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Barwon South-West Ag news
 
Thursday 23 July, 2020
In this edition:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
staying home if we're sick keeps us together
Face covering mandatory for Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

People living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are now required to wear a face mask when leaving home for one of the four permitted reasons: shopping for food and supplies, medical care and caregiving – including to be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19), exercise, and study or work if unable to work or study from home.

Victorians outside metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are being asked to use common sense when it comes to visiting friends and family, especially those who are more vulnerable. That means seeing only those you need to – if you need to.

Stay safe by washing your hands regularly, keeping your distance from others and staying home if you feel unwell.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) you should get tested and stay home.

For more information, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Border travel restrictions

Restrictions on the movement of Victorians across our borders with South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW) are now in place.

The Victorian Premier, the Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW agreed to close the border between Victoria and NSW from 8 July 2020.

From midnight Wednesday 22 July, a border zone, defined along the Murray River, has been established.

Entry to NSW from Victoria will be restricted, and exemptions for NSW residents travelling from the Victorian side of the border zone will be limited.

Permits issued up until the commencement of the border zone expired at midnight 21 July.

Individuals eligible under the new rules will need to apply for a new permit. This closure is being enforced by NSW Police.

There are also restrictions in place for Victorians travelling into South Australia . People from Victoria may not enter South Australia unless they are an Essential Traveller.

For more information about the NSW border restrictions and cross border management in that state, including entry permits, visit Service NSW website, or call their dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) information line on 13 77 88. No permit is required to enter Victoria from NSW.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries provides a coronavirus (COVID-19) concierge service to support primary producers to navigate the current restrictions.

This concierge service can be contacted directly at covidinfo@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

For more information about the South Australian border restrictions, visit the South Australian Government COVID-19 website, or call their dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) information line on 1800 253 787.

No permit or approval is required to enter Victoria from another state – however you will need to adhere to the restrictions and directions that are in place to slow the spread of coronavirus in Victoria.

For the most up to date information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and current restrictions in Victoria, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

People in Victoria can also call the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398.

Latest news
Listen up! Latest Mallee podcast
listen up podcast weaning livestock Nick LInden

Agriculture Victoria has produced a new podcast series focussing on livestock and land management in the Mallee.

The new podcasts, hosted on the Mallee Sustainable Farming website, provide timely information for Mallee farmers through the winter months.

This Friday evening Agriculture Victoria Lamb Industry Development Officer Nick Linden on weaning livestock.

The podcasts are delivered by Agriculture Victoria with funding from the Victorian Government’s 2019–20 Drought Support Package and can be downloaded here https://msfp.org.au/podcast/

For more information about other drought and dry seasonal conditions support from Agriculture Victoria go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

Time to start thinking about the future

Paul Blackshaw, Meridian Consulting

Farmers in the Millewa region in far North-West Victoria, as well as Wellington and East Gippsland, and the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District can now access up to $10,000 of support, including $5000 for business planning advice.

While eligible farmers need to make a co-contribution towards infrastructure, there is no co-contribution required towards business planning advice as part of Agriculture Victoria's On-Farm Drought

As welcome rain starts to arrive, the temptation is to get on with life, work hard and assume everything will soon be okay.

While hard work is an inevitable part of farming, many smart farmers say the decisions they make working on the business, analysing the financial performance and planning, are just as important as work in the paddock.

A return to some level of normality is often a good opportunity for farmers and their families to think about their future in farming.

It’s also a good time to review the strategic plan for the business, which should reflect the long-term personal and financial goals of all the people involved in the farm business and show how these can be achieved.

A succession plan fits firmly within the strategic plan and if there is a desire for the business to continue to the next generation, the plan should reflect this.

Often people avoid addressing this part of the business because they don’t have a strong skills in developing a succession plan.

The chance of achieving an effective business or succession plan are increased by engaging outside professional help.

In the same way as engaging an agronomist for your cropping or pastures program, engaging an experienced and independent advisor can help you navigate the sometimes emotional, complex and uncertain pathway towards a future the farm family would like to achieve.

Too often the default position is for one member of the business to seek advice from an accountant or lawyer.

However, approaching a single expert is not likely to be as successful as using a team that includes a succession expert, a lawyer and an accountant.

