• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Securing your future water needs
• Appropriate disposal of dead stock
• The Very Fast Break – seasonal climate video
• Soil Moisture Monitoring - cropping
• How is your effluent pond - does it need clearing?
• Pain relief mandatory for mulesing
• Helicopter survey provides new data on Victoria's game ducks
• Don't omit ladders when ordering new grain storage infrastructure
• Fox and wild dog bounty collections
• In case you missed it
• Weekly Irrigation Requirements
• What's on?

Keep up to date with all the latest restrictions and requirements at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

The fifth webinar in the Agriculture Victoria irrigation webinar series ‘Securing your future water needs - harnessing carryover and other water products,’ will run on Thursday 29 April, from 1 pm.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Irrigation Extension Officer Rob O’Connor said the webinar will discuss smart ways of taking advantage of the current low water prices to better manage future water price risk in the 2021-22 season and beyond.

The webinar will cover:

• The situation and outlook for southern Murray Darling Basin (sMDB) water allocations and the water market - and what the outlook means for securing future water requirements
• Current opportunities with carryover water, allocation forwards, entitlement leases and carryover leasing (parking)
• Implications of carryover rules and spillable water, for irrigators
• Protecting and accessing your carryover
• Balancing the costs, benefits and risks of carryover and other water products in your farm water portfolio.

Mr O’Connor said expert speakers will include Phil Grahame, Ruralco General Manager, who has over 10 years of experience in water broking with a diverse range of clients across the connected sMDB.

“Plus, Andrew Shields, Goulburn Murray Water River Operations Manager, who manages surface water, including GMW seasonal determinations, allocation outlooks and river flow planning.”

You can go online to register in advance for this webinar.

After registering, be careful to save the confirmation email containing important information about joining the webinar, including a password.

For technical issues please call John Paulet on 0429 158 500, or for more information about the irrigation webinar series call Rob O’Connor on 0408 515 652.

This webinar is brought to you by the Sustainable Irrigation Program, a partnership between Agriculture Victoria, DELWP, catchment management authorities and rural water corporations.

Dr Jeff Cave
District Veterinary Officer

Disposal of an animal’s carcass isn’t at the front of anyone’s mind – until it’s needed.

Dead animals can be a risk to biosecurity and be hazardous to the environment, therefore appropriate disposal is essential to ensure a healthy, safe and productive farm.

The disposal methods required will depend on the size of the dead animal.

The disposal of a large animal like a horse or cow can be a logistical challenge.

The use of a knackery, rendering plant, or an appropriately licensed landfill may provide an option.

For a knackery to collect livestock they generally insist the animal is a large animal, such as a cow or horse, and is alive or at the very least freshly deceased and if they are cattle, sheep or goats, must have a NLIS ear tag affixed.

Limited numbers of dead stock can be buried on a farm, providing the burial site does not negatively impact the land, surface or ground waters, or create an odour.

To reduce environmental impacts, an on-farm burial site should be on elevated land, in low-permeable soil, well above the water table and well away from water runoff and neighbouring houses.

The carcass should also be sufficiently covered with at least one metre of soil. Personal safety should always be considered when constructing a pit.

If left in paddocks, dead stock can be a potential disease risk and could contaminate land and water.

Agriculture Victoria provides a guide to disposing of dead stock after bushfires,

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has the power to penalise or fine a livestock owner or manager, who does not dispose of dead stock properly.

For further information please contact your local Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer on 136 186 or the EPA.

Welcome to the "Very Fast Break" seasonal climate update video clips.

Agriculture Victoria is partnering with the Grains Research and Development Corporation to bring you these short summaries for South Australia and Victoria and for the first time this year Southern NSW.

Watch the short YouTube video for Victoria here.

Rainfall totals for Victoria

Rainfall was concentrated to Central and North East Victoria and East Gippsland with storms in the second half of March.

Moisture infiltration was observed with less than 50 millimetres of rain and no changes with sites receiving greater than 25 millimetres.

Rainfall totals exceeding 100 millimetres at monitoring sites in East Gippsland has dramatically improved the soil moisture profile and the pasture sites at Bairnsdale.

You can read more detail online.

Richard Smith
Agriculture Victoria Dairy Extension Officer

After recent heavy rains in some areas across Victoria, it is time to assess if your effluent ponds are coping with the extra inflow and are in good condition for the coming winter.

Effluent systems are generally designed to have the storage ponds empty going into the winter.

Having the ponds empty increases effluent storage capacity as rainfall exceeds evaporation in this period and paddocks are generally too wet to apply effluent as it increases the risk of nutrient run off and waterlogging.

By reducing second pond volume, farmers can maximise fill capacity, plus applying an autumn application of effluent will provide a free boost to winter pasture growth. This is due to the large amount of nitrogen and potassium which is often held.

