• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Bull soundness gives confidence for success
• Pulses for building profit on show at Nhill this month
• Full strength: Victoria's dairy sector leads the nation
• Latest soil moisture monitoring results for cropping
• Building boom for agriculture worker accommodation
• Make your mark on the future of agriculture
• Supporting mental health in our farming communities
• Backing big ideas from Victoria's agtech entrepreneurs
• Supporting the next generation of farmers to succeed
• In case you missed it
• AgVic Talk podcast series
• eLearn at your pace with Agriculture Victoria
• Apply for Livestock Biosecurity Grants
• Fox and wild dog bounty collections for North West Victoria
• 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.

Dr Jeff Cave
Senior Veterinary Officer

Imagine calling your vet to come and pregnancy test your herd of cows, only to find out most of them are not pregnant. What could you have done to prevent this scenario?

A pre-joining check of your bulls’ soundness and the state of his fertility levels may help prevent this disheartening situation.

Fertility is the ability of a bull to achieve, by natural service, a pregnancy rate of 60 per cent and 85 per cent in 50 normally cycling females, within three and six weeks of mating, respectively.

Your veterinarian will check a number of components of the bull to ensure this is possible.

Firstly, the bull needs to be physically examined for any faults with his legs, head, joints, feet, sheath and penis as any of these will affect his ability to serve a cow. His general health also needs to be clinically assessed.

Secondly, your veterinarian will check the bull’s scrotal circumference and inspect the bull’s testis for tone or resilience, as these are closely related to a bull’s fertility.

It is important to watch your bull during joining to determine his serving ability and his desire to serve cows.

Furthermore, your veterinarian will examine the bull’s semen under a microscope and analyse it for motility as well as looking at the morphology or structure of the individual sperm cells.

There is much more to it than putting your bull out with a herd of cows and expecting him to perform, you need to investigate and make sure your bull is up to the job.

For further advice please contact your local veterinarian.

Increasing pulse crop profitability will be a key focus at the Southern Pulse Agronomy Field Day being held at Nhill on Tuesday, 12 October.

Hosted by Frontier Farming Systems on behalf of Agriculture Victoria and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), farmers, agronomists and industry are invited to attend the day to hear how the latest lentil, chickpea, field pea, faba beans and vetch varieties have performed this year.

Agriculture Victoria Research Scientist Jason Brand said the event was part of the Southern Pulse Agronomy project geared at improving the profitability of pulse growers.

Field research being conducted at the site is comparing the performance of pulse varieties grown in variable soil types.

Also being examined is the impact of different management strategies including stubble management, inoculation and row spacing.

Researchers, pulse breeders, industry specialists and grain marketers will be on hand at the event to discuss the research and its practical application, and to answer any questions from attendees.

Several new lentil and pea varieties will also be released at the field day and discussed in the context of this season, and how the new varieties could fit into Wimmera and Mallee rotations.

Dr Brand said the Southern Pulse Agronomy Project has a number of trial sites across Victoria, as well as similar projects in South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia, so it is bringing together a lot of information that is going to be really useful to growers in helping them tackle problems they are facing with their pulse crops.

“The key thing growers are going to get out of this field day is access to the latest, locally-validated research that will help them maximise every dollar earned through their pulse crops,” he said.

“This is real, in-the-field, practical research that will directly benefit local growers.”

GRDC Grower Relations Manager, Courtney Ramsey said the project trial objectives are driven by local grower needs with the field day providing a great opportunity for two-way communication around growers pulse growing experiences.

“The project has been designed to respond to growers’ challenges in pulse production as they are evolving in the paddock,” she said.

The Nhill Pulse Field Day will be held 1.2 kilometres west from the junction of Propodollah from Proodollah Ext Road, Nhill, from 9 am to 1 pm.

This field day is a COVIDsafe event and people must register to attend.

Register online or contact Michael Moodie, Frontier Farming Systems, for more information on 0448 612 892.

A new report has revealed that in 2020-21 Victoria’s nation-leading dairy farmers experienced the best financial returns in more than six years as the sector continues to innovate and excel.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas released the 2020-21 Dairy Farm Monitor report today, which shows the hard work and resilience of Victoria’s dairy farmers has paid off after experiencing some difficult years responding to recent dry conditions, low water allocations and market volatility.

Agriculture Victoria’s Dairy Farm Monitor project is a collaboration with Dairy Australia to provide critical insight for industry into how the sector is tracking.

The annual report is a comprehensive financial and production analysis of 80 Victorian dairy farm businesses in south-western Victoria, Gippsland and northern Victoria.

