• Coronavirus update
• Farmers needed for new horticulture business study
• On-farm action plan pilot
• The BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conference returns this June
• Developing a national traceability system for horses
• If it has been out and about, then check it out
• The Very Fast Break
• Upskilling to better manage future variable water supplies
• Japanese encephalitis update
• Chaff residues put to the pest pressure test
• AgVic Talk podcasts
• My Rain Gauge is Busted podcast
• Fox and wild dog bounty collection details
• CLOSING SOON! June 2021 storms and floods grants
• In case you missed it
• What's on?

Keep up to date with all the latest restrictions and requirements at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

A new farm monitor program will provide horticulture producers with critical business insights to help them understand their profitability, improve recovery and drive future growth.

Agriculture Victoria’s Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot is collecting valuable information from farm businesses across a range of crops including apple and pears, cherries, strawberries
and summer fruit.

Victorian Strawberry Growers Association Chairperson and AusBerry CEO Miffy Gilbert said it’s an extremely valuable tool for growers and is encouraging more growers to be involved.

“The strawberry industry was really keen to participate in the Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot,” Ms Gilbert said.

“We are full of anecdotal evidence on our industry and our businesses, but we don’t have the data to back up our claims.

“When the pandemic hit and we were asked how many workers we needed as an industry, we didn’t really know. We had anecdotal evidence, but nothing based on defendable facts.”

Several farm businesses are already involved in the data collection phase of the pilot program, and Ms Gilbert is calling for more farmers to be involved.

“This program will provide us with clarity around our industry and the true cost of production,” she said.

“It will help individual business set their base costs and base sale prices, understand where they can make savings and where they are competitive compared to the industry average. It will even be useful when individuals are applying for banks loans.”

Ms Gilbert said some individual industry groups had collected data in the past, but this industry-wide program would provide deeper insights into business profitability, while protecting the farmers who provide their business data.

“It’s all beautifully done with total anonymity,” Ms Gilbert said. “All the data is de-identified so no one knows where it’s from, but they do know it is accurate, representative data of their
industry and their production type.

Agriculture Victoria’s Sze Flett said industry groups have renewed their call for real data to help them navigate recent challenges.

The pilot is similar to Agriculture Victoria’s long-running and highly successful Farm Monitor programs in dairy, beef and sheep industries.

“Collecting data on horticulture businesses has always been a challenge due to the complex and fragmented nature of the sector, with so many different industry types with varying
capacity to collect data,” Dr Flett said.

“But we know this is the best way to provide businesses with a clear, accurate picture of the state of their industry.”

Farmers who would like to be involved in the program can contact Horticulture Farm Monitor Pilot program manager Andy Clark on 0436 804 656, or email seasonalworkforce@agriculture.vic.gov.au

PHOTO: Agriculture Victoria Grains Seasonal Risk Project Manager Graeme Anderson, Mt Lavinia farm owner Joan Liley, Agriculture Victoria Farm Emissions Specialist Alison Kelly and Mt Lavinia farm owner Rob Liley

The Victorian Government has commenced the On-Farm Action Plan Pilot as part of its commitment under the Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge to provide practical information, tools and services to support farmers to understand and reduce emissions.

The Pilot will work with up to 250 farm businesses across the state to measure their on-farm emissions profile and identify potential actions to manage and reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and profitability.

Participants will then be eligible for grant funding from the Victorian Government to fund recommended actions from a total pool of up to $5 million.

The three-year Pilot will be delivered over nine rounds covering Victoria’s key agricultural industries – beginning with the beef industry in May 2022.

Agriculture Victoria will be working with a select number of producers over the coming months who are interested in understanding and reducing their emissions, and are willing to help other farmers by sharing their learnings from the Pilot.

On-farm emissions assessments and action plans will be delivered in collaboration with industry partners.

Agriculture Victoria will convene a new ‘Community of Practitioners’ for farm advisors to build capability across the sector and improve the emissions reduction advice being provided to Victorian farmers.

While a new network of champions will be established to support farm managers share information and insights from the Pilot.

