In this edition:

• Avian Influenza - remain vigilant
• Ag Vic contacting land owners near Meredith and Terang
• Farmers invited to ‘Take a Wellbeing Break’
• Avoiding the full force of cold weather on cows
• Don't fluke it, drench strategically
• Shifting gears for National Farm Safety Week
• This National Farm Safety Week take farm safety into your hands
• Grants to help bring the agricultural show season to life
• Biosecurity Basics – episode 10
• Get it right every time – is it fit to load?
• Dry seasons and drought support
• Free financial counselling
• Cultivating Futures in Farming Mentor Program registrations close soon
• In case you missed it
• What's on

As we continue to respond to the avian flu outbreak, we’re urging bird owners to remain vigilant.

Look out for symptoms and report any unexplained bird deaths to the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.

For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu

Agriculture Victoria will be contacting property owners located near the avian influenza affected farms in the Meredith and Terang areas to check in. Residents in the area may be contacted via phone or text.

We will be asking if you have chickens or other livestock on the property, and about the health of the animals. Gathering this data helps us to plan our avian influenza response and lift the quarantine measures that are in place as soon as possible.

Be aware of scams. Agriculture Victoria will not ask for financial information or credit card details.

If you have any questions or want to report sick or dead birds, please contact the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.

For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu

A series of wellbeing workshops targeting farming communities is being delivered as part of Agriculture Victoria’s Farm Business Resilience program, with the first to be held in Dimboola.

Agriculture Victoria Statewide Agriculture Recovery Manager Tess McDougall said the ‘Take a Wellbeing Break’ workshops are aiming to support social connection and collaboration in farming communities.

‘The workshops will provide occasions to support farmers, farming families and rural communities with mental health, wellbeing and self-care.’

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report conducted by the National Farmers Federation in 2023 found that burnout and exhaustion are commonly reported in the farming community, with almost three quarters of farmers experiencing burnout of some kind in the last five years.

Mrs McDougall said farmers have faced a series of challenging events over recent years with the current dry seasonal conditions in some regions just the latest one to confront them.

The workshops will be facilitated by Cynthia Mahoney, an experienced facilitator and coach with a background in Agricultural Science. She says the workshops are designed to be fun and practical.

‘They will bring farmers together to provide them with wellbeing tools and information, connect them and share ideas, and identify practical strategies they can immediately implement to positively impact their well-being.

‘People often associate wellbeing with the serious topic of mental health and expect another workshop full of the same stuff.

‘It is a weighty subject, and I have created something that is meant to be fun while also providing an opportunity for participants to talk about wellbeing in a serious way while they are doing it,’ said Ms Mahoney.

Workshops will be held at:

• Dimboola, Wednesday 7 August from 6 to 9 pm
• Bruthen, Friday 9 August from 10 am to 2 pm
• Maffra, Tuesday 27 August from 10 am to 2 pm
• Casteron, Thursday 29 August from 10 am to 2 pm
• Wonthaggi,Tuesday 3 September from 10 am to 2 pm
• Kyabram, Thursday 5 September from 10 am to 2 pm

Register for the workshops at Trybooking or visit the Agriculture Victoria events page.

Other workshops are being planned for South-West Victoria, Northern Victoria and Gippsland, with details to be made available on Trybooking and the Agriculture Victoria website.

The workshops are funded by the Farm Business Resilience Program, which is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund.

With a winter blast forecast for eastern Victoria, reducing the impacts of cold weather on cattle is essential to both animal production and welfare.

During cold weather, the energy requirements of a cow can increase by up to 20%, with lighter cows being more affected than those in adequate condition.

Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Nick Linden said the impact of cold weather, particularly when combined with wet and windy conditions and low pasture availability, can severely affect cows that are already low in body condition.

‘It is important to keep an eye on the forecast weather conditions and if possible, move cattle into sheltered paddocks or those with windbreaks. This will reduce the impacts of chill by keeping animals out of the wind and give a better return on supplementary feeding.

