The final round of Smart Farms Small Grants is supporting outcomes under the National Soil Strategy. This includes assisting farmers to participate and benefit from the National Soil Monitoring and Incentives Pilot Program.

Organisations and individuals can now apply for grants to fund soil extension activities over a two-year timeframe.

The Australian Government has increased grant amounts to between $100,000 ($50,000 per year over two years) and $250,000 ($125,000 per year over two years). Multiple activities can be applied for in the one application, with applications not exceeding a total of $2 million.

Activities will aim to improve farmer use of soil data and help them to act on results with evidence-based smart farming practices. This will help improve soil management, leading to increased productivity and profitability.

Applications for Smart Farms Small Grants: Soil Extension Activities close at 9:00 pm AEDT, 12 October 2021. To find out more or to apply, visit the Community Grants Hub website.

The National Landcare Program is a key part of the Australian Government’s long-standing commitment to support natural resource management, biodiversity protection and sustainable agricultural practices. The National Landcare Program, funded through the Natural Heritage Trust, is an ongoing program with designated reviews ahead of establishing a new phase.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, will review Phase 2 by examining the effectiveness of the program against its intended outcomes.

More information came be on the National Landcare Program Phase 2 Review website.

Naracoorte Seeds are holding their highly anticipated biannual field day, showcasing over 50 varieties of pasture seed in a range of trials & demonstrations.

The field day will be held at the research farm (Riddoch Highway) on Thursday 28 October, starting at 1 pm and finishing with refreshments and a BBQ.

Guest speakers include:

• Nufarm - specialists in herbicides in chicory-based pastures
• Incitec Pivot Fertilisers - Market Forescast - Soil and plant fertility specialists

Please email Naracoorte Seeds on admin@naracoorteseeds.com.au by Friday 22 October, letting them know that you will be coming. 

A community meeting will be held in Robe from 5 pm - 8 pm on Thursday 7 October 2021. Invitations are extended to anyone interested in learning about investigations currently underway to determine the feasibility of restoring a hydrological regime which allows for shallow inundation of Lake Hawdon North for a longer period of time. It is anticipated that this will provide an increase in availability of food resources for migratory shorebirds prior to them embarking on their migration to the northern hemisphere to breed.

Any decision to proceed with the restoration of Lake Hawdon North will be subject to the outcome of the current feasibility investigation, community consultation and funding.

Anyone interested in attending can register via Eventbrite. For more information contact Tania Rajic at the Limestone Coast Landscape Board on 0418 448 053. 

Water licence holders in the Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area will be invited to learn about the key concepts underpinning proposed changes to the Padthaway Water Allocation Plan (WAP) and provide feedback at the upcoming consultation meetings in October.

There will also be the opportunity to book one-on-one sessions with a Limestone Coast Landscape Board staff member for licensees that require further clarification on particular issues.

An invitation to attend the consultation meeting will be communicated to all water licence holders by email or post.

Further information is available on the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website.

Licensees may also email the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s Senior Project Officer, Ryan Judd, or by phone on (08) 8735 1244.

In our region, bushfire is a real threat. Be sure to understand your bushfire risk so you can prepare your property and know what to do if a bushfire starts. Preparing for a bushfire will not only help to mitigate the impact of fire on people, homes, animals and businesses but also helps to protect our regions natural resources.

The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) have a number of free bushfire ready information meetings in the Limestone Coast:

• Bushfire ready in Hatherleigh and surrounds - 24 October 2021
• Bushfire ready in Kalangadoo and surrounds - 24 October 2021
• Bushfire ready in Penola and surrounds - 26 October 2021

Visit the Limestone Coast Landscape Board for a collation of resources (sourced from a variety of organisations such as the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, CFS, Australia Red Cross, Department of Environment and Water and Department of Primary Industries and Regions) on:

• bushfire ready resources
• land management and managing native biodiversity after a bushfire
• weed management
• mental health
• volunteers

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board were pleased to support the recent Livestock Field Day at the Lucindale Football Club focussing on ‘Fire and beyond’ – which covered fire recovery, mental health – including a presentation from the ‘Naked Farmer’! – as well as pasture and livestock management and recovery at this MacKillop Farm Management Group event. 

The session on ‘Managing after fire – on the farm and in your mind’ was supported by grant funding from the Landscape Board’s Adaptive Agriculture project, which has a focus on agricultural systems adapting to changing climate, including increasing resilience in the face of extreme climatic events such as bushfire.

