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Thursday, 8 September 2022
In this edition:
Latest ag news
Foot-and-mouth information
Surveillance of animal disease in Victoria

Dr Jeff Cave, Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer

Victoria’s livestock industries are fortunate to be free of most of the serious diseases that affect animals in other parts of the world.

Despite this fact, on-going surveillance for new or exotic disease is important to protect our livestock, to reassure our trading partners of Victoria’s favourable disease status, and to ensure the early detection of diseases that might impact on trade, public health, and farm or regional productivity.

Early detection of emerging or exotic disease is the key to their effective management and this relies on farmers, vets and government working together.

In the course of doing farm visits and treating livestock, veterinary practitioners must remain vigilant and consider the possibility of new, unusual or exotic diseases.

Agriculture Victoria has an initiative that allows veterinarians who investigate and report on outbreaks of unusual or significant animal disease to be paid a subsidy to help cover the cost of the investigation and associated laboratory fees. 

The subsidy program increases the likelihood of early reporting of a serious animal disease and assists with costs associated with any subsequent investigation. Payment of subsidies is conditional upon approval being given by Agriculture Victoria before the investigation begins.

This subsidy can be paid when:

  • a large number of animals are affected or there is an unusual presentation of a disease
  • an initial investigation fails to establish a diagnosis, or veterinary treatment does not produce the expected response
  • clinical signs are consistent with an emergency disease without a clear alternative diagnosis
  • there is a possible effect on trade, public health or the viability of a farm, industry or region.

When an exotic or emergency disease is suspected, Agriculture Victoria will undertake the disease investigation and cover the full cost of the investigation.

Producers and animal owners should immediately report suspected or identified exotic disease to their vet or the 24-hour emergency animal disease watch hotline on 1800 675 888.

For more information about Victoria’s significant animal disease program, including how to access subsidies, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Don't feed swill to pigs
Image of pig. text reads: Know what you can and can't feed your pigs; Agriculture Victoria

Did you know that food waste – swill – containing meat or other animal by-products must not be fed to pigs as it may contain viruses that cause diseases in animals?

Australia is free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Feeding pigs waste food containing meat and meat products, irrespective of whether they are locally produced or imported, or imported dairy products puts this at risk.

Banning the feeding of prohibited food waste to pigs provides an important defence against the introduction of FMD or African Swine Fever to Australia.

Learn more about what you can and can't feed to pigs here.

BeeMAX the easy way to meet record-keeping obligations
Graphic tile showing a bee gathering pollen from bright yellow wattle blooms.

Have you heard the buzz? It’s all about BeeMAX.

BeeMAX is free, quick, and easy to use – and it’s a simple way of maintaining your record keeping obligations under the Livestock Disease and Control Regulations. 

Whether you’re a backyard beekeeper or keep commercial quantities of hives, the BeeMAX electronic diary is a central place to record all your biosecurity activities and observations including: 

  • pest and disease inspections and testing
  • swarm collection data
  • movement of bees and equipment
  • biosecurity training completed.

Learn more here.

Visit BeeMAX here.

Keeping your hives healthy
Image of a beekeeper checking hives. Text reads Healthy hives: Keep your bees and hives sweet this spring and summer

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 info visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/varroa

For beeaware biosecurity basics go to beeaware.org.au/biosecurity/biosecurity-basics/

Victoria’s ag sector united in taking climate action
A group of agricultural farmers, industry and government representatives at the launch of the Victorian Government's Climate Action Statement.

Picture: Statement launch attendees, L- R:  Matt Lowe (CEO, Agriculture Victoria), Greg Morris (Agriculture Victoria), Craig Taverner (CEO, Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria), Fiona Davis (CEO, Farmers for Climate Action), Susannah Tymms (Dairy Australia), Emma Germano (President, Victorian Farmers Federation), Robyn McLean (GippsDairy), Tom McIntosh (MLC Eastern Victoria), Pablo Alvarez (Agriculture Victoria), David Brennan (Chair, VicCatchments), Joe Jacobs (Agriculture Victoria), Leah Marrett (Agriculture Victoria), Hon Gayle Tierney MP, Gillian Hayman (VACCC member), Jack Holden (VACCC member), Nicola Pero (CEO, Food & Fibre Gippsland), Chris Buckingham (CEO, Latrobe Valley Authority), Jennifer Duke (Agriculture Victoria).

