|
|
|
|
The Victorian Government has announced the lockdown will be lifted state-wide from 11.59 pm Tuesday 27 July.
Changes have also been made to tighten Victoria’s cross-border bubble with NSW. The City of Wagga Wagga, Hay Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council and Murrumbidgee Council will no longer be included in the cross border bubble.
These local government areas will be included under the Extreme Risk Zone from 11.59 pm Tuesday 27 July, in line with the rest of NSW, and residents will need a Specified Worker Permit, transit permit, or an exemption to enter Victoria.
For information about the travel permit system visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
A new jointly funded package from the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments has been announced, giving Victorian small and medium businesses the extra support to recover from the recent lockdown.
See the joint Statement from the Prime Minister and Premier for details.
Keep up to date with all the latest restrictions and requirements at coronavirus.vic.gov.au
|
|
|
|
|
| Apply for Livestock Biosecurity Grants |
|
|
|
Grants are available to support cattle, sheep, goat, swine and honey bee industries through the Livestock Biosecurity Funds – Grant Program.
The grants program, now open for applications, has been developed collaboratively between Agriculture Victoria and the livestock compensation advisory committees.
Agriculture Victoria Executive Director Sally Fensling said the program aims to fund projects that prevent, monitor, and control diseases, thereby enhancing animal health, biosecurity and market access for the benefit of Victoria’s livestock industries.
“Grants are available for projects that provide innovative solutions, use emerging technologies and resolve livestock biosecurity issues, needs or gaps for these local industries,” Ms Fensling said.
“This program shows the collaboration and shared responsibility between government and industry in biosecurity, and champions projects that aim to strengthen our biosecurity in Victoria.”
Funded projects from last year include the Victorian Farmers Federation’s producer-led biosecurity extension program for cattle, sheep and goats, the Livestock Saleyards Association of Victoria’s ‘Managing Transit Stock in Saleyards’ project, and HiveKeepers’ ‘Smart Sentinel Beehives Pilot Program’.
Other projects previously funded include the National Livestock Identification System tag subsidy for both sheep and cattle,
Significant Disease Investigation programs, animal disease investigation courses, abattoir-based pig health surveillance, and prevention of anthrax.
Applications are invited from private sector businesses, universities and research institutions, co-operatives, government agencies and local government, and incorporated associations.
Any organisation looking to apply should consider the guidelines and eligibility criteria, review the relevant Statement of Strategic Intent, and complete the online application form.
The grants are made possible through funds established under the Livestock Disease Control Act, which enable the collection of duties generated by the sale of cattle, sheep, goat and pigs and their carcasses in Victoria, and the registration fees for beekeepers.
“This program reinvests duties back into industry, to the benefit of industry and agriculture more broadly in Victoria,” Ms Fensling said.
Applications are now open and will close 11.59 pm on Friday 17 September 2021.
More information about the livestock biosecurity grants program is available on the Agriculture Victoria website or by calling the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.
|
|
|
| New generation takes to online whole farm planning |
|
|
Over the past two decades, thousands of farmers have benefitted from Agriculture Victoria’s Whole Farm Planning course.
Farmers of all ages and experiences, on properties of all sizes have participated in FarmPlan 21, to outline the vision for their livestock or mixed farming operation, and identify the steps they need to take to make it a reality.
Now, as with so many education courses, FarmPlan21 is being delivered online. Agriculture Victoria’s Tess McDougall said the move to online has been positive, making the course available to a whole new group of landholders.
“We are seeing younger people complete the course, the next generation of farmers who may have been out working and have now come back to the farm and want to know how they can put a plan in place to achieve their goals,” Tess said.
“We are also seeing more women take up the course, women who have had careers off-farm and have taken up agriculture later in life.”
In the past FarmPlan21 has been a six-day course run at a fixed location for six hours a day. The new free online course is run over 12 sessions, with two sessions a week.
Each session takes about two hours and the sessions are recorded, so those who can’t make the scheduled time can catch up when it suits.
“More families are able to take the course, and we are also seeing multiple people from the same farm business complete the course together,” Tess said.
“Most farm businesses can only spare one person at a time to attend an off-farm course. But this way, couples can do the course together, we have a mother and daughter team enrolled, it’s opened it up to so many more people.”
FarmPlan21 covers soils and land classing, farm design and layout, farm water supply and emergency preparedness, pasture and grazing management, biodiversity and shelterbelts, farm biosecurity, climate, and outlining your farm vision and goals.
The online version of the course also includes digital farm mapping, where participants learn to use farm planning mapping systems and work on a map of their own farm.
An online course for fire and flood affected farmers, consisting of 11 two-hour online sessions, will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, running from 24 August to 14 September 2021, then 8 February to 22 February 2022.
The summer break will provide an opportunity for participants to begin their farm plan mapping, practice mapping skills and take soil samples and participate in on-farm visits.