When applying effluent:

• leave at least 150mm of effluent in the bottom of the ponds to prevent cracking and future leaking
• if effluent is recycled for yard washing, then enough effluent must be left in the pond for this to continue
• rotate effluent application in paddocks and regularly soil test application areas
• avoid grazing paddocks until at least 21 days after effluent application
• graze prior to effluent application as it allows greater penetration of UV rays into the canopy to kill potential pathogens contained in the effluent
• transition cows should not be grazed on high potassium paddocks – including paddocks where effluent has been applied
• young stock should not have access to areas where effluent is stored or has been applied.

Ideally test the effluent prior to application to assess the nutrient concentrations, so appropriate application rates can be calculated.

If you don’t have a recent test you can assess an appropriate application rate by using Dairy Australia’s Effluent and Sludge calculator.

The first effluent pond should also be de-sludged every couple of years, depending on the size of the pond and herd size, to ensure sludge does not build up and find its way into the second pond.

First pond sludge is an extremely useful resource and acts as a slow release fertiliser, still providing additional growth twelve to eighteen months after application.

Sludge application can be a good way to kick start a rundown area of the farm and can be incorporated during a cropping phase.

All dairy farmers are required to keep dairy effluent on farm and out of waterways.

By ensuring your ponds are empty before winter it will assist you to manage your effluent system over the wet months.

There's more information about managing effluent available online.

It won’t be long until we see lambs bouncing around the paddocks again as autumn lambing time is underway.

Agriculture Victoria is reminding producers and contractors that if they do conduct mulesing on lambs, it is now a requirement to administer a registered pain-relief product.

These provisions came into effect from 1 July 2020, as part of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (POCTA) Regulations 2019.

The requirement to use a registered pain relief product not only ensures better animal welfare outcomes for Victorian sheep, but it also helps to protect the reputation of Victoria’s sheep industry.

Agriculture Victoria Program Manager Livestock Welfare Compliance, Rachael Holmes said only pain relief products that are registered for use on sheep by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) can be used when mulesing.
 
“As with any agricultural or veterinary chemicals used on farm, producers should keep records of the pain-relieving products used.

“Details should include the product trade name, species/location of animals, identification numbers/description, the date the treatment has been applied and the dose rate used.”

Dr Holmes said that there are a number of pain relief products available to producers for not only mulesing but for marking lambs in general.

“Producers need to be aware of advantages and disadvantages of the available pain relief products and the type of pain they are targeting and consider the best fit for their operation to achieve the desired results. Producers are best to discuss this with their Veterinarian.

“The use of pain relief products during the mulesing/marking procedure ensure Victoria’s sheep industry operating best-practice welfare and supports the sustainability of our industry,” Dr Holmes said.

Victoria’s Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Sheep (Revision Number 2) is also available to provide a technical guide for those using mulesing as part of a flystrike management program.

“If undertaken, mulesing should only be done as part of an integrated approach to flystrike management including crutching and shearing, good worm control, strategic use of chemicals, genetic selection of sheep and paddock grazing management,” she said.

You can find more pain relief support and resources online.

PHOTO: The flight path taken by the game duck aerial survey helicopter in November 2020

A pilot aerial survey to estimate the total number of game ducks in Victoria was released today by the Game Management Authority.

The aerial survey found an estimated total population of almost 2.5 million game ducks, giving a more detailed understanding of the number of game ducks in the state.

This number is much higher than previous methodologies have indicated and means that the sustainable harvest level can be increased.

The aerial survey was conducted by experienced wildlife consultants counting the number of game ducks from a helicopter, on over 650 waterbodies including wetlands and farm dams. 

Satellite imagery was then used to determine the amount of water in the landscape and the actual number of ducks counted was then multiplied to estimate the total number of ducks present at that time.

Prior to this, the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey has been used for setting duck season arrangements for nearly 40 years, but it only estimates from a proportion of the total population.

A team of researchers fly in a fixed-wing aircraft along ten survey bands stretching from central Queensland down to southern Victoria, counting over 50 species of waterbirds on up to 2,000 wetlands.

The new helicopter survey is the largest and most comprehensive aerial survey of game ducks undertaken in Victoria and the first time that an accurate estimate of the total number of game ducks has been possible.

Other surveys have provided an index of abundance showing trends over time rather than a total estimate.

The aerial survey was conducted in November 2020 as a pilot study to test the effectiveness of a new monitoring program design.

An evaluation of the monitoring program, conducted by the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, has found that the aerial survey is an effective way of counting ducks – providing critical data to ensure that duck season arrangements remain sustainable.

It is envisaged that this new monitoring program will inform adaptive harvest management – delivering on a key action in the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Hunting Action Plan.

With this new data now available, modifications have been made to the previously announced 2021 duck season arrangements.

This includes increasing the bag limit from two to five game ducks per day and removing the geographic restriction on hunting teal species. Other details for the 2021 season remain the same.

