In this edition:

• Keep your hives and bees healthy this summer
• Watch now - webinars on managing seasonal variability
• Free financial counselling with RFCS
• A taste you can trace – episode 6
• Farm fire preparedness tip – farm mapping
• Growers needed for research to assess regen ag
• In case you missed it
• What's on

Keep your bees happy, healthy and productive as the weather warms up - bee aware of the biosecurity basics:

• 🐝 Be aware of biosecurity threats, such as Varroa mite
• 🐝 Practice good hygiene and sanitation
• 🐝 Check your apiary and monitor hives and the health of the honeybee brood frequently
• 🐝 Respect and be aware of laws and regulations established to protect the honeybee industry, Australian agriculture, and the local region
• 🐝 Report anything unusual to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

For the latest information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/varroa or

beeaware.org.au/biosecurity/biosecurity-basics/

Missed our recent webinar series or want to rewatch a session?

Click below to catch up on best preparing your farm for the changing seasons.

Managing Seasonal Variability – A Farmer’s Perspective

Central Victorian farmer Mr Ben Greene will explain how he and his wife Jodie manage seasonal variability while still running a profitable and sustainable farming operation.

Climate Update and Tools

Confused about the climate predictions for spring and summer?

Join renowned Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey for the low down on the season ahead.

Fodder Conservation

Hay, silage or straw? Join Agriculture Victoria Dairy Extension Officer Michelle Jolliffe to hear the latest information on fodder conservation.

Siting and Design of a Stock Containment Area

Do stock containment areas really work?

How big should I make the pens? How much do they cost?

Presented by Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Clem Sturmfels.

Clem’s detailed presentation is based on more than 30 years experience working in this field.

Animal nutrition and feeding during dry times

A session on animal considerations as we move into possible dryer/hotter spring and summer conditions. Includes the use of Stock Containment Areas.

Covering some of the basics and principles involved in feeding your stock through summer. 

Presented by Nick Linden, Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer.

Is Your Farm Water Supply Up To Scratch?

Presented by Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Clem Sturmfels.

Clem has spent much of his career helping farmers with the design, construction and repair of farm dams.

He is also experienced in the design and construction of farm pipelines.

Have you been impacted by recent floods, fires or dry seasonal conditions?

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 rfcsnetwork.com.au or call 1300 771 741.

Discover the world of traceability and how it is ensuring brand Australia is top of mind. 

Hear from Michael Dosser, Group General Manager at Results Group, about the many benefits of introducing traceability into your business using a recent pilot with the Australian Table Grape Association as evidence.

🎧 Listen online via the AgVic website: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

Have you included a farm map in your fire preparedness plan?

A farm map can be a useful tool in an emergency by clearly showing critical assets, water sources, assembly/evacuation and exit points and stock refuge areas.

Check out the tips on developing your farm map in our Fire Preparedness Toolkit.

Download a copy of the toolkit today.

Find and use our Farm Fire Preparedness Toolkit here.

Dr Hanabeth Luke (left) and Dr Adam Canning (rt) are looking for 60 growers to help with a GRDC research on regenerative agriculture.
Photo: Southern Cross University.

A national hunt is on for at least 60 growers who use a range of farming practices to assist in a GRDC research investment exploring current cropping methods, with a focus on regenerative agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture has become a topical issue in Australia in recent years, however, there is no regulatory or widely accepted definition of the practice.

GRDC’s investment aims to gain a better understanding of the relevant objectives and how they might be changing soil, land and business management.

Using this knowledge, the project team will establish ways to monitor the potential benefits or disadvantages of regenerative agriculture in Australian cropping systems across a range of agronomic, soil health, ecological, social and economic indicators.

GRDC manager sustainable cropping systems – south Dr Giacomo Betti says a balance of viewpoints is essential for the project’s success.

'It is very important for us to have a broad range of growers involved, whether they see the type of farming they are doing as regenerative, sustainable or something in between,' he says.

'Studying a comprehensive range of practices is needed to develop a balanced dataset and draw meaningful conclusions.'

GRDC has appointed a multi-disciplinary team from the Southern Cross University (SCU) Faculty of Science and Engineering to provide independent scientific rigour.

Interested growers can email Dr Adam Canning at adam.canning@scu.edu.au.

Read the media release in full here.

Livestock committee recruitment drive now open

The Victorian Government is calling for a wide range of industry professionals to apply for positions on Livestock Advisory Committees to improve animal health, strengthen the state’s biosecurity and support business management.

Click here for more information.

Farm biosecurity simplified with new animations

Victorian livestock owners can brush up on their farm biosecurity knowledge using a series of easy-to-follow animations.

The 5 animations can be viewed on the Agriculture Victoria YouTube channel, the Agriculture Victoria website, social media feeds and online training resources and webinars.

New resources for grain farmers as dry finish looms

Victorian grain growers have a suite of new resources to help them prepare for, and deal with the effects of late frosts and a potential dry finish to the growing season.

Read the media release in full here.

EOI – Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council

Expressions of interest are now open for the next term of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council (the Council).

Visit the Join a Board website to read more about the role and to submit an application. 

Applications close 5 pm, 12 November 2023.

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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.

REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THIS YEAR’S MLA UPDATES ON NOV 23 IN BENDIGO

The MLA Updates are coming to Victoria and will be on in Bendigo on November 23.

The MLA Updates is working around an umbrella theme of Sustainability from Paddock to Plate.

The day-long event will showcase solutions and technologies which embrace sustainability and help set Australia’s red meat and livestock industries up for success.

To register please click on this link.

This year’s venue is the Fosterville Gold Exhibition Centre at the Bendigo Showgrounds.

MLA’s AGM will also be held from 3:30pm onsite at the showgrounds.

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