The quality benchmarking data in the report gives Victorian dairy farmers the ability to make comparisons and identify areas they could change to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their businesses.

While average dairy farm profits were up across most of the state, dairy farmers in Victoria’s north posted the best results, taking advantage of favourable seasonal conditions to record the highest profits this region has seen for 15 years.

Since the last report, farm cashflows have increased from the previous year, with 94 per cent of farms recording a positive return.

This financial rebound has enabled farmers to invest back into their businesses by repairing and upgrading infrastructure and machinery and improving pastures.

Victoria is a leading contributor to Australia’s dairy industry, accounting for 77 per cent of Australia's dairy exports valued at $2.1 billion.

The gross value of milk produced in Victoria is worth $2.7 billion (2018-19). The sector supports almost 10,000 jobs with more than half of these workers located in regional Victoria.

The 2020-21 Dairy Farm Monitor report is now available on the Agriculture Victoria website.

23 September 2021, Issue 6

The 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.

In this edition:

• Recent SMM observations
• Speedo assessments
• Speedo soil moisture graphs for the Mallee, Wimmera, North Central, North East, Gippsland cropping and South West

Read the full results from this edition of the soil moisture monitoring project online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

The Victorian Government is investing in more accommodation for farm workers, with new facilities being built across the state.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited Boort Lakes Holiday Park in the state’s north to meet owner Wendy James and unveil new facilities for seasonal workers, which will boost accommodation for the region’s workforce for the upcoming harvest and for years to come.

Boort Lakes Holiday Park received $500,000 to build 16 new cabins and six ensuites for existing caravan sites, providing accommodation for up to 77 workers to support the region’s agriculture industry.

The development is part of the Government’s Seasonal Workforce Accommodation Program (SWAP), which is providing financial support for 13 regional projects to deliver COVIDSafe accommodation, transport and support services for up to 2,000 seasonal horticultural workers.

Nearby, Boundary Bend Olives received $62,000 to build 12 new caravan sites with toilet and shower facilities for its temporary on-farm caravan park, which workers benefitted from during this year’s olive harvest.

In the broader region, Mildura City Backpackers received $45,000 to create COVIDSafe kitchen facilities, doubling its worker accommodation. Nyah Village Caravan Park received a $109,000 grant to build five units for up to 12 workers.

Building on both projects is complete and workers have started using the new facilities.

These projects are part of the Victorian Government’s $84 million package to support the Victorian agriculture industry as it continues to address seasonal workforce challenges, which has already increased accommodation facilities at 80 businesses in farming regions across the state.

The Victorian Government is investing in a range of programs to boost accommodation in rural and regional areas and tackle barriers to regional workforce attraction, including projects in the $2.7 billion Building Works package.

Students, trainers and industry are being encouraged to have their say on the future of agriculture training, with consultation now open as part of a Victorian Government review that will strengthen the industry.

The Future of Agriculture Training in Victoria Review was launched in June to examine how the TAFE system can continue to meet the changing needs of Victoria’s growing agricultural industry.

The review is being led by Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, who has already undertaken preliminary discussions with TAFEs and industry across Victoria – and will deliver a final report to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney in December.

The review will ensure agriculture training remains innovative and relevant and help understand the factors involved in student choice – making sure TAFE and Learn Locals remain at the centre of agricultural training and exploring how best TAFE can meet the needs of employers and students well into the future.

The state’s thriving agriculture sector produces $15.9 billion worth of milk, fruit, vegetables, meat, fibre, eggs and grains each year – supporting a $41.5 billion processing industry.

The sector is especially important to regional Victoria and directly employs about 145,000 people, as well as supporting many more jobs across the supply chain, including in logistics, transport and advisory services.

The review is seeking feedback from industry, employers, students, those who influence student choice like parents and teachers, industry stakeholders, and TAFES, Learn Locals and other registered training organisations – with people encouraged to have their say at engage.vic.gov.au before Sunday, 31 October.

The review complements existing work by the Victorian Government in bolstering agricultural courses through the Free TAFE initiative.

This work will also support the rollout of the $50 million Agricultural College Modernisation Fund investment in the Victorian Budget 2020/21.

The government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.

The Victorian Government is supporting the mental health of farmers across the state, rolling out projects to build resilience in more than 25 local government areas.

Programs will be run from the Bass Coast to Buloke, from the Gippsland Lakes to the Grampians – and Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas was recently at Elmhurst Bush Nursing Centre in western Victoria to see the benefits of the initiative.

