• Coronavirus update
• Pre-harvest webinar
• Landowners urged to get serious with bindii
• Ryegrass management in the HRZ relies on a standard approach
• Pneumonia and pleurisy in sheep during summer
• Soil Moisture Monitor cropping report for October
• 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program EOI extended
• Watch out for hitchhiker pests in parcels
• Showcasing Victorian produce on the global stage
• Learn at your pace with Agriculture Victoria
• AgVic Talk podcast series
• What's on?

Update

Restrictions are currently in place across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

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

Do you have a plan to protect your farm business from the impacts of COVID-19?

How will your business continue if you or one of your workers needs to self-isolate?

Plan ahead and protect your business and workforce by ensuring you are up to date with COVID-19 restrictions, your workforce is vaccinated and your farm has a COVIDSafe Plan.

For information visit the links below:

• Victorian Travel Permits
• Creating a COVIDSafe Plan
• Information about workers who are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19
• COVID-19 Business Support - Business Victoria provides information on restrictions and support to help your workplace plan and respond to COVID-19.

Keep up to date with all the latest restrictions, permits and requirements.

Join the Victorian Farmers Federation and Agriculture Victoria for a webinar on managing COVIDSafe practices for the upcoming grain harvest.

Date: Monday 25 October
Time: 7:30 pm

Go online to register for the webinar via the Zoom platform.

The evening will host speakers addressing topics such as:

• Managing COVID in the workplace; tips for your operation, what happens if someone tests positive or is a close contact
• Your obligations as an employer
• Requirements for COVIDSafe plans, QR codes, worker permits, border permits

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Simon McNair on 0419 588 932 or smcnair@vff.org.au

The onset of summer and associated warmer temperatures will see the emergence of caltrop, also known as bindii or cat’s head.

Agriculture Victoria is encouraging landowners to begin their seasonal planning for treatment of this herbaceous annual weed.

Infestations of caltrop can have far-reaching consequences such as reduction in pasture productivity through competition, contamination of food and fibre products as well as significant impacts on livestock such as damage to feet, mouth and stomach, and in extreme cases death if grazed due to its toxicity.

Caltrop (Tribulus terrestris L.) germinates in summer when soil temperatures rise and throughout the warmer weather after rainfall events.

Leading Biosecurity Officer Kate Cunnew said the fruit of caltrop is the most well-known feature of the plant – a woody burr with sharp, hard spines that embed in footwear and vehicle tyres, and can easily attach to animals’ feet and in the fleece of sheep.

“The ability of the weed to disperse great distances as a contaminant on vehicles, people and animals can create new infestations in previously clean areas,” Ms Cunnew said.

Caltrop is a declared noxious weed in Victoria under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

Caltrop is more likely to occur where competition is minimal, such as overgrazed pastures, fallow areas, stock yards, roadsides and waste lands.

Management of the weed can include the complete physical removal of small infestations or the appropriate application of a registered herbicide.

Ms Cunnew said landowners are advised to seek professional advice from their local agronomist or chemical retailer when undertaking chemical treatment of any weed to ensure they have the most up-to-date information on products and application methods.

“Cultivation as a method of control should only be used for juvenile plants before flowering and in combination with other methods of control, as burial of the seed can increase the longevity of the seedbank," she said.

“Multiple treatments may need to occur throughout the growing season, as new plants can germinate with each rainfall event and quickly mature in the warmer weather. In suitable conditions germination to seed set can occur within a month.

“Timing of grazing and removal of stock to increase summer ground cover or germination of pasture species at key periods can also assist in increasing competition against the weed.”

For further information on caltrop visit agriculture.vic.gov.au or contact the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.

Annual ryegrass in the high-rainfall zone (HRZ) is as competitive and damaging as in lower-rainfall environments, with each ryegrass plant reducing cereal yield potential by about 0.3 per cent, according to recent research undertaken to develop integrated and profitable weed management strategies.