Farmers, farm advisors and others interested in the Pilot can email the team at: actionplanpilot@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Links to early learnings from the Pilot, including case studies, will be published on this page of the Agriculture Victoria website as they become available.

Agriculture Victoria is pleased to announce that early bird tickets for the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef Conference are on sale now.

The 2022 conference will run as a single day event, catering for those involved in the sheep and beef industries.

The conference will return to the Bendigo Exhibition Centre on Thursday 16 June.

Featuring three keynote speakers, and twelve specialised speakers/demonstrations.

Highlights include:

• climate - reducing emissions, carbon and climate risks
• a producer’s perspective on managing risk and making decisions on-farm
• working dog demonstration
• lamb autopsy demonstration
• genomics for commercial angus breeders
• ALMTech – tool and technology for measuring eating quality
• trade displays.

The conference dinner will be held the evening prior to the conference, on Wednesday 15 June, at the All Seasons Hotel Bendigo.

You can view the full conference program online at Eventbrite.

Tickets on sale now

Early bird tickets are on sale now until 31 May, unless sold out prior. Ticket prices below.

Conference

Tickets provide full access to the conference, featuring three keynote speakers and a choice of four of the twelve specialised speakers/demonstrations. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea included.

• $99 - early bird ticket until 31 May or until sold out
• $130 - from 1 June until sold out.

Dinner

Tickets for the dinner are $75, which includes two-course meal and a guest speaker (more details to come).

Purchase tickets online via Eventbrite only -  no tickets for the conference or dinner will be available on the day.

The National Horse Traceability Working Group (NHTWG) is seeking feedback regarding design and introduction of a traceability system for horses, donkeys and mules in Australia.

The NHTWG has agreed that the establishment of a base level traceability system as a starting point would best suit the needs of stakeholders and help ensure the industry can respond quickly to a biosecurity incident or emergency animal disease outbreak.

The NHTWG is proposing a National Horse Traceability System (NHTS) using the existing framework and incorporating incremental improvements, such as:  

• Refreshing and maturing the PIC system, managed by states and territories.
• Introducing uniform national PIC Business Rules.
• Enabling enforcement of PIC legislation.
• Requiring base level movement information to be recorded by all sectors of the horse industry.

All sectors of the horse industry are invited to provide feedback on the proposed Business Rules.

• Download the full consultation document
• Complete the consultation survey
• Find out more about the National Horse Traceability Working Group

The four-week consultation period closes on Wednesday 25 May 2022.

If a vehicle has travelled off your property there is now a useful vehicle biosecurity risk assessment checklist available to help you decide if it requires a clean down before re-entering to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases on farm.

Agriculture Victoria Grains Biosecurity Officer Jim Moran said the checklist was produced for grain growers by the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program.

“The Vehicle Biosecurity Risk Assessment Tool is a quick reference guide for assessing a vehicle that has travelled off a property or is not stationed on a property,” Mr Moran said.

He said the checklist gave grain growers a quick assessment strategy to help them determine if a vehicle requires a clean down before re-entering their property.

“For example, the checklist suggests key questions to consider when a vehicle either arrives or re-enters, such as: Where has the vehicle been and what is the likelihood it has come into contact with weeds or other pests?

“What were the road conditions it came on? Dry, damp, muddy or flooding? – these will all have an impact on the level of risk the vehicle represents to your farm.”

Mr Moran said the checklist was comprehensive but still simple and easy to use and included prompts about road surfaces travelled (including paddocks) and their corresponding biosecurity risk level ratings.

He said depending on the level of risk assessed the checklist then provided practical solutions for treating the vehicle.

“But remember if it’s wet conditions forget it. Vehicles shouldn’t be entering the productive areas of your property when it is wet or flooded unless there is an urgent need,” Mr Moran said.

“Mud sticks to tyres and is flicked up into the hard to see and clean components, giving weeds, pests and diseases, a ride to the next paddock or property.

“Flood water behaves similarly, washing muddy water over vehicles and machinery but also can provide a means of transport for weeds, pests and diseases, spreading around the property or district as it moves.