Ben Brooksby – also known as the ‘Naked Farmer’ – presented on his own mental health journey and what to look out for in others who might be suffering. Ben has travelled Australia raising awareness of mental health in rural communities through the ‘Naked Farmer’ social media platforms, while at the same time raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

This project is supported by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is delighted to announce that 11 projects across the region have been selected to receive funding through the Grassroots Grants program! The Limestone Coast Landscape Board received a high level of interest from community organisations in relation to the grants.

Limestone Coast Landscape Board Chair Penny Schulz said “We were excited to see a diverse range of applications submitted for the 2021/2022 round of grants that support Board priorities such as working collaboratively to manage our pest plants and animals, growing sustainable primary production, and protecting and balancing our region’s water resources. The level of enthusiasm demonstrated in the project submissions to improve our landscape health was incredible. Thank you to all applicants for this year’s submissions. The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is looking forward to seeing the drive and determination of the successful applicants to get these projects off the ground!

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities, now and into the future.

The $15,000 bursary is awarded to each State/Territory Winner, providing the financial resources to support a project, business or program that will benefit rural industries, businesses and/or communities.

Applications close: Friday 8 October 2021

More information can be found on the AgriFutures Australia website.

Baiting for foxes at least twice a year during early spring and again in early autumn can provide significant benefits to producers in the region and a coordinated approach with neighbours can be key to a successful control program. 

Spring is breeding season for foxes, with an increased food demand for rearing young. Not only will baiting in spring help protect our native wildlife, it will also reduce fox numbers in the lead up to lambing in autumn.

In the Limestone Coast, foxes negatively impact the regions biodiversity and agricultural production through spreading diseases and weeds that can result in costly control methods, along with predation on native fauna such as ground nesting birds, small mammals and reptiles.

Limestone Coast Landscape Officers are able to supply (at a cost) 1080 fox baits, PAPP fox baits, canid pest ejector capsules, and provide trap hire. 

For more information on fox management in your area contact your local Landscape Officer by calling the Limestone Coast Landscape Board in Mount Gambier (8735 1204) or in Keith (8755 1620).

With warmer weather upon us, local plants such as our beautiful native orchids are starting to bloom - and so are the weeds.

Cape tulip is poisonous to cattle, sheep and goats, but it is generally avoided by grazing animals. This results in desirable pasture plants being replaced by this weed and stock not grazing valuable pasture that is growing within the infested area (Agriculture Victoria).

Whilst it can be easier to detect when flowing in spring, the best time to control Cape tulip is prior to flowering as the bulb separates before flowering thus making way for next year’s replacement plant. A Cape tulip plant can stay dormant for a few years, which makes management and control challenging.

Check out this flash back of Terry Hartman of Burrandies Cultural Connections at Sandy’s Hut demonstrating Cape Tulip control.

For more information contact your local Limestone Coast Landscape Officer by calling the Limestone Coast Landscape Board in Mount Gambier (8735 1204) or in Keith (8755 1620).

Spring is the time for sun but it is also prime time for the dreaded variegated thistle (Silybum marianum).

This serious pest accumulates nitrate throughout its growth period, to levels that can be toxic to sheep. The weed becomes most palatable when it has wilted (for example after chemical treatment), this is also when nitrate levels are most dangerous.

Sheep can be responsible for movement of variegated thistle seeds across pasture. Seeds can also spread by water, vehicles, machinery, or in hay, chaff, or silage.

Variegated thistle seeds can remain dormant in soil for up to 9 years, however consistent and effective management of pre flowering plants can reduce years of re-emergence.

Landholders are encouraged to check their properties to prevent spread on to roadsides and neighbouring land.

For more information contact your local Limestone Coast Landscape Officer by calling the Limestone Coast Landscape Board in Mount Gambier (8735 1204) or in Keith (8755 1620).

Funding to undertake infrastructure works to recharge water levels

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board has successfully received funding to undertake infrastructure works to hold water in the landscape to improve aquifer recharge and protect ecological values at Middle Point Swamp (also known as Hutt Bay Wetland) in the Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area as part of a Regional Recharge Farms project.

The Regional Recharge Farms project, which is being delivered by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board in partnership with Nature Glenelg Trust, SA Water and Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation, is part of a larger collaboration that is undertaking a combination of investigating opportunities, ground works, feasibility studies and research towards achieving water security and sustainability for the environment, industry, community and First Nations in the Lower Limestone Coast.

More information about this project, and what a recharge farm is, can be found on the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website.

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