• Coronavirus update
• If it has been out and about, then check it out
• On-farm action plan pilot
• Developing a National Horse Traceability System
• The latest Very Fast Break video out now
• Chaff residues put to the pest pressure test
• Japanese encephalitis update
• Latest AgVic Talk podcast – Caylem Roberts and Russell Adcock
• Farmers needed for new horticulture business study
• Fox and wild dog bounty collections details for the west
• My Rain Gauge is Busted podcast
• Gorse community grants closing soon!
• ICYMI
• What's on?

Keep up to date with all the latest restrictions and requirements at coronavirus.vic.gov.au

If a vehicle has travelled off your property there is now a useful vehicle biosecurity risk assessment checklist available to help you decide if it requires a clean down before re-entering to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases on farm.

Agriculture Victoria Grains Biosecurity Officer Jim Moran said the checklist was produced for grain growers by the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program.

“The Vehicle Biosecurity Risk Assessment Tool is a quick reference guide for assessing a vehicle that has travelled off a property or is not stationed on a property,” Mr Moran said.

He said the checklist gave grain growers a quick assessment strategy to help them determine if a vehicle requires a clean down before re-entering their property.

“For example, the checklist suggests key questions to consider when a vehicle either arrives or re-enters, such as: Where has the vehicle been and what is the likelihood it has come into contact with weeds or other pests?

“What were the road conditions it came on? Dry, damp, muddy or flooding? – these will all have an impact on the level of risk the vehicle represents to your farm.”

Mr Moran said the checklist was comprehensive but still simple and easy to use and included prompts about road surfaces travelled (including paddocks) and their corresponding biosecurity risk level ratings.

He said depending on the level of risk assessed the checklist then provided practical solutions for treating the vehicle.

“But remember if it’s wet conditions forget it. Vehicles shouldn’t be entering the productive areas of your property when it is wet or flooded unless there is an urgent need,” Mr Moran said.

“Mud sticks to tyres and is flicked up into the hard to see and clean components, giving weeds, pests and diseases, a ride to the next paddock or property.

“Flood water behaves similarly, washing muddy water over vehicles and machinery but also can provide a means of transport for weeds, pests and diseases, spreading around the property or district as it moves.

“The best tactic is not drive onto muddy or flooded paddocks and protect your farm’s production zones from the introduction and spread of pests, weeds and diseases,” he said.

For more information on farm biosecurity or help in developing your Vehicle Biosecurity Risk Plan contact Jim Moran jim.moran@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Caption (L-R): Agriculture Victoria Grains Seasonal Risk Project Manager Graeme Anderson, Mt Lavinia farm owner Joan Liley, Agriculture Victoria Farm Emissions Specialist Alison Kelly, Mt Lavinia farm owner Rob Liley

The Victorian Government has commenced the On-Farm Action Plan Pilot as part of its commitment under the Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge to provide practical information, tools and services to support farmers to understand and reduce emissions.

The pilot will work with up to 250 farm businesses across the state to measure their on-farm emissions profile and identify potential actions to manage and reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and profitability.

Participants will then be eligible for grant funding from the Victorian Government to fund recommended actions from a total pool of up to $5 million.

The three-year pilot will be delivered over nine rounds covering Victoria’s key agricultural industries – beginning with the beef industry in May 2022.

Agriculture Victoria will be working with a select number of producers over the coming months who are interested in understanding and reducing their emissions, and are willing to help other farmers by sharing their learnings from the pilot.

On-farm emissions assessments and action plans will be delivered in collaboration with industry partners.

Agriculture Victoria will convene a new ‘Community of Practitioners’ for farm advisors to build capability across the sector and improve the emissions reduction advice being provided to Victorian farmers.

While a new network of champions will be established to support farm managers share information and insights from the Pilot.

Farmers, farm advisors and others interested in the Pilot can email the team at: actionplanpilot@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Links to early learnings from the pilot, including case studies, will be published on this page of the Agriculture Victoria website as they become available.

The National Horse Traceability Working Group (NHTWG) is seeking feedback regarding design and introduction of a traceability system for horses, donkeys and mules in Australia.

The NHTWG has agreed that the establishment of a base level traceability system as a starting point would best suit the needs of stakeholders and help ensure the industry can respond quickly to a biosecurity incident or emergency animal disease outbreak.

The NHTWG is proposing a National Horse Traceability System (NHTS) utilising the existing framework and incorporating incremental improvements, such as:  

• Refreshing and maturing the PIC system, managed by states and territories
• Introducing uniform national PIC Business Rules
• Enabling enforcement of PIC legislation
• Requiring base level movement information to be recorded by all sectors of the horse industry.