“The best tactic is not drive onto muddy or flooded paddocks and protect your farm’s production zones from the introduction and spread of pests, weeds and diseases,” he said.

For more information on farm biosecurity or help in developing your Vehicle Biosecurity Risk Plan contact Jim Moran jim.moran@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Welcome to the "Very Fast Break" seasonal climate update video clips.

Agriculture Victoria is partnering with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to bring you these short summaries for Victoria, South Australia and Southern New South Wales.

Click on the state of your choice to watch the short YouTube video (4min 40sec).

• Victoria
• South Australia
• southern New South Wales

To read the full newsletter visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Irrigators and service providers interested in finding out more about key factors influencing water availability in the connected southern basin, including water allocation processes, water trade, policy, and events, are encouraged to participate in Agriculture Victoria’s irrigation webinar subseries.

The sub-series consists of three webinars titled ‘Who got the irrigation water this season and why? How connected southern basin water is shared’.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Irrigation Extension Officer Rob O’Connor said webinar participants will gain a better understanding of the factors that influence irrigation supplies in the connected southern basin and how irrigation availability in one region can impact on other regions.

“Our aim is for participants to be better equipped to make earlier and more informed decisions in future seasons to better deal with variable water supplies,” Mr O’Connor said.

The first webinar will run on Thursday 26 May, 1 – 2 pm. This webinar will provide an overview of the southern Murray-Darling Basin (sMDB), how water in key storages is shared between states and regions, and the characteristics of the different sMDB water entitlements.

The second webinar will run on Thursday 9 June, 1 – 2 pm.

This webinar will discuss sMDB allocation processes, and the impact of carryover water, dam spills and unregulated flows on irrigation supplies.

The final webinar will run on Friday 24 June, 1 - 2 pm. This webinar will cover sMDB water trade, water trade limits, Environmental Water Allowance payback and the irrigation situation and outlook for 2022-23.

The expert speaker will be Garry Smith from DG Consulting. Garry has over 30 years of experience in the rural water sector and has led projects in water management, water policy and planning, water trading, and water knowledge building, across the Murray-Darling Basin.

Go online to register in advance for these webinars via Zoom.

After registering remember to save the confirmation email containing important information about joining the webinar, including a password.

For more information please call Rob O’Connor on 0408 515 652.

To view previous webinars in this AgVic irrigation webinar series go online to the ExtensionAUS website.

This webinar is brought to you by the Sustainable Irrigation Program, a partnership between Agriculture Victoria, DELWP, catchment management authorities and rural water corporations.

Agriculture Victoria is working closely with both the pig and horse industries in response to Japanese encephalitis.

There are now a total of 23 properties with pigs confirmed with Japanese encephalitis in Victoria.

These are located across the Wangaratta, Moira, Greater Shepparton, Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon, Greater Bendigo and Northern Grampians local government areas.

Agriculture Victoria is working closely with industry, conducting surveillance activities and providing advice and information to farmers, livestock and horse owners.

Infection is not spread directly from pigs to people, and there is no risk to humans from eating pig meat. Pork is safe to eat.

Only infected mosquitoes can spread infection. 

Victorians are being reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites particularly when spending time outdoors.

Japanese encephalitis vaccines are recommended for people at a higher risk of exposure to the virus, such as those working with pigs. All people should undertake measures to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

More information about Japanese encephalitis virus and animals is available online through Agriculture Victoria’s website.

For more information about Japanese encephalitis virus and human health contact your GP or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024, or go to www.health.vic.gov.au/jev

A study is underway to determine whether harvest weed seed control (HWSC) systems which create chaff residues are promoting increased crop pest activity and associated crop damage in the southern cropping region.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has invested in research to investigate the effect of chaff residues on the diversity and abundance of invertebrate pests and their natural enemies.

The project was instigated following observations by grain growers of increased pest pressure associated with chaff residues.

HWSC systems in Australian grain crops play an important role in weed management with the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds.

The loss of effective herbicides for several major weed species has required the development of management tactics that prevent weed seeds from entering the seed bank.