The On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant has increased from $5000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services while still enabling them to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.

Eligible farm businesses in the Millewa region can now apply for:

  • Up to $5000 for business decision-making activities (with no co-contribution required)
  • Up to $5000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required)
  • Eligible business decision making activities are those that will help farmers make decisions about how to manage drought conditions, reposition the farm business, improve on-farm practices or make a significant farm business change.

The $5000 business planning component of the On-Farm Drough Resilience Grant can be used to:

  • Prepare, review or update a strategic business plan
  • Undertake a whole farm plan
  • Undertake business risk assessment
  • Engage agronomic services for the purpose of converting the farm to be more drought resilient (for example, pasture restoration or improvement plan, feed budgets for drought, managing soils)
  • Undertake business benchmarking
  • Undertake financial management assessment and planning
  • Undertake succession planning.

For more information about the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant and to apply, contact Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au.

Apply soon to avoid missing out, this grant will close on 28 August 2020.

For more information about available drought support visit
agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

Beef and sheep seasonal webinar series

Agriculture Victoria’s beef and sheep networks’ winter/spring webinar series is on again with expert presenters helping farmers answer all the challenging questions to get them through the next few months.

Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Tess McDougall said this series is aimed at decision-making with a focus on managing pastures, conserving fodder and livestock health and nutrition.

“Producers can join the afternoon sessions via their phone and/or computer, tablet or smartphone.

“They are easy to join and provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues with our presenters,” she said.

“Each webinar will be recorded if you can’t attend, so please register to receive a copy of the recording via email.”

Webinar 1: Animal health and nutrition (13 August, 12.30 –1.30 pm)

  • Learn more about animal nutrition, trace mineral deficiencies, winter/early spring feed budgeting and livestock health issues to watch out for.
  • Presented by Dr Jeff Cave, District Veterinary Officer and Nick Linden, Sheep Industry Development Officer.
  • Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841172010

Webinar 2: Fodder conservation (3 September, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

  • This webinar will explore questions such as how much is conserving fodder really costing me? How much of my farm should I cut and how can I produce high quality hay and silage this spring?
  • Presented by Michele Jolliffe, Dairy Extension Officer and Claire Waterman Farm Business Economist.
  • Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841535096

Webinar 3: Spring pasture (17 September, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

  • Discussion will focus on what nutrients need to be replaced after fodder conservation, the importance of tillering and key grazing management practices for a successful spring.
  • Presented by Fiona Baker, Beef Extension Officer.
  • Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841709618

For further information or if you have trouble registering contact Tess McDougall 0409 841 492 or tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Focus on education programs to help make farms safer
making our farms safer places to work and live

Two new educational programs supported by the Victorian Government will be rolled out for rural and regional school students to start changing attitudes towards safety on farms from an early age.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes announced the programs at the beginning of National Farm Safety Week to reinforce the government’s commitment towards reducing deaths and injuries on farms.

Kidsafe Victoria will receive a $97,000 grant to support their work preventing unintentional death and injury of children by delivering a farm safety campaign and creative competition in primary schools over three years.

The National Centre for Farmer Health will receive a $108,500 grant to deliver twenty ‘Gear up for Agriculture Health and Safety’ workshops to Victorian secondary school students who have an interest in agriculture.

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) found that children aged younger than 15 in Victoria’s outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in our major cities.

MUARC recommended addressing this problem through increased education and awareness of known injury hazards such as dams, farm equipment and off-road motorbike use.

Drowning is the leading cause of death of children on farms – providing a fenced play area away from water hazards such as dams is one example recommendation of what can be done to help make farms safer for children.

Teaching children about farms as workplaces as well as homes is a vital part of changing attitudes, with information showing children influence the decisions their parents make, in turn improving farm safety for the whole family.

These grants are part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program which is addressing skills and safety issues in the agriculture sector.

To find out more about the educational programs visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Millewa Forum: Planning for success
the millewa forum

Agriculture Victoria has been running The Millewa Forum: Planning for Success, a series of free webinars designed specifically for farmers in the region, with a focus on business decision making and succession planning.