All sectors of the horse industry are invited to provide feedback on the proposed Business Rules.

• Download the full consultation document
• Complete the consultation survey
• Find out more about the National Horse Traceability Working Group.

The four-week consultation period closes on Wednesday 25 May.

Have your say HERE

Welcome to the "Very Fast Break" seasonal climate update video clips.

Agriculture Victoria is partnering with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to bring you these short summaries for Victoria, South Australia and southern New South Wales.

Click on the state of your choice to watch the short YouTube video (4min 40sec).

• Victoria
• South Australia
• southern New South Wales

To read the full newsletter visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

A study is underway to determine whether harvest weed seed control (HWSC) systems which create chaff residues are promoting increased crop pest activity and associated crop damage in the southern cropping region.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has invested in research to investigate the effect of chaff residues on the diversity and abundance of invertebrate pests and their natural enemies.

The project was instigated following observations by grain growers of increased pest pressure associated with chaff residues.

HWSC systems in Australian grain crops play an important role in weed management with the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds.

The loss of effective herbicides for several major weed species has required the development of management tactics that prevent weed seeds from entering the seed bank.

Chaff piles, chaff tramlining and chaff lining are HWSC system methods that result in a concentrated distribution of the chaff component within the paddock, limiting weed survival.

However, some growers adopting these HWSC systems have observed increased pest pressure associated with chaff residues and they are particularly concerned about the potential risk of associated crop damage.

The research is being led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), which is the research division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

SARDI entomologist Dr Kate Muirhead said the study is being conducted in 14 paddocks at various locations across the GRDC southern region, including Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula and the mid north of SA, as well as Western Victoria.

“The sites selected represent different annual rainfall zones, cropping rotations, and invertebrate pressures,” Dr Muirhead said.

The trials are being managed by Hart Field-Site Group and Nutrien Cummins Ag Services in SA and Birchip Cropping Group in Victoria.

Dr Muirhead said the study will address two key questions:

• How does the presence of chaff lines or tramlines affect the species composition, density and distribution of pest and beneficial invertebrates, and the risk of plant damage, in grain crops in the southern region?
• How do microclimatic conditions in different chaff residues affect patterns of invertebrate species abundance?

“The invertebrate species of interest in the study are pests of crop establishment that reside in paddocks throughout the year – soil insects (earwigs, millipedes, slaters), molluscs (snails, slugs), earth mites, lucerne flea, and beetles/weevils,” Dr Muirhead said.

“The main beneficial groups are predatory mites and beetles, ants, and organic matter recyclers such as collembola, book lice, and others.”

The experiment will focus on two HWSC management systems – chaff tramlining and chaff lining.

The diversity of pest and beneficial invertebrates in experimental plots will be assessed at two times each year over the course of the study – in autumn prior to sowing and soon after crop emergence.

Dr Muirhead and her team recently removed pitfall traps installed in the 14 paddocks included in the study.

“The contents will be subject to diagnostic analysis over the coming weeks, and we will re-install the pitfall traps once those paddocks have been sown to crops,” she said.

“A time lapse video camera will also be installed on each of the seven farms after sowing to monitor crop seedlings and directly identify which species are causing the observed damage.”

The project will conclude in April 2024, and the research outcomes will inform the need for specific management of crop pests in HWSC systems and address potential barriers to their adoption by quantifying the risk to crops from invertebrate pests.

Agriculture Victoria is working closely with both the pig and horse industries in response to Japanese encephalitis.

There are now a total of 23 properties with pigs confirmed with Japanese encephalitis in Victoria.

These are located across the Wangaratta, Moira, Greater Shepparton, Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon, Greater Bendigo and Northern Grampians local government areas.

A number of suspected cases are under investigation.

The detections are the result of national surveillance efforts to identify new cases and determine the extent and spread of the disease and the source of its introduction.

Japanese encephalitis has also been confirmed in piggeries in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia and in a small number of feral pigs in the Northern Territory.

Agriculture Victoria is working closely with industry, conducting surveillance activities and providing advice and information to farmers, livestock and horse owners.

Infection is not spread directly from pigs to people, and there is no risk to humans from eating pig meat. Only infected mosquitoes can spread infection.

Pork is safe to eat.

In general, spread is through the movement of some species of migratory water birds and through the movement of infected mosquitoes, often over long distances.

It does not usually spread directly from animal to animal (i.e. it is not considered contagious).

Victorians are being reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites particularly when spending time outdoors.

Japanese encephalitis vaccines are recommended for people at a higher risk of exposure to the virus, such as those working with pigs. All people should undertake measures to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

For more information about Japanese encephalitis virus and animals visit Agriculture Victoria’s website: agriculture.vic.gov.au/je

For more information about Japanese encephalitis virus and human health contact your GP or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024, or go to health.vic.gov.au/jev

Listen to this podcast to hear how Caylem Roberts is creating a pathway into agriculture.

