Can your harvest contractor answer five simple questions?

Improve your nursery irrigation with water workshop

Profitable Stonefruit Network

Call out to Millewa and Carwarp farmers

Advice available on minimising canola losses

Radar rises at Rainbow

Livestock transporter pleads guilty to animal cruelty

Preventing flystrike in sheep

The Very Fast Break

Livestock emissions and carbon neutrality - what is the pathway and how far off are we?

The recent IPCC report on climate change and land and the implications for Australian agriculture

Rural women connecting over a cuppa

Young Farmer Business Network group on Facebook

Look Over the Farm Gate funding

Agricultural Health and Medicine course

Fox bounty collection continues

Did you hear? Quad bike rebate extended

Planning support for small-scale pig and poultry producers

What's On

Save the dates

There are five simple questions that you should ask your contractor before they drive onto your paddocks this harvest which can stop the spread of diseases, pests and weeds.

The movement of equipment and personnel during the harvest period can transfer soil and plant matter between properties if equipment is not cleaned properly when exiting and entering each property.

Vectors can be readily spread on soil and plant matter found on contaminated vehicles, machinery and grain handling equipment.

“Harvest contractors provide valuable services and are very professional in the way they go about their business,” Agriculture Victoria Grains Biosecurity Officer Jim Moran (pictured above) said.

“However farmers must be aware of the biosecurity risks posed by the movement of equipment and personnel from farm to farm, and must mitigate those risks with diligent investigation and action,” he said.

“With these five simple questions, you can identify potential issues and help put a plan in place to manage the risks.”

Where did you last harvest?

Knowing where the contractor last worked can help you identify and manage any biosecurity risks to your property.

Certain issues and risks may be known to occur in one area but may be absent on your property.

Contractor paperwork that documents their movements such as arrivals, departures and clean-down times, is valuable information in preventing the spread of pests onto your property.

Did the last property you visited have any hard-to-kill or herbicide-resistant weeds?

Ask if the contractor noticed any specific threats present on the previous property, such as any hard-to-kill or herbicide-resistant weeds, outbreaks of disease, or insect damage.

By asking what the potential risks are, you can insist on a thorough clean before commencing operations on your property. It will also alert you to look out for anything unusual appearing in your paddocks if something gets through.

Vigilant surveillance of paddocks will support efforts for quick and determined eradication of any new pest, disease or weed.

What was the last crop that you harvested?

If the contractor was harvesting the same crop type, or a crop similar to yours, they could be accidentally carrying pests into your crop on their vehicles and equipment.

Alternatively, if they were harvesting a different crop, you don’t want other grain types to contaminate your harvest.

When, how and where did you clean down?

Once you have ascertained what the potential problems might be, it is also important to check what disinfestation has been undertaken to remove all plant and soil residues from the previous property.

Insist that your contractor cleans their vehicle and equipment before they arrive on your property.

Soil and plant material can carry weed seeds and pests when left on tyres, radiator grills, wheel arches, floor mats and work boots.

Make sure you check any machinery or vehicles that are going to be working on your farm upon arrival, and remember that if you are not satisfied with their cleanliness, you can direct the contractor to your vehicle clean-down station, or another designated area, where clean-down can be performed and monitored.

Did you use a desiccant dust to eliminate stored grain pests?

Even a small amount of grain residue left behind in equipment between harvests can allow insects to breed and go on to infest freshly harvested grain. 

As it is difficult and time consuming to remove all grain residue from harvest equipment without a major overhaul, it is recommended to run a diatomaceous earth or other chemical structural treatment through the harvester and grain handling equipment.

Stay informed

For more farm biosecurity information, free biosecurity gate signs, and farm biosecurity booklets, please contact Jim Moran at Agriculture Victoria on (03) 5430 4479.

Please remember to ‘Look. Be alert’ and call an expert at the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 if you see anything suspicious. 

Please also visit www.farmbiosecurity.com.au and www.agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Agriculture Victoria is offering a two-day workshop for nursery irrigators who are looking to receive the latest information on nursery irrigation management.

Normally valued at over $500, Agriculture Victoria is providing this workshop free to Mallee irrigators.

Presenters are Agriculture Victoria Irrigation Manager (Mallee) Jeremy Giddings (pictured above) and Bill Yiasoumi, nursery irrigation consultant.