Also in attendance: Bret Ryan (CEO, Southern Farming Systems), Margaret Jewell (Meat & Livestock Australia).

A new plan to build a climate-resilient agriculture sector in Victoria by reducing emissions and collaborating with industry and community has been released by the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney today launched the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Statement at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm.

The statement outlines a plan towards a profitable and productive agriculture sector that takes action on climate change, and is a key part of the Agriculture Sector Pledge released in May last year. The statement has been supported by the Victorian Farmers Federation and Farmers for Climate Action.

Developed over the last 12 months, the statement has been informed by engagement through the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council and more than 90 stakeholders and 45 organisations have had their input.

The statement backs in a plan for agriculture industries to become more climate resilient with projects already underway to address climate change challenges.

At Ellinbank SmartFarm the government is delivering on the Agriculture Sector Pledge, with researchers testing technologies and practices to reduce emissions with an ambitious target of being the world’s first carbon-neutral dairy farm by 2026.

The government’s Climate Change Strategy, the 10-year Agriculture Strategy, and the Agriculture Sector Pledge all play a vital role in building a climate-resilient Victorian agriculture sector by reducing emissions and collaborating with industry and community to understand, adapt and grow as Victoria targets net zero.

View the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Statement here

Have your say on Victoria’s biosecurity laws

Victorians now have the opportunity to shape the future of biosecurity as the Victorian Government works to safeguard the agriculture sector.

The government has released a discussion paper setting out key topics to guide reforms to Victoria's biosecurity legislation.

Public feedback on Victoria’s current biosecurity system is vital to ensure it remains effective, including the legislation that underpins it.

Strong and modern biosecurity laws will ensure Victoria maintains its reputation as a producer and exporter of safe and high-quality produce.

Legislative reform also provides an opportunity to develop laws that address risks, and support new ways for government, industry and the community to work together.

Combining the laws relating to animals, plants and pests currently provided across multiple pieces of legislation into a single Biosecurity Act will help make everyone’s responsibilities clear.

There is also opportunity to consider how biosecurity legislation can emphasise that biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and to recognise Traditional Owner rights and knowledge systems in Caring for Country.

This is the first time Victorians have had the opportunity to have their say on combining the biosecurity laws.

Feedback received will help the government understand the priorities of the public and guide the development of new policies.

The reform delivers on the government’s ambitious 10-year agriculture strategy, ensuring the sector is well-placed to guard against future risk.

Community members can complete a survey or make a submission by midnight, Sunday 9 October 2022 via engage.vic.gov.au.

Preparedness is key

Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer

There is no way of knowing when or where in Australia an exotic disease outbreak may occur, so to be prepared, we need an accurate and up-to-date database at all times.

That’s why in Victoria, when livestock are moved between two properties with different property identification codes (PICs) the transfer must record on the NLIS database within two days. 

The person responsible for updating the NLIS database has been legally defined to ensure all responsible parties are aware of the transfer.

If you are buying cattle, sheep or goats from a sale yard, scale, or on-farm public auction, or selling them directly to an abattoir, it is the responsibility of the person operating the business to notify the database.

Otherwise, if you buy livestock privately, or through an online selling platform such as AuctionsPlus, Gumtree or Facebook, or if you receive livestock through agistment or a loan, it is your responsibility to notify the database. 

You can engage a third party such as the vendor or a stock agent to do this, but you are still required to ensure the transfer was completed on your behalf.

What if you are not sure if the NLIS database is accurate for your PIC? Then it may be time to reconcile your PIC. 

This is like a stocktake, where you compare all NLIS devices on your property, both attached to livestock and those not used to those on the NLIS database. The NLIS database will provide instructions on what to do with any discrepancies.

For further information on recording property to property movements please either visit www.nlis.com.au, contact the NLIS Helpdesk on 1800 654 743, or email support@nlis.com.au.