The Resilient Farming Communities Project is a two-year joint Agriculture Victoria and Department of Health initiative to support farmers, farming families and communities to better manage stress and improve their health.

Eleven councils, Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) and private organisations will share in $2.9 million to deliver programs that will increase awareness of mental health treatment options and care and support services, and enhance social connectedness through community events and training.

Initiatives include outreach services, on-farm health workshops, wellbeing plans for rural communities, the delivery of resilience programs in secondary schools, and mental health first aid training.

The Grampians Pyrenees PCP has received funding for The Resourceful Farmers’ Project, which is being delivered in partnership with local community organisations including Elmhurst Bush Nursing Centre to build resilience through mental health training, pop-up clinics and events which foster social connections.

Grant recipients are working closely with their communities to co-develop programs that will cater to the needs of farmers.

The Resilient Farming Communities Project is part of the $20 million Smarter Safer Farms program, ensuring Victorian agriculture is safer, more efficient and resilient.

The Victorian Government is building the agriculture sector’s reputation for workplace excellence through improved health, safety and wellbeing initiatives.

Go online for more information agriculture.vic.gov.au through the Agriculture Victoria website.

The Victorian Government is backing innovators across the state to support the development and adoption of new technology that can help improve farm productivity and grow our agriculture industries.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas has launched the $2.2 million Victorian AgTech Entrepreneurs Initiative, a partnership between Agriculture Victoria and the state’s startup agency LaunchVic.

The Victorian AgTech Entrepreneurs Initiative is set to boost the number of startups across the state and enhance the entrepreneurial culture and capability in the agriculture sector.

The government is investing in AgTech to revolutionise farming and drive significant productivity gains that will position the state as a world leader in digital agriculture.  

This initiative will provide eligible organisations with grants of up to $600,000 to run pre-accelerator programs which provide support for early-stage startup founders who need help developing their product, honing their business model and connecting with investors.

Victoria’s AgTech sector will be further strengthened by a series of regional events to connect industry, farmers, researchers and aspiring founders at each of Agriculture Victoria’s regional SmartFarms.

The initiative is part of the $15 million AgTech Regional Innovation Network funded through the Victorian Government’s 10-year Agriculture Strategy and will deliver on the commitment to modernise Victorian agriculture by boosting investment, innovation and future skills.

It will also support broader government programs including the Victorian Startup Capital Fund, which works to enhance Victoria’s venture capital sector, stimulate jobs and boost innovation.

Eligible organisations with the capability to run a Victorian AgTech pre-accelerator program are encouraged to apply now for this initiative.

Applications close on 27 October 2021.

For more information or to apply, visit launchvic.org/agtech.

The Victorian Government is calling on young farmers to take their careers to the next level, with expressions of interest open for the 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program.

Eight positions are available in the 2022 program which pairs young farmers with experienced farmers in a mentorship, overseen by a skilled farm business consultant.

The program is open to farmers aged 18 to 35 years to develop the skills they need to better manage their farm businesses, identify risks and develop strategies to build resilience and achieve their business goals.

During the 12-month program the mentor and mentee will meet regularly to assist the young farmer in building professional networks, utilising trusted sources of advice and information, and setting business goals.

Program participants are matched to ensure the mentor’s experience aligns with the mentee’s enterprise and personal development goals.

The Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program is funded by the government’s $20 million Smarter, Safer Farms initiative, which includes targeted training support to build capability in financial literacy, risk management, farm planning and adaption to climate change.

Expressions of interest for mentees for the 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program are now open.

For more information and to apply visit vic.gov.au/youngfarmers.

New on-farm accommodation plan to boost workforce

Farmers across Victoria can now invest in worker accommodation on their farms without the need for a planning permit, under a new streamlined planning approval process adopted by the Victorian Government.

Greater transparency in Victoria's water markets

The Victorian Government is improving transparency and compliance, to make sure our irrigation water is being used fairly and in line with the rules.

On-the-ground support for Victoria's border communities

The Victorian Government will deploy a team of locally based ‘Border Brokers’ to support industries and businesses impacted by restrictions on Victoria’s borders with New South Wales and South Australia.

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.

Share the profits, some of the risk, but none of the capital outlay.  Sounds like a great deal?   It's a farming arrangement called share farming and may be an alternative pathway into the industry for future farmers?

Gippsland dairy farmer Hans van Wees has been share farming near Maffra for 15 years and recently joined the AgVic Talk studio to discuss how having a realistic budget along with realistic ambitions provides for a very reliable income if you approach it in a pragmatic and professional way. 