Mr Giddings said the WATERWORK workshop had been run for many years throughout Australia helping the nursery industry meet its environmental guidelines for waste water.

“Most nurseries can save large quantities of water and nutrients by lowering their system application rates and improving their evenness,” he said.

Mr Giddings said nursery managers doing the workshop had reported better plant quality with faster and more even growth and significant water savings.

“The outcomes are a win for the nursery and the environment,” he said.

The WATERWORK workshop is a combination of lectures, practical exercises and classroom exercises, conducted over two days.

The participants are introduced to three important measurements that can help them evaluate their irrigation system: Mean Application Rate — MAR, Coefficient of Uniformity — Cu % and Scheduling Coefficient — Sc.

The workshop will take place on Wednesday 13 November 9 am – 4 pm and Thursday 14 November 9 am – 3 pm at SuniTAFE Farm, 161 Dairtnunk Avenue, Irymple.

Day 1 - Overhead sprinklers, mobile booms, hand watering. Practical Session: Evaluating sprinkler performance • drip irrigation • bottom watering systems • operating and scheduling irrigation systems • irrigation system audit • irrigation system design

Day 2 - Water supply and irrigation requirements • water treatment (includes water testing) • water disinfestation, drainage and recycling, site assessment for drainage • drainage system design • dealing with drainage water • review and wrap-up

To register contact Jeremy Giddings on telephone (03) 5051 4566 or email jeremy.giddings@agriculture.vic.gov.au before 8 November.

Check out what's new on the Profitable Stonefruit Network.

Update on the canopy crop-load experiments

Plum Angeleno: Tatura trellis versus vase

Apricot Golen May: Tatura trellis versus vase

Virtual Orchard Tour: a look at tree structures of Palmette and Cordon

(and in case you missed it!) Stonefruit Research Roadshow 2019 wrap

**LINK HERE** http://www.hin.com.au/networks/profitable-stonefruit-research#tab__177176

Agriculture Victoria is seeking your interest in working with us to run on-farm discussion groups over the next few months.

The department is wanting to know which topics and expert advice you want to hear about to help you manage the current dry seasonal conditions.

If you want to find out more or register your interest call 1800 318 115.

Some canola growers reported boosting their profits by more than $50,000 in 2018 simply by regularly adjusting harvester settings after measuring canola losses from the back of their harvesters.

A new Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) fact sheet outlines the experiences of these growers and contains information about how to improve profits by setting up harvesters correctly, in order to minimise canola falling to the ground.

Planfarm consultant Peter Newman led a GRDC project last harvest aimed at addressing the issue of canola losses from the rear of harvesters and results from his work are contained in this publication.

“An estimated $191 million of canola is lost in this way nationally every year – based on average losses of 150 kilograms per hectare or $75/ha across approximately 2.5 million hectares of this high value crop grown across Australia every year,” he said.

“This estimate is based on measurements made by Western Australian canola growers and is consistent with what has been found in western Canada where canola harvest losses have been measured extensively.

“WA growers involved with the canola losses project were unaware they were losing grain until they measured actual losses using commercially available drop trays,” he said.

“They were then encouraged to adjust their harvester settings and share their findings and dollars saved using the Twitter handle @harvestloss.”

Mr Newman said one setting at a time should be changed and actual losses measured again after each adjustment to assess impact.

“Harvester settings that influence canola loss include the rotor speed, the gap between the rotor and the concave (separator), the cleaning fan speed, the openings of the upper sieve and the openings of the lower sieve,” he said.

“It’s advisable to measure actual canola losses once or twice a day during harvest, given changing conditions, and to involve the harvester drivers who can pride themselves on aiming to hit the ‘sweet spot’.”

Mr Newman said all harvesters were capable of achieving minimal losses with the right set up and settings, and the aim was not to produce the lowest losses per hectare, but the lowest cost of harvesting per tonne of grain.

“The ideal is to find the optimum point at which harvest efficiency is high and losses are low – the sweet spot,” he said.

The project focussed on canola losses from the rear of the harvester and did not consider front losses.

To download the GRDC Harvest Losses Fact Sheet, go to https://grdc.com.au/time-to-halve-canola-harvest-losses.

Additional resources and information include a GRDC GroundCover™ article, a canola loss calculator and a video.

A new weather radar which promises to improve weather and rainfall forecasts for the Wimmera and Southern Mallee has taken a major step towards completion this week with the installation of the radar antenna and dome atop its 22-metre cylindrical tower.