Applications open for dairy leadership programs

Applications are now open for the Alpine Valleys and Fairley (Goulburn Murray) Community Leadership Programs.

Each year, Gardiner Dairy Foundation supports two places in the programs for regionally based people working on Victorian dairy farms, in dairy processing or as service providers.

The opportunity, part of the Victorian Regional Community Leadership Programs, aims to develop participants' personal leadership skills, regional knowledge and network of professional and community contacts. 

Head to the website for more information, or to apply.

The Fast Break newsletter

Welcome to the August 'Fast Break' climate newsletter for 2022.

Click to see its soil moisture, climate driver summary and climate predictions from August run models.

VICTORIA

SOUTHERN NSW

We love your feedback.

If you have comments, questions or feedback address them to Dale Grey at the.break@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Soil moisture monitoring – cropping

In this edition:

  • Introduction
  • Recent Soil Moisture Monitoring observations (from 22 August)
  • Speedo assessments – change in overall soil moisture at a particular site.
  • Speedo soil moisture graphs.

Read in full HERE.

AgVic Talk – crucial seasonal workers
Graphic tile shows a man wearing t-shirt and shorts walking through an orchard.

The estimated 15,000 seasonal workers who pick crops and maintain orchards are crucial to the success of the Sunraysia food bowl.  

In this episode of AgVic Talk, we speak with Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) Pastoral Care Program coordinator Corey Iredale and pastoral care worker Viliami Vea.

Viliami began as a seasonal worker at 21 and now generously gives back to his community as a SMECC pastoral care worker.  

Corey and Viliami talk about keeping seasonal workers healthy and happy and supporting them to stay in the region.  

Listen online via the AgVic website 🎧 

Fox and wild dog bounty – northern Victoria's collection details
A collection officer holds a full fox scalp

Acceptable entire fox scalps and entire wild dog body parts will be collected from eligible members of the public at specific dates and times, and from sites scheduled as collection centres.

Please note that no entire fox scalps or entire wild dog body parts will be accepted at any public counter or state government office.

The bounty will run until the end of October 2022, consistent with previous years.

Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty to find out more.

Collections will only be accepted at the designated times.

Benalla collections

Address: Depot, 89 Sydney Road, Benalla.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10am – 12pm

Dates:

  • Wednesday, 14 September
  • Wednesday, 12 October.

 

Ovens collections

Address: 5338 Great Alpine Road, Ovens.

Collection type: Fox and wild dog

Time: 1.30 – 3.30pm

Dates:

  • Tuesday, 13 September
  • Tuesday, 11 October.

 

Tatura collections

Address: Depot, 255 Ferguson Road, Tatura

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 11.30am – 1.30pm

  • Dates:
  • Monday, 12 September
  • Monday, 10 October.

 

Bendigo collections

Address: Corner Midland Highway and Taylor Street, Epsom

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

Dates:

  • Monday, 26 September
  • Monday, 24 October.

 

St Arnaud collections

Address: 4 Montague Street, St Arnaud, Victoria,

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

Dates:

  • Thursday, 29 September
  • Thursday, 27 October.
 

Broadford collections

Address: 5 Mollinson Street, Broadford.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

Dates:

  • Thursday, 15 September
  • Thursday, 13 October.

 

Mansfield collections

Address: Depot, 128 Highett Street, Mansfield.

Collection type: Fox and wild dog

Time: 2 – 4pm

Dates:

  • Wednesday, 14 September
  • Wednesday, 12 October.

 

Wodonga collections

Address: 14 Moorefield Park Drive, Wodonga.

Collection type: Fox and wild dog

Time: 9 – 11am

Dates:

  • Tuesday, 13 September
  • Tuesday, 11 October.

 

Ouyen collections

Address: Gregory Street, Ouyen

Collection type: Fox and wild dog (wild dog by appointment only)

Time: 2 – 4pm

Dates:

  • Tuesday, 27 September
  • Tuesday, 25 October.

