In this edition:

• Book early for Ballarat sheep and beef conferences
• Danielle Tang receives student presentation award
• Biosecurity Basics Episode 3 - your questions on biosecurity answered
• WorkSafe telehandler licence survey
• Cherry Traceability Pilot
• Victorian Biosecurity Matters e-newsletter
• After the Flood podcast series 7 episode 9
• AgTech Innovators Season 2 Episode 7
• Emerging Leader in Victorian Agriculture Award
• Applications open for Livestock Advisory Committees
• Fresh insights on food safety survey
• Queensland fruit fly home gardener survey
• Calf breeding survey
• In case you missed it
• What's on

Early bird tickets are now available for BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conferences to be held on 19 and 20 June in Ballarat, at The Goods Shed.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Specialist, Lyndon Kubeil said this was the first time since 2019 that the two conferences would be held together and in the new location of Ballarat.

‘We are holding everything under the one roof this year - the sheep and the beef industry conferences, the dinner and the trade displays will all be at The Goods Shed, an exciting new venue near Ballarat Railway Station,’ said Mr Kubeil.

‘The event will start on Wednesday 19 June at 9 am with registrations for the BestWool/BestLamb conference, followed by a combined dinner for the beef and sheep industries at 6 pm that night.

‘The BetterBeef conference will be held the following day on Thursday 20 June.’

The program will include keynote addresses and concurrent sessions, giving participants the ability to tailor their time to suit their needs and interests.

Mr Kubeil said there will be an excellent line up of presenters, including agribusiness professionals John Francis from Agrista and Cam Nicholson from Nicon Rural Services, who are presenting on both days and are sure to draw a crowd.

‘John Francis’ session ‘Thriving under pressure – are you ready for the next challenge?’ will help producers make more informed decisions when faced with obstacles impacting their farm business.

‘Cam Nicholson’s presentation on “Grazing Management – balancing the compromise” will show us how to make better decisions and find the right strategic balance between the plant and the animal in a grazing enterprise.

Ticket sales will be capped this year to accommodate the size of the new venue.

‘We encourage people to book early and be rewarded with early bird discounts on tickets, with a 1-day conference ticket only $80 and a full package 2-day conference and dinner ticket for $200.’

Early bird tickets will close on Friday 31 May. To secure an early bird ticket discount, visit www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1211584.

Contact Lyndon Kubeil on 0418 532 085 or visit the Agriculture Victoria events page to learn more.

This event is delivered in partnership with Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and is supported by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Farm Business Resilience program.

Congratulations to Danielle Tang, Horsham SmartFarm based PhD student from The University of Melbourne. Danielle’s presentation on how to predict faba bean grain protein quality before harvest using handheld sensors has won the 2024 Best Student Presentation Award for Near Infrared (NIR) Science at the 20th ANISG and NZNIRSS conference in Christchurch, New Zealand.

ANISG = The Australian Near Infrared Spectroscopy Group
NZNIRSS = New Zealand Near Infrared Spectroscopy Group

Your questions on biosecurity answered. 

Rachel Laukart, Education Officer at RSPCA and Brett Davidson, Agriculture Victoria Dairy Regional Manager cover some common biosecurity questions in this episode, helping producers manage risk and improve their on-farm practices.

Even on small-scale landholdings with 1 or 2 animals, simple biosecurity goes a long way to protecting animals from all types of issues that may come up. 

Listen via the AgVic website: go.vic.gov.au/3UlxWIr

Use a non-slewing telehandler with capacity over 3 tonnes?

There's a new licence and tailored training coming.

Complete our survey and help us work out training locations.

Your responses will be kept confidential.

Visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/telehandlers

Introducing the Cherries Traceability Pilot – a partnership between Agriculture Victoria and Cherry Growers Australia.

Watch this video to explore the Tree to Table Journey.

We invite consumers to join us at Cherry Hill Orchards as we unveil the latest innovation: Cherries Traceability.

Ever wondered about the journey your cherries take before they reach your table?

Now, with unique GS1 Australia Digital Link QR codes, you can trace every step from the orchard to your hands.

Simply scan, and discover the story behind your cherries - where they were grown, who picked them, and the meticulous process that ensures their premium quality.

Come, and delve into the world of cherry traceability and taste the difference authenticity makes!

The latest edition of our Victorian Biosecurity Matters e-newsletter is out now.

In this edition:

• our new podcast season
• Timor Leste visit highlights
• find out more about avian influenza
• new pest partnership grant recipients
• bee pest blitz
• biosecurity in the news.

Sound good? Read it now and subscribe.

Episode 9: Growing strong in a changing climate with Chloe Fox

Evacuating chickens by kayak was the reality for Somerset Heritage Produce market gardener, Chloe Fox, during the 2022 floods.

Listen to Chloe’s remarkable story of resilience and her road to recovery dealing with flood waters submerging her 4-acre property in this latest episode of After the flood.