Now standing 27 metres high, the radar – and its iconic ‘golf ball’ dome - is an impressive sight rising from undulating grain paddocks just outside of Rainbow.

Bureau of Meteorology Project Manager Paul Martin, said the installation of the radar antenna and dome was an exciting and very important milestone in the Rainbow Radar project.

“The tower itself weighs a hefty 32 tonnes and was erected using two cranes,” he said.

“The ‘golf ball’ dome now adds an extra five metres to the height to the structure and will be accessible to the Bureau’s technicians via a spiral staircase located inside of the tower.”

When complete, the radar – which is being built by Agriculture Victoria and operated by the Bureau of Meteorology – will deliver real-time weather information, including rainfall forecasts to communities across the Wimmera and Southern Mallee regions.

Agriculture Victoria Export Development and Investment Strategy Director Melinda Knapp, who leads the Rainbow Weather Radar Steering Committee, said the project is on track to be operational by April 2020.

“We anticipate great benefits to the local community through the improvement of real-time weather information,” she said. 

“This is particularly important to the region’s farmers who will soon have better access to the weather and rainfall information they need to make important time-critical farming decisions about harvesting, tillage and the use of chemicals and fertilisers.”

Mr Martin said the installation of the radar itself and the testing of the equipment will take some time, but getting the tower, antenna and dome completed shows great progress is being made.

The construction of the radar site has been undertaken by Premier Building & Construction with the tower built and installed by Macmahon.

The $9.3 million Rainbow Radar project is being supported by the Victorian Government and the Federal Government, through the Bureau of Meteorology, in partnership with the Wimmera Development Association and other key community partners.

A 51-year-old livestock transporter from Keith in South Australia has pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty and received a $5000 fine with conviction in the Horsham Magistrate’s Court.

The transporter faced the court last week in relation to animal cruelty charges for a consignment of sheep that he transported to an abattoir in western Victoria in May 2018.

During the journey a number of sheep went down in the truck and were unable to walk upon arrival at the destination.

At the destination, the transporter proceeded to throw a number of sheep from the top of the unloading ramp and back of the truck and they fell from an elevated height to the ground below.

The transporter then left live and dead sheep piled on the ground and failed to seek appropriate attention or treatment for the sheep that were still alive. 

Agriculture Victoria submitted to the court that the transporter, who was in charge of the animals during their journey, including their unloading at the abattoir, had a fundamental duty of care which he failed to exercise, resulting in further suffering to the already weakened animals.

The Magistrate said the seriousness of the offences led to imposing a conviction on the offender.

Agriculture Victoria Animal Health and Welfare Compliance Manager Daniel Bode said livestock transporters had a responsibility for the welfare of all animals under their care from the time they were loaded through to and including unloading.

“If you find livestock that are weak, ill or injured then they simply can’t travel. Any animals in distress must be handled humanely and never thrown or dropped during any stage of the transportation process,” he said.

“Seek assistance for any distressed animals the very first chance you get - and let the receiver know of any weak, ill or injured animals straight away.”

“This case is a reminder that livestock transporters must exercise their duty of care - and that the mistreatment of animals during transportation will not be tolerated by the court or the community.”

Report Animal Health and Welfare concerns to the Animal Health Officer at your local Agriculture Victoria office or call Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email aw.complaint@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

Rainfall during the spring and summer months can increase the risk of flystrike, which is a major sheep welfare problem.

All sheep owners must actively control flystrike. 

Continual wetting of fleeces without drying leads to skin damage and release of extra protein, which in turn encourages bacterial overgrowth, making the wet fleece even more attractive to flies.

Agriculture Victoria District Veterinarian Dr Elle Moyle said flystrike is a significant cause of production loss and welfare concerns in sheep.

Regular inspections of mobs are vital, and sheep producers should carefully watch for the presence of flies during warm and wet weather conditions.

The timely application of registered chemical treatments in conjunction with other preventative measures is essential to limiting the severity of flystrike.

“Sheep should be inspected at least every two days if preventative chemical has not been applied. If a long-acting preventative has been applied, regular, though less frequent, inspection is warranted to identify sheep struck,” Dr Moyle said.

Sheep owners should use multiple management techniques to prevent unnecessary suffering and losses that flystrike causes.