The research conducted by the University of Adelaide, Southern Farming Systems and MacKillop Farm Management Group through Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment, showed there is no benefit to tolerating more weeds in the HRZ than in other environments. Previously questions had been raised about whether the higher yielding environment of the HRZ could tolerate the presence of more weeds.

However, it has been shown that both crops and annual ryegrass grow vigorously, and the yield loss due to weeds is similar in both low and high-rainfall zones.

Southern Farming Systems Senior Research and Extension Officer James Manson said managing annual ryegrass in the HRZ has been a significant challenge for many years, but this has increased through the prevalence of herbicide resistance.

“In the HRZ, annual ryegrass germinates throughout winter into spring, which challenges the ability of early season herbicide strategies to control it,” Mr Manson said.

“The unique environment of the HRZ requires an integrated approach to weed management where multiple tactics are stacked over several seasons to have a greater chance of success.

“The economic benefits of additional weed control tactics are less in lower yielding years but increase in higher yielding years. The benefit of increased herbicide expense and weed control may not be captured every year because the season has a greater effect on yield than weed pressure. Instead, the benefits of improved weed control accumulate over time, paying off given the right conditions.”

Robust pre-emergent herbicide strategies, crop competition and double breaks are important tools for reducing the seed production of annual ryegrass in the HRZ.

Harvest weed seed control is less effective than in other regions due to the staggered ryegrass maturity in the HRZ, but still plays a very important role when integrated with other tactics.

Stacking these weed management tactics are essential for long-term control of annual ryegrass in the HRZ.

A new Managing Annual Ryegrass in the High Rainfall Zones of Victoria and South Australia and Tasmania publication has been developed to disseminate the research findings.

GRDC Growers Relations Manager – South, Randall Wilksch said the new publication provides practical information gained from years of research and industry experience.

“The booklet combines information from several GRDC investments into one consolidated resource focussing on clear messages for growers and advisers on combating annual ryegrass.”

For more information about ryegrass management in the HRZ, see the Managing Annual Ryegrass in the High Rainfall Zones of Victoria and South Australia and Tasmania booklet the Integrated Weed Management Manual or check out this WeedSmart podcast – Ryegrass management in the High Rainfall Zone – What have we learnt?

Information on mitigating herbicide resistance can be found via WeedSmart which has investment from the GRDC and commercial companies and delivers science-backed weed control solutions.

Both pneumonia and pleurisy in sheep can prove costly for producers, from having slow growth rates, carcase trimming or even death.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity and is seen at slaughter as translucent bands joining the lungs to the insides of the ribs.

Pleurisy typically occurs in conjunction with pneumonia, which makes sheep reasonably sick. Many sheep recover from pneumonia, so the residual pleurisy is seen at processing.

Outbreaks of pneumonia and pleurisy are caused by either environmental, animal and pathogen factors, these could include:

• dusty conditions, hot weather and excessive crowding
• inadequate nutrition, concurrent disease (e.g. internal parasites) and stress. These all impact the animal’s immune system making them more susceptible to pneumonia
• pathogens include bacteria and viruses – primary pathogens like Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae initiate a mild pneumonia with no or mild signs – which can make the sheep more susceptible to a secondary bacterial infection which leads to severe disease
• parasitic infection from lung worm can play a role
• additionally, poor drenching technique can lead to aspiration pneumonia.

Agriculture Victoria Veterinary Officer Hayden Morrow said the severity of signs can vary greatly as some sheep will not show any respiratory signs except a reduction in weight gain, while others develop nasal discharge, coughing, laboured breathing, exhaustion and a lack of appetite before progressing to death.

“Clinical cases of pneumonia lead to increases in mortality, increased treatment costs and a reduction in animal welfare. However, reductions in weight gain from mild cases are also likely to be significant,” Dr Morrow said.