 

Swan Hill collections

Address: 7 Quin Drive, Swan Hill,

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 8.30 – 10.30am

Dates:

  • Tuesday, 27 September
  • Tuesday, 25 October.
ICYMI

Ground-breaking farmers cutting food waste

The Victorian Government is supporting vegetable producers to keep food waste from landfill, with innovations that create new jobs and revenue streams.

Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio recently visited a business in Werribee South, which is turning surplus vegetables into powders ready for supermarket shelves.

A $500,000 stage government grant has supported Victorian business Fresh Select to install a drying unit that processes vegetables and vegetable offcuts not suitable to sell, and transforms them into nutrient vegetable powders.

The powders – on shelves soon under the label Nutri V - can be added to smoothies, sauces, soups and used in muffins, cakes, breads and other baked goods to boost vegetable intake.

The innovative facility will help local growers create new revenue streams, save costs, and minimise food waste on farms, while creating nutritious new products.

The facility has the capacity to transform almost 8000 tonnes of surplus vegetables and vegetable offcuts every year into new food products and will create 11 new jobs.

The first of its kind in Victoria, the technology is a model that can be expanded to other vegetable producers across the state.

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE.

Caring for and protecting Victoria’s animals

The Victorian Government is supporting Victorian pet rescue groups so more dogs and cats find their forever home.

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney has announced Round 2 of the Individual Pet Rehoming Grants with $1.25 million in funding available to pet rescue organisations that provide vital rehoming services.

Eligible organisations may apply to be reimbursed for $500 per dog and $200 per cat for some rehoming costs including desexing, microchipping, vaccinations, the purchase of crates, bedding and leads, and training or rehabilitation.

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE.

Be alert for elevated disease risk coming into spring

Farmers are being encouraged to look out for signs of disease in field crops coming into spring and take action to minimise the impacts on their crops.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Cereal Pathologist, Dr Mark McLean said diseases in cereal and pulse crops in Victoria were observed earlier than usual this season due to the wet conditions.

“We’ve so far had reports of powdery mildew and stripe rust in wheat, Ascochyta blight in lentils and bean, and Botrytis grey mould/chocolate spot in bean, lentil and vetch.

“Given the wet conditions, and the outlook for a wetter than average couple of months ahead, growers and advisers are encouraged to inspect and monitor crops closely for diseases. Proactive disease management with fungicide is warranted under these conditions to avoid crop losses.”

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE.

Improving accessibility with AgVic eBooks

The Agriculture Victoria Crop Disease Guides are being piloted as an AgVic eBook to help improve their accessibility to growers and agronomists.

Agriculture Victoria Grains Pathology Services Project Officer Luise Fanning said the annual guides, produced with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), detail how resistant or susceptible new and commonly grown cereal and pulse varieties are to a range of crop diseases.

"Launching the guides as an eBook will improve their accessibility, making it easier for growers and agronomists to keep up to date with the latest information."

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE.

What's On

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

Building capacity in phytosanitary irradiation workshop

Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure your organisation’s priorities are recognised in a national strategy for market access and biosecurity using irradiation.

Use of phytosanitary irradiation has grown significantly over the past year with more than 35 Australian-grown crops using it to reach domestic and export markets. 

Presented by Agriculture Victoria, this half-day online, or full-day in-person workshop is an opportunity to join a broad group of stakeholders from industry, research and government to ensure that phytosanitary irradiation continues to be developed to protect and grow Australia’s horticulture industry.

The workshop will cover the experiences of industries using irradiation as a biosecurity measure, overcoming barriers to trade, understanding Australian food standards. These sessions will all be available for online participants.

Those attending in-person will also access a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of irradiation, and a tour of Steritech’s Melbourne irradiation facility.

When: Thursday, 15 September.

Where: 475 Mickleham Road, Attwood (five minutes from Melbourne airport) (online attendance available for the first three sessions).

REGISTER HERE.

Program:

 11.30am  Sessions 1 to 3 available online

  • Session 1 – Phytosanitary irradiation: Industry experience
  • Session 2 – Phytosanitary irradiation: Overcoming barriers to trade
  • Session 3 – Understanding Australian food standards.

