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Thursday 13 February 2025
Maintain ground cover to protect soils
Clem Sturmfels, Land Management Extension Officer
Isolated dust storms recently are a reminder of how fragile some of our soils are.
They are also a good reminder there is still time to prevent this damage by de-stocking more vulnerable areas of the farm. While dust storms contain mostly mineral materials, they also contain significant quantities of organic matter, one of the most valuable components of our soils.
Leaving stock in a paddock for an extra couple of weeks to make use of remaining water supplies can be all it takes to expose the paddock to the risk of wind erosion.
Dust storms or wind erosion occur when the speed of the wind at the soil surface exceeds the forces holding soil particles in place. Typically, soil particles exist as a small pea sized peds or aggregates.
As these peds or aggregates break down the soil becomes more vulnerable to erosion.
Once the process of wind erosion starts it can be nearly impossible to stop as the larger sand grains bounce and roll across the soil surface stripping remaining vegetation and smashing (or sand blasting) the soil in front of them.
The most vulnerable areas are those with lightly textured soils, little groundcover and shelter belts and topography that exposes them to high wind speeds. Lighter textured soils are those containing a high proportion of sand with little or no clay.
Wind erosion can start anywhere the soil has been disturbed, such as in gateways, along tracks and around water troughs.
The key to preventing wind erosion is to maintain as much ground cover as possible and avoiding disturbing the soil. Aim for 80% cover in pasture paddocks and 60% cover in crop stubbles. Ground cover also helps moderate temperature extremes in soil and retains moisture.
Maintaining good ground cover will reduce the risk of wind erosion but will also reduce damage to pastures and assist with a faster recovery following the autumn break.
Bare soil is also more susceptible to oxidation and microbial activity that can release stored carbon as CO2. Building the soil carbon levels back up can take years in drier climates. Soil carbon is a valuable soil resource as it improves soil structure, increases water retention and nutrient availability.
When groundcover levels are low the only practical way to reduce the risk of wind erosion is to remove livestock to other paddocks or place stock in a stock containment area.
Further information on support available can be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or by calling 136 186.
L-R: Den Lim (Churchill), Dr Mary Cole (Garfield) and Sherri Symons (Ellerslie).
Victorian finalists announced for 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award
Three inspiring Victorian women have been named as finalists for the 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, recognising their leadership, innovation, and contribution to rural industries and communities.
The award celebrates women driving positive change in rural and regional Australia by empowering them with the skills, support, and leadership opportunities to shape their industries and communities.
Back On Track by National Centre for Farmer Health
Are you feeling overwhelmed, unusually frustrated or angry? Are you struggling to make decisions, losing concentration or avoiding family and friends? Are you feeling tired all the time, physically run down or stuck in a rut? Back On Track is an innovative, peer-guided mental health initiative designed to support farming communities.
Funded by the Gardiner Foundation and led by the National Centre for Farmer Health, this program focuses on improving mental health outcomes for farmers by providing practical, culturally appropriate support delivered by trusted community members.
- A 10 x session program (approximately 1 x hour per week over 10 weeks)
- Guidance from peer coaches trained in behavioural activation—an evidence based method for boosting mood
- Flexibly delivered to reduce barriers to accessing support.
Detection of avian influenza at Euroa poultry farm
Agriculture Victoria has confirmed the presence of avian influenza at a poultry property in northern Victoria, which has now been placed into quarantine.
Diagnostic testing performed by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness at Geelong confirmed high pathogenicity H7N8, which is different from the strains that impacted Victorian, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory poultry farms during 2024, which have been eradicated. The strain detected is also different from the H5N1 avian influenza strain that is impacting the USA and other parts of the world.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Recently for International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Agriculture Victoria profiled four of the amazing scientists who work for us.
Dr. Christy Vander Jagt - Senior Researcher, Genomics and Cell Sciences team at AgriBio Bundoora. Leading a project to reduce methane emissions from cows by establishing a breeding value for ‘methane efficiency’ in the Australian dairy industry.
Anna Weeks - Systems Modeller, Landscape and Water Science team. Exploring key relationships between agricultural productivity and factors like climate, soil, topography, and land use.
