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Content

Night shift pest controllers - get to know our bats!
'Short and Sweet sessions' for the DairySA Central Conference
Protect livestock from heat waves - Plan shelterbelts NOW
Pasture getting low? Avoid erosion issues by confinement feeding
Benefits of increasing soil organic matter
Why are Foxes a problem?
Record Fox activity in FoxScan
Rabbits cost South Australia's Agriculture Industry
Enabling change on the Limestone Coast
World Wetlands Day - Exploring our Puddles in Paddocks
Are you prepared for this bushfire season?
Project Coorong: World Wetland Day Science Forum
 
Upcoming Events

February

March

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Night shift pest controllers - get to know our bats!

Lesser long-eared bat.

Landholders are invited to get involved in a unique Citizen Science project this month to investigate the abundance, diversity and diet of bat and insect species in the local region.

Insectivorous bats are known to consume vast quantities of insects every night, including species which are agricultural pests and we’re keen to understand what that looks like in our region, in terms of abundance and species diversity of bats and insects,” Limestone Coast Landscape Board, Bush Management Advisor Jacqui Owen said.

Due to the nocturnal nature of the project (sunset to midnight) and the sensitivities of working with live bats, this project is not suitable for under 14s.

Date: 12 and 13 February

Location: Glencoe and Wrattonbully

To find out more about the project, visit our Limestone Coast Landscape Board website, or contact Jacqui Owen on 0428 155 989 or by email.

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'Short and Sweet sessions' for the DairySA Central Conference

Up to 150 dairyfarmers, service providers and other industry members are expected to attend the 2021 DairySA Central Conference to be held at McCracken Country Club, Victor Harbor on Thursday 18 March

Dairy farmers and service providers from across South Australia are invited to the 2021 DairySA Central Conference to be held this year at Victor Harbor. Delegates will hear from a range of speakers across the spectrum of the dairy industry, from an investment banker and technology expert through to milk processors and proponents of re-generative agriculture – with farmer success stories thrown into the mix.

Up to 150 dairy farmers and service providers from across SA’s Fleurieu, Barossa Mid-North, River & Lakes, and from the Limestone Coast, are expected to attend the popular one day conference, to be held at McCracken Country Club, Victor Harbor.

  • Tickets available through Eventbrite
  • Places will be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions
  • Tickets for Service Providers will open on March 1

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Protect livestock from heat waves - Plan shelterbelts NOW

Heat stress leads to productivity losses in livestock farming systems including Dairy - milk yield can be reduced by up to 40% in extreme heatwave conditions. Dairy Australia have put together a factsheet explaining the advantages of shelterbelts on a dairy farm, however these advantages will benefit all farming systems:

Shelterbelts have a positive effect on agricultural productivity for a variety of reasons:

  • Protect stock in extreme events (i.e. heat waves, wind storms and cold weather)
  • Increase milk production, feed availability and herd fertility by keeping livestock comfortable
  • Provide habitat for wildlife and biological control agents for pasture and crop pests
  • Protect soil from erosion and salinity
  • Boundary plantings can offer biosecurity by minimising stock contact and blocking weed movement
  • Extend the pasture growing season by reducing water loss by shading and reducing wind speed
  • Improve the farm work place and increase medium to long term land values

For more information on how to design and locate your shelterbelts please access the resources below:

Email or call (0428 155 989) our Bush Management Advisor, Jacqui Owen, to discuss how you can design and plant an effective shelterbelt.

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Pasture getting low? Avoid erosion issues by confinement feeding

Confinement feeding areas are purpose built facilities to use as a short-term tool. Using confinement areas takes grazing pressure off pastures during dry times and can be utlilised to manage livestock post fire.

Pasture, soil and weed biosecurity benefits that result from confinement feeding include:

  • Protection of valuable pasture and soils, allowing for rapid recovery after rain
  • Maintaintenance of paddock groundcover, reduces erosion and maximises rain infiltration
  • Weeds and pests from introduced feed can be monitored and managed easily

Productivity benefits that result from confinement feeding:

  • Reduces stock energy requirements by 8-15% (less walking for feed and water)
  • Stock feeding is quicker and easier
  • Stock health and weight can be easily monitored and managed
  • The site can be used when pastures are affected by other emergencies such as fire and flood

More information about Confinement Feeding can be found on the websites below:

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Benefits of increasing soil organic matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) is any living or dead plant and animal material and is considered the lifeblood of fertile, productive soil. The main sources of organic matter includes plant litter and animal manures.

The benefits of building soil organic matter levels include:

  • Improves soil structure
  • Improves drainage
  • Holds moisture
  • Provides nutrients
  • Improves cation exchange capacity
  • Reduces soil erosion
  • Supports microbial diversity which in turn can provide disease-suppressing capacity in soils

Soil organic matter supports agricultural productivity through improving the soil conditions for sustainable and economic food and fibre production.

More information on SOM can be found on the Department of Primary Industries website and information regarding carbon sequestration can be found on the South Australian Department for Environment and Water website.

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Why are Foxes a problem?