These management techniques include:

• Selective breeding – Buy stock selected to survive the flystrike risk on your property by sourcing from a similar environment as your farm. Apply proven selection methods to ensure that you only breed replacements from the most robust sheep. Within a relatively short period of time a robust, flystrike-resilient flock can be developed. 
• Shearing/crutching – Shearing or crutching at the appropriate time can reduce the risk of flystrike. 
• Chemical treatments – Application of long-acting preventative chemicals can have a significant impact on flystrike risk and should be applied before the flystrike season commences. 
• Breech modification – Performed correctly, breech modification can reduce flystrike risk. Dock tails to the ideal length (at the tip of the vulva in ewe lambs). Leaving tails at the recommended length means sheep can lift their tails to prevent accumulation of dags that trap moisture on skin. 

“Regular inspections of all sheep mobs enables prompt detection and treatment of any struck sheep.

This not only prevents any ongoing welfare issue, but also reduces the number of flies present to strike other sheep,” Dr Moyle said.

If affected sheep are observed lagging behind the flock and show irritation to an affected area on body that is usually darker than the rest of the wool, they should be removed from the mob.

Wool from the affected region should be removed and the affected region should be treated with a chemical registered for flystrike treatment and reapplied as directed on the product label.

Farmers may also wish to consider culling sheep as a strategy to produce a more flystrike-resistant flock.

For more information visit www.flyboss.com.au.

Simulation tools are available at FlyBoss that allow farmers to model the effect of management interventions on the flystrike risk in their flock.

Information can also be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au and further advice can be obtained by contacting your local vet or Agriculture Victoria District Veterinary Officer or Animal Health Officer.

This month’s episode of The Very Fast Break features large, slow-moving highs and a strange tropical adventure.

Join our intrepid Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey as he enters un-chartered climate model territory.

**WATCH HERE** https://bit.ly/2LSXkna

As usual, if you have comments, questions or feedback address them to Dale Grey at the.break@agriculture.vic.gov.au

When: 12 pm Thursday 18 October

Description:

The COP21 Paris Agreement not only established the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 2°C, but also set the goal of net zero emissions from 2050.

In response, we are now seeing some governments, sub-national jurisdictions and multinational agribusiness and supply chains setting similar targets.

Notably, Meat and Livestock Australia has set a target of carbon neutral red-meat production by 2030.

Some recent studies have shown that livestock production can be carbon neutral, albeit initially just using carbon offsets in soil and trees.

While some options are emerging to dramatically reduce livestock methane, significant research is still required to deliver profitable and sustained low emissions livestock production systems.

This webinar will talk about carbon neutral livestock production, what this means, how is it assessed, the possible options available and how far we are from the likely target.

Presenter: Prof. Richard Eckard

Richard Eckard is Professor and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre in the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, the University of Melbourne.

His research focuses on carbon farming and options for agriculture to respond to a changing climate.

He is a science advisor to the Australian, New Zealand and UK governments, and the UN FAO, on climate change adaptation, mitigation and carbon policy development in agriculture.

Richard leads a network within the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gasses and is a member of the Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture international science committee.

Richard has published over 145 peer reviewed papers, with 80 peer-reviewed papers, 7 book chapters, and 80 conference papers on climate change, carbon farming and agriculture since 2010.
 
Please register online in advance.

Event password:  Emissions2019

Event number: 570 991 127

The webinar will be recorded, so if you miss the live presentation you can watch it later at a time that suits you.

For more information about this webinar, contact Liz Hamilton, E: liz.hamilton@agriculture.vic.gov.au

To keep up to date on upcoming as well as previous climate risk related webinars, visit the Agriculture Victoria Weather and Climate webinar page: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/weather-and-climate/climate-webinars

Climate change is rapidly ramping up existing threats to global land resources, reducing the ability to feed people around the world.

In Australia, rivers are drying up, the natural resource base is under pressure and climate-related pressures are increasingly impacting on the conservation estate.

Agriculture is under pressure too as heatwaves become increasingly frequent and intense, farm animals are increasingly stressed and less productive, crops yields are shrinking and crops are failing more regularly whilst rural communities are suffering.

At the same time, the land sector is currently making climate change worse, even as it can offer some of the solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

This is because the global food system produces about 29 per cent of the world’s total GHG emissions. Australian numbers are similar. But at the same time the land absorbs about 22 per cent of global GHG emissions via natural processes.