The remaining webinar in the series will be;

  • Improved Decision making with John Gladigau of Bulla Burra Operations. John will discuss looking after yourself and others in times of stress, having a process in place to aid decision making, the risks of emotional decision making, and engaging advisors.
  • Thursday July 30: 12 - 1 pm Improved Decision making with John Gladigau bit.ly/3g9rNtj

For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

The webinar is delivered by Agriculture Victoria and funded by the Victorian Government’s 2019–20 Drought Support Package.

Calling on Victoria's rural women to lead the way
leadership and mentoring program apply now

The Victorian Government is inviting women from country Victoria to build their leadership skills, with the 2021 Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program now open.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes is encouraging rural Victorian women involved in agriculture or the agricultural supply chain to apply for this year’s intake, with 14 funded places on established leadership courses starting later this year and early in 2021.

The government has provided $500,000 funding to the Victorian Rural Women’s Network to support the program, which has so far provided 24 rural women with professional leadership training.

The Leadership Program partners with four established leadership training providers delivering highly regarded programs suitable for emerging and experienced leaders.

Applications are now open for funded places on the 2020 Women’s Leadership Program as well as for the 2021 intake of The Observership Program and Williamson Leadership Program.

Participants in the Leadership Program build expertise in areas such as how to effectively build teams, financial and business management, governance and networking.

The Observership Program offers the opportunity for emerging leaders to gain first-hand board experience by sitting as an ‘observer’ on a not-for-profit board.

The Victorian Rural Women’s Network was re-established in July 2017 with a $1.7 million commitment over four years from the Victorian Government.

The Leadership Program, alongside other initiatives including AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award and the Invisible Farmer Project, is part of the Victorian Government’s ongoing support for rural and regional women.

For more information and to apply for a funded place on a leadership program, see the Victorian Rural Women’s Network website at extensionaus.com.au/VRWNetwork.

Keep an eye on Russian wheat aphid as crops develop
keep an eye on russian wheat aphid as crops develop

PHOTO: Russian wheat aphid

Grain growers in Victoria and Tasmania are advised to continue monitoring crops for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) but only consider treatment if infestations are approaching potentially damaging levels.

Colder conditions since March – in comparison with 2019 – are likely to have slowed aphid population growth during establishment and early tillering stages.

“This is fortunate, because RWA growth rates are also influenced by plant growth stage, with younger plants supporting faster aphid reproduction than older plants,” Jessica Lye from research organisation cesar said.

“If there is wet weather during late winter and spring, as predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology, this is also likely to suppress RWA,” Dr Lye said, whose work is supported through a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment.

Despite this outlook, monitoring and making threshold-based decisions remains key to effective long-term management of this aphid.

“Growers and agronomists are advised to monitor for RWA during tillering and stem elongation, keeping in mind current recommended thresholds if they observe any infestations,” Dr Lye said.

Australian intervention thresholds are currently based on overseas advice, which recommends a spray application when more than 20 per cent of all seedlings are infested with aphids up to growth stage 30 and more than 10 per cent of tillers are infested with aphids from growth stage 30.

Through research investments by the GRDC, being led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (the research division of Primary Industries and Regions SA) and cesar, a biological and ecological profile of RWA is being developed to provide grain growers with scientifically robust management tactics for the future, including economic thresholds for Australian farming systems.

A RWA resource portal which includes updates on current research efforts and the latest RWA management advice, hosted by cesar, is available at http://bit.ly/2Px67tu.

In the meantime, growers and advisers are encouraged to report to the GRDC-supported PestFacts south-eastern (co-ordinated by cesar) any detections of invertebrates (pest/beneficial/unknown) in crops and pastures. PestFacts details are available at https://bit.ly/3j7oVQb

Improving digital literacy and connectivity on-farm
improving digital literacy and connectivity on-farm

Want to know more about improving your digital literacy and connectivity? Need confidence to access technology to improve your on-farm decision making?

CONNECTIVITY WEBINARS

Join extensionAUS and Agriculture Victoria for a series of webinars which will provide a unique opportunity for you to address on-farm connectivity issues and help you to understand available digital technology - how to measure it and how to make it work as best as possible for you and your business.