🎧 🎧 Listen via the AgVic website

Episode 7: Harvesting for tomorrow with Hunter Jay

How do start-ups and young visionaries source the finance that will help them achieve their dreams? 

Hunter Jay, Founder and CEO of Ripe Robotics, discusses how he sourced the finance to build an autonomous harvesting machine that he hopes will revolutionise the industry, address labour shortages and improve efficiency in the orchard.

🎧🎧Listen online via the AgVic website

Nominations for the 2024 Melbourne Royal Emerging Leaders in Victoria Award are now open!

Please download the nomination form here.

Send your application to emergingleaders@melbourneroyal.com.au

Applications will close on Thursday 1 August.

The recipient will work, volunteer or significantly contribute within the agricultural industry, and must demonstrate how they will use prize money to further their development.

This award is only available to those within Victoria between the ages of 18 and 35.

Are you a skilled sheep, goat or cattle industry professional looking to grow your networks?

The Sheep and Goat and Cattle Compensation Advisory Committees are recruiting!

We’re looking for applicants with knowledge across a range of expertise including:

• the sheep, goat or cattle allied industries, including across the supply chain
• biosecurity or market access
• quality assurance and food safety
• finance, legal practice or business management
• agricultural, animal or veterinary science
• public policy.

For more details and to apply visit the Livestock Biosecurity Funds page on the Agriculture Victoria website here. 

A research survey of fresh produce stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand

The Fresh Produce Safety Centre (FPSC) - ANZ invites you to participate in a research survey aimed at improving food safety standards within the Australian and New Zealand Fresh Produce Industry.

Your participation will help FPSC - ANZ to better understand Industry needs, gather insights, and identify opportunities for outreach, support and research.

By sharing your experiences and perspectives, you can help  tailor food safety engagement strategies to meet the specific needs of growers, food safety managers, supply chain stakeholders, researchers, and experts.

The research survey includes 25 questions and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Has the word got out to home gardeners in your region about Queensland fruit fly and its management?

Please take Agriculture Victoria’s short 5 minute online survey to help them to understand the answer to that question?

The survey is being conducted throughout the three key horticultural regions of Goulburn Murray, Greater Sunraysia and the Yarra Valley. All responses are anonymous and the feedback collected will help create resources to further support home gardeners to manage Queensland fruit fly.

The survey is open until 30 June 2024.

To participate please click the survey link here.

Data Gene is conducting a survey about the Australian genetic evaluation system to help Data Gene plan for the delivery of breeding values (ABVs) that improve calf health.

Calf ABVs are still in the research stage but early results suggest that it is possible and practical to breed for healthier calves.

This survey asks questions about your operation, your breeding trait priorities and how you would like calf breeding values to be presented.

It will take 10-15 minutes to complete.

Complete the survey here.

Mallee CMA Salinity Survey Update

People in Merbein and Mildura can expect to see survey flights underway this week, followed by Irymple and Red Cliffs.

Flight schedules are regularly updated online at malleecma.com.au/mallee-salinity-survey

Mentor program helping to cultivate futures in farming

Young farmers in western Victoria are encouraged to register for Agriculture Victoria’s ‘Cultivating Futures in Farming’ Mentor Program.

Agriculture Recovery Officer Tanya Dobrijevic said the free program will provide young farmers in grains or mixed farming enterprises with the tools and resources to enhance their farm business management.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

EOI for on-farm demonstration opportunity – now open

Is there a technology, innovation or research finding that your producer group is keen to test on-farm?

Agriculture Victoria, in partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), is conducting a new producer demonstration program with the opportunity to establish five new on-farm demonstration projects.

Expressions of interest close on Monday 13 May.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

New Chair for Horse Traceability Taskforce

Victorian biosecurity specialist and former Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ron Glanville will lead the National Horse Traceability Implementation Taskforce as its new Chair.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website.

Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

Experiences in Drought from Agriculture Service Providers' Perspective

The Mallee Regional Innovation Centre is keen to hear from Agricultural Service Providers to better understand your experiences in drought.

Consultations will assist in identifing issues and opportunities that could lead to beneficial co-designed projects to build drought resilience in farming communities.

Register via Eventbrite. Sessions limited to 10 people only. People on the waiting list will be added to a new group.

Location: Deakin Business Centre, Mildura
Date: 13 May from 3 pm

The 2024 Landcare forum will be held from Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 May in Bendigo. 

Find out more at www.landcarevictoria.org.au/2024forum

The Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC) is excited to announce their third biennial Livestock Conference with the overarching theme of Environmental challenges and opportunities for Australian livestock industries.

Sessions will include keynote speakers and group workshop activities and cover the following:

• improving land, air and water
• solutions for human capacity
• economic considerations and market impacts.

Click here for more information about the upcoming conference.

If you would like to register for conference updates you can join the mailing list here

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