With the right management, we can reduce the land sector’s GHG emissions and increase the land’s carbon sinks.

If left unchecked, the current situation threatens to increase global warming, and leave the world hungry and with an increasingly degraded natural resource base.

One of the key findings of the report is that there is no way we can limit global warming in line with the Paris Climate Agreement without actively managing our land sector GHG emissions.

But even if we do everything right, the land sector alone cannot solve climate change. Reducing fossil fuel emissions remains absolutely vital.

Professor Mark Howden is Director of the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University.

Mark is also an Honorary Professor at Melbourne University, a Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a member of the Australian National Climate Science Advisory Committee.

He was on the US Federal Advisory Committee for the 3rd National Climate Assessment and contributes to several major national and international science and policy advisory bodies.
 
Recording link:

https://ecodev-events.webex.com/ecodev-events/lsr.php?RCID=97e756e340b17b87928767720ff89c49

Event password:  Ipcc2019

To keep up to date on upcoming as well as previous climate risk related webinars, visit the Agriculture Victoria Weather and Climate webinar page: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/weather-and-climate/climate-webinars

“For Victorian women living in rural areas, strong connections are vital to professional success and personal wellbeing.”

“Whether you’re a working woman, a young farmer, a community advocate, or a stay-at-home mum, you need a community – which is exactly what Country Cuppas provides,” Ms Glover said.

“Country cuppas is an opportunity to gather new friends and old and I strongly encourage all women in rural areas to host a casual Country Cuppa, in whatever way suits them best, to celebrate the International Day of Rural Women.”

Country Cuppas gatherings can take place at any home or venue across Victoria, on Tuesday 15 October or the weekend prior, to coincide with the International Day of Rural Women.

Registered hosts will receive an event pack from the Victorian Rural Women’s Network with support materials, including promotional resources, tips and tricks for how to host a successful event and Victorian Rural Women’s Network mugs.

The Victorian Rural Wo men’s Network (VRWN) is a supportive and inclusive group of rural and regional Victorian women who connect, share skills and ideas and empower each other to step up, lead and succeed.

To get involved in Country Cuppas, you can register to host your event at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/country-cuppas-regional-gatherings-connecting-rural-women-registration-70583066853.

For more information about the International Day of Rural Women, visit the Victorian Rural Women’s Network website https://extensionaus.com.au/VRWNetwork/home or email vrwnetwork@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

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.

Loddon Mallee farmers and communities facing drought and dry conditions can apply for funding under the Look Over the Farm Gate Program.

Look Over the Farm Gate events let farmers take a break from the farm, reconnect, access professional support and participate in mental health training.

The program encourages community groups to think creatively about what single event or series of events would be most effective.

It could be anything from a barbeque and comedy night, regular fitness meet-ups in the park, or a family movie night.

Look Over the Farm Gate is a mental health and wellbeing initiative funded by the Victorian State Government.

It's managed by the VFF in partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Country Women’s Association, the Country Fire Authority, and The National Centre for Farmer Health.

For more information about eligibility and how to apply, visit the website.

The first core unit of the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine is HMF701 (Agricultural Health and Medicine) which will be starting again in February 2020.

Scholarships are now available with applications closing 20 October 2019.

For more information and the course requirements go to this link http://www.deakin.edu.au/course/graduate-certificate-agricultural-health-and-medicine

Both medical/allied health professionals and agricultural/rural professionals are encouraged to take part in this course as it is highly multidisciplinary.

The HMF701 unit itself covers a broad range of topics, from zoonoses, farm safety and respiratory health, to mental health, addiction and cancer in rural areas.

The unit involves a five-day intensive at the Hamilton Base Hospital in Victoria and is run through Deakin University. 

It is the only one of its kind in Australia and will be commence the week of 24 – 28 February 2020, with the remainder of the course completed online via the Deakin online learning platform.

For more information about the unit or the scholarships, please contact Dr Jacquie Cotton on 03 5551 8585.

The State Government has extended the quad bike rebate by nine months to help Victorian farmers improve safety on their properties.

For the first time farmers with other businesses, who do not operate properties as their primary source of income, will also have access to the rebate following a change to the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

Small operators will now have access to the $600 rebate to fit rollover protection to their vehicles, or the $1200 rebate to purchase a more suitable option, such as a side-by-side vehicle.

There is about $1.4 million remaining in the rebate scheme, with eligible farmers able to lodge a claim until June 30 2020.