WEBINAR DATES AND TIMES

Webinar 2 – Getting the most out of video meeting software

Tuesday 28 July
1.30 – 2.30 pm
Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86270444624

Webinar 3 – Internet of Things (IoT)

Tuesday 4 August
1.30 – 2.30 pm
Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89327853496

Webinar 4 – Online networking to better communicate on-farm and service farm businesses

Tuesday 11 August
1.30 – 2.30 pm
Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84433966881

Contact: If you need help registering please contact
Gavin Beever, Cumbre Consultants on 0438 234 886 or gavin@cumbre.com.au

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AUDIT

An opportunity exists to participate in an on-farm digital technology audit conducted by phone by Agriculture Victoria, to understand the technology you already have available on-farm and how you can improve its efficiency.

Participants will be asked to identify what type of internet connectivity they have, where they have access to WiFi and how they use technology on their farm.

Participants will have time to prepare for the audit and will receive a property map and report of results.

REGISTRATION

To register for the audit please book a time at https://bit.ly/2VbBXBK

Contact: If you need help registering or would like more information please contact Andy Clark,
Agriculture Victoria, on 0436 804 656 or andy.clark@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support call 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

This project is supported by the 201920 Drought Support Package.

Preference will be given to participants from Central and East Gippsland, the GMID and the Millewa region of North-West Victoria.

Fox and wild dog collection details
 

Designated fox and wild dog bounty collection centres are now operating in line with physical distancing requirements including established drop off and exclusion zones.

During the suspension period, bounty participants were encouraged to continue to collect fox scalps and wild dog body parts on private properties as part of pest control activities, and to freeze or air dry them.

Hunters are encouraged to refresh their knowledge of the terms and conditions of the bounty to ensure what they submit is acceptable.

Participants can submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and entire wild dog body parts for a $120 reward during scheduled collection times.

2020 Bendigo collections (fox only)
Address: Cnr Midland Hwy and Taylor St, Epsom
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Dates:

Monday, 3 August
Monday, 31 August
Monday, 28 September
Monday, 26 October

2020 Ouyen collections (fox only)
Address: Gregory St Ouyen
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 2 – 4 pm

Dates:

Tuesday, 4 August
Tuesday, 1 September
Tuesday, 29 September
Tuesday, 27 October

2020 St Arnaud collections (fox only)
Address: 4 Montague St, St Arnaud
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Dates:

Thursday, 6 August
Thursday, 3 September
Thursday, 1 October
Thursday, 29 October

2020 Swan Hill collections (fox only)
Address: 7 Quin Drv, Swan Hill
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 8.30 to 10.30 am

Dates:

Tuesday, 4 August
Tuesday, 1 September
Tuesday, 29 September
Tuesday, 27 October

Quick links

The bounty collection schedule is subject to change.

Dung beetle presentation available online
dung beetle presentation available online

Dr Bernard Doube, Dung Beetle Solutions International, brings us up to date with dung beetle species, the history of introduction to Australia and the benefits to agriculture. 

This presentation was delivered in June 2020 with the support of Landcare Victoria and North Central CMA.

Watch it here from the North Central Catchment Management Authority website: http://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/media-events/videos

Young farmer business network
Young Farmer business network

Young Farmers of Victoria – this is your network to talk about farm business management with other like-minded young farmers through social media, articles, online and face to face forums.

Click here to join and learn more about the Young Farmer Business Network Facebook group.

Gardiner Foundation Nuffield Scholarships

Applications are now open for the Nuffield Farming Scholarship for a Victorian dairy farmer.

The scholarship, sponsored by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation and Nuffield Australia, provides a chance for the successful applicant to travel and investigate their field of interest. It is open to applicants between the age of 28–45 years.

Further details on the program is available at on the Gardiner Foundation website. Applications close on 11 September.

Information on the full 2021 Nuffield Scholarship Program is available at https://www.nuffield.com.au/

Managing dry conditions

The Victorian Government’s Household Financial Relief Program delivered by the CWA and the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant will close on 28 August 2020 or once program funding is expended.

On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants program expanded
access up to $5000 for on-farm drought infrastrcuture to improve mobile phone connectivity, weed control or soil moisture probes.