‘Poorer condition cows have a higher maintenance requirement through winter as they have to work harder to stay warm,’ Mr Linden said.

‘Separating the lighter condition cows will enable producers to better manage these in-need cows with a specific feed and supplement plan and reduce competition for feed.

‘Lighter cows will suffer more from cold stress than fatter cows - fat is an excellent source of insulation as well as being an important energy reserve.  We really need to look out for the lighter cows.’

Lighter cows can also result in weaker calves being born in the spring, poor joining rates for autumn calvers or cow mortality.

Mr Linden said hungry cows can be cold cows and cattle will eat more in cold weather to generate body heat. Roughages like hay are broken down by microbial action, and this process generates heat. In addition to roughage, it’s important to keep an eye on the protein and energy levels of the diet.

‘While consuming roughages will help the cattle to stay warm, it is important to ensure adequate protein in the diet to feed the rumen bacteria.

‘Without the rumen bacteria being well fed, cattle will struggle to consume the roughages needed to generate heat and stay productive.

‘Managing lighter condition cows separately, using sheltered areas of the farm, knowing the energy and protein of the supplements being fed and monitoring fat scores of stock through winter are all important ways to minimise the impacts of cold weather on your stock, especially for animals in lighter condition as a result of the late autumn break experienced in many parts of the state.’

For more information visit:

• Wintering Cattle? Tips to Keep Them Warm
• Preventing Cold Stress in Cattle: Importance of Adequate Herd Nutrition

Dr Jeff Cave, Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer

Producers know there are chemicals available to treat internal parasites such as liver fluke, but a question worth considering is when to strategically use those chemicals.

Liver fluke is an internal parasite that lives in the bile ducts of cattle, sheep and goats and has a complex life cycle that requires a snail called Lymnea tomentosa to be involved. 

The snail can be identified by its characteristic cone shaped shell and the spirals of the shell which rotate in a clockwise direction. The snail occurs in swamps, drains, billabongs and irrigated pastures. 

Liver fluke can be treated using chemicals known as flukicides. Flukicides should be used strategically at specific times of year to minimise pasture contamination and to effectively kill the stage of fluke present in stock, but it should be noted that withholding periods apply.

The snail cannot survive frosty conditions so consideration should be given for giving flukicides following the first frosts.

It should be remembered that liver fluke control strategies vary by region and even property to property. 

Producers should talk to their veterinarian for specific recommendations. This will enable them to put in place an effective and economical fluke control plan for their property.

For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer on 136 186..

The Victorian Government is putting workplace safety for agriculture workers first this National Farm Safety Week, with funding to provide free access to educational resources, aimed at equipping young people with farm safety knowledge.

Acting Minister for Agriculture Steve Dimopoulos recently announced a $100,000 grant to the National Centre for Farmer Health to support the delivery of farm safety education in schools, teaching young people about the risks they are exposed to when visiting, living and working on farms.

Agriculture makes up two per cent of Victoria’s workforce while having 14 % of workplace fatalities. In 2022/23 young people aged 15 to 19 comprised 6.3 % of total workplace injuries and 13.3 % of non-work related injuries on farms.

The ‘Shifting Gears’ teaching resource will provide educators with materials to facilitate meaningful discussions about farm safety within their classrooms. The resources have been funded through the Farming Safe and Well program and will be available for use from January 2025.

This initiative aligns with this year’s National Farm Safety Week theme, ‘In Safe Hands’, which emphasises the importance of keeping our farmers and their families safe.

Throughout farm safety week, Farmsafe Australia will share practical safety tips from farmers to increase the safety of everyday tasks and foster a more safety focused farming culture.

The Victorian Government’s investment in ‘Shifting Gears’ follows the $900,000 provided to the National Centre for Farmer Health in the Victorian Budget 2024/25 for the delivery of agriculture-focused health and medical services, research, and education which will lead to direct benefits for farmers and their communities.