The 2021 season will start on Wednesday 26 May and will last 20 days, closing 30 minutes after sunset on Monday 14 June.

Hunting start times will be delayed until 8 am for the first five days of the season from Wednesday 26 May to Sunday 30 May inclusive.

As in previous years, the GMA will continue to monitor conditions in the lead up to and during the season.

Where warranted, wetlands may be closed to hunting to protect concentrations of rare threatened species.

The GMA and partner agencies, including Victoria Police, will be patrolling both public lands and private properties to ensure compliance with hunting, animal welfare and public safety laws.

You can find more information on the aerial survey report and changes to 2021 duck season arrangements online.

Grain growers ordering new silos are encouraged to include ladders in their purchases to ensure safe access to storage systems.

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) grain storage extension specialists said many growers were tempted to save a few dollars by omitting the ladder from the order, but this could impact the functionality of the silo and make maintenance and monitoring more difficult.

GRDC grain storage specialist Ben White said in some instances, manufacturers were encouraging growers not to fit ladders, citing health and safety risk exposure for the grower as well as ease of transport and construction.

“However, ladders are an essential silo feature allowing growers to inspect grain in 'the headspace' (between the top of the grain stack and the roof of the silo) where many grain storage problems are likely to first appear,” Mr White said.

“Insects are most prevalent in the warm grain in the headspace so regular inspection during grain storage is recommended.

“Access to the silo lid and inlet is also essential for maintenance of seals and lid mechanisms. Without a ladder, alternatives include expensive specialist high-level access equipment.”

Mr White said ladders should be constructed to the Australian standard which specifies cage requirements and intermediate platforms.

An alternative used on large flat-bottom silos is a spiral set of stairs, which are also required to have intermediate platforms according to an Australian standard.

Mr White said that as an important feature of any silo, growers were advised to compare the construction quality and design of ladders which could vary between brands.

As a further safety precaution, ladder access should be stowable or locked to prevent unwanted access by children or untrained personnel.

For multiple silos constructed in a straight line, a single ladder with a top platform to provide access along the line of silos may be a feasible and more cost-effective option worth exploring with the silo manufacturer.

Growers are advised to refer to the grain silo buyers guide produced by the GRDC Stored Grain Extension team.

Growers can access expert advice and assistance on best practices when storing grain by calling the GRDC stored grain extension hotline: 1800 WEEVIL (1800 933 845).

Victorian fox and wild dog bounty collections resumed on Monday 1 March 2021, in line with current COVIDSafe requirements.

Agriculture Victoria has a COVIDSafe Plan for each bounty collection centre.

If you are attending a collection centre, you must comply with COVIDSafe requirements including physical distancing, good hygiene practices and wearing a face mask indoors and where you can’t distance outdoors.

Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is the preferred method of payment so please bring your EFT details to the collection centre.

Stay safe by following the COVIDSafe requirements and, if you feel unwell, get tested and stay home.

Acceptable entire fox scalps and entire wild dog body parts will be collected from eligible members of the public at specific dates and times, and from sites scheduled as collection centres.

Please note that no entire-fox scalps or entire wild dog body parts will be accepted at any public counter or state government office.

Collections will only be accepted at the designated times and will run until the end of October.

You can view the Collection schedule for North West Victoria or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Traditional owners strengthening native food industry

Victoria’s Traditional Owners have released a strategy to restore their leadership of the state’s dynamic and growing native foods and botanicals industry, backed by the State Government.

New glasshouse helping to safeguard future crops

The State Government is backing a new state-of-the-art plant quarantine facility to accelerate the delivery of new and improved crop varieties to Australian farmers.

New worker accommodation taking shape in Mallee

Workers in the Mallee region will have access to more accommodation options, thanks to support from the State Government.

Works at the Swan Hill Worker Housing project, part of a $3.4 million investment to attract more workers to the region, began this week.

Helping pets find a loving home

The State Government is ensuring more pets get the loving homes they deserve with a new taskforce dedicated to rehoming animals.

Autumn pest animal baiting program

Having an autumn baiting program is generally part of a well-planned pest animal management program for many producers and land managers.

Mallee

This update provides ‘reference evapotranspiration’ (ETo) data to assist with improved irrigation scheduling for top growth rates and yields for the Mallee region.

Northern Victoria

This update provides ‘reference evapotranspiration’ (ETo) information to assist with improved irrigation scheduling for top yields and high-water productivity.

The interactive irrigation scheduling tool helps you determine the most productive timing for the next surface irrigation for your unique circumstances.  It uses the same ETo information in the tables below.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

The Occasional Counsellor™: horticulture seasonal workforce webinar session.

• 19 April, 10 am - 1 pm

Agriculture Victoria is hosting The Occasional Counsellor™ webinar run by clinical and forensic psychologist David Cherry.