Chaff piles, chaff tramlining and chaff lining are HWSC system methods that result in a concentrated distribution of the chaff component within the paddock, limiting weed survival.

However, some growers adopting these HWSC systems have observed increased pest pressure associated with chaff residues and they are particularly concerned about the potential risk of associated crop damage.

The research is being led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), which is the research division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

SARDI entomologist Dr Kate Muirhead said the study is being conducted in 14 paddocks at various locations across the GRDC southern region, including Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula and the Mid North of SA, as well as Western Victoria.

“The sites selected represent different annual rainfall zones, cropping rotations, and invertebrate pressures,” Dr Muirhead said.

The trials are being managed by Hart Field-Site Group and Nutrien Cummins Ag Services in SA and Birchip Cropping Group in Victoria.

Dr Muirhead said the study will address two key questions:

• How does the presence of chaff lines or tramlines affect the species composition, density and distribution of pest and beneficial invertebrates, and the risk of plant damage, in grain crops in the southern region?
• How do microclimatic conditions in different chaff residues affect patterns of invertebrate species abundance?

“The invertebrate species of interest in the study are pests of crop establishment that reside in paddocks throughout the year – soil insects (earwigs, millipedes, slaters), molluscs (snails, slugs), earth mites, lucerne flea, and beetles/weevils,” Dr Muirhead said.

“The main beneficial groups are predatory mites and beetles, ants, and organic matter recyclers such as collembola, book lice, and others.”

The experiment will focus on two HWSC management systems – chaff tramlining and chaff lining.

The diversity of pest and beneficial invertebrates in experimental plots will be assessed at two times each year over the course of the study – in autumn prior to sowing and soon after crop emergence.

Dr Muirhead and her team recently removed pitfall traps installed in the 14 paddocks included in the study.

“The contents will be subject to diagnostic analysis over the coming weeks, and we will re-install the pitfall traps once those paddocks have been sown to crops,” she said.

“A time lapse video camera will also be installed on each of the seven farms after sowing to monitor crop seedlings and directly identify which species are causing the observed damage.”

The project will conclude in April 2024, and the research outcomes will inform the need for specific management of crop pests in HWSC systems and address potential barriers to their adoption by quantifying the risk to crops from invertebrate pests.

Agriculture Victoria's podcasts deliver knowledge and information in a format that suits the way farmers and agricultural professionals work and live today.

You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts:

• Subscribe to AgVic Talk on Spotify
• Follow through Apple Podcasts.

Your feedback is important to us so make sure to rate and review AgVic Talk episodes and share with your friends and family.

Contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or your consultant before making any changes on-farm.

Find every AgVic Talk podcast episode on this page of the Agriculture Victoria website.

All information included in these episodes is accurate at the time of release.

The latest episode of My Rain Gauge is Busted is now out.

In the podcast, the team talk to Monash University’s Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth and Atmosphere and Environment, Neville Nicholls about past El Niño events, how an El Niño forms and how that affects seasonal conditions.

Interested in hearing more?

Search for My Rain Gauge is Busted wherever you get your podcasts or listen  online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Foxes and wild dogs are 'declared' established pest animals in Victoria.

They cannot be eradicated from the state and require ongoing management by all public and private landowners.

Effective fox and wild dog management requires an integrated approach utilising all suitable management practices including:

• poison baiting
• trapping
• exclusion fencing
• fumigation
• appropriate animal husbandry.

Hunting can play an important role in supporting an integrated management approach.

The collection schedule for North West Victoria, includes:

Bendigo collections (Fox only), Corner Midland Highway and Taylor Street, Epsom, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Dates:

• Monday, 6 June
• Monday, 4 July
• Monday, 1 August
• Monday, 29 August
• Monday, 26 September
• Monday, 24 October.

Ouyen collections, Fox and wild dog (wild dog by appointment only), Gregory Street, Ouyen, 2 – 4 pm

Dates:

• Tuesday, 7 June
• Tuesday, 5 July
• Tuesday, 2 August
• Tuesday, 30 August
• Tuesday, 27 September
• Tuesday, 25 October.