While Russell Adcock – Agriculture Victoria Senior Aboriginal Employment and Engagement Advisor - talks about achieving self-determination and how his role helps make this happen.

You can hear more from Caylem and Russell by searching for AgVic Talk' wherever you get your podcasts or listen 🎧 online via our website agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

A new farm monitor program will provide horticulture producers with critical business insights to help them understand their profitability, improve recovery and drive future growth.

Agriculture Victoria’s Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot is collecting valuable information from farm businesses across a range of crops including apple and pears, cherries, strawberries and summer fruit.

Victorian Strawberry Growers Association Chairperson and AusBerry CEO Miffy Gilbert said it’s an extremely valuable tool for growers and is encouraging more growers to be involved.

“The strawberry industry was really keen to participate in the Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We are full of anecdotal evidence on our industry and our businesses, but we don’t have the data to back up our claims.

“When the pandemic hit and we were asked how many workers we needed as an industry, we didn’t really know. We had anecdotal evidence, but nothing based on defendable facts.”

A new farm monitor program will provide horticulture producers with critical business insights to help them understand their profitability, improve recovery and drive future growth.

Agriculture Victoria’s Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot is collecting valuable information from farm businesses across a range of crops including apple and pears, cherries, strawberries and summer fruit.

Victorian Strawberry Growers Association Chairperson and AusBerry CEO Miffy Gilbert said it’s an extremely valuable tool for growers and is encouraging more growers to be involved.

“The strawberry industry was really keen to participate in the Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We are full of anecdotal evidence on our industry and our businesses, but we don’t have the data to back up our claims.

“When the pandemic hit and we were asked how many workers we needed as an industry, we didn’t really know. We had anecdotal evidence, but nothing based on defendable facts.”

Several farm businesses are already involved in the data collection phase of the pilot program, and Ms Gilbert is calling for more farmers to be involved.

“This program will provide us with clarity around our industry and the true cost of production,” she said.

“It will help individual business set their base costs and base sale prices, understand where they can make savings and where they are competitive compared to the industry average. It will even be useful when individuals are applying for banks loans.”

Ms Gilbert said some individual industry groups had collected data in the past, but this industry-wide program would provide deeper insights into business profitability, while protecting the farmers who provide their business data.

“It’s all beautifully done with total anonymity,” Ms Gilbert said.

“All the data is de-identified so no one knows where it’s from, but they do know it is accurate, representative data of their industry and their production type.

Agriculture Victoria’s Sze Flett said industry groups have renewed their call for real data to help them navigate recent challenges.

The pilot is similar to Agriculture Victoria’s long-running and highly successful Farm Monitor programs in dairy, beef and sheep industries.

“Collecting data on horticulture businesses has always been a challenge due to the complex and fragmented nature of the sector, with so many different industry types with varying capacity to collect data,” Dr Flett said.

“But we know this is the best way to provide businesses with a clear, accurate picture of the state of their industry.”

Farmers who would like to be involved in the program can contact Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot program manager Andy Clark on 0436 804 656, or seasonalworkforce@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Victorian fox and wild dog collections have recommenced.

Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is the preferred method of payment, so please bring your EFT details to the collection centre.

Acceptable entire fox scalps and entire wild dog body parts will be collected from eligible members of the public at specific dates and times, and from sites scheduled as collection centres.

Please note that no entire fox scalps or entire wild dog body parts will be accepted at any public counter or state government office. Collections will only be accepted at the designated times.

2022 Horsham collections

Fox and wild dog (wild dog by appointment only)
Address: 180 Horsham-Noradjuha Road, Horsham.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 1.30 – 3.30 pm

Dates:

• Wednesday, 8 June
• Wednesday, 6 July
• Wednesday, 3 August
• Wednesday, 31 August
• Wednesday, 28 September
• Wednesday, 26 October.

2022 Ballarat collections

Please note: Bounty collections at Ballarat have been relocated to Ballarat Field and Game (Haddon Common Bushland Reserve), 726 Bells Road, Haddon.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 1 – 3 pm

Dates:

• Monday, 30 May
• Monday, 27 June
• Monday, 25 July
• Monday, 22 August
• Monday, 19 September
• Monday, 17 October.

2022 Hamilton collections

Address: Depot, Hamilton Centre, Research Station Road, Hamilton.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 1.30 – 3.30 pm
Dates:

• Wednesday, 1 June
• Wednesday, 29 June
• Wednesday, 27 July
• Wednesday, 24 August
• Wednesday, 21 September
• Wednesday, 19 October.