“It’s a great course for people who want to define their farm’s vision and goals to give their business more structure,” Tess said.
For more information or to register for the course is available on the Agriculture Victoria website or contact Tim O’Donnell at tim.o'donnell@agriculture.vic.gov.au
To express interest in another online course please contact Tess McDougall at tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au
|
|
|
| Victorian scientists selected for national leadership program |
|
|
|
Agriculture Victoria research scientists Dr Sally Norton and Dr Jo Newton have been selected for the prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).
The ARLP is Australia’s longest and most in-depth leadership program designed to build leadership capability in people throughout rural, regional and remote Australia.
Dr Norton is a senior research scientist at the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG) based at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park and Dr Newton is a research scientist on the DairyBio research program at Agribio in Bundoora. They are two of 29 chosen participants who will attend 50 days of practical learning and mentoring.
above: Senior research scientist Dr Sally Norton and left: Research scientist Dr Jo Newton
|
|
|
|
Dr Norton said she is thrilled to be selected and is looking forward to getting started this month with an initial online training component before joining her cohort for learning experiences in regional Australia and potentially overseas over the next 15 months.
“Regional and rural Victorians have been facing a host of challenges in recent years including drought, bushfires and floods, so the mentorship in this program will offer guidance on how to look at these events as opportunities to work together and build resilience.
“This course will also provide the opportunity to really get out of my comfort zone and challenge both myself and my cohort to become stronger leaders.”
Dr Newton said she is grateful to the Foundation and to Agriculture Victoria for the opportunity to undertake ARLP and become a more effective leader and contributor to Australian agriculture and its communities.
“Many of my role models across agriculture in rural and regional Australia are ARLP alumni, and I am honoured to be following in their footsteps.”
The program gives participants valuable opportunities to enhance their capacities and create a network of like-minded leaders to positively influence their organisations, industries and communities.
For more information visit the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation website.
|
|
|
| The Fast Break Newsletter – July edition out now |
|
|
|
Seasonal climate risk information for Victoria
Volume 18 | Issue 7 | 26 July 2021
The July edition of the Fast Break is now available, detailing oceanic and atmospheric climate driver activity over the last month and summarises three month model predictions for the Pacific and Indian Oceans, rainfall and temperature for Victoria.
July rainfall in Victoria has been average to wetter so far, due to many fronts passing over the state. As is typical of such conditions, Gippsland has been drier as a result of moisture coming from the north west.
Soil moisture has pleasingly started to increase in the north west quarter, but elsewhere it’s wet, wet, wet and a long winter of waterlogging looks likely. Mallee probes have finally started to detect moisture at 30-40 centimetres and are keen for more as the days start to lengthen. Read the full July edition here.
|
|
|
| Farmer wants a bookkeeper |
|
|
|
How online learning is helping Victoria’s young farmers secure their future in agriculture.
Young farmer Karleigh Martin has a lot on her plate.
The 28-year-old works on the family farm while working three days a week at a not for-profit-disability organisation and studying primary school teaching.
Karleigh is part of a growing band of young farmers taking every opportunity they can to develop their farm finance skills.
Read the full story in The Victorian Connection.
|
|
|
| North East Victoria Rural Skills Connect program |
|
|
The Rural Skill Connect Program provides pathways for farmers, family members or farmworkers in North East Victoria to acquire new skills and qualifications to strengthen employment prospects for the future.
Services offered include identifying the type of relevant training and employment opportunities, provide subsidised training opportunities and provide liaison between potential employees and employers.
Rural Skills Connect can refer participants directly to other professional service providers.
A wide range of skill sets exists amongst farmers, their families or farm workers and are easily transferable and are highly valued in other industries.
Gaining recognition or expanding current skills can increase confidence and can open up a wide range of employment opportunities.
|
|
|
|
Contact us to learn more about this no-cost program.
Phone: 1300 834 775
Web: www.agbizassist.org.au
Email: info@agbizassist.org.au
AgBiz Assist Ltd t/as Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria-North East is supported by the Victorian Government.
|
|
|
|
|
The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline offers free and confidential one-on-one access to wellbeing coaches, financial counsellors and business advisors.
Small business owners can call the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline on 1300 375 330 seven days a week.
Alternately, a live chat function is available on Business Victoria website here.
Wellbeing coaches are available from 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 5 pm on weekends.
|
|
|
| Victorian Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy – have your say |
|
|
|
Help us shape Victoria’s first Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. Comment on the development of the strategy by 7 September.
Victoria is responding to the growing international threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with the development of our first Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy.
Antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines have treated infections for many decades and saved millions of lives, but their efficacy is under threat by misuse and over-use.
As antimicrobials are used within the human health, animal health and agriculture sectors, a co-ordinated, broader ‘One Health’ approach is required across these sectors to address AMR.
