire and across the state to ensure Victoria is free of avian influenza.

Avian influenza, commonly referred to as ‘bird flu’, is a highly contagious viral infection of birds. It was detected in late July and has affected several properties across the state.

Serious forms of the disease can cause severe symptoms and sudden death in domestic poultry (up to 100 per cent of birds). Mild strains of the disease cause few or no symptoms in poultry and may go undetected in some species of birds, though can result in some deaths.

In the East Gippsland Shire a Restricted Area and a Control Area remain in place around the infected property, near Bairnsdale, to help control the spread of the disease.

Permits are required for the movement of poultry, poultry products and vehicles involved in poultry production within, into or out of the Restricted Areas and Control Area. This includes farm-gate eggs and manure. Please apply online. These movement controls will remain in place until Ag Vic is confident the disease has been eradicated.

All sick or dead birds should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888, whether they are pet, farmed or wild.

For more information and maps of the Restricted Area and Control Area, or for permit, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu

There is a strong appetite from Victoria’s multicultural communities to get involved in farm work this harvest season.

As part of a suite of activities underway to help address the seasonal workforce challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Agriculture Victoria is running an online information session next week for small growers focused on engaging workers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

The event will offer employers an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what they can expect when hiring CALD workers.

The session will cover:

• Accessing financial and workforce support through the Victorian Government
• How to list seasonal jobs on Working for Victoria, and contact jobseekers who have expressed interest in working in agriculture
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) health and safety 
• Creating a welcoming workplace for people from diverse backgrounds.

Small growers in the Yarra Ranges, Casey, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula, Greater Dandenong, Nillumbik and Whittlesea areas are encouraged to attend.

The event will be held on Thursday, 3 December from 1.30 – 3 pm

Register now via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcuqrDMsHteUkaL3HYAdaoELm_Wi38Vk

Businesses with seasonal workforce needs can also seek assistance or connect with an Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Workforce Coordinator by calling the new seasonal workforce support hotline on 13 22 15.

The Victorian Government is backing a stronger, more innovative and sustainable agriculture industry with a new strategy to drive Victoria’s recovery from coronavirus and bolster the economy.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes recently announced the Victorian Budget 2020/21 will provide $65 million to support a strategy that responds to the challenges facing our farmers and positions Victorian agriculture for future growth.

A key focus of the strategy will be the modernisation of Victorian agriculture.

This includes $15 million to access leading AgTech, innovative farming methods and new skills so farmers have the tools and expertise they need to deliver more high-quality products to more local and global consumers, and enjoy even better returns.

Help for our farmers to expand their export potential will be provided through $20 million for the Food to Market and Pathways to Export programs, which will support infrastructure and business development projects and dedicated agriculture export resources for Victorian farmers.

The strategy will also focus on protecting the future of the industry by helping farmers respond and adapt to climate change.

Underpinning these objectives is a $30 million investment to extend the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan, which helps farmers reduce their energy costs, and be more energy efficient and productive.

The plan has been extremely popular, with farmers across Victoria benefitting from more than $11 million in grants awarded this year for energy efficiency investments and own-generation technology.

The government is continuing to support the industry as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, drought and bushfires.

Through the strategy, farmers and businesses will be helped to build resilience and take advantage of opportunities to strengthen supply chains and local manufacturing.

The strategy will build on existing work including Victoria's world-class agricultural research capacity, the On-Farm Internet of Things trials, new SmartFarms and Small-Scale and Craft Program.

The government will work in partnership with industry to ensure this work aligns with their future plans, building on the regular engagement with our industry reference group since March.

There will be opportunities for everyone to share their views and details on how to do this will be available soon.

Join the next Gippsland Ag Chat session on Wednesday 2 December at 1.15 pm to hear more about how you can be prepared for potential future Australian plague locust incursions into East Gippsland.

The online webinar will be presented by Agriculture Victoria entomologist and Victorian Plague Locust Commissioner Dr Kyla Finlay, with support from Plant Pests and Disease Manager Dr Chris Pittock.

Australian plague locusts (Chortoicetes terminifera) are a feature of the Australian landscape, however, can breed rapidly under favourable weather conditions, such as heavy spring rainfall.

Dr Finlay said so far this season there has been very little locust activity reported in East Gippsland but there has been a higher than average number of sightings in western and north-western Victoria.