St Arnaud collections (Fox only), 4 Montague Street, St Arnaud, Victoria, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Dates:

• Thursday, 9 June
• Thursday, 7 July
• Thursday, 4 August
• Thursday, 1 September
• Thursday, 29 September
• Thursday, 27 October.

2022 Swan Hill collections (Fox only), 7 Quin Drive, Swan Hill, 8.30 – 10.30 am

Dates:

• Tuesday, 7 June
• Tuesday, 5 July
• Tuesday, 2 August
• Tuesday, 30 August
•  Tuesday, 27 September
•  Tuesday, 25 October.

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

Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty to find out more or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

The Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty is now digital

To streamline payment processes for fox and wild dog bounty participants, we have introduced a digital bounty application system.

Registering is easy.

Access the form at agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty and simply input your email and banking details.

Grants of up to $25,000 are now available to help reimburse primary producers for clean-up and recovery activities as a direct result of the Severe Weather event of 9 –11 June 2021.

The Exceptional Circumstances Recovery grants can be used to cover activities including removing fallen trees, removing silt and debris, specialist support for landslip and erosion remediation.

The support can also contribute to the cost of repairs or replacement of damaged farm infrastructure such as fencing and equipment.

To apply for a grant or to see if you are eligible, visit the Rural Finance website.

Farm finance - young farmers getting prepared together

Young farmers across Victoria are being invited to come together for farm finance workshops at a number of locations, as well as to network and ask questions.

MEDIA RELEASE LINK HERE

Energy efficient: businesses becoming more sustainable

The Victorian Government is supporting Victorian agribusinesses with investments to improve their sustainability and productivity by exploring new ways to be more energy efficient.

MEDIA RELEASE LINK HERE

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.

Agriculture Victoria's Young Farmers Network is running ‘Farm Finance – Getting Prepared’ workshops in a range of locations across the state.

All sessions are on between 6 and 8.30 pm and are scheduled for:

• Wangaratta – Wednesday 18 May
• Ouyen – Wednesday 25 May
• Horsham – Wednesday 1 June.

Register now for Agriculture Victoria’s Young Farmers Network Farm Finance – Getting Prepared Workshop.

To find out more visit https://bit.ly/3O3eht0

The Farm Finance – Getting Prepared series is supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program.

After a few years absence, ‘shed’ meetings are returning to the Mallee.

Agriculture Victoria, DELWP, LMW and Mallee CMA will present a range of topics to district irrigators.

These meetings also provide irrigators with a chance to provide feedback to each of these agencies and provide future program direction.

Presentations will be:

• Delivery risks and shortfalls in the Murray

DELWP and LMW will present on delivery risks and shortfalls in the Murray, explain what they are, how they are managed and how they can impact on your ability to irrigate. A brief overview of future legislative changes to this will also be covered.

• Mallee CMA projects

Mallee CMA will present information on a range of projects including: 2021 Mallee Crop Report, CMA role in Salinity accountable actions and New Irrigation Development.

• Agriculture Victoria

Agriculture Victoria will present training opportunities, irrigation incentives, future extension programs.

SESSION INFORMATION

• LINDSAY POINT - Tuesday 24 May, 11 am – 1.30 pm (Victorian time), Laragon Cracking Plant
• MERBEIN / YELTA - Wednesday 25 May, 10 am – 12 noon, Merbein Citizens Club
• NANGILOC / COLIGNAN - Wednesday 25 May, 2 – 4 pm, Nangiloc Hall
• MILDURA / IRYMPLE - Thursday 26 May, 10 am – 12 noon, Agriculture Victoria Office, Koorlong Ave
• RED CLIFFS - Thursday 26 May, 2 – 4 pm, Red Cliffs Club
• BOUNDARY BEND - Friday 27 May, 10 am – 12 noon, Boundary Bend Hall
• PIANGIL - Friday 27 May, 2 – 4 pm, Piangil Fire Shed
• ROBINVALE - Monday 30 May, 10 am – 12 noon, Robinvale Community Centre
• WEMEN - Monday 30 May, 2 – 4 pm, Wemen Hall

REGISTRATION

Please email Maxine Schache from Agriculture Victoria
maxine.schache@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Would you like to learn more about AgTech but don't know where to start? Register for one of Agriculture Victoria's Unpacking AgTech webinars to find out how.

