• Supporting East Gippsland businesses and communities
• 2024 BestWoolBestLamb and BetterBeef conferences recordings now available
• Gippsland Dairy Industry Strategy – Consultation workshops
• Growing more feed webinar recording now available
• Dry seasons support
• Fox and wild dog bounty
• Free financial counselling with RFCS
• 2025 Bob Hawke Landcare Award is now open
• In case you missed it
• What's on

The Victorian Government is investing $30,000 to support local businesses in East Gippsland to expand and create more job opportunities.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced $30,000 of funding for the East Gippsland Business Support Voucher program – delivered by the East Gippsland Shire Council.

The program will provide free vouchers for businesses to access local professional services to assist them with developing applications for the Forestry Transition Fund.

Recipients can access professional services to focus on areas including:

• starting a business
• growing their business
• financial advice
• operational support
• marketing and communications.

The voucher program aims to bolster local economies by helping businesses in communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting.

It is primarily aimed at businesses in Nowa Nowa, Swifts Creek and Orbost – although businesses right across East Gippsland can apply.

The government has invested $1.5 billion into the forestry transition to support communities affected by the end of native timber harvesting.

For more information visit deeca.vic.gov.au/forestry.

For more information and how to apply go to eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/building-and-development.

Did you miss the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conferences or feel like revisiting the sessions?

Recorded presentations are now available for viewing on our website.

Watch Cam Nicholson’s talk on ‘The challenge of aligning pasture and animal needs’ here

Cam said, 'It’s a challenge because while we know what the animals need and we can know all the theory about how to grow the best plants and the right way of doing it, there’s numerous times when those two don’t align.'

Watch John Francis’s talk on ‘Growing the farm' here

John talks about opportunities for growth that exist ‘within the four fences’ of your farm.

Explore more from the BestWool/BestLamb conference here and the BetterBeef conference presentations here

Farmers can access support and assistance today to help manage the current dry seasonal conditions at agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Gippsland Dairy Industry Leadership Group is seeking involvement from Gippsland dairy farmers and service providers in the development of a Gippsland Dairy Industry Strategy.

Dairy Australia will be holding a series of face to face and online workshops for anyone interested in contributing to the strategy.

These workshops will explore key drivers for priorities in a Gippsland-specific dairy strategy, and draw on the experiences of those participating in the consultation.

A Gippsland Dairy Industry Strategy will aim to: 

• promote Gippsland's strengths for attracting investment in dairy
• provide a strategic document to influence planning and decision making by government, private enterprise, and regional planners
• detail areas of focus to ensure a prosperous and responsive Gippsland dairy industry over the next 10 years.

This strategy development is financially supported by contributions from Gardiner Foundation, GippsDairy, Latrobe Valley Authority, and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. 

Gippsland themes identified during the consultation process will also help inform the development of the Dairy Australia Strategic Plan 2025-2030. 

Along with the workshops, Dairy Australia encourages you to contribute themes for the Gippsland Dairy Industry Strategy by completing this short survey. 

To register for one of our workshops, please follow the links below.

Wednesday 23 October - Maffra 

Thursday 24 October - Warragul 

 Friday 25 October - Leongatha 

 Tuesday 29 October - ONLINE 

 Thursday 31 October - ONLINE 

For more information, contact Karen McLennan at karen.mclennan@gippsdairy.com.au or on 0409 179 706.

Growing more feed with Agriculture Victoria Livestock Extension Officer Fiona Baker - watch here.

Rewatch our previous webinars: 

• Cash flow and finance management presented by Paul Blackshaw of Meridian Agriculture
• Common spring animal health issues presented by Dr Leah Tyrell 
• Land management, sacrifice paddocks and stock containment areas 
• Early weaning of lambs with Dr Steve Cotton 
• The importance of nutrition with Dr. Jillian Kelly 

Have you updated your plan for the current seasonal conditions?

Having a solid drought plan can help you with decision making in adverse conditions. 

Check out the dry seasons and drought support on the Agriculture Victoria website today.

Victoria’s bounty collections continue.

Please check our website for the latest information, collection centres and dates. Click here.

For any assistance, please speak to our bounty collection staff on collection days or call our customer service centre on 136 186.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service provides a free and confidential financial counselling service to eligible farmers and small related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can help you to access available support, analyse your business situation, negotiate with lenders and develop strategies to improve your financial position. 

To find your closest service visit the website or call 1300 771 741.

Applications are open until 31 December 2024.

For the first time, this prestigious $30K national award is now accepting nominations from groups and organisations, in addition to individuals.

Do you know an individual, group, or organisation that is a sustainable farm practice innovator, demonstrated leadership in Landcare and inspired others to take land conservation practices in their community?

Now is their chance to be recognised!

