• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• New workshops help growers boost their workforce plans
• New survey explores quadbike spraying on farms
• Apple and pear industry benefits from revised IPDM manual
• Draft primary production adaptation action plan
• Genetic clues to medicinal cannabis unlocked in Victoria
• Advice for Victoria's household gardeners
• Encouraging kids to get creative about farm safety
• Small-scale and craft program workshop at Hepburn Springs
• Storm and flood recovery support hotline
• AgVic Talk – latest podcast episodes
• In case you missed it
• Celebrating the best in rural and regional media
• What's on?

At 11:59pm Thursday 15 July, Victoria will go into lockdown and new restrictions will be in place. See the Statement from the Premier for details.

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

PHOTO: A worker sorts apricots before packaging

Horticulture growers are well equipped at juggling workloads, but during the last season many have found they are having to add Human Resource Manager to their title as they tackle the
current workforce shortage and try to attract and retain a new workforce.

To help horticulture businesses adapt to this new challenge, Agriculture Victoria is hosting a series of workshops run by agriculture workforce recruiting and HR specialists, providing the chance for growers to reflect on the previous season and to prepare their business for the season ahead.

Agriculture Victoria Director Horticulture Services Sze Flett said the Business Workforce Planning workshops are a practical way for people running businesses to understand how they can improve their workforce and worker recruitment skills, and adapt their business to the new situation.

“We have spoken to hundreds of growers and employers over the past 12 months and one of the biggest challenges they have faced is suddenly having to be HR managers as well as farm managers,” Dr Flett said.

“These workshops will provide the opportunity for growers to learn from the experience of the previous season, identify ways they can improve their human resource management skills, and prepare their businesses for the future.”

The Business Workforce Planning workshops will be run by consulting firm Meridian Agriculture, which has a history of supporting agricultural businesses to recruit, manage and retain workforces.

Meridian Agriculture’s HR consultant Ben Reeve says the workshops will help growers identify ways they can manage their specific workforce issues.

“It’s about helping people to understand human resource management fundamentals,” Mr Reeve said.

“We will help employers identify what drives job satisfaction and what they can do to improve worker satisfaction, which in turn can lead to improved business outcomes.

“Growers will have the opportunity to share their experiences and to learn what worked for other businesses in the effort to find new workers and adapt to the situation.

“Participants will also be encouraged to think about what they can do differently when it comes to managing their workforce for the coming season and for the years ahead.”

The free, three-hour workshops will be held throughout Victoria’s key horticulture regions including Gippsland (28 July), Swan Hill (30 July), Cobram (2 August), Shepparton (2 August), Mildura (5 August) and the Yarra Valley (9 August).

Following on from these workshops, there will also be the opportunity for individual businesses to develop targeted business action plans through one-on-one sessions.

The workshops are free, but registration is essential and can be done online.

National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) student researcher Jordan Walker wants to understand the use of quadbikes for spraying on the farm.

The rise in quadbike related fatalities in Australia last year, combined with minimal quadbike spraying research in Australia, makes this new research particularly vital.

For many Victorian farmers, the quadbike is vital to everyday farm operations, with their use in tasks such as mustering, transport, hunting and spraying.

However, while quadbikes can be incredibly helpful on the farm, they can also be a dangerous vehicle that has the potential to cause injury.

NCFH is seeking farmers and agricultural workers around Victoria to participate in an online survey.

The survey will only take 5 to 10 minutes, with questions about your farm, quadbike use and agrichemical use.

The Quadbike spraying and injury surveillance project (QuadSIS) aims to help researchers understand:

• extent to which quadbikes are used for spraying on the farm
• the types of agrichemicals applied using quadbikes
• whether spraying on a quadbike creates increased risks that may lead to injury

Participation in the QuadSIS project will help inform more targeted education into how farmers can use their quadbike to safely apply agrichemicals without putting their health and safety at risk.

For more information contact Jordan Walker, Student Researcher, on (03) 5551 8002 or walkerjor@deakin.edu.au

The Integrated Pest Disease and Weed Management (IPDM) manual for Australian Apple and Pears has been newly revised and is now available online.

This practical manual is in large part due to the depth of knowledge and efforts of Agriculture Victoria Entomologist David Williams and Plant Pathologist Oscar Villalta, who are both retiring in the near future.

The manual includes useful information on how to develop an IPDM plan, key pests and diseases, integrated weed management, how to optimise the effectiveness of mating disruption, in addition to tables showing the toxicity of pesticides on beneficial species.

Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) Technical Manager Rosalie Daniels said the manual is a comprehensive resource for those interested in IPDM.