The maximum value of the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants has increased from $5000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services while still enabling farmers to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.

Eligible farm businesses can now apply for:

  • up to $5000 for business decision making activities (with no-contribution required)
  • up to $5000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required)

There are three new eligible infrastructure investments under the resilience grants:

  • technologies to improve mobile phone connectivity
  • weed control (e.g., purchase of registered herbicide)
  • soil moisture probes (as an explicit investment under soil moisture monitoring activities)

For more information and to access the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants program, call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au.

This grant program closes on 28 August 2020 or once program funding is expended.

Farm machinery improvement grant
Farm Machinery Improvement Grants

Grants continue to be available up to $10,000 per eligible dryland farm business located in the Millewa region of North-West Victoria to assist in the maintenance of essential on-farm machinery and equipment to meet key operational requirements and prepare for the 2020 growing season.

For more information and to access the Farm Machinery Improvement Grants program, call the Victorian Farmers Federation on 1 300 882 833 or visit vff.org.au

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

Support for Victorian farmers

Agriculture Victoria remains available to assist Victorian farmers. We want to reassure farmers, particularly those impacted by bushfires and drought, that we will continue to provide support services to you and your farming business. However, the way we are doing this during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed.

What are we doing differently?

We are moving from our usual face-to-face client contact to other alternatives. This means we might call you on the phone, send you information via post or email, invite you to a video or teleconference, or even a webinar.

Our technical support remains available to help landholders affected by fires and drought in East and Central Gippsland, North East, Millewa and the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District. 

Farmers can call us to access information tailored specifically to their needs on a range of topics including:

  • feed planning and pasture recovery
  • supplying feed and water to livestock
  • land and farm water management
  • general technical information
  • other assistance available and grants programs

Farmers affected by drought

For support in drought-affected areas contact our Dry Seasonal Conditions Coordinators:

  • Millewa – Sue McConnell on 0418 572 087
  • Northern – Mick Bretherton on 0428 346 209
  • East and Central Gippsland – Nick Dudley on 0428 562 139

Or email us at Drought.Support@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Farmers can also continue to call our Customer Service Centre on 136 186 and access the website anytime at – agriculture.vic.gov.au

There are many other agencies providing assistance too – this includes the Rural Financial Counselling Service:

Rural Finance is administering many grants programs for drought and bushfire impacted farmers.

Give them a call on 1800 260 425 or access online anytime at ruralfinance.com.au   

Dairy support

The Dedicated Dairy Support Program is available to dairy farmers in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District who are considering structural or significant changes to their business.

Decisions could include leaving the industry, scaling back (or up), family succession or transitions to other enterprises.

For more information go to agbizassist.org.au, call 1300 834 775 or email dairysupport@agbizassist.org.au

are you a dairy farmer in the gmid?
Dry seasons hotline

Millewa and Carwarp district farmers can contact Agriculture Victoria on 1800 318 115 for dry seasonal conditions information and advice.

You may have questions about:

  • feed budgeting
  • stock containment areas
  • feed testing
  • livestock requirements
  • biosecurity
  • soil management

Our staff can also discuss other available support including grants.

CWA Drought Relief Program

The CWA of Victoria’s Drought Relief Program has been provided a funding boost by the Victorian Government for the provision of household financial relief.

A grant payment of up to $3000 per individual applicant and/or household is available for farming families, farm workers and contractors that are drought-affected and reliant on farming as their primary source of income.

This program is being funded through the Victorian Government’s Farmers’ Drought Fund - Household Financial Relief program.

To access an application form or to find out more go to cwaofvic.org.au or email drought@cwaofvic.org.au.

For anyone seeking a copy of the application form or requiring assistance to complete the application, please contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email the CWA on drought@cwaofvic.org.au

This program closes on 28 August 2020 or once the funding is expended.

Feeding livestock website
feeding livestock website

Did you know that the Agriculture Victoria’s Beef and Sheep Drought Feeding and Management online books have a new home?

They are housed and updated on the Feeding Livestock website and can be downloaded or viewed in whole or as individual chapters on any device.

Other key features of the website, include:

What's on and upcoming webinars

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.