Dr. Sukhjiwan Kaur - Head of Applied Genomics and Predictive Breeding team in Plant Sciences. Developing cutting-edge genomic tools to accelerate crop improvement and make plant breeding faster and more efficient.
Dr. Audrey Delahunty - Researcher at Mildura and Horsham Smart Farms, Crop Agronomy team. Focusing on improving pulse production with climate-resilient crops like heat-tolerant lentils and new farming methods to diversify and grow the pulse industry.
Japanese encephalitis virus detected in Goulburn Valley pig herd
Agriculture Victoria can confirm Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has been detected in a Goulburn Valley pig herd.
JE virus is considered established in mainland Australia and therefore there will be no quarantine or movement restrictions put in place.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Sally Salmon stressed that the detection, which is the first in a pig since April 2022, is not unexpected.
Have you got your emergency kit ready?
When a bushfire is likely to impact your property, staying to defend it or preparing to shelter in place can be extremely dangerous.
You must be mentally and physically fit, have all the necessary personal protective equipment, have an ample supply of food and water and an emergency and evacuation kit packed and ready to go. Prepare an emergency and evacuation kit even if your plan is to leave early.
The global agrifood innovation system is complex. It’s made up of everything from researchers to entrepreneurs, to investors. Each a cog in the large AgTech machine.
How do you make sure that that machine is running smoothly?
Justin Ahmed is the Director of Beanstalk, a company that greases those cogs as a food and agriculture innovation advisory and venture builder.
Tackling the Tough Topics
The National Centre for Farmer Health has recently released a handbook 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.
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.
What's On
Details about Agriculture Victoria events can be found in one spot at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events.
Carbon workshops with Cam Nicholson
Understanding Carbon and Emissions Opportunities in Agriculture
When: Wednesday 19 February 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Where: Omeo Recreation Reserve
Soil Fertility and Carbon with Cam
When: Thursday 20 February
Where: Bruthen - 8:30 to 11:30 am
Clifton Creek - 1 to 4 pm
Carbon Dimensions with Cam Nicholson
When: Friday 21 February
6 to 8:30 pm
Where: Gippsland Ag Centre
Horticulture Food Safety drop-in sessions
Wanting to know more about the new food safety standards for berries, melons and leafy vegetable growers?
Come and have a chat with us in Werribee, Korumburra or Lindenow and take home some resources to help you navigate the new food safety standards for your business.
The new standards came into effect on February 12, and apply to businesses of any size that grow or complete primary or ‘early-stage’ processing of berries, leafy vegetables or melons.
- Werribee: Thursday 27 February
- Korumburra: Wednesday 5 March
- Lindenow: Thursday 6 March
On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot update
Join our upcoming webinar to hear from our On-Farm Emissions Action Plan pilot team. The team has been working with 250 farm businesses across Victoria to estimate their emissions profile and identify actions to manage and reduce emissions while maintaining productivity.
When: Thursday 27 February – 12 pm
For more information and to stay up to date with our upcoming climate webinars visit our website.
Forestry Transition Program drop-in sessions
Do you want to know more about current grants on offer through the Forestry Transition Program?
The mobile Forestry Information Hub will be at:
- Cann River Community Centre
13 Princes Highway, Cann River
Thursday 20 February, 10 am – 12 midday.
Please drop in and meet the friendly team. For more information about the Forestry Transition Program visit the website.
Online Farm Business Resilience Program
When: Wednesday 19 February, Wednesday 26 February, Wednesday 5 March and Wednesday 19 March, 12 to 3 pm.
- Module 2: Financial management, budgeting and profitable decision making
- Module 3: Managing people on farm, succession planning and farm safety
- Module 4: Climate risk and natural resource management
- Module 5: Business planning.
HERD 25
The Herd'25 conference has a program tailored to attract the herd improvement, genetics and animal performance industry. Featuring a strong lineup of speakers from Australia and worldwide.
Several world leaders are on the program this year and the Herd'25 gathering provides an opportunity for all interested in dairy herd improvement to unite, network and learn.
When: 12 and 13 March, 9:30 am.
Where: All-Seasons Resort Hotel, Bendigo.
Keep up to date with GippsDairy's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Gippsland Agricultural Group's events on their website.
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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