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Thursday 27 February 2025
Avian influenza detected at fourth Euroa property
Agriculture Victoria has confirmed H7N8 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) on a fourth poultry farm in Euroa. This new detection is within the 5km restricted area and in close proximity to the 3 other infected properties, the latest was detected on 20 February.
Victoria’s Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Cameron Bell said given the proximity of the 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.
‘This detection is the result of comprehensive and ongoing surveillance activities by Agriculture Victoria staff within restricted and control areas,’ Dr Bell said.
Control orders have been in place since H7 was first detected on a poultry farm on 8 February.
Control orders restrict 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-kilometre radius around the farms, with a broader control area spanning the Strathbogie Shire 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 (including game birds), products (including eggs and manure) or equipment into, out of, or within the area without permit.
‘This includes selling or giving away eggs from your poultry – these must not leave your property,’ Dr Bell said.
A housing requirement remains in place for properties with 50 or more birds in the restricted area. This includes Euroa and extends approximately 5 kilometres from the affected properties in all directions.
To reduce the risk of further disease spread, birds on these properties must be kept in cages or sheds to avoid contact with other birds.
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.
‘Avian influenza is a notifiable disease, which means you must tell us if you know of or suspect the presence of avian influenza in any birds without delay. Your cooperation is crucial to getting on top of this outbreak,’ Dr Bell said.
Community members must report any suspected disease and sudden poultry death by calling the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
‘We thank the impacted properties for their cooperation and would like to reassure 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
AgVic winner of the 2025 GRDC Emerging Leader – South award
A huge congratulations to one of our research scientist’s Dr Audrey Delahunty who has been presented the 2025 GRDC Emerging Leader – South award.
As a professional with less than 10 years in the industry, Audrey was awarded the 2025 GRDC Emerging Leader - South. She has already made significant contributions to the future of the industry and is seen as emerging as a leader in her field of endeavour.
Use a netting fence to protect from dam pollution
Constructing a netting fence above your dam can reduce the amount of organic material entering during and after a storm.
Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Clem Sturmfels said while thunderstorms can produce needed runoff, they can also result in large amounts of dry grass, manure, soil and other material being swept into your dam.
‘If left unattended, these materials will sink to the bottom and decompose, impacting water quality.
‘Netting fence sediment traps are quick and easy to erect and can be made using second-hand materials.
‘Netting fences slow the speed of water and trap large organic materials. As the water slows, heavier sediments drop to the bottom while the organic materials trapped on the fence act as a filter for finer materials,’ he said.
‘To be most effective, the netting fence needs to be well supported with steel posts and follow the contour of the land.
‘By making the base of the fence follow a level path, the water can spread out in both directions along the fence. The longer the fence, the more material that will get trapped. The ends of the fence need to be turned uphill to increase capture of materials.
‘Commercial geo-fabric silt fences are great for trapping finer materials, however they transmit water very slowly and are not recommended for concentrated flows of water.
‘Clean straw bales placed tightly together and pegged down with steel posts can also be used to create an effective sediment trap.
‘Alternatives include synthetic silt fences, sediment ponds or a simple diversion bank with drop boards to manage flows into your dam.
‘Regardless of design, all sediment traps should be regularly inspected, maintained and emptied following major storm events.
Mr Sturmfels said sediment traps can only do so much to prevent dam pollution, and the best strategy is to ensure you maintain good ground cover and fence out all larger dams.
‘Stock access to water can be maintained using a hardened access ramp or by pumping to a tank and trough arrangement.’
For more information, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.
For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.
Putting Victoria's pets at the paw-front
The Victorian Government is helping more Victorian families access cheaper veterinary care and giving more pets the chance to find their forever families.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence opened Round 12 of the Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program recently at Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) in Craigieburn, offering over $1.6 million in funding to eligible organisations.
The grants will help community veterinary hospitals and animal rehoming organisations upgrade facilities, purchase medical equipment, provide low cost veterinary services and support rehoming.
SCAR has rescued over 10,000 animals since opening in 2008 and has been supported with over $560,000 of investment from the government to help fit out its animal hospital and provide veterinary and rehoming services.
The not-for-profit organisation has hundreds of foster carers and volunteers in its network, operating as a community animal hospital, shelter, education hub and cat boarding facility.
The government has invested more than $11.4 million across 214 shelters, carers and animal welfare organisations to improve the care of Victoria’s companion animals.
The Victorian Budget 2023/24 invested an additional $5 million to support pet rescue and rehoming, including $2 million to support access to veterinary care.
Applications for Round 12 Animal Welfare Fund Grants are open until 25 March. To apply, visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au.
Expanded facility putting the heat on crop research
A world first facility researching the impact of extreme hot and cold weather on crops is expanding thanks to support from the Victorian Government.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced the completion of the $1.18 million Free Air Temperature Extreme (FATE) facility expansion at the Horsham SmartFarm, doubling the size to cover about 2.5 hectares.
The FATE facility measures the impact of heat waves, drought and frost on cereal, pulse and oilseed crops, testing conditions on them at various stages to understand the impact on grain quality.
The upgraded facility is jointly funded with $386,000 from the government and $800,000 from Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
This expansion will enable more crop rotations and experiments, accelerating the development of new heat tolerant crop varieties for farmers. The equipment can be used for future research on other crops, including different grazing pasture species.
This year the facility researched eight different wheat and lentil varieties with various growth rates under the heaters against a control group under normal weather conditions to test the resilience of crops.