For more resources to support safety, health and wellbeing on farms, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Make sure you, your visitors and workers are aware of farm safety risks and take proactive steps to manage them.  

• Provide safe playing areas for children and fence off hazardous areas such as dams. 
• Use appropriate safety gear like helmets, gloves, eyewear, and hearing protection. 
• Utilise a checking in system when working alone. 
• Manage fatigue with regular breaks and planning ahead during busier times. 

Visit WorkSafe for more #FarmingSafeandWell tips to make your farm safer for everyone. 

Head to FarmSafe Australia to get the full rundown on Farm Safety Week.

Victorian agricultural and pastoral societies looking to improve their infrastructure or boost awareness and involvement in regional shows will get more support from the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence today announced the $300,000 Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program is open to applications ahead of the 2024/25 Show season.

The program aims to support Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in projects that help stimulate community involvement in activities that promote agriculture.

Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for infrastructure development and other business activities to celebrate Victoria’s agricultural communities, industry and produce.

The grants can be used to upgrade or establish new facilities, enhance public amenities, improve essential infrastructure, improve business management activities, biosecurity planning and promote reporting of livestock movements.

Previous projects funded under the program include new animal yards, fencing, shade covers and lighting or upgrades to shearing pavilions, luncheon halls, public amenities and viewing stands.

In previous rounds the Sale and District Agriculture Society received a grant of $10,000 to replace aged and damaged horse yards with 66 safer and more robust horse yards.

The project also included replacing existing weathered and unsafe wooden fence in the cattle show area with new durable treated pine and galvanised steel panels.

The Port Fairy Agricultural Show received a grant worth more than $7,000 to purchase portable picket fencing to provide safety for the show exhibits and families with small children eager to interact with the animals.

Applications close on 23 August. To learn more about the Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program or to apply today, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Jacob Pearce has been in a decade-long battle with weeds, some of which pose a biosecurity risk. 

He now has the upper hand on his 260-acre property west of Melbourne. To share what he's learnt he joined us for this episode of Biosecurity Basics.

Listen via the AgVic website.

Livestock must be inspected prior to being loaded and they must not be suffering from conditions that could cause, or would be likely to cause, increased pain or distress during transport.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer Jeff Cave said if you are in doubt about an animal’s suitability for transport, you can always ask your private veterinarian or any Agriculture Victoria animal health officer or veterinary officer if livestock are fit to load.

Furthermore, a guideline titled ‘Is the animal fit to load?’ has been produced by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA). This guideline can be viewed electronically on MLA’s website or ordered from MLA at MLA publications.

In summary, an animal is not fit to load if it:

• is not able to walk normally or bear weight on all its legs. This may be due to a recent or old fracture, an injury, a deformity or an infection.
• is not strong enough to make the journey
• is suffering from severe distress or injury
• is in a condition that could cause it increased pain or distress during transport
• is blind in both eyes
• is in late pregnancy.

Dr Cave said if you identify an animal that is unfit to load you have a few options.

‘You could treat the animal and transport it when it has recovered and is fit to load. Naturally this is not an option in cases that are not readily treatable.

‘Alternatively, you could humanely destroy the animal. A knackery service is available in many areas to help with this option.’

‘Finally, you could consult a veterinarian and only transport the animal under veterinary advice.’

Dr Cave said remember, the person in charge of the animal is responsible for its welfare. Community values and expectations will not accept anything less.

For further information on animal welfare contact your local animal health staff at Agriculture Victoria or call 136 186.

Find the ‘Land transport of livestock standard guidelines and more information here.

Have you updated your plan for the current seasonal conditions? Having a solid drought plan can help you with decision making in adverse conditions.

Check out the dry seasons and drought support on the Agriculture Victoria website today.

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.

Registrations for the 2024-25 Cultivating Futures in Farming (CFF) Mentor Program close Wednesday 7 August.