“There is no locust plague in Victoria at present nor is one predicted, however, the La Nina weather phenomenon has brought higher than average rainfall to eastern Australia, providing plenty of green feed which is ideal for locusts to breed,” she said.

Dr Finlay said it’s possible we may see hatchings in the summer and a build-up of numbers under the right conditions.

The following topics will be covered in the hour-long webinar:

• Potential for Australian plague locust incursion into East Gippsland this season
• Current Australian plague locust surveillance results
• Identifying potential locust beds and monitoring hatchings
• Life cycle and control of Australian plague locust.

Maffra District Veterinary Officer Michael Roberts will also be online to discuss seasonal animal health issues such as facial eczema.

Join the Gippsland Ag Chat online on Wednesday 2 December at 1.15 pm via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93654449373 (meeting ID: 936 5444 9373, passcode: 779941 or dial in on (03) 7018 2005. Registration is not required.

There will be plenty of time for questions, which can be asked during the session or beforehand by emailing John Commins at john.commins@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support or bushfire recovery call 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria is encouraging regional Victorians to report sightings of the State prohibited weed, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).

Leading Biosecurity Officer Kaitlin Wright said water hyacinth is one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds.

An infestation can double in size within two weeks, devastating natural waterways and impacting heavily on aquatic flora and fauna.

'Water hyacinth can be identified by its purple flower spikes in summer and thick, fleshy round leaves that sit on the water’s surface.

It has dark feathery roots that trail in the water below and one plant is capable of producing 3000 seeds in one season,' Ms Wright said.

The plant has been illegally sold at some regional markets and online in the past and Agriculture Victoria is concerned that some residents may have innocently bought the ‘pretty but nasty’ plants for their fish tanks, ponds or dams.

'It’s vital that people report any sightings of water hyacinth. Even if you purchased this plant without knowing it was such an invasive weed.

'Please don’t try to control or dispose of the weed yourself. Contact Agriculture Victoria for the safe and secure disposal of plants.'

In Victoria, this highly invasive aquatic species is a State prohibited weed under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 and managed with the aim of eradication from the State.

Agriculture Victorian encourages anyone who thinks they have water hyacinth or have seen it offered for sale, to report it on 136 186 or Weed.Spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Did you know the amount of milk each cow in Australia produces has doubled since 1970?

This would not be possible without research into better breeding and how to use feed more efficiently.

Next week join research scientist Professor Jennie Pryce and WestVic Dairy extension officer Debbie Twiss as they discuss and answer questions about genetic improvement.

The virtual forum will be held at 12.30pm on Wednesday 2 December.

To register go to Dairy Australia’s website: https://tinyurl.com/ATRNGI

You can also read more about Professor Pryce’s work in the latest edition of Dairy Innovation News (PDF) at https://tinyurl.com/DINOCT20

Caption - Kyella McKenna

Students currently finishing Year 12 are being offered the opportunity to gain hands-on, paid work on local dairy farms as part of Dairy Australia’s industry based Dairy Gap Year Program.

This initiative will provide interested students with the opportunity to consider a career in agriculture, whilst undertaking a minimum of 12 months paid work on Victorian dairy farms.

To be eligible, students must have a driver’s licence and be prepared to enrol in a Certificate in Agriculture course while undertaking their gap year.

The industry has sourced farms that have strong HR policies and are committed to offering a positive dairy experience.

Students will be linked to a Group Training Organisation to ensure all award conditions are met.

Having worked on-farm for the past four years, two of those whilst completing VCE and two as gap years, 19-year-old Kyella McKenna said:

“I have been fortunate enough after finishing school to take the steps in following an agriculture career, which will lead me to a successful career in the dairy industry.

“The most enjoyable parts of working on-farm for me are working with animals day-to-day, the rearing of calves as well as animal health and nutrition.

“It is great to have learned about and actively take part in the various aspects to working on a dairy farm such as milking, working with the machinery and tractor work.

“I believe anyone can do what I have done. I don’t have a farming background but took an interest in it and I’m now doing something I love.

“I’d recommend working in the industry to all young people. It is hard work, but you have fun, work hard and best of all make money.”