This crucial research will inform plant breeders which crop varieties can stay productive during extreme weather conditions, as the frequency and severity of these events increase in a changing climate.
The FATE facility is funded by the government as part of Agriculture Victoria’s 10-year Agriculture Strategy and the Safer Smarter Farms Program, which highlights risk management and adaptation to climate change.
GRDC’s investment towards the FATE facility was part of a $20 million infrastructure program to build Australia’s long-term grains research capacity and support the enduring profitability of the nation’s grain growers.
To learn more about the FATE facility, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).
Report sick or dead birds or wildlife
High pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) has been detected in poultry in the Euroa area within Strathbogie Shire. Control measures are in place to prevent further spread.
Learn more at agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu
Report any unexplained sick or dead poultry or birds to the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
Alligator weed is banned in Victoria
Looking a lot like some leafy green vegetables, alligator weed is banned in Victoria.
Alligator weed an aggressive plant that can devastate land and water environments.
It is a State Prohibited Weed and should not be transported, sold or grown anywhere in Victoria.
To report it, call 136 186 or email weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au
AgTech Innovators – Episode 4
Imagine having access to a free mapping system that lets you see at a farm level, what's happened in the past with things like climate, fire, and flood. And then, what might happen in the future.
Alena Moison from Digital Twin Victoria joins us for this episode to explain how this is unfolding across Victoria.
Tackling the Tough Topics
The National Centre for Farmer Health has recently released a handbook titled Tackling the Tough Topics outlining best practice guidelines to help individuals and groups plan successful farming community events with a mental health focus.
The guidelines seek to provide the knowledge, resources, and support needed to organise successful events and avoid potential problems that can be damaging to vulnerable individuals and/or their communities.
In case you missed it 📰
What's On
Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events.
Research Results Day – Irrigated Farm Systems
Join the Irrigation Farmers Network on 28 February, as they delve into the 2024 irrigated research trial results.
Gain valuable insights, explore key findings, and discover practical applications to enhance your farm system. This is a free workshop.
Mitigating risk in changing seasons – How can we better manage risk in spring to optimise production? How can we ensure we are getting 'bang for our buck' with water?
Create a flexible irrigated farming system that can adapt to seasonal variation by adjusting inputs or targets to deliver the greatest profitability.
Irrigated variety trials – What varieties are you using? Are they the best for your system? What are other options that might perform better?
Location - Cadell on the Murray, 325 Perricoota Road, Moama.
Morning tea and lunch provided.
Climate change and farming with Graeme Anderson
The BestWool/BestLamb group invite producers to learn more about climate change with Graeme Anderson, Agriculture Victoria’s Climate Specialist. Graeme comes with 35 years experience in science, farm planning and agricultural industry development.
This free workshop will cover:
- seasonal variability and climate change
- recent trends and what to plan for in future
- what forecasts can and can’t tell us
- strategies for farm planning and adapting to changing conditions.
When: 3 March, from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Where: Boronggook Drysdale Library, 2-8 Wyndham Sreet, Drysdale.
Sustainable property management through Healthy Hectares project
Small property land managers in the North East are invited to a free Healthy Hectares introductory session on Thurs, 6 March, from 7-8 pm at The Centre for Continuing Education, Wangaratta.
This session offers an overview of the innovative Healthy Hectares program, a series of 6 tailored workshops delivered over 7 months, starting April.
Workshop to create animal health plans for your sheep
Join Agriculture Victoria and sheep veterinarian Dr Frankie Collett from Rochester Vet Clinic for a free workshop.
At this interactive workshop you will identify local health issues and learn about their prevention and treatment option solutions to create an animal health plan for your flock.
An animal health plan is an important tool for farmers to minimise biosecurity risks and increase animal performance.
Date: 5 March, from 9:30 am – 2 pm
Where: Rochester Community House, 45 Mackay St, Rochester.
Light refreshments will be provided, please note dietary needs at registration.
To register please contact Erica on 0429 807 689 or at erica.schelfhorst@agriculture.vic.gov.au or online by clicking on the button below.
Agriculture events in or near the Towong Shire
4 March at Culcairn – Riverine Plains Harvest Wrap-Up and Farm Water Planning Day Harvest Wrap-Up & Farm Water Planning Day – Culcairn
6 March at Howlong – Just the facts on carbon farming workshop Just the facts on Carbon farming Howlong
11 March Online Every drop counts: Farm water management webinar series
12 March Online RIC Webinar – Get ‘RIC Ready’ to apply for a low-cost farm business loan Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
15 March at Crown Lounge Beer Deluxe Albury – Riverine Plains Graze Networking Event for 18–40-year-olds working in agriculture. Graze
HERD 25
Herd'25 is a biennial conference with a program tailored to attract the herd improvement, genetics and animal performance industry.
Location: All Seasons Resort Hotel, Bendigo
Date: 12-13 March.
VFF Stock Sense Calving essentials webinar series
Webinar part 1
When: 18 March
Time: 6 - 7:30 pm
Where: Online
Webinar part 2
When: 19 March
Time: 6 - 7:30 pm
Where: Online
New to calving? Wanting to learn more? Maybe you just need a quick refresher!
This 2-part FREE webinar is perfect for you – hosted by the Stock Sense team and Dr Rob Bonnano.
Get ready for the calving season with a checklist covering everything you need to know.
Structured to cover 101 Essentials, Methods to preventing calving problems – a whole system approach, and a Q&A session to conclude.
The webinar series will be conducted via Zoom, with the link available HERE.
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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