“It contains not only information about how to manage local pests and diseases using an integrated approach for Australian orchards and conditions, but it also provides details about unwanted pests that are not present in Australia and what to look out for,” Ms Daniels said.

“One of the most valuable and rare things about this manual is the local information that has been included by the two authors through working in different regions with growers and advisors, which ensures the information is relevant, topical and applicable,” she said.

The Integrated Pest Disease and Weed Management manual for Australian Apples and Pears is available online.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation apple and pear research and development levy and contributions from the Victorian government.

Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture

The State Government is inviting all Victorians to have a say on how to make key sectors of the economy and environment more resilient to the impacts of climate change as the state moves to reach its ambitious climate change targets.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced consultation is under way on seven draft Climate Change Adaptation Actions Plans.

The plans focus on seven sectors regarded as vulnerable to climate change or having an important role in adapting to further change:

• Primary Production – agriculture, productive fisheries and plantation forestry
• Built Environment – cities, buildings, urban spaces, and infrastructure
• Education and Training – education, training and workplace skills
• Health and Human Services – disease prevention, physical and mental health care
• Transport – passenger and freight movement, transport networks and vehicles
• Natural Environment – land, water bodies, coastal waters, biodiversity and ecological processes
• Water Cycle – water supply, wastewater, drainage and flood management.

The government is seeking input from the community to shape the plans which will set a solid foundation for a climate-resilient Victoria.

The plans respond to priorities in Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy, address current impacts and the systematic changes needed to prepare key sectors for the future climate.

Each plan is different because each sector has its own unique climate change risks and opportunities. They also address common challenges, such as sea-level rise, emergency management and energy resilience.

The plans are due to be completed by the end of 2021 and will guide adaptation efforts over the next five years, laying the foundations for dealing with climate change.

You can have your say at the Engage Victoria website.

Advanced DNA analysis has allowed Victorian scientists to unlock the genetic code of medicinal cannabis, creating the world’s most complete genomic reference.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas has congratulated scientists at Agriculture Victoria who have paved the way for faster precision breeding of medical cannabis, highlighting the importance of scientific research.

Laboratories have been fitted with state-of-the-art technology that can precisely measure and quantify cannabinoids, and are being used by Victorian scientists to quickly and accurately identify the cannabis varieties with the best medicinal properties.

It aims to improve outcomes from plant breeding programs.

In 2016, Victoria became the first state to legalise the use of medicinal cannabis. Since then safe and secure trials have allowed scientists to breed improved strains of the plant which in turn has made better health products available to patients.

Every plant and animal has a unique set of DNA including genes, and this is referred to as its genome.

Understanding the genome of medicinal cannabis is important because it allows scientists to select the best traits to make the most effective health products for people suffering from health conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer.

Scientists at Agriculture Victoria have been at the forefront of genomic analysis and DNA testing for agriculture in Australia for more than two decades.

During the past four years, the research team used its expertise in genomic DNA testing to create new tools which made extracting genetic information from strains of medicinal cannabis from across the world possible.

This information was then able to be put into a database.

This means scientists can link millions of DNA markers with traits such as growth rate, bud size and disease resistance, and quickly and cost-effectively test plants to meet compliance and regulatory requirements.

In 2018-19, Agriculture Victoria scientists sequenced 50 trillion bases of DNA.

Advances in technology mean the same amount can today be done in just three weeks, which is equivalent to 60,000 cannabis genomes or 66,000 chickpea genomes.

The government’s 10-year strategy for agriculture in Victoria highlights the ongoing importance of investing in research and innovation.

The Strategy also outlines the need to maximise the growth potential of key emerging industries in order to grow the value and output of the agriculture sector.

From 1 September 2021, netting used to protect household fruit-trees, vegetable gardens, or other fruiting plants must have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or less at full stretch.

If you use netting to protect your household fruit or vegetable harvest you will need to comply with this new mandatory requirement introduced under Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.

Any existing household fruit netting that does not meet this specification must be replaced with appropriate netting before the 1 September 2021 commencement date.

The use of appropriate mesh sized netting supports a productive harvest while also protecting our vulnerable wildlife from harm. Netting with a large mesh size is more likely to entangle birds, possums or flying foxes.

There are also alternatives to netting that can be used such as fruit bags that are placed over individual branches.

Don’t forget that old netting, when discarded, can still be an entanglement risk. It is recommended that you place old netting into a strong biodegradable bag before putting into landfill.

Further advice on netting requirements, protecting fruit trees and wildlife, and helping injured wildlife, is available at animalwelfare.vic.gov.au/netting or by calling 136 186.

The State Government is working with Kidsafe Victoria to deliver farm safety education to early learning centres and primary schools across the state.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas launched the second annual Kidsafe Victoria Farm Safety Creative Competition recently, with an aim to encourage kids to think about solutions to farm safety issues.