Agriculture Victoria advises to focus on prevention and manage risk factors, which include:

• avoid handling/transporting sheep in hot dry conditions – consider impact of mixing purchased groups of lambs from different sources (stressful but also potentially exposes lambs to new pathogens)
• ensure nutrition and access to water is optimised – ensure other major animal health issues such as intestinal worms are managed and suitable shade is available
• hosing down dusty yards and laneways before moving stock – consider impact of stocking rate on dust levels when containment feeding and avoid dusty feeds
• do not lift head above horizontal and don’t drench in cradle
• new sheep could be carriers of respiratory pathogens that are
• new to your flock. Clinical cases of pneumonia can be treated with consultation from a private veterinarian.

For more information, read the Pneumonia Pleurisy factsheet on the Animal Health Australia website or contact your private veterinarian for advice.

Agriculture Victoria's soil moisture monitoring project, with the use of underground probes, provides real-time soil water content data to Victoria’s farmers.

Monitoring sites have been set up in cropping regions throughout the state by Agriculture Victoria.

The sites record soil water content at one source point from 30 centimetres down to one metre as a reference point for a paddock.

Speedo assessments

Soil moisture measurements collected by the Agriculture Victoria monitoring network indicate very few monitoring sites increased their deep soil moisture levels in the past three weeks despite rain in late September and early October.

The water deficit during mid-September was large and required 50 millimetres plus to allow water to infiltrate to the first soil moisture sensor at 30 centimetres.

Rainfalls of 60 - 70 millimetres had greater impact, moving down to 30 - 50 centimetres.

The rain was welcome in all districts and has provided some freely available water to crops, although more rain was required in the Mallee.

Generally, in the Wimmera, the rain was enough to maintain crop production but not enough to bank that moisture and build reserves for the next season’s crop (at this stage).

There is still a range of low to low/moderate soil moisture conditions in the Mallee and patches of the Wimmera. 

There is evidence of high yielding crops in the regions due to isolated storms during the growing season and more recently in the past three weeks. Southern parts of the Wimmera have moderate to high potential.

North Central region crops were starting to be impacted through September with three weeks of dry weather.

Fortunately, rain received at the critical period of flowering for crops will pick up yield potential and follow up rain will provide moisture to progress through the grain-fill period.  Conditions like this last year produced exceptional grain quality.

North East districts still have medium to high deep soil moisture levels and the high yield potential crops were supported by good rain during September and early October that has provided freely available water.

South West Victoria still has wet sub-soil but high yielding crops are using water and the Gippsland monitoring site is still very wet.

Are you a young farmer looking to take your careers to the next level?

Expressions of interest for the 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program have been extended until Sunday 31 October.

The Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program provides young farmers and new entrants the opportunity to be a paired with an experienced farmer or ‘mentor’ to assist them in:

• developing skills to better manage their farm businesses
• identifying risks
• developing strategies to build resilience and achieve their business goals.

The program will be facilitated by a farm business consultant who will pair the young farmer or ‘mentee’ with a mentor whose experience aligns with the mentee’s enterprise and personal development goals.

It is open to young farmers and new entrants from all agricultural industries. The program has partnered with the Gardiner Foundation to support young dairy farmers participate in the program.

The program will run until 30 November 2022. During this period the mentor and mentee will work together overseen by their facilitator. All parties will work together to arrange regular catch ups to track the progress of the mentee.

The purpose of the program is to assist the mentee in building professional networks, using trusted sources of advice and information, and developing competency in setting business goals and assessing risks.

The Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program is supported by the Gardiner Foundation and the Victorian Government's Smarter, Safer Farms program.

The application period closes at midnight on Sunday 31 October.

Go online for more information and to apply via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Listen to the Ag Vic Talk Podcast episode and hear from 2021 Mentoring Program mentee Sammy Mitchell and her mentor Andrew Bell who share and reflect on their experiences, and how they have been working to increase Sammy’s confidence as she looks at employing her first staff member.

If you have questions contact Sarah Wallis – Young Farmer Project Coordinator - sarah.wallis@agriculture.vic.gov.au

PHOTO: Electric ant (source: Alexander Wild and Queensland Government)

In the lead up to Christmas, Victorians are being encouraged to check online shopping packaging for any hitchhiker pests.

Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer Rosa Crnov said the earlier the unwanted pest is reported, the better chance there is in stopping it from spreading or moving to other areas.

“Exotic plant pests such as brown marmorated stink bug, khapra beetle, exotic ants and snails, can go unnoticed due to their small size and hitch a ride in packages, especially in overseas mail," she said.

“Exotic electric ants and fire ants can also hitch a ride in domestic mail and are very aggressive, as opposed to common ants in Victoria that usually run away from disturbances. If undetected, these pests can threaten Victoria’s $14 billion food and fibre export market.”

Australia Post is delivering approximately 10 million parcels a week in Australia. In Victoria, online shopping has grown by 48.9 per cent in the year to 30 June 2021, exceeding the national average of 31.8 per cent.

“In the same year, Agriculture Victoria received 797 reports from the public and from industry of suspected exotic plant and bee pests which were thoroughly investigated.

“In November last year, a Bayswater business emailed photos of a strange-looking bug to Agriculture Victoria after discovering the insect in an airfreight package.”

“The insect was confirmed as brown marmorated stink bug — a high priority for Australian biosecurity," she said.

The report was referred to the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE), who followed up the detection.

“The brown marmorated stink bug can attack more than 300 types of fruit trees, ornamental trees, vegetable crops and gardens, so this was a very significant detection," Ms Crnov said.

While Australia applies strict import conditions to goods coming in from overseas through our ports and mail centres, sometimes pests can go undetected.

Australia’s farmers rely on freedom from pests and diseases to produce our food, and access both domestic and export markets.

Victoria is Australia's largest producer of food and fibre products with the gross value of agricultural production in Victoria worth nearly $16 billion.

“Everyone can play a role in protecting our farmers, environment and community from biosecurity threats by reporting anything unusual," Ms Crnov said.

More information about priority insects and mites can be found online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

The Victorian Government is supporting agribusinesses to grow their global sales and reach new markets through a new state-of-the-art trade facility in China.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas recently launched Vic House – the Victorian Food and Fibre Trade Pavilion in Shanghai – which provides Victorian agriculture producers and exporters with a dedicated in-market space to showcase their products.

The pavilion has been developed to support established, emerging and start-up food and fibre export businesses and will allow Victoria’s agriculture sector to strengthen existing trade relationships, build new networks and boost export opportunities.

The dedicated three-story facility features rooms to conduct virtual business meetings with importers and retailers, high-end supermarket shelving for product display and a full kitchen for cooking demonstrations and hosting dinners to sample produce.

The space also provides Victorian agribusinesses with the opportunity to tailor events to meet Chinese consumer demand by offering seasonal produce tastings in the facility’s chilled and frozen display area.

Vic Housewill support existing and prospective Victorian exporters to access this key market where demand for Victoria’s high-quality food and fibre products remains strong.

China is Victoria's largest food and fibre export market with sales worth $4.75 billion in 2019-20.

Vic House is supported through the Victorian Government’s $15 million Food to Market Program and $5 million Pathways to Export Program.

Three agriculture export specialists were recently appointed in key markets for Victorian food and fibre, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

The new pavilion is part of the government’s commitment to supporting Victoria’s agricultural producers and exporters to access a wide range of markets across the globe.

More information can be found online by visiting the Agriculture Victoria website.

A selection of online courses can be undertaken at your own pace, at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection is available from Agriculture Victoria.

The Victorian Government understands that life can get busy and it isn’t always possible to attend courses in person. 

eLearning provides an accessible and flexible option for learning and expanding your knowledge. 

It enables you to enhance your skills without having to attend an event or workshop in person which could be a significant distance from home, or difficult to complete due to time constraints.

To access courses, you will need to create an account. This will allow you full access to the courses and it will track your progress as you move through them.

Browse the range of courses that can be undertaken at your own pace, at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection.

This week’s eLearn in profile is: Stock Containment Areas

This Stock Containment Area short course provides Victorian farmers with key information to help them better prepare and respond to dry seasonal conditions and other emergencies before critical decisions need to be made.