2022 St Arnaud collections

Fox only

Address: 4 Montague Street, St Arnaud

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Dates:

• Thursday, 9 June
• Thursday, 7 July
• Thursday, 4 August
• Thursday, 1 September
• Thursday, 29 September
• Thursday, 27 October.

Visit the Agriculture Victoria website for more information.

The latest episode of My Rain Gauge is Busted is now out.

In the podcast, the team talk to Monash University’s Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth and Atmosphere and Environment, Neville Nicholls about past El Niño events, how an El Niño forms and how that affects seasonal conditions.

Interested in hearing more?

Search for My Rain Gauge is Busted wherever you get your podcasts or listen  online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Through the Community Grants Program the Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT) works to support communities in reducing gorse in their local area.

The VGT are interested in helping landholders looking to control their gorse long-term.

The program looks to educate and build community capacity around gorse and gorse control so that communities can take real ownership and overcome the problem.

Now is the time to plan ahead and start a conversation with your community about gorse in your area.

Eligible Small Grant projects can attract up to $5,000 in funding.

The 2022 – 2023 Small Community Grants are now open and will close on 28 May.

If gorse is a problem on your land or across your local area, the VGT encourages you to connect with your local community and apply now.

For more information email: info@vicgorsetaskforce.com.au

Find out from the Victorian Gorse Taskforce.

Supporting farmers to reduce carbon emissions

The Victorian Government is backing Victorian farmers to reduce their on-farm emissions and adapt to a changing climate with an innovative pilot program.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited Mt Lavinia Farm in Gippsland to launch a three-year pilot program that will work with up to 250 farm businesses across the state to measure, manage and reduce their on-farm emissions.

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE

Energy efficient: businesses becoming more sustainable

The Victorian Government is supporting Victorian agribusinesses with investments to improve their sustainability and productivity by exploring new ways to be more energy efficient.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas recently visited Austong International – a poultry farm in Lang Lang which has received a $29,250 grant through the government’s Agriculture Energy Investment Plan (AEIP).

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE

Upgraded roads: paving the way for Victorian farmers

The Victorian Government is ensuring Victorian farmers have a smoother journey from their farm gate to market with investments to improve local roads.

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas and Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale recently announced the completion of the Grantville Glen Alvie Road Heavy Vehicle Access Improvement Project in the Bass Coast, which received a $350,000 grant through the government’s $20 million AgriLinks Upgrade Program.

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE

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.

Image: Presenter Galia Bastoni from Australian Red Cross.

Do you employ people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background in your workplace?

If you want to find out ways to make your business more attractive to people from different background and take advantage of the benefits they bring, then sign up to the Welcoming Workplaces webinar on 27 May from 12 pm.

In the webinar you will learn to how to develop and encourage positive attitudes in workplaces and address barriers preventing people from migrant backgrounds participating in the agricultural workforce. 

The webinar will also look at the strengths and skills they bring to the business and how to make your business more attractive.

Welcoming Workplaces is a Red Cross initiative that encourages and builds capacity in welcoming new arrivals into your workplace.

It aims to help build capacity in fostering appreciation of diversity in the workplace, increase understanding of the impact of forced migration and build skills/ values such as equality, solidarity, cooperation, empathy, responsibility and resilience.

Register to attend HERE

For more information contact Del Delpitiya from Agriculture Victoria on 0436 649 860 or del.delpitiya@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government is committed to improving safety and skills on farms, visit Smarter Safer Farms for more.

Young farmers across Victoria are being invited to come together for farm finance workshops at a number of locations, as well as to network and ask questions.

All sessions will be held between 6 and 8.30 pm and are scheduled for:

• Wangaratta – Wednesday 18 May
• Ouyen – Wednesday 25 May
• Horsham – Wednesday 1 June.

Register now for Agriculture Victoria’s Young Farmers Network Farm Finance – Getting Prepared Workshop.

Find out more here

The Farm Finance – Getting Prepared series is supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program.

LAST ONE!

Immerse yourself in an exclusive three-part educational series to learn about global market opportunities, focusing on the China market, and how Agriculture Victoria’s new Pathways to Export program can assist your international trade journey.

Hear from the Victorian Government’s Deputy Trade Commissioner in China and key in-market experts who will help you gain a deeper understanding of international market opportunities.

Register for your exclusive ticket to export:

Part 3: Business Matching Essentials

• Tuesday 24 May 2 – 3 pm
• Register here.

Thursday 16 June 9.15 am to 3.15 pm

Horsham Town Hall, 71 Pynsent St, Horsham 3400

The GRDC Farm Business Update events drive innovation and adoption of improved farm business management practices across the grains industry.

For more information and to register visit the GRDC website.

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