In the recent Federal Budget, it was announced that from November 2020 to December 2021, a person who earns at least $15,000 through employment in the agriculture sector may be considered independent from their parents for Youth Allowance (student) or ABSTUDY purposes.

Meaning this program will provide a great incentive to those finishing Year 12 now and looking to further tertiary study in 2022.

This great opportunity is available to all, including those that haven’t previously considered a career in agriculture.

A dairy gap year will provide participants with a great experience and will help them stand out to potential employers or assist in university interviews.

For further information, contact WestVic Dairy’s Career Coordinator, Jim Burrell on 0404 404 554 or jim@westvicdairy.com.au

Did you know that all Victorian farm businesses and labour hire agencies involved in seasonal horticulture (fruit and vegetables) must have a Seasonal Horticulture Workers COVIDSafe Plan?

Seasonal Horticulture Workers Guidelines and a Seasonal Horticulture Workers COVIDSafe Plan are available to help make seasonal horticulture workplaces COVIDSafe. 

For the Seasonal Horticulture Industry Guidelines, visit:
coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidance-agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#industry-guidelines

For the COVIDSafe Plan, visit: coronavirus.vic.gov.au/high-risk-covidsafe-plan#seasonal-horticulture

For more information and support visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/agworkforceplan

The best of the best in Gippsland’s Food & Fibre sector have been named in an online presentation of the 2020 Food & Fibre Gippsland Excellence in Agribusiness Awards.

Greenham Gippsland claimed the premier award – Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year, a well-deserved acknowledgement for the 100% Australian owned family company who for six generations have purchased livestock from thousands of Australian suppliers.

Since the early 1900s, Greenham has been a significant player the Australian domestic and export meat industry. Greenham have however only been in Gippsland since 2017 when they purchased an abattoir site in Moe. Since then, they’ve invested heavily in the equipment for expansion, supported the employment of local staff and developed their Never Ever program which is all about sourcing and certifying a natural 100% grass fed beef.

Rob Bayley from Blackwood Piggery was named Young Agribusiness Leader of the Year for his impressive leadership at a local, state, and national level, for the pork industry, and agriculture as a whole.

And in a new premier award for 2020, Gabrielle Moore, co-founder of Sailors Grave Brewery was named Female Agribusiness Leader of the Year for not just her success in the establishment of the Sailors Grave brand and business, but her for passion for the region, generous support and mentoring of other businesses, and genuine collaborative spirit.

Other award winners and categories included:

• Excellence in Collaborative Partnerships – Sailors Grave Brewing
• Excellence in Service to the Food & Fibre Industry* – Warragul Farmers Market
• Excellence in Sustainability – Flavorite Tomatoes
• Excellence in Workforce Capability (two winners) – Jaydee – Cows Create Careers and Victoria Valley Meats
• Excellence in Entrepreneurship – South Gippsland Dairy 
• Excellence in Adaptation to Change – Schreurs & Sons
• Excellence in Food & Drink Manufacturing (for a business with less than 10 employees) – Gurney’s Cidery
• Excellence in Food & Drink Manufacturing (for a business with more than 10 employees) – ViPlus Dairy
• Excellence in Fibre Industry – Radial Timber 
• Excellence in Innovation – Alberton Timber
• Excellence in Research and Development – Soilkee
• Excellence in Exporting – Hussey & Co.

Food & Fibre Gippsland CEO, Nicola Pero congratulated the winners.

“The diversity of food and fibre businesses we have across the region is reflected in this year’s winner list, we are so proud of their success and what they contribute to the Gippsland community and economy."

The 2021 program will launch in March next year, and with a number of discussions already underway, it promises to be even bigger and better with a special new premier award to be revealed.

View the 2020 awards presentation ceremony. Further information is available at Food & Fibre Gippsland.

* Agriculture Victoria sponsors the Excellence in Service to the Food & Fibre Industry Award, recognising an individual service provider in the Gippsland region that has provided outstanding performance or volunteer work.

After bushfire, ecosystems are at their most vulnerable to weed invasion.

Help to support indigenous flora and fauna by managing weeds in bushfire affected areas.

This webinar series focuses on sharing practical knowledge so everyone can contribute to bushfire recovery.

Free, each Wednesday 10.30 am to 12.15 pm, 25 November to 16 December 2020.

