Thursday 20 February 2025

Spot and report these weeds

Avian influenza detected at third nearby property

Agriculture Victoria has confirmed H7N8 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) on a third poultry farm in Euroa. This new detection is in close proximity to the 2 other infected properties.

Victoria’s Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Cameron Bell said given the close proximity of these properties, this new detection is not unexpected, and that Agriculture Victoria staff are on the ground working closely with industry to contain and eradicate the virus.

Control orders have been in place since H7 was first detected on a poultry farm on 8 February, restricting the movement of poultry, poultry products, equipment, and vehicles on or off properties in designated zones around the infected properties to prevent disease spread.

These zones include a restricted area covering a 5 km radius around the farms, with a broader control area spanning east of the Goulburn Valley Freeway and including the townships of Euroa, Violet Town, Longwood, Ruffy, Avenel and Strathbogie.

‘If you are in the control or restricted areas, you cannot move birds, products (including eggs and manure) or equipment into, out of, or within the area without permit,’ Dr Bell said.

‘This includes selling or giving away eggs from your poultry – these must not leave your property.’

With the confirmation of H7N8 on a third property, a housing requirement remains in place for properties with 50 or more poultry in the restricted area. This includes Euroa and extends approximately 5 km from the affected properties in all directions.

To reduce the risk of further disease, birds on these properties must be kept in cages or sheds to avoid contact with other birds. This is a proven method to minimise direct contact between poultry and wild birds.

Poultry and bird owners are reminded to keep sheds, yards, aviaries and equipment clean and to restrict contact with wild birds. They should ensure their footwear is clean and wash hands before and after handling birds or eggs. New birds should be quarantined before being integrated with existing ones.

‘A strong biosecurity system relies on everyone playing their part,’ he said.

‘Immediate notification from poultry owners when they notice their poultry are unwell is crucial to us getting on top of this outbreak.’

Community members must report suspect disease and sudden poultry death by calling the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.

Dr Bell thanked the impacted properties for their cooperation and reassured Victorians that supermarket eggs and poultry products remain safe to consume.

For more information, including checking whether you are in the restricted area or control area, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianinfluenza

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

One of the world’s worst water weeds, water hyacinth blocks sunlight and clogs waterways. It kills fish and frogs and helps mosquitoes breed. Birds and floods can spread seeds and plants to nearby rivers and lakes, where it’s hard and costly to control.

Look for its glossy green leaves and purple-blue flowers.

Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)

Salvinia spreads quickly, infesting rivers, dams, lakes, and irrigation channels, harming farms and waterways. Its floating leaves have a hairy surface, and its submerged leaves look like roots.

Small fragments from ponds or aquariums can spread this weed.

Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)

Alligator weed grows on land and in water, blocking irrigation systems and contaminating pastures. It has bright green leaves in pairs and small white flowers on stalks. Though it looks like edible greens, it is unsafe to eat.

Alligator weed is banned in Victoria, and health experts warn that eating it could cause health issues.

Spot and report these weeds – free removal available in Victoria.

What to do
If you think you’ve seen one of these weeds, contact Agriculture Victoria:

• Call 136 186
• Email weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Visit:

• agriculture.vic.gov.au/waterhyacinth
• agriculture.vic.gov.au/salvinia
• agriculture.vic.gov.au/alligatorweed

Raising spirits: grants open to boost Victorian distilleries

The Victorian Government is supporting local distillers to expand production, create innovative new products and reach more customers than ever before.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence visited Bakery Hill Distillery in Kensington to announce the opening of applications for the Business Growth Fit-for Purpose grants as part of the Distillery Door Program.

Grants of up to $200,000 are available for tailored projects that help distillers to grow their business with new equipment, technology, or promotional projects.

The grants encourage investment in areas that will expand distilleries, create new opportunity and growth for the industry.

Bakery Hill Distillery has previously benefitted from the Distillery Door Program, receiving a grant of $63,180 to set up a tasting room bar at their new distillery from the Boosting Visitor Economy and Infrastructure stream.

Internationally renowned for its single malt whiskies, Bakery Hill Distillery has been family-owned and operated for over 20 years.

The Distillery Door Program has provided over $7 million in direct funding to support and enhance Victoria’s distillery industry by creating new jobs and opportunities for local distillery businesses.

Victoria is the distillery capital of the nation with more than 180 distillers that employ over 9,000 people in rewarding jobs across regional and metropolitan Victoria.

Applications will be open for six weeks, closing on 25 March. For further details and to apply, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Worm burdens – is it the time right to strike?

Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer

Cast your mind back to recent years, the relatively wet summers of 2021-23 led to high worm burdens in your livestock.

This summer we experienced a burst of early rain in December that may have reduced the effectiveness of an early summer drench.

Since then, it has been relatively hot and dry, and this may provide you a window of opportunity to give an effective, strategic summer drench.

Strategic summer drenching usually involves an effective drench at the beginning and end of summer. This is to take advantage of the destruction of worm larvae on pasture by heat and the lack of moisture.

The life cycle of the worm involves both your pasture and the animal. While the drench fixes the animal problem, the hot, dry conditions of summer will help eliminate the pasture problem.

Before doing so, it is worth establishing which, if any, parts of your flock require drenching.

Drenching is both expensive and time consuming therefore pre-drench faecal egg counts (FECs) will put some science and evidence into whether to drench.

Furthermore, worm resistance, particularly to the white and clear drenches, is common in Victoria.

Unnecessary overuse and the incorrect use of drenches just add to the problem.

Ineffective chemicals and/or an inadequate drench procedure can reduce the effectiveness of summer drenching.

After drenching, try to put your sheep onto low-risk pastures. These may be paddocks previously grazed by cattle, cut for hay or silage, or grazed by low-risk sheep such as older wethers.

Ewes rearing lambs, and lambs after weaning are the most susceptible sheep in terms of worm burdens.

Large reinfestations of worms can occur in as little as 3 to 6 weeks if your drenching program is ineffective.

For further advice contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.

Gippsland Farm Forestry Grants closing soon!

Started that grant application but haven’t finished it yet?

Applications close on 7 March 2025 so don’t miss out on a grant to plant trees on your land!

Grants are available to grow trees for timber. Trees on farms provide a range of benefits including: 

• Providing shelter for stock, crops and pastures 
• Improved farm amenity and biodiversity 
• Carbon storage. 

In case you missed it 

Maintain ground cover to protect soils

Japanese encephalitis virus detected in Goulburn Valley pig herd

Victorian finalists announced for 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award

What's On

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can be found in one spot at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events.

Manage pest and disease risk on farm using technology

Visitors can unknowingly bring pests, diseases and weeds onto a farm. Dirty boots, vehicles, or farm supplies could carry unwelcome hitchhikers - which can have potentially devastating impacts.

AUSVEG and Onside are evaluating how digitised farm visitor management can support decision making and return to trade when a new pest arrives. Vegetable growers, field staff and agronomists can sign up and access Onside for free.

Contacting Agriculture Victoria

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

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au

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

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