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

For young farmers and those new to running a business, deciding to employ staff is a big step.

In the latest AgVic Talk podcast we hear from young farmer Samantha Mitchell (pictured right with dad John) who – with the support of her mentor Andrew Bell – is working towards hiring her first on-farm employee.

Samantha and Andrew are part of the Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program designed to support and build confidence in young farmers as they learn the ropes.

Hear Andrew reflect on why his 40-year working relationship with his employee has been so successful and how his experience has helped Samantha.

Search for AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts or listen 🎧 online via the AgVic website agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

In episode eight Tamara always wanted to be a farmer and growing up in Melbourne hasn’t stopped her.

In this episode the former city slicker explains why you don't have to come from a family farm to make your dreams come true.

Listen to Tamara tell her story by searching for 'AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listen 🎧 online via the AgVic website agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

In episode seven early succession planning and earning off-farm income have been important for young farmers Emma Hawker and Tristan Schilling as they establish themselves and their farming businesses.

Listen to Emma and Tristan tell their story of starting from scratch by searching for 'AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listening in 🎧 online via the Agriculture Victoria website  agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk 

In episode six third generation farmer,  egg producer and VFF Vice President, Danyel Cucinotta, talks about managing farm safety and building a great work culture on her family farm.

Ensuring everyone goes home safely at night is something she is passionate about on her own farm and beyond her farm gate.

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

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

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: Glossary of Terms

Business management terminology can often be confusing and difficult to wrap your head around.

This Glossary of Terms resource contains helpful definitions for common terms that you will come across when running a farm business.

This course is designed to be something that you can come back to any time you need a refresher.

Take a scroll through the glossary to get yourself familiar with some of the key financial terms you might come across in farm business management.

Make sure to check out what Glossie the Kelpie has to say about overhead and variable costs.

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 2021.

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

Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty resumed in the majority of regional Victoria on 14 September 2021.

If you are attending a collection centre, you must comply with COVIDSafe principles including using the QR code to check-in, physical distancing, good hygiene practices and wearing a face mask indoors and outdoors (unless you have a lawful reason not to).

Please continue to check the Victorian fox and wild dog bounty webpage on the Agriculture Victoria website for the latest information, as the collection schedule is subject to change in response to the COVID-19 situation.

Bendigo collections

Address: Cnr Midland Hwy and Taylor St, Epsom
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Dates:
Monday, 25 October 

Ouyen collections

Address: Gregory St Ouyen
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 2 to 4 pm

Dates:
Tuesday, 26 October 

St Arnaud collections

Address: 4 Montague St, St Arnaud
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Dates:
Thursday, 28 October 

Swan Hill collections

Address: 7 Quin Drv, Swan Hill
Collection type: Fox only
Time: 8.30 to 10.30 am

Dates:
Tuesday, 26 October 

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 4 October, 7 – 8 pm

Join the Victorian Farmers Federation and Agriculture Victoria for a webinar for livestock businesses on managing CovidSafe practices for the upcoming shearing season.

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.

Online Format and Registration essential via Zoom.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jacinta Pretty on 0455 075 010 or jpretty@vff.org.au

The National Centre for Farmer Health are excited that the innovative and exciting new chat-based platform ‘Campfire’ has now been up and running for 3 months.

During this time we have engaged with over 100 registered participants across a wide range of agricultural industries in Victoria, and reaching many more primary producers through our blogs, podcasts and social media messaging.

Campfire brings farmers together in a relaxed environment where people with shared interests can get together, listen to experts and peers, ask questions and pose solutions.

It helps farmers to improve their systems of work in order to better manage the demands and challenges of primary production, and to develop mentally healthy workplaces for farm owners, managers, workers and their families.

Bonfire events have attracted the most participation so far. These are held fortnightly on the Campfire platform on Wednesday evenings (from 7.30 pm) where farmers can hear from topic experts and participate in live Q&A.

The audience will soon be able to submit questions ahead of time, to be answered by our experts on the night.

Keep your eye on the NCFH Facebook and Instagram pages about how to lodge your questions in advance or visit the Campfire page to leave your questions.

On alternate Wednesday evenings, farmers can join smaller Campfire Q&A discussions on work-related challenges relevant to them, including the topic of the previous week’s Bonfire.

The Farmer Health Campfire webpage is home to resources developed around the topics tackled so far, including podcasts, blogs and the link to access the Campfire platform.