Topics include:

• What is a stock containment area?
• Why use a stock containment area?
• Other uses of a stock containment area
• Are you up for the task?
• Site selection
• Design
• Water
• Feeding
• Shade and shelter
• Management.

The course takes about 30 minutes to complete.

This podcast series delivers knowledge and information in a format that suits the way farmers and agricultural professionals work and live today.

Subscribe to AgVic Talk

You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts:

• Subscribe to AgVic Talk on Spotify
• Subscribe to Apple Podcasts

Your feedback is important to us so make sure to rate and review AgVic Talk episodes and share with your friends and family.

Episodes cover contemporary problems and solutions on how members of the agricultural community recover, grow, modernise, protect, and promote Victorian agriculture.

All information included in these episodes is accurate at the time of release.

Contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or your consultant before making any changes on-farm.

PHOTO: Emma Bolding

“Safety is one of those things that for us is just non-negotiable.”

Join Emma Bolding, an organic beef producer from South West Victoria to hear how the Farm Safety Rebate enabled her to upgrade livestock handling equipment at the family property.

Listen to Emma's episode by searching for 'AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listen 🎧 online via the AgVic website agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

PHOTO: Farmhand Jason Fogg with grain producer Jason Mellings

As Victoria heads toward harvest, we invited a grain farmer and farmhand into the studio to talk about staying safe during the upcoming season.

Hear from third generation Wimmera grain producer Jason Mellings and farmhand Jason Fogg as they discuss machinery, fatigue and how creating a safety culture is essential no matter what time of year.

Listen to their farm safety stories by searching for 'AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listen 🎧 online via the AgVic website agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

Gippsland sheep farmer and Young Farmers Advisory Council member Nick Blandford firmly believes Australian agriculture can adapt to climate change.

Discover how he is using his knowledge of climate change science to inform his business decisions; ensuring that soil health, emissions and profitability are integrated into his business model.

Listen to Nick’s podcast episode by searching for 'AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listen 🎧 online via the AgVic website 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.

Monday, 25 October 2021, 5 - 6 pm, 73 Cumming Avenue, Birchip, VIC, 3527

BCG members are invited to attend the 2021 Annual General Meeting for the Birchip Cropping Group Inc., (BCG), which has been scheduled as follows:

• Reports (Chairman; CEO; Finance)
• Appointment of board members
• Receipt of 2020/21 audited financial reports
• Acceptance of 2020 AGM minutes
• Appointment of auditors
• Proposed changes to the BCG Rules of Association

The 2021 AGM will consider a proposal to change the BCG Rules of Association and provide for a BCG Chairperson stepping down the option of continuing on the board for up to one year.

Members wishing to attend the AGM in person or by teleconference should RSVP by calling the office on (03) 5492 2787, or emailing info@bcg.or.au

Wednesday 27 October, 7.30 – 8.30 pm

Agriculture Victoria is presenting four webinars covering Planning, Budgeting, Profits and Succession Planning which will provide insights into operating a profitable farm business.

The following webinars are open to farmers and business operators who can join one or all in the series:

• Planning, Wednesday 27 October: A webinar to show how to develop, document and use strategic, tactical, and operational business plans.
• Budgeting, Wednesday 10 November: Successful farm businesses have a budget, review it regularly and use it as a communication tool. This webinar looks at how to develop and make the most of cash flow and partial budgets.
• Managing Profits, Wednesday 24 November: With high prices and good seasonal conditions, it's even more important to ensure business profits are put to best use. This webinar will explore how to achieve this.
• Succession Planning, Wednesday 8 December: This webinar will focus on how a succession plan helps a farming business manage challenges, including where to seek advice and communicate effectively with family members.

Presenters

Paul Blackshaw is a farm business consultant with Meridian Agriculture in North East Victoria. Paul provides farm financial analysis, benchmarking, business performance and succession planning.

Claire Booth is a lawyer, Nuffield Scholar and cropping and beef farmer from Dubbo, NSW. Claire has presented to farmers on succession planning at workshops and conferences.