• Webinar 1: Wednesday 25 November 2020 - Overview weed management after fire (finished).
• Webinar 2: Wednesday 2 December 2020 - Prioritisation of weeds after fire.
• Webinar 3: Wednesday 9 December 2020 - Collaborative projects - weed management after fire.
• Webinar 4: Wednesday 16 December 2020 - Weed identification and recording after fire.

Register for the online webinars and learn how you can help indigenous species through weed management. https://tinyurl.com/WeedsAfterFire

The Victorian Government is offering $750,000 in grant funding to not-for-profit and community organisations who rehome pets or provide low-cost veterinary services.

Animal shelters, foster carers, not-for-profit and community vet clinics are encouraged to apply for funding. Eligible organisations wishing to invest in infrastructure, programs and activities that align with the below areas and demonstrate a benefit to companion animal welfare in Victoria will be considered for funding:

• Improvement in the rates of reuniting companion animals to their owners and re-homing of companion animals
• Services, systems or equipment which improve the efficiency and effectiveness of foster care, or Community Foster Care Networks, or community and not-for-profit veterinary clinics
• Upgrade or extension of current shelter, foster care or low-cost veterinary clinic facilities to improve the welfare of companion animals
• Establishment of new, low-cost veterinary clinics in areas of need in Victoria
• Education programs on responsible ownership of animals, including consideration of ethics, sentience and duty of care.

Only one grant application will be permitted per organisation.

Applicants are encouraged to read the Round 9 Program Guidelines prior to commencing an application.

Online applications for Round 9 grant funding are now open and close Saturday 12 December 2020 at midnight. Apply online here

For more information about the program contact pet.welfare@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government has committed to modernising Victoria's animal welfare laws.

Proposals for a new animal welfare Act have been released for public feedback.

The new Act would replace the current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.  

The Directions Paper sets out proposed high-level policy approaches for the new Act.

The proposals aim to achieve three key objectives: 

• Improve the safeguarding of animal welfare – such as by setting minimum standards of care for animals in Victorian legislation for the first time. 
• Provide a simplified and flexible legislative framework – making it easier for people to understand how animals must be treated and to enable the law to be more easily adapted in response to developments in animal science or industry practices and technologies and changing expectations for animal welfare. Proposals also aim to cut red tape for our food and fibre producers.
• Provide a better compliance and enforcement model – to enable earlier intervention to better safeguard animal welfare, as well as improve options to respond when people don’t treat animals as they should. 

Submit your feedback 

Read the proposals for the new animal welfare Act, complete the survey or download a submission on the Engage Victoria website.

The survey and submissions are open until 14 December 2020. 

Your feedback will inform and influence the development of a draft Bill for a new animal welfare Act for the Victorian Parliament to consider.

Have you listened to the new AgVic Talk podcast series yet?

Episodes now available include:

• Turn a dream into reality with Sarah McLean
• Spring pasture management of fire affected pastures with Fiona Baker
• Getting a foot in the door using drones on-farm with Clay-Gowers
• Balancing wet winters and dairy farming with Craig Dwyer
• Managing a dairy farm in a variable climate with Kevin Fitzsimons
• Using soil moisture monitoring to help manage seasonal risk with Dale Boyd
• Managing through dry seasons is all about preparation with Peter Young
• Maintaining ground cover to secure sandy topsoil with Ron Hards.
• Dealing with stress during difficult times with David Cherry.

Listen here

Free, confidential wellbeing and mental health support is now available to business owners, their employees and family members as part of the Wellbeing and Mental Health Support program.

The Partners in Wellbeing hotline provides one-to-one support to improve wellbeing, as well as free access to business advisers and financial counsellors.

Call 1300 375 330 from 9 am to 10 pm weekdays.

The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments are continuing to support the agriculture business recovery from the 2019–20 bushfires, with additional support for both inside and outside the fire-affected areas.

The Smoke Taint Grant provides up to $10,000 for business recovery and growth, improvements to make the business more resilient to future disasters, and marketing activities.

It is available to farmers outside the local government areas that are currently eligible for the Emergency Bushfire Response in Primary Industries Grant and the Small Business Bushfire Support Grant.

For details of the grant and a list of the eligible local government areas, visit ruralfinance.com.au

The new $10,000 Small Business Bushfire Support Grants are open.