Provides Victorian small-scale pig and poultry producers with funding of up to $3,000 to help them with the costs related to obtaining a land use planning permit.

Who can apply:

At a minimum, you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be seeking a land use planning permit for an existing or proposed small-scale pig or poultry farm located in Victoria
• complete a small-scale pig and poultry planning workshop prior to applying for the grant program

Other eligibility requirements may apply.

Deadline to apply: Applications close: 31 May 2020

Applications will remain open until 31 May 2020, or when the funding allocation is expended, whichever occurs first.

Contact information: 13 61 86, psai@ecodev.vic.gov.au

APPLY HERE: Planning Support Program for Small-Scale Pig and Poultry Producers VIC

Agriculture Victoria will cancel workshops on Code Red fire danger days

Grazing Management  – balancing the needs of pasture and livestock

DATE: Tuesday 15 October

TIME: 9 am – 3 pm (catering provided)

VENUE: Seymour DELWP, 15 Hume and Hovell Road, Seymour

Agriculture Victoria invites farming families to a grazing strategy workshop conducted by Lisa Warn from Lisa Warn Ag Consulting.

Guest presenter: Lisa is an agricultural consultant and researcher with a long history of working in the grazing industries.

Lisa provides a whole farm consultancy service to sheep and beef producers, is a coordinator of BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef groups and delivers

Grazing Management and Lifetime Ewe Management courses.

She is well known for her research in evaluating grazing systems and pasture persistence, as well as identifying soil constraints to pasture growth.

Content:

• The principles of grazing management and balancing the needs of pasture and livestock.
• Manipulating pasture composition with grazing
• Designing grazing systems to suit you and your farm
• Management of species relevant to the Seymour region

Please bring: A sample of good and bad pasture from your property for discussion

Catering: Will be provided - please advise of any dietary requirements

To register for this workshop and other Agriculture Victoria events, visit agriculturevictoriaevents.eventbrite.com.au

If you have any problems registering online, or unable to attend after registering - please contact Livestock Extension Officer, Greg Bekker on 0417 340 236 or greg.bekker@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions assistance and upcoming workshops visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

3rd Australian Pulse Conference, 16 and 17 October

Please join us on what will be an exciting journey into pulse research and development – linking cutting edge technological research to improved profitability for growers and providing healthy options for human consumption – Taste and Technology.

To register or view the program.

Bendigo Agricultural Show – 26 October

Agriculture Victoria Goat Health Veterinary Officer, Dr Berwyn Squire, will host an information stand at the upcoming Bendigo Agricultural Show.

Goat producers are warmly invited to discuss any issues or concerns with Dr Squire who will also have all the latest Property Identification Code information and application forms.

For more show details - https://bendigoshow.org.au/

Building Climate Resilience event in Birchip

Cut through the noise and hear the latest on climate, gain tools for adapting to the changes, and explore business opportunities to help our local communities thrive at ‘Building Climate Resilience’ on Tuesday 29 October at the Birchip Town Hall.

Open to farmers, the local community and small business, the event aims to raise awareness of the key risks from climate change, including physical, policy and people, and to allow the discussion of adaptation strategies that attendees can take away and implement. 

The day features two keynote speakers; Gabrielle Chan from The Guardian Australia, and Mark Howden from Australian National University.

They will be joined by speakers covering a range of topics including broader science and business implications, regional examples of diversification and risk management and local speakers sharing their own experiences. 

This free, full-day event (7.30 am - 5 pm) is on Tuesday 29 October in Birchip, with catering provided.

A follow on from the Building Climate Resilience event is a Community Leadership Workshop at the Birchip Cropping Group boardroom on Wednesday 30 October.  

For more information on this event, visit www.bcg.org.au/events or to register here.

In a Nutshell – 5th Australian Almond Research & Development Forum and Field Day

30 - 31 October, Loxton (South Australia)

Australian almond industry partners and collaborating researchers will again take part in the R&D Forum and Field Day to present the latest updates on almond projects.

This event will include presentations by respected Australian researchers and experts on both days.

Speakers will address issues, technology advancements, technical information and scientific research outcomes.

This year we will continue the Field Day held on Thursday, at the Almond Centre of Excellence Experimental Orchard in Loxton, South Australia.

On Thursday the Field Day will involve speakers, machinery and equipment exhibition, machinery demonstration opportunities as well as networking with growers and industry in a casual, relaxed setting.