Learn the lingo of farm finance
woman and man holding a baby

Young farmers can learn the ins and outs of managing money, debt and talking to banks at the Farm Finance – Getting Prepared online workshop on Friday, 24 July.

The 90-minute online workshop will help young farmers understand the finance options available to achieve their goals.

Host Jane Foster is a Senior Consultant specialising in agribusiness at ORM and brings a wealth of experience in farm debt management and financial data analysis.

The online workshop is free to attend on Friday 24 July at 12.30 pm, and the session will be recorded and made available for those who register.

Registrations (via Zoom) can be made here:
zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0of-ytqjotGtbyo1ynhItVJXApFjOkJM3i

For more information and to register, contact Sarah Wallis on 0419 571 208.

Past rainfall changes over Australia and implications for agriculture

Dr Katharina Waha from the CSIRO exploring rainfall changes in rainfall patterns in different regions of Australia and hear how they impact on agricultural production in the next Forewarned is Forearmed (FWFA) Rural REsearch and Development for Program Program webinar.

Annual and seasonal rainfall are important drivers of agricultural productivity and profitability in Australian agriculture and various climatological and synoptic drivers influence rainfall in Australia’s diverse climate.

While lots of studies have focused on rainfall changes in northern and southern Australia, less is known about the agricultural areas between 25°-34°S on the East Coast including the Northern Murray Darling basin and coastal Queensland and New South Wales and at similar latitudes in Western Australia which stretches across subtropical climate in the North to temperate climate in the South and hot and dry grassland climate inland.

Using long-term rainfall data and agricultural statistics we compare trends in summer rainfall and extreme rainfall at different sites and its relation to agricultural production.

DATE: 28 July (1 pm - Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney)

REGISTRATION: https://unimelb.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yUTydZZRQ0qA9n6BJD9JLg

Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) Fungicide Resistance in High Rainfall Zones webinar

Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) Fungicide Resistance in High Rainfall Zones webinar

In season webinar on fungicide resistance in high rainfall zones presented by: Nick Poole, Foundation for Arable Research Australia

Online event: https://grdc.com.au/events/list/submitted/2020/australian-fungicide-resistance-extension-network-afren-fungicide-resistance-in-high-rainfall-zones-webinar

Social media panel discussions
social media panel discussion 6 august

Farmers and dairy communities

Learn how three farmers are bridging the rural-urban divide and building community on social media, plus practical tips and advice for getting the most out of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Featuring:

  • Adam Jenkins, farmer and rural advocate
  • Dianne Bowles, dairy farmer and co-founder of the 'Show some #dairylove' Facebook group
  • Peter Vallance, Mallee cattle and cropping farmer with an international following on TikTok

Webinar details

GRDC Grains Research Update, online - Elmore

The GRDC Grains Research Update events are for grain growers and advisers to explore the latest research and discuss its impact and adoption to modern farming systems.

Location: online

Time: 9.30 - 11 am (AEST)

Date: 13 August

Registration and further details: https://grdc.com.au/events/list?etype=grains-research-update&result_400392_result_page=2

Grassland Society virtual conference

The Grassland Society of Southern Australia is running its 61st Annual Conference - Growing with grasslands.

DATE: Until 19 August

TIME: 7.30 - 9.30 pm AEST

We invite you to join us for the 61st Annual Conference - and our first ever virtual conference! It will take place online via Zoom from 7.30- 9.30 pm AEST every Wednesday evening for five weeks.

Find out more at www.grasslands.org.au

Rural Press Club of Victoria awards are open

The Rural Press Club of Victoria has launched its 2020 Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards, with increased prize money to recognise the best work across the state.

This year has been challenging for regional journalists and photographers, with many publications reducing or stopping coverage.

To reflect the challenges this year has brought, RPCV award category winners will receive $500 and a trophy, while winners of the overall awards including Journalist of the Year, Photographer of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year will each receive $1000 and a trophy.

The awards are open to all journalists, photographers and media outlets in Victoria and Tasmania. Journalists and photographers can enter the awards until 31 July.

To enter the awards, you need to be a member of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. You can sign up for membership and enter the awards on the club’s new website ruralpressclubvictoria.com.au.

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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-us/contact-us

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