Landscape Officer, Michelle Sargent, with fox bait

The spread of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) closely follows the distribution of rabbits across mainland Australia. Foxes are opportunistic predators and scavengers and have few natural predators in Australia.

Economic damage to the agricultural industry results from fox predation on livestock, including lambs, calves, water fowl and goats.

The most efficient way to control foxes is to coordinate your control program with adjoining neighbours.

Limestone Coast Landscape Officers help landholders control foxes by providing information, advice and integrated control services. Landscape Officers can provide:

  • Advice on pest control such as best control methods, such as best practice methods and timing
  • Bait and equipment to assist with your fox control program
  • Publications and factsheets

If you need assistance with fox control, please contact your local Landscape Officer or call 08 8735 1177.

More information can be found on the PIRSA website.

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Record Fox activity in FoxScan

Photo from FoxScan website

FoxScan is a free resource for the general public, farmers, local councils, community groups, pest controllers and biosecurity organisations. You can use FoxScan to record fox sightings, report fox impacts, and document control action.

Information you enter can alert local biosecurity authorities and your community about fox activity, and can help to protect domestic and native wildlife from fox activity.

If you are undertaking control, you can use it to document where you are baiting or setting traps for foxes. People are using FoxScan to work together to coordinate control.

If you need assistance with fox control, please contact your local Landscape Officer or call 08 8735 117.

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Rabbits cost South Australia's Agriculture Industry

Image from Wheatbelt NRM

Rabbit populations across the Limestone Coast have increased due to the abundance of food and good breeding conditions. 

Maintaining pressure on rabbits each year improves farm productivity, reduces food resources for foxes and feral cats and helps to protect remnant native vegetation and wildlife habitat.

Using a range of methods and coordinating with your neighbours to control rabbits over the summer season produces great results and restricts rapid recovery of the rabbit population in Autumn.

Limestone Coast Landscape Officers help landholders control rabbits by providing information, advice and integrated control services. Landscape Officers can provide:

  • Advice on pest control such as best control methods and timing of control:
  • Bait and equipment to assist with your rabbit control program
  • Publications and factsheets

If you need assistance with rabbit control, please contact your local Landscape Officer or call 08 8735 1177.

More information can be found on the PIRSA website.

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Enabling change on the Limestone Coast

Mackillop Farm Management Group has designed this workshop for extension officers who work with Limestone Coast landholders, fishers, or community members.

Thanks to the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, through funding from the National Landcare Program, this one-day workshop is free. 

This workshop will cover the following topics:

  • Defining extension
  • Creating farmer engagement
  • Facilitation of learning groups
  • Easy evaluation

Date: 22 February 2021

Venue: Gather on Gordon – Naracoorte

Registrations are essential as places are limited. Email Danielle England for more information.

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World Wetlands Day - Exploring our Puddles in Paddocks

World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on February 2nd, and 2021 also marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention of which Australia was one of the founding nations.

This year, the Limestone Coast (LC) Landscape Board will be launching a video which showcases the diversity, beauty and importance of the wetlands in the Limestone Coast, featuring local landholders who are working to restore and protect wetlands on their properties.

Wetlands are vital to the ongoing health of our environment, and provide a wide range of ecosystem functions that build landscape resilience and benefit agricultural production.

Click on this YouTube channel link to watch a preview and keep an eye out on our Facebook page for the launch of the final video.

For more information, email our Wetland Restoration Advisor, Lu-Wei Spinks.

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Are you prepared for this bushfire season?

Are you prepared for this year’s bushfire season? Recent fire events have been a stark reminder to check and update your bushfire plans. Consider how you will stay informed of weather, fire ban and incident information throughout the season. If you have firefighting equipment check that it is working and is set up ready in case of a fire.

Tidying up around your property can lower the potential impacts of a fire. For rules about vegetation management and fire prevention around dwellings and fence lines go to the Department for Environment and Water website. It is important for you to consider your physical and emotionally preparedness to respond to a fire.

If you haven’t already, complete your bushfire plan today. The CFS ‘5 Minute Bushfire Plan’ or the Red Cross’s emergency management planning tools are useful resources fore creating a plan.

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Project Coorong: World Wetland Day Science Forum

Join Project Coorong in Goolwa on Tuesday 2 February 2021 for a World Wetlands Day Science Forum to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ramsar Convention!

Following a successful Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Science Forum last February in Meningie, this year’s full day event in Goolwa will focus on “Science Informing Action”. Themes from across the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Wetland site to be showcased and discussed on the day include:

  • First Nations knowledge
  • Climate Change, hydrological trends and infrastructure investigations
  • Coorong water quality and aquatic plants
  • Coorong fish, waterbirds and invertebrates
  • Lower Lakes ecology

Venue capacity is strictly limited, so make sure to register at eventbrite, or contact project.coorong@sa.gov.au for more information.

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Get involved!

AgConnect promotes the latest sustainable agricultural news and events across the Limestone Coast. If you have an upcoming event or agricultural news you would like to share contact us:

Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators:

Skylea Mclean: skylea.mclean@sa.gov.au

Eykolina Benny: eykolina.benny@sa.gov.au
 

 
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