Read the preliminary program here.

Traceability & NLIS Database Management - Producer Workshop

Location: Kyabram Fauna Park, 75 Lake Road, Kyabram, VIC 3620

When: 31 October, 9.30 am - 3 pm

Agriculture Victoria is conducting this practical workshop to assist producers to use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database to complete transactions, including Property to Property (P2P) transfers.

This session is relevant to cattle, sheep and goat producers.

All sheep and goats and cattle tagged with an EID NLIS tag must be transferred on the NLIS database when they are moved between two different Victorian Property Identification Codes (PICs).

These practical hands-on sessions will walk producers through setting up and using the NLIS database.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• Setting up, navigating and using the NLIS database - practical exercise (computers will be provided on the day or you can bring along your own laptop)
• Management of livestock movements onto your property
• Property to Property (P2P) transfers on the NLIS database

Sessions will run for about five and a half hours, with a light meal and refreshments provided.

Numbers are limited to allow for a hands-on practical session.

If you have any problems with registering online please call 03 5761 1647.

Dried grape industry annual conference - Mildura

A date has been set for this year's Dried Fruits Australia Annual General Meeting and Grower Forum.

The half-day conference, which covers key issues affecting the dried grape industry, will be held on Thursday 31 October at Mildura Working Man's Club.

The members-only AGM will begin at 1 pm, and will be followed by the grower forum at 2 pm. The forum is open to anyone with an interest in the industry.

Four dried grape producer positions on the Dried Fruits Australia Board will be up for re-election at the AGM.

Current directors and new candidates will be able to apply.

Date and Time

Monday 11 November, 2019 from 8 pm

Monday 18 November from 9 pm

Agriculture Victoria is conducting this interactive two-part webinar to assist Victorian livestock producers to use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database to complete transactions, including Property to Property (P2P) transfers.

This two-part webinar is relevant to cattle, sheep and goat producers.

All sheep and goats and cattle tagged with an EID NLIS tag must be transferred on the NLIS database when they are moved between two different Victorian Property Identification Codes (PICs).

This interactive two-part webinar will walk producers through setting up and using the NLIS database.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• Setting up, navigating and using the NLIS database
• Management of livestock movements onto your property
• Property to Property (P2P) transfers on the NLIS database

This is a two-part webinar, delivered 8 - 9pm Monday 11 November and 8 - 9 pm Monday 18 November.

You must attend both parts to participate.

Numbers are limited to allow for an interactive session.

If you have any problems with registering online please call 03 5761 1647.

Wednesday 13 November - 9 am – 4 pm
Thursday 14 November – 9 am – 3 pm

SuniTAFE FARM – 161 DAIRTNUNK AVENUE CARDROSS

Agriculture Victoria is offering a two-day workshop for nursery irrigators who are looking to receive the latest information on nursery irrigation management.

Normally valued at over $500, Agriculture Victoria is providing this workshop free to Mallee irrigators.

Presenters are Jeremy Giddings, Agriculture Victoria and Bill Yiasoumi, nursery irrigation consultant.

WATERWORK PROGRAM

Day 1 

Irrigation Systems

• Overhead sprinklers, mobile booms, hand watering • Practical Session: Evaluating sprinkler performance • Drip Irrigation • Bottom Watering Systems • Operating & Scheduling Irrigation Systems • Irrigation System Audit • Irrigation System Design

Day 2  

Water Supply & Treatment

• Water Supply & Irrigation Requirements • Water Treatment (includes water testing) • Water Disinfestation

Drainage & Recycling

• Site assessment for drainage • Drainage system design • Dealing with drainage water • Review and Wrap-up

REGISTER WITH: 
Jeremy Giddings, Agriculture Victoria Telephone: (03) 5051 4566 Email: jeremy.giddings@agriculture.vic.gov.au 

RSVP: Friday 8 November

Numbers strictly limited.

A series of free-of-charge grain storage webinars from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will provide growers with convenient, timely and relevant information and advice about all aspects of storing grain on-farm.

One webinar will be held every month for the remainder of 2019 – each being 30 minutes and focused on different topics.

12 November – grain protectants
10 December – aeration cooling

For more information and to register, go to storedgrain.com.au/event/webinar-planning-storage or contact Amy Harwood via amy.harwood@bcg.org.au or 0456 979 561.

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