The theme for this year’s competition ‘Think Farm Safe, Be Farm Safe,’ is about teaching children to stop and think about the potential injury risks on farms and to ensure that safety is always front of mind in the farm environment.

The competition provides children with the opportunity to take an active role in investigating farm safety issues, empowering them to become part of the solution.

Participants can submit a video they have created, an illustrated story, poster or collage, a radio advertisement, or an invention.

The winning entries will feature in a state-wide farm safety education campaign designed to increase farm safety awareness among Victorian parents and carers.

According to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, children under the age of 15 in Victoria’s outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in major cities.

In 2019-20, almost 400 Victorian children under the age of 15 were treated in hospital as a result of an injury on farm. 

Common injury hazards for children on farms include vehicles such as quad bikes, motorbikes and tractors, accidents involving animals, water hazards, machinery and poisons.

The Farm Safety in Schools Campaign and Creative Competition is funded by Smarter, Safer Farms, a $20 million government initiative to improve safety outcomes for Victorian farmers, their families, farm workers and visitors.

For more information on the Kidsafe Victoria’s Farm Safety Creative Competition and other learning resources, visit the Kidsafe Victoria website, with entries open until 5 November 2021.

There is still time to register for the Small-Scale and Craft Better Business Workshop at Hepburn Springs.

We are heading out to Hepburn Springs on 26 July, so book your spot below to find out ways to better your business.

Agriculture Victoria is hosting Better Business Workshops for Small-Scale and Craft growers and producers through the Small-Scale and Craft Program in Victoria on ways to improve your business with a focus on good business practices, accounting and online tools, legal advice and cyber security. Five expert panel members will discuss the below topics with a focus on small-scale growers and producers.

Date: 26 July 

Time: 2 pm

Venue: Hotel Bellinzona

Address: 77 Main Road, Hepburn Springs

Book Hepburn on 26 July

The Storm and Flood Recovery Hotline is a single state-wide number that Victorians impacted by the June 2021 storms and floods can call for help or assistance.

Operators can assist you with registering for Clean-Up of structures on private property or accessing your own Recovery Support Worker, mental health and wellbeing support, financial counselling and information on available payments.

The Recovery Hotline is open from 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) and 9 am to 1 pm on weekends.

Season two of ‘AgVic Talk’ is now live!

This season of the ‘AgVic Talk’ podcast series will highlight 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. 

Listen to 'AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listen in 🎧 here: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

My Rain Gauge is Busted podcast

In the latest episode of My Rain Gauge is Busted, Agriculture Victoria’s soil moisture expert Dale Boyd explains the benefits of soil moisture monitoring in cropping systems and how Agriculture Victoria's soil moisture probe network has expanded to include pasture paddocks.

To listen search 'My Rain Gauge is Busted' wherever you usually get your podcasts or Listen in 🎧 here: https://go.vic.gov.au/31cuNY

Pumping life back into Mallee wetlands

The health of the Ramsar-listed Hattah Lakes in the Mallee has been given an A grade rating in a Murray Darling Basin Authority report card thanks to work by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority and the State Government.

Entries are open for the Rural Press Club of Victoria 2021 Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards.

This annual competition celebrates quality rural and regional media by showcasing the best journalism and photography from across Victoria and Tasmania.

To celebrate the past year, award winners will be announced at a formal function at the Showtime Events Centre, South Wharf on Friday 27 August.

RPCV Vice President Bryce Eishold said it had been a huge 12 months for rural and regional media.

“Despite the challenges of a shrinking media landscape and COVID-19, our journalist and photography members continued to shine a light on the important issues affecting our communities,” he said.

“This year, the awards will be extra special because we want to recognise the individuals and media outlets that worked so hard, while also bringing our industry together to celebrate for the first time since 2019.”

To enter the awards, journalists and photographers must be members of the RPCV.

Membership is available through the new RPCV website.

Work eligible for the awards must have been published or broadcast from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

Entries close Friday 6 August at 5 pm.

The prestigious titles of Journalist and Photographer of the Year will be up for grabs, while all newspapers, radio and television stations can compete for the hotly contested Media Outlet of the Year.

More details about the awards presentation will be available in coming weeks when the event tickets go on sale.

For more information contact Simone Smith on 0438 847 742 or simone@freerangeag.com.au

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 draft Primary Production Adaptation Action Plan (AAP) is one of seven plans being developed by the Victorian Government to ensure Victoria is climate resilient now and in the future.