11.40am  12.40pm  Panel and audience discussion

  • Session 4 – Phytosanitary irradiation workshop: Confronting challenges and seeking opportunities.

1.30  5pm  Tour of Steritech’s Melbourne Irradiation Facility. Bus is provided. 

For more information, contact Martin Bluml at Agriculture Victoria on 0408 109 647 or at martin.bluml@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Spring/summer seasonal outlook webinar
A man in a beanie holds an open umbrella and an ipad showing climate predictions.

This webinar series with seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey, focuses on the current seasonal climate outlook, climate driver activity and soil moisture.

The online presentations allow participants to ask questions.

They will be recorded, so if you miss the live presentation, you can watch it later at a time that suits you. 

Southern New South Wales outlook

When: Friday 9 September at 10am
Event number: 811 5367 9053
Event password: NSWoutlook

REGISTER HERE.

 
Advanced drip irrigation workshop - Numurkah

Caption: Senior irrigation officer Nick O'Halloran inspects a horticultural drip irrigation system.

Agriculture Victoria is running a one-day workshop for irrigators in Numurkah on Wednesday 14 September.

Presented by Agriculture Victoria’s Jeremy Giddings and Netafim Australia’s Peter Henry, the Advanced Drip Irrigation Course will provide the latest information on drip irrigation system design, operation and maintenance. Relevant for horticulture or broadacre, subsurface or surface drip irrigation.

Bring your own irrigation design with you on the day, and come prepared for time outside assessing a drip irrigation system.

When: 14 September, 9am – 4pm.

Where: Numurkah.

Register to attend and receive final details by 5pm Friday 9 September. Call Nick O’Halloran on 0438 321 528 or email nick.ohalloran@agriculture.vic.gov.au

A farmer perspective – making sense of carbon and emissions

Attend this free webinar to hear from Cam Nicholson and Fiona Conroy. They have long been interested in improving, measuring and understanding the benefits of managing their farm's natural resources.

The main focus has been on soil, water, vegetation and fauna.  Actions include extensive tree planting, fencing off water storages, reticulation into troughs, soil testing every paddock every three years (since 1993), as well as bird and fauna monitoring.

More recently they have been interested in understanding the opportunities and future market challenges around carbon accounting and reporting.  In this webinar Fiona and Cam will describe their progress so far and their future thinking around carbon, emissions and sequestration.

For more information contact Heather Field at heather.field@agriculture.vic.gov.au, or on 0438 391 210.

When: Thursday 15 September, 12 – 1pm. 

REGISTER HERE.

Multiple benefits of wildlife-friendly dams – Rushworth

Join us for a free on-farm workshop to learn about the multiple benefits of wildlife-friendly dams.

The field day will include:

  • Sustainable Farms ecologist David Smith will share the latest research into the multiple benefits of enhancing farm dams
  • Dr Martino Malerba, environmental scientist from Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab, will present his research on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farm dams
  • Greg Bekker from Agriculture Victoria will inform the group how to be drought prepared, how to complete a farm water budget and things to consider before building a dam
  • Plus learn how to create your own wildlife-friendly dam from experienced local people.

Registration is essential and can be done here. Location in Rushworth will be supplied after registration is complete.

Please bring a drink bottle, hat, and wear closed-in shoes and weather appropriate clothing. Morning tea provided.

For more information, contact Karen at Goulburn Broken CMA on 0409 955 396 or karenb@gbcma.vic.gov.au

Date: Thursday 15 September.

Time: 9.30 – 11.30am

REGISTER HERE

Agri-food export essentials – International business planning and market entry essentials

Agriculture Victoria is delivering a tailored Agri-food Export Essentials series to support Victorian agri-food businesses unlock their export success.

Ever wondered what you need to plan for to get your product ready for export? How do you know if you have conducted thorough enough market research? What is a market entry strategy?

Attend this free webinar, the first of this four-part series, which covers international business planning and market entry essentials.

For more information contact Jai Jackson-Jin on 0404 727 690 or at pathwaystoexport@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

When: Wednesday 28 September, 2 – 3.30pm.

REGISTER HERE.

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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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