AMR is a major problem around the world. We’re already seeing increasing resistance worldwide to common bacterial infections and resistant organisms in the animal, food production and the environment sectors have the potential to affect food security and cause economic loss.
At least 700,000 people around the world die every year from drug-resistant infections and by 2050 this number could reach 10 million.
The World Health Organization has declared AMR one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
Consultation is now open for the first Victorian Antimicrobial
Resistance Strategy 2021-2031 to enable key stakeholders and the community to provide input into the strategy’s objectives and priority actions.
How to participate
Read the consultation paper and complete the survey on Engage.vic by 7 September and complete the survey here.
|
|
|
| Victorian environment act webinars |
|
|
|
A new Victorian Environment Protection Act and regulations came into effect on 1 July 2021.
Dairy Australia, in partnership with the UDV and EPA Victoria, invites dairy farmers to a series of online webinars for dairy farm businesses on what the changes mean for their day-to-day business operations.
There will be six webinar times to choose from throughout July and August, including a session for large herds.
All sessions will include time for questions, and a recording of the presentation will be available afterwards, along with supporting documents to assist farmers with their understanding of the changes.
Go online for more information and to sign up.
|
|
|
| Illegal spotlighters set to face court |
|
|
|
Game Management Authority (GMA) Officers teamed up with Victoria Police to conduct patrols around the Rose River area last weekend, targeting illegal hunting.
Officers inspected a number of vehicles and two people are set to face court after they were found with unsecured firearms and a spotlight in their vehicle in recognised deer habitat after dark.
Their firearms, ammunition and a high-powered torch (pictured) were seized.
Activities such as illegal spotlighting will not be tolerated as it is extremely dangerous and can put people, property, livestock and wildlife at risk.
Offenders can be prosecuted or fined, have equipment such as vehicles and firearms seized or lose their Game and Firearms Licences.
You can help to ensure that hunting remains safe and sustainable by reporting illegal hunting online to the GMA or by calling 136 186 or contacting Victoria Police.
If you are unsure of Victoria’s game hunting laws, read chapter nine of the Game Hunting Manual.
|
|
|
| Fox and wild dog bounty collections resume |
|
|
|
Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty collections will resume in Victoria from 2 August 2021, starting at Bendigo for the north west region of the state.
Check the Agriculture Victoria website for the collection schedule.
If you are attending a collection centre, you must comply with COVIDSafe principles including using the QR code to check-in, physical distancing, good hygiene practices and wearing a face mask indoors and outdoors (unless you have a lawful reason not to).
|
|
|
| Season two of ‘AgVic Talk’ is now live! |
|
|
The new season of the ‘AgVic Talk’ podcast series highlights personal stories of people who have overcome daily challenges.
You’ll hear from a diverse range of people, including rural women and young farmers about how they recover, grow, modernise, protect and promote Victorian agriculture.
Subscribe to AgVic Talk
You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts.
|
|
|
In this episode of ‘AgVic Talk’ Wimmera agriculture communications specialist Pru Cook talks about being an inspiring community leader.
Her story encourages others to acknowledge that you don’t need to know everything to take up new and challenging opportunities.
To hear Pru search 'AgVic Talk' wherever you usually get your podcasts or listen in 🎧 here: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk
|
|
|
In this episode of ‘AgVic Talk’ Jessie Holmes gives her take on what good advocacy sounds like and how to be clear about what your community needs.
For Jessie, storytelling is a big part of advocating for agricultural communities of Victoria.
To hear Jessie search 'AgVic Talk' wherever you usually get your podcasts or listen in 🎧 here: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
| To trade or breed cattle: what are your stocking options? |
|
|
|
Are you weighing up your options about whether to trade or breed cattle?
Farmers in Gippsland and the Upper Murray are invited to join a free evening webinar on Tuesday 3 August to explore stocking options for a more profitable farm business.
Join Farm Business Consultant Paul Blackshaw and Livestock Extension Officer John Bowman when they discuss the following topics:
-
financial considerations for beef herds when choosing to breed, breed and trade, or trade only
-
optimising pasture growth and allocation for breeding and trading enterprises.
When: Tuesday 3 August 28 July, 7 – 8.30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Register for this free event on Eventbrite.
Enquiries: Tim O’Donnell, Agriculture Recovery Extension Officer on 0448 540 741 or at tim.o’donnell@agriculture.vic.gov.au
|
|
|
| Rescheduled – Riverine Plains holding inaugural Innovation Expo |
|
|
The Riverine Plains Innovation Expo, due to be held in August, has been rescheduled to February 2022.
More information about this event is available on the Riverine Plains website
|
|
|
| Rural Press Club upcoming webinar |
|
|
|
|
Enjoying the Northern 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/contact-us.
Don't forget to check out Agriculture Victoria's social media sites for up-to-date information and news.
|
|
|
|
|
|