It's a free program designed for our ‘next generation farm managers’.

Participants learn from mentors, experts and peers to gain confidence in decision making and how to develop the financial, business and people management skills for running a farm business.

The program consists of face-to-face workshops (including farm visits), online webinars and individual coaching sessions.

The program will begin with an in-person 2-day workshop in Birchip from 14-15 August.

Watch a recently recorded webinar about the CFF mentor program here. Passcode: Bupcq7

Visit the Cultivating Futures in Farming page on the Agriculture Victoria website to learn more and apply.

The Cultivating Futures in Farming Mentor Program is provided by Agriculture Victoria in partnershp with Birchip Cropping Group and facilitated by Pinion Advisory. It is delivered through the Farm Business Resilience Program.

$17M project to unlock enhanced efficiency fertiliser potential

Australian grain growers could unlock tools to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a national research project examining enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs).

Read the media release here.

Grant supports expansion of iconic Bendigo Show

Bendigo’s iconic Australian Sheep and Wool Show will feature a new addition to its annual lineup of events, thanks to the Victorian Government’s Vic Grown Regional Activation Grants Program.

Read the media release here.

Partnering with community to manage pests and weeds

Efforts to support long-term management of rabbits, blackberries, serrated tussock and gorse across Victoria have been bolstered with support from the Victorian Government to four community pest management groups.

Read the full media release here.

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.

Save the date!

When: Sunday 4 and Monday 5 August, 8 am to 5 pm. 

Where: Hamilton Showgrounds. 

Buy tickets here.

Learn how to best use an animal health plan, an important tool for farmers to increase performance and minimise biosecurity risks. 

Hear from Dr Hannah Manning in this free interactive workshop where you will identify local health issues and learn about their prevention and treatment solutions when creating an animal health plan for your flock.

When: Wednesday 24 July, 10 am – 2 pm

Where: Navarre Football Club.

Register here.

The upcoming Irrigation Insights Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, 24 July, and Thursday, 25 July, at the Rich River Golf Club in Moama.

The conference is a collaboration between dairy, grains and cotton with the aim of providing information for profitable and sustainable farm business. Our program features sessions covering the latest research, technological advancements, and sustainable practices.

Conference highlights:

• Exploring marketing and consumer trends - Ron Storey, Storey Marketing
• New technology in weed control - Michael Walsh, Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment, Charles Sturt University
• Latest advances in nitrogen fertiliser - Helen Suter School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne.
• Over the gate - practices and innovation driving on farm productivity Panel - hear what other farmers are implementing to ensure productive sustainable businesses into the future.
• Grain, forage and fodder - mitigating risk of summer crop options (cotton, maize, sorghum) - Kieran O’Keefe Regional Extension Officer, CottonInfo and Yvette Williams, Research and Innovation Coordinator Murray Dairy
• Seeds of hope: The Aussie Hay Runners' Journey - Peter Wuthrich Aussie Hay Runners

The Gala Dinner on the evening of Wednesday 24 July, will commemorate our 25 years of the Irrigation Farmers Network achievements in RD&E. Featuring Renee Anderson, farmer and ag industry advocate as our special guest speaker.

For more information, please click here

Book tickets now.

This free event will be brought to you by Wimmera Southern Mallee Development, which aims to provide communities with clear information on the matters that mean the most.

With just 100 seats available, book your ticket now!

Funded by the Agriculture Victoria 'Regional Drought Resilience Planning Implementation Grant Program'.

Schedule

• 8 am - Free breakfast in the Longerenong College Dining Hall (egg and bacon rolls, tea and coffee etc).
• 8:45 am - Event starts at the Longerenong College Auditorium.

Notice of Filming and Photography
This event is being filmed as an information resource that will be published to WSMD's YouTube and promoted in WSMD marketing.

All efforts will be taken to film the presenters only, and not the attendees.

Click here for more information and reserve your spot.

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