Upcoming Events

March

16-17 South East Field Days - Lucindale
19  Rock breaking paddock demonstration - Bool Lagoon
21  Agronomy 101 with Nick Poole - Keith
22  Agronomy 101 with Nick Poole - Millicent
22  Tree Decline and Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Tatiara
     - Bordertown
27  nrmFarm Training Workshop - Keith
 

April

4-5  Southern Business Edge Grazing Workshop - Lucindale
5-6  Ag Excellence Forum & Awards - Adelaide
5  nrmFarm Training Workshop - Robe
10-11 NRM Science Conference - Adelaide
11-12  Pasture Principles - Millicent
12  nrmFarm Training Workshop - Mount Gambier

May

2-3  South Australian Weeds Conference - Adelaide
 

South East Field Days

Come and see us at the South East Field Days in Lucindale - our theme this year is ‘Tech in NRM.’
See how we use technology to deliver the work of the South East NRM Board and the South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board.
From water monitoring technology and motion sensor cameras, to drone surveys and GIS mapping there’s heaps to check out.
Enter competitions, collect the latest Connies’ cards, try our interactive challenges, and get creative with the kids.

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Smart farming forum at Keith

The 4th biennial Pathways to Productivity forum was recently hosted in Keith with around 85 people in attendance. The day focused on a theme of ‘People, Business and Productivity’.
Carolyn Miller, panellist on the popular ABC show 'Gruen,' gave the keynote address. Carolyn discussed the growing importance of knowing the provenance of our food, and how consumers connect to a brand.
Other speakers included MacKillop Farm Management Group’s Danielle England, who spoke about ways to improve decision making, owner of in2it IT Dan Hayes, who discussed ways to improve connectivity in regional areas, and Stock Journal columnist Ken Solly, who spoke about what constitutes a smart livestock business. Anna Elliott of Lucindale said "The day featured empowering speakers and everything just flowed. I’m proud and enthused about the future of farming”.

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nrmFARM Training Workshops

nrmFarm is an online interactive farm mapping program, created for South East landholders to easily map and record the important information in managing their farm.
In a supportive small group environment, you will be will be taken through a step by step process of setting up an account, basic mapping functions and an introduction to some of the more advanced features of the program.

Dates and Locations:
Keith: Natural Resources Office, Anzac Terrace
Tuesday 27th March 1 – 4pm
Robe:  Caledonian Inn, 1 Victoria St Robe.
Thursday 5th April 1 – 4pm
Mount Gambier: Natural Resource Centre, OBP Room, 11 Helen Street Thursday 12th April 1 – 4pm

Register today at Eventbrite.  If you are interested in an evening session (from 6-9pm) on any of these dates please contact Matthew Honner; 0439 346 025 or matthew.honner@sa.gov.au

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Autumn Rabbit Control

European rabbits are Australia's most widespread and destructive environmental and agricultural vertebrate pest.  Rabbits graze on native and introduced vegetation, crops and pastures.  Rabbit grazing can prevent seedlings from regenerating and reduce crop yields, as well as increase competition for feed with livestock.  Rabbits damage native plants and directly compete with native wildlife for food and shelter.  Their digging and browsing leads to a loss of vegetation cover, which in turn can result in soil erosion.
Late summer and autumn is the ideal time to control rabbits as their numbers are naturally lower at this time of year and feed availability is also usually low.  Poison baiting is an effective and relatively inexpensive way to reduce rabbit populations before applying other techniques.  Following up with a warren destruction program in areas where rabbits build and rely on warrens for shelter.  Ripping warrens is a highly effective way of removing rabbits and minimising their impacts over the long term.  Treating any reopened holes by fumigating will complete the program. 

For more information please visit:

www.pestsmart.org.au/pest-animal-species/european-rabbit/

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Forestry Annual Water Use Return

On 1 July 2014, the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation declared the Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area to be a 'declared forestry area.'  All managers of commercial forests are required to hold a forest water licence with a water allocation.
Each year forest managers are required to report the annual water use for their commercial forests by completing and returning the Forestry Annual Water Use Return (AWUR) emailed to them in January 2018.
Completed AWUR's must be returned before 31 March 2018, and can be emailed to dean.zeven@sa.gov.au or posted to PO Box 1046, Mount Gambier SA 5290.

For further information please contact Dean Zeven on 08 8735 1240

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Water Licence Responsibilities

A friendly reminder to all water licence holders that it is your responsibility to ensure your water meters are maintained and working accurately.  When meters fail, including during the irrigation season, they must be reported to the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) with the date and reading at the time.  When a meter fails a licensee has 28 days to repair or replace it.
DEWNR must also be advised when the repair or replacement has been completed, the meter serial number, and a meter reading and date.  This can be done by completing the Meter Notification Form available at:

www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/water-resources/planning/water-licences-and-permits/water-meter-notification

Or by contacting the Mount Gambier office on 87 351 134 

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