At this webinar you will learn about the draft Primary Production Adaptation Action Plan (AAP) and what it means for Victoria’s primary industries and how to provide feedback. You will also hear about the Water Cycle AAP.

Why is the Victorian Government preparing a Primary Production AAP?

• Adaptation will reduce climate change risks, build resilience and harness adaptation opportunities of primary industries.
• Primary industries are already adapting to climate change, but more action is needed. The draft Primary Production AAP seeks to build on the work that primary industries are already doing to adapt to climate change.

Communities, businesses and governments are working together to lay a solid foundation for a climate-resilient Victoria for the long term and tackle the impacts of climate change.

The draft Primary Production AAP and the other six plans are open for consultation until Friday 6 August and can be found online.

Presenters

• Professor Lauren Rickards, RMIT
• Julie Webb, Primary Production AAP Lead, DJPR
• Laura Downes, Water Cycle AAP Lead, DELWP

Date: Wednesday 21 July, 12 - 1 pm
Cost: Free

Register online.

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

Do you want to know more about renewable energy options?

Interested in understanding more about bioenergy?

The next webinar in Agriculture Victoria’s energy webinar series will focus on bioenergy.

Bioenergy is energy generated from organic materials such as manure, straw or produce residues through processes including anaerobic digestion and combustion.

Presentations and topics:

Stephan Tait, Scolexia will explore anaerobic digestion including:

• What is anaerobic digestion?
• How does an anaerobic digester operate?
• The application, opportunities and benefits of anaerobic digestion in agriculture
• Potential risks and barriers.

Sohum Ghandi, Enriva will explain thermal bioenergy including:

• How does thermal bioenergy technologies operate?
• The application, opportunities and benefits of thermal bioenergy in agriculture
• Common risks and barriers.

Kelly Wickham, Agriculture Victoria will give a broad overview of the bioenergy sector in Victoria.

There will be an opportunity for questions after the presentations.

Date: Thursday, 22 July
Time:  12 to 1 pm
Where: Online using Zoom or call in

You can register or join the webinar online.

If you have not previously used Zoom please join the webinar five minutes early to set up.

If you need assistance registering or would like more information please contact Sarah Clack on 0417 316 345 or sarah.clack@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For information on other webinars in this series or other energy events go online to the eXtensionAUS webiste.

This initiative is part of the Victorian Government’s Agriculture Energy Investment Plan, which is supporting producers to improve energy usage on-farm.

This year the Gippsland Red Meat Conference will replace the East Gippsland Beef Conference, and will be organised and delivered by Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG) with the support of Agriculture Victoria.

It will be held on Tuesday 31 August at the Riviera Convention Centre in Bairnsdale.

Topics to be covered at this year’s conference include:

• Resilience and recovery: How a former NSW Farmer of the Year traded his way out of two and half years of drought
• How a family-owned sheep stud which lost its entire ewe flock in the 2015 Pinery (SA) bushfires has bounced back
• Succession planning: Moving the farm from one generation to the next, without tears!
• Financial literacy: If the CapEx fits, do you wear it? Or will you EBIT and ROAM?
• Analysing the market forces that are shaping beef and sheep meat prices
• What does it mean to be carbon-neutral, how can we achieve that, and what is in it for us?
• The $500,000 carbon credit trade to Microsoft? Hear from the bloke who sold those credits
• Soils ain’t just soils, Sol. What is happening underground and how can we profit from that?
• Masterclasses in stock trading, precision lambing, and crossbreeding and heterosis.

Tickets will soon be available. Put the date in your diary now.

Enquires to Craig Bush, Gippsland Red Meat Conference Event Manager on 0427 943 155 or redmeat@gippslandag.com.au

Agriculture Victoria is excited to be attending the following field days coming up in August.

Sheep Connect
Date: Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 August
Location: Hamilton Showgrounds, Shakespeare St, Hamilton
For more information visit  the Sheep Connect website. 

Mallee Machinery Field Days
Date: Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 August
Location: 2574 Sunraysia Highway, Speed
For more information visit the Mallee Machinery Field Days website.

GRDC Grains Research Update - Woomelang

PODCASTS

Fungicide resistance podcast provides regional insights for southern growers

Past seasons have already seen several local examples of fungicide failure from Tasmania to the far west of South Australia, generally linked to a lack of crop and fungicide rotations.

In this podcast, Dr Hugh Wallwork talks about the factors that contribute to fungicide resistance and how fungicide management needs to begin with variety and seed treatment selection before sowing.

Plant available water capacity

In this podcast, many factors affect how much stored soil water is available, including rainfall before and during the growing season, infiltration, evaporation and transpiration. And then there’s plant available water capacity, which is the total amount of water a soil can store and release to a crop, which differs depending on the crop.

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