• it's easy to apply
• you aren't required to upload any financial documents if you don't have them right now
• you can apply if your business was indirectly affected by the bushfires.

The grant is available for small businesses and primary producers in East Gippsland, Towong, Alpine, Indigo, Wangaratta, Mansfield and Wellington shires who have experienced significant income loss as a result of this season’s bushfires.

Find out more at www.vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery-victoria

Concessional loans of up to $500,000 are available to support small business, primary producers and non-profit organisations impacted by the Victorian bushfires that began on 21 November 2019.

The loans are for restoring and/or replacing damaged assets and/or to meet working capital expenses.

They are available for eligible wine grape growers in Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Indigo, Mansfield, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga.

For further information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

Grants of up to $75,000 to assist primary producers directly affected by the 2019–2020 bushfire with recovery costs. Eligible activities include rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure, including fencing and trellises.

Wine grape growers who are located in eligible fire affected local government areas and have had crops affected by smoke taint may be able to claim for costs associated with the salvage, harvest and disposal of the smoke taint affected crops. Where no fire has occurred on the property, evidence of smoke impact, such as smoke taint testing results are required.

Available in eligible fire affected local government areas across Victoria. In the areas of Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Indigo, Mansfield, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga, and the alpine areas of Falls Creek, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Mount Stirling.

For further information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

The Victorian Government is helping regional Victorians who lost critical household water infrastructure in the 2019-20 bushfires with up to $20,000 available to replace rainwater and septic tanks.

Rebates, of up to $15,000 for septic tanks and $3,000 for household rainwater tanks, are available to cover up to half of the costs of the purchase and installation of new primary use tank systems to residents rebuilding homes.

To assist with the installation process, up to $1,500 funding is available for any combination of assessments required to get council approval to install or alter a septic system including condition reports undertaken by a qualified plumber and Land Capability Assessments.

Further funding of up to $500 is available to cover the initial refill of a rainwater tank installed as part of the program.

Rebates of up to $2,500 are also available for minor repairs or reconnections required for undamaged tank systems that comply with current standards.

The program is available to households in Alpine, Towong and East Gippsland shires, not connected to reticulated urban water systems, for the replacement, minor repairs or reconnection of primary use rainwater and septic tanks at their primary place of residence.

Rebates are available for works completed since 21 November 2019 and until 31 May 2023.

To apply for the rebates contact your local Bushfire Recovery Victoria hub or visit melbournewater.com.au/RaSTRprogram.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to the Events page to find out what's on.

Year to year climate variability is a major source of risk to grain grower profitability, which is why the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) teamed up with Agriculture Victoria in 2018 to deliver a new ‘Using seasonal forecast information and tools' project for the Southern GRDC Region.

This project has extended the successful seasonal forecast commentary ‘The Break’ products to also include South Australia, Tasmania and southern NSW.

Join this webinar to hear about what has been done during the three years of this project, see the new forecast products, local climate tools, training workshops and hear insights into how the project has been working with the grains industry to improve the way we can communicate and use seasonal climate forecast information in southeast Australia.

WHEN: Monday 30 November at 12 pm

WHERE: Online – register here

PRESENTERS: 

• Graeme Anderson, Agriculture Victoria
• Randall Wilksch, GRDC, South Australia
• Mark Stanley, Regional Connections Pty Ltd
• Dale Grey, Agriculture Victoria
• Jemma Pearl, Agriculture Victoria

For more information about the climate webinar series, including assistance joining this webinar, email climate.webinars@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria is hosting two more webinars in the spring/summer series to assist landholders in Central and East Gippsland.

If you would like to submit questions or photos for discussion prior to the event, please contact John Commins at  john.commins@agriculture.vic.gov.au or on 0427 595 153.

Book your free tickets online at  http://agriculturevictoriaevents.eventbrite.com then select ‘NLIS Database Webinar’.

For more information or if you have trouble registering call (03) 5761 1647. Numbers are limited to allow for an interactive session, so be quick to secure a spot!

30 November – 1 December 2020: AgTech Summit

The AgTech Summit will return for its third instalment.

This event is fully virtual, delivered via a live stream and interactive meeting rooms.

Gathering the industry's key stakeholders, the summit will draw on the key issues facing the sector and the growing demand for technological advancement in agriculture.

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

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