The workshop is for those in the horticulture industry who interact with growers and/or a seasonal workforce, who are not employed in a counselling role but are called upon to give others emotional support.

The focus of the workshop is on teaching participants strategies for assisting individuals who are sad, upset, bewildered, confused, angry or depressed while clearly remaining in their role.

The workshop will cover:

• skills of the helper, including the importance of empathy and when not to empathise
• understanding professional boundaries, including understanding your role and the limits of your role
• the difference between emotional support and counselling
• simple, practical strategies for supporting individuals who may be acutely emotionally distressed, including making appropriate referrals, while keeping yourself safe and remaining in your role
• self-care for the worker.

RSVP essential as places are limited.

For help registering, contact Jo Chong Wah 0436 809 878 or jo.chongwah@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Call 136 186 for assistance managing seasonal workforce issues.

Whatever start to the season you have had; this short webinar will discuss some options for improving the quality and quantity of pasture heading into winter.

Thursday 22 April, 8 – 8.30 pm

Hear from Neil James, Agriculture Victoria, on options for improving the quality and quantity of pastures going into winter. Weed control, including winter cleaning and broadleaf control options - when and why to consider

Then finish with a Myth Buster - Gaye Krebs, Associate Professor and lecturer in ruminant nutrition at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, on 'is feeding too much protein to livestock wasteful?'

Check out the Feeding Livestock website for other livestock nutrition and feed resources.

If your internet connectivity is poor, you can phone in to the webinar to listen.

Inquiries: Jane Court 0436 606 742 or jane.court@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Farm business risks are inevitable, but your ability to deal with them isn’t.

In our new ‘Farm Finance – Getting Prepared’ program for young farmers we’ll show you how to analyse a range or risks and develop ways to manage them.

From developing your own risk assessment to using the latest risk management software, you’ll come away from the
online ‘Farm business risks’ workshop feeling better prepared.

Sign up today.

The ‘Farm Finance – Getting Prepared’ webinar series breaks down every aspect of farm finance and runs from 7 - 8.30 pm on the following dates:

• Farm business risks – 29 April
• Business risks impact on cashflow – 13 May
• Putting the plan into actions – 27 May.

The sessions will be delivered by ORM Agribusiness Consultant Jane Foster, supported by Ms Wallis and participants will have opportunities to ask questions.

Participants can register via ZOOM:

• Farm business risks
• Business risks impact on cashflow
• Putting the plan into actions

The Farm Finance – Getting Prepared series is supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program.

Find out more from sarah.wallis@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Friday 30 April, 10 - 11 am

Register here.

Agriculture Victoria is delivering interactive online training sessions for livestock producers using the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database. There are four events for you to choose from, between March and June.

Participants will learn about the Victorian traceability system, tour the NLIS database features and how to complete a Property to Property (P2P) transfer.

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

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

Navigating climate change projections just got a whole lot easier: A look inside the refreshed Climate Change in Australia website.

Date: Thursday 6 May
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Cost: FREE

Originally launched in 2015/16, the Climate Change in Australia website, Australia’s national climate change projections website, has recently been refreshed to improve accessibility and searchability of the climate projections information within the website.

Based on user feedback, the website now has new content, including pages on interpreting the future climate by the level of global warming. It also has a new look, better navigation menus, and an improved search function; making content much easier to find.

The refresh aims to ensure the climate change projections information, data and tools are more easily accessible to help decision-makers better understand their current and future climate risks.

In this webinar, presenters John Clarke and Michael Grose from the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub (CSIRO) will walk through the refreshed website, highlighting improvements and new content as well as touching on popular tools and content within the website.

John Clarke, Research Team Leader, CSIRO
Michael Grose, Research Scientist, CSIRO
You can join our webinars via your web browser, the WebEx app on your phone, tablet or iPad or by dialling in.

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

GRDC Farm Business Update – Online

21 April, 1 – 2 pm

Fundamentals of Operations Management - Key Points to Get Right (a Cropping Enterprise Case Study).

GRDC Farm Business Update National Livestreams are topic specific, interactive, interview style discussions that address key farm business management improvements common to grain growing businesses across Australia.

More details coming soon. Registration for the live-stream events is free. The recordings will be uploaded to the GRDC website for people to view at a later date.

Register online.

GRDC Grains Research Update - Woomelang

13 July, 9 am - 1 pm

The GRDC Grains Research Update events are for agronomists, consultants, researchers and growers to see and discuss the latest in research and to network with their peers about how to apply new and relevant information to the latest farming systems.

Speakers and Topics coming soon

You can register online.

The Mildura Field Days will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2021.

The 2021 event will be held on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 May at the Mildura Racing Club, 53 Racecourse Road, just off Cowra Ave Mildura.

More information is available by contacting Mildura Field Days on 0487 021 122, visit the website or email jo@mildurafielddays.com.au

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