This award honours the significant role of former Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, in transforming Landcare from a grassroots community initiative into a national movement with enduring bipartisan government support. It celebrates exceptional dedication to sustainable land management and efforts to share valuable knowledge with others.

To find out more or to nominate a Landcare legend click here

Wimmera farmer fined $10,000 with conviction for animal cruelty

A West Wimmera farmer recently pleaded guilty in the Horsham Magistrates Court and was fined $10,000 with conviction.

Read the full media release here.

Avian influenza restrictions eased

Further changes have been made to control orders surrounding avian influenza cases in Victoria, given that no new cases have been detected since 24 June 2024.

Read the full media release here.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can be found in one spot on our website. Visit the Events page to keep in touch with upcoming events.

Join us for the future planning Farm Business Success workshops.

Gippsland farmers are invited to attend these free workshop series to strengthen their business and plan for managing risks in a changing climate.

Sessions will cover:

• action planning and farm risk management
• farm finances and profitable decision making
• managing people and farm safety
• adaptation and natural resource improvement.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is supporting farmers to develop the knowledge and skills they need to improve their farm business and be better equipped to manage the impacts of drought and a changing climate.

Agriculture Victoria, in partnership with Cumbre Consultants, is inviting you to join other farmers in a free online short course with specialists on the following topics:

• business planning and risk management
• farm finances and profitable decision making
• managing people on farm, farm safety and wellbeing
• climate adaptation and natural resource improvement including soil, water, crops and pastures.

Course dates:

• Monday 30 September, 11 am to 2 pm - People success 
• Monday 14 October, 12 to 2 pm - Plan review.

Location: Online

Register here.

Come meet Gippsland Hoof Cares, Dean Rowley, and learn about hoof health and care in wet conditions and preparing your cows for the months ahead. Learn how to identify lameness, caring for cows, how to avoid lameness, what causes it and how we can help and care for cows that may suffer lameness. Discussions and questions about practices are welcome. 

MID: 
Tuesday 24 September, 11 am - 2 pm
Riverslea, on-farm. Address will be sent via text before event.
Register here.

West Gippsland: 
Friday 4 October, 11 am - 2 pm
Labertouche, on farm. Address will be sent via text before event.
Register here.

Join GippsDairy for a workshop that will introduce farmers to dairy cow nutrition and pasture.

This practical, on-farm event is aimed at new entrants to the industry and people with little to no pasture knowledge.

Topics will include:

• when to graze
• where to put the Strip Grazing Fence
• when to graze the paddock again
• how to get the most production out of your pasture
• what to do with surplus grass growing.

A light lunch will be provided. Please bring along a chair and be sure to register early. 

MID:

When: Tuesday 1 October, 9 am - 2 pm
Where: Fulham, address provided after registration. 
Register here.

West Gippsland: 

When: Wednesday 2 October, 9 am - 2 pm 
Where: West Gippsland, address provided after registration. 
Register here.

South Gippsland: 

When: Thursday 3 October, 9 am - 2 pm
Where: Inverloch, address provided after registration.
Register here.

When: Wednesday 2 October, 10 am to 1 pm. 

Where: 83 Punt Lane, Clydebank. 

Register here.

Join us for an exciting showcase of the automated irrigation system that's enabled Wilandra Farms to maximise their solar energy utilisation.

Sandra Jefford and Wilco Droppert will discuss their decision making process, what they learned along the way and how this system has impacted their management of the farm.

Gain insight into the 'SmartBox' solar and irrigation automation system developed by Steve Soutar, CEO of Alternative Energy Innovations.

What to expect:

• live (automated) demonstration of the centre pivots and fixed sprinklers that run off the solar energy generated on farm
• hear from Sandra and Wilco, and ask them any of your burning questions
• discussion with Steve Soutar about the process of system automation
• free barbecue lunch.

This demonstration project has been supported in partnership with Agriculture Victoria and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

When: 9 and 10 October
Where: 285 Boggy Creek Rd, Riverslea

10 am – 3 pm both days, plus lunch will be provided.

Wondering how you can get more out of your spray irrigation systems, or thinking about an upgrade?

Join us for a free interactive workshop tailored for irrigators aiming to elevate their irrigation game.

Whether you’re eyeing off a new pivot system or seeking to fine-tune your existing setup, this workshop is your gateway to optimised performance and sustainable management.

What you'll learn:

• designing the system for uniform application
• financial factors - purchase and operational costs
• planning for installation
• energy efficiency.

We'll also cover:

• key measures and indicators of spray irrigation system performance
• technology options - variable application rate, end guns and sprinkler packs
• irrigation scheduling and operation for improved agronomy.

Key trainer: Peter Smith, Sapphire Irrigation Consulting

Register here.

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Call 136 186 from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (except for mobiles and public telephones).

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All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/contact-us

Don't forget to check out Agriculture Victoria's social media sites for up-to-date information and news.