You can view past Bonfire conversations at any time, with current content covering:

• Working effectively in a family business
• Making your business more resilient to environmental extremes
• Strengthening your support team: farming safety consultants
• Strengthening Your Support Team - AgriSafe
• New to Farming: Learning from Experience
• Communication: it's more than words
• Planning for Success(ion)
• Strengthening Your Support Team – Rural Financial Counselling Service

Register today to join the conversation, receive information about upcoming events and access topic blogs and podcasts by clicking here. 

Upcoming Bonfire Topics:

• 6 October - Seasonal/contract labour – it works both ways
• 20 October - Strengthening your support team – working dog training school

The Mallee Corner Post - a series of 30-minute informal discussion sessions – will be held via phone and/or Zoom, in the morning or evening, to support farmers in the Mallee with information and advice.

Sessions will run on the second Tuesday of each month:

• 12 October, 9.30 am and 7.30 pm: Ram health prior to joining, Dr Jeff Cave
• 9 November, 9.30 am and 7.30 pm: Managing fire risks during harvest, Darryl Pearl
• 14 December, 9.30 am and 7.30 pm: Open forum.

Farmers can decide when they would like to participate in a session, morning or evening, to discuss any questions they may have about livestock, grazing or land health.

The sessions will run in the morning at 9.30 am, and evening at 7.30 pm, on the second Tuesday of each month.

To phone-in call: 03 7018 2005 (Conference ID: 881 6482 5993, Passcode: 206886)

Call in on 03 7018 2005 (Conference Meeting ID 881 6482 5993, Meeting Password 206886).

Go online to join by Zoom

Reliable, science-based information and specialist tools to help farmers manage livestock nutrition are also available through the Feeding Livestock website.

If you’d like to talk to someone about The Mallee Corner Post sessions, you can contact Erica Schelfhorst at erica.schelfhorst@agriculture.vic.gov.au or Darryl Pearl on 0417 432 711 or darryl.pearl@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

With increasing interest in carbon abatement in agriculture, the CSIRO has developed a landscape options and opportunities for carbon abatement calculator.

In this webinar, LOOC-C team member Dr Stephen Roxburgh will provide an introduction to this tool and explain some of the background to it.

LOOC-C estimates carbon abatement via an emission factor database, giving producers information to assess potential changes to carbon by undertaking various tree or soil carbon activities on their land.

By visiting https://looc-c.farm/ you can use the map interface to select a potential project area and help start the conversation of carbon abatement options for your farm business.

Webinar presenter Dr Stephen Roxburgh is the LOOC-C program leader for the CSIRO.

Stephen is a recognised leader in terrestrial plant ecology and greenhouse gas accounting, with over 20 years' experience in the field measurement and computer modelling of forest growth and carbon cycling. He currently leads the Natural Capital group within CSIRO.

Webinar, Tuesday 12 October, 12 pm (1 hour)

Register online via Zoom.

This field day is being held at the new Southern Pulse Agronomy hub site north of Nhill.

The field day will cover:

• the latest lentil, chickpea, field pea, faba bean and vetch varieties and agronomy
• new varieties available for sowing in 2022
• herbicide tolerance
• row spacing
• disease management

Researchers, industry agronomists and grain marketers will be in attendance to answer your questions.

Tuesday 12 October 9 am - 1 pm

Location: 1.2km west of the junction of Propodollah and Propodollah Ext Rd, Nhill Vic 3418

Contact the event organiser via trybooking.com.

HARVESTER FORUMS

To support growers in their efforts to reduce harvest losses and improve operations at harvest time, Birchip Cropping Group with funding from GRDC, are holding a series of Harvester Forums:

• Tutye - Monday 11 October, 9 am - 1 pm
• Kooloonong - Tuesday 12 October, 9 am - 1 pm
• Diggora - Wednesday 13 October, 9 am - 1.30 pm
• Birchip - Thursday 14 October, 9 am - 1 pm
• Kaniva - Friday 15 October, 9 am - 1 pm.

The face-to-face workshops will provide growers and advisors with hands on training in harvester set-up to minimise losses and get more grain in the bin.

The practical and interactive forums provide an opportunity for grower discussion on how harvest losses can be accurately measured and how to identify where losses are occurring.

The forums also have a key focus on options for harvest weed seed control and how to get the best benefit for hard to control weeds whilst maintaining efficiency of operations, as well as minimising risks of harvester fires.

The project is being led by Primary Sales, with project management support from BCG, and will be delivered nationally with forums and workshops held across the southern, northern and western grain growing regions.

Contact Tom Draffen on 0418 304 695 or tom.draffen@bcg.org.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.

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