Register for any of these free online events by 5 pm on the afternoon of the webinar at Eventbrite.

For information on Planning, Budgeting or Profits, contact Paul Simpson, Agriculture Recovery Extension Officer, on 0428 975 728 or paul.simpson@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For information on Succession Planning, contact Darren Hickey Agriculture Recovery Manager East Gippsland on 0457 609 140 or darren.hickey@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Local Economic Recovery "On Farm Recovery Support Services" project is jointly funded by the Victorian Government and Commonwealth Government under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Do you buy or sell livestock privately, online or through saleyards?

Do you know the NLIS requirements for livestock movements?

Agriculture Victoria is delivering interactive online training sessions for livestock producers using the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.

There are two events for you to choose from, between October and November.

• Wednesday 27 October, 11 am – 12.30 pm
• Wednesday 24 November, 9 – 10.30 am

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

Session plan

Part 1: Overview of the Victorian traceability system

• Self-paced online learning (30 minutes)

Part 2: Navigating and using the NLIS database, Zoom meeting (1.5 hours)

• Watch a live demonstration of the NLIS database over a Zoom meeting
• Access the training NLIS database to practise completing Property-to-Property (P2P) transfers
• Question and answer session.

Book your free tickets online via the eventbrite website.

For more information - or if you have trouble registering online - please call 0427 681 714.

Numbers are limited to allow for an interactive session.

Participants are encouraged to set up their NLIS account prior to attending the webinar.

Do you want to hear about what other horticultural businesses are doing to improve energy efficiency?

You are invited to join us for a panel discussion with three managers from horticultural businesses who will share their experiences in implementing sustainable energy technologies, improving energy efficiency and generating renewable energy.

Panelists will give an overview of their energy projects and benefits which will be followed by a facilitated Q&A session.

Panelists include:

• Dasha Sherif, I.M Sweet Australia – Installation of a 200kW solar array supplying renewable energy to a packing shed and refrigeration along with variable speed drives and rapid doors on cool rooms.
• Jason Shields, Orchard Manager at Plunkett Orchards – Picking platforms reducing diesel consumption along with additional benefits that will significantly improve the return on investment.
• Rowan Little, General Manager at Montague Orchards – Implementation of smart energy solutions in packing and distribution.

Date: Thursday, 28 October
Time:  12 to 1 pm
Where: Online using Zoom or dial in

Register for or join the webinar online.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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

More information on other webinars in this series or other energy events can be found online.

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

Ewe replacements – management for successful first joining and lifetime performance

Thursday, 4 November, 8 to 8.30 pm

Register online.

First presentation

Professor Andrew Thompson from Murdoch University, Western Australia will talk about the management of maternal ewe lambs aiming to achieve a successful joining as ewe lambs (seven to ten months of age).He will also discuss how to ensure follow up performance on future reproduction.

This will guide some of the management requirements of ewe lambs from weaning to their first mating and lifetime performance.

Andrew will describe the influence of joining weight, mature weight and other genetic traits on ewe lamb reproduction from his research.

Second presentation

The webinar will also feature a short ‘Myth Buster’ presentation dealing with the question ‘Is rumen development completed at weaning – can you recover from a tough start?’

Further information contact: Jane Court jane.court@agriculture.vic.gov.au or 0436 606 742

This recording of a webinar with Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey, focused on the current seasonal climate outlook for Southern NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

The outlook is based on model projections for rainfall using current oceanic, atmospheric and soil moisture conditions.

Please share this recording with your colleagues.

Date and time: Wednesday 20 October at 12 pm AEDT
Passcode: Oct2021!
Recording length: 58 mins

For more information about this webinar, email the.break@agriculture.vic.gov.au

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.

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.

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.

Applications are now open and will close 11:59 pm on Friday 26 November.

More information is available on the Agriculture Victoria website or call the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.

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.

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 https://www.partnersinwellbeing.org.au/small-business-support

Wellbeing coaches are available from 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 5 pm on weekends.

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