In this webinar series we'll take a beginner's look at all the things you should know before investing in AgTech.

Coming up:

Why do I need AgTech?

• Webinar 5 – 12.30pm Friday 20 May 2022

What problem do I want to solve with AgTech?

• Webinar 6 – 12.30pm Friday 3 June 2022

This is a six-part webinar series.

Each webinar investigates key questions using modules from the Getting into AgTech eLearn course.

Event contact: Mark Sloan, Industry Technology Coordinator Officer, Agriculture Victoria, phone 0436 833 668 or email mark.sloan@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Go online to register for Webinar 5 via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Event contact: Mark Sloan, Industry Technology Coordinator Officer, Agriculture Victoria, on 0436 833 668 or mark.sloan@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

• Session 3 (17 May) – Matching business capacity with family requirements. Is the best option to sell all or some of the farm? How can a plan be developed?

Numbers are limited to 20 per session.

Presenters

Mike Stephens and Paul Blackshaw – farm business consultants with Meridian Agriculture

Mike specialises in succession planning and Paul provides farm financial analysis, benchmarking, business performance and succession planning.

A free one-on-one follow-up session with Meridian will be available to 20 people who attend at least two webinars.

For more information about this event contact Paul Simpson at paul.simpson@agriculture.vic.gov.au or on 0455 750 605

The 2022 Mildura Field Days will be held at the Mildura Racecourse, 53 Racecourse Road, Nichols Point on 20 and 21 May.

Admission prices, open hours, the 2022 Prospectus and more information is available online via the Mildura Field Days website.

Immerse yourself in an exclusive three-part educational series to learn about global market opportunities, focusing on the China market, and how Agriculture Victoria’s new Pathways to Export program can assist your international trade journey.

Hear from the Victorian Government’s Deputy Trade Commissioner in China and key in-market experts who will help you gain a deeper understanding of international market opportunities.

Pathways to Export program series outline:

Part 3: Business Matching Essentials

• Tuesday 24 May, 2 – 3 pm
• Register online through the Microsoft Teams platform.

Do you have an interest in biogas energy systems for dairy effluent, or want to know more about how biogas could potentially be used to provide energy for your dairy?

Agriculture Victoria is hosting a forum in Echuca on Thursday 26 May to explore biogas options for intensive and large dairy systems from 10 am to 12.30 pm.

Kelly Wickham, Agriculture Victoria, will provide an introduction to biogas in Victoria including: the current context, compliance and regulatory requirements, and incentive and finance options.

Stephan Tait, University of Southern Queensland, will discuss the scale and biogas system types, infrastructure and management, and biogas output, value and potential returns.

To register or for more information contact Kelly Wickham kelly.wickham@agriculture.vic.gov.au or 0456 772 641.

For information on other energy events please visit: https://extensionaus.com.au/energysmartfarming/events/

25 May, 9 – 10.30 am

This is a two-part online training to assist Victorian livestock producers to use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database to complete livestock transfers.

This training is relevant to cattle, sheep, and goat owners and managers. Part 1 is an online video you watch before attending Part 2, the scheduled interactive webinar.

You will learn about livestock traceability, take a tour of the NLIS database, watch a live demonstration of how to transfer livestock and practice completing a transfer.

There will be time at the end of the webinar for participants to ask the presenter questions.

Numbers are limited to allow for an interactive session.
More information and registration links for each event on the Agriculture Victoria events page.

Do you employ people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background in your workplace?

If you want to find out ways to make your business more attractive to people from different background and take advantage of the benefits they bring, then sign up to the Welcoming Workplaces webinar on 27 May from 12 pm.

In the webinar you will learn to how to develop and encourage positive attitudes in workplaces and address barriers preventing people from migrant backgrounds participating in the agricultural workforce. 

The webinar will also look at the strengths and skills they bring to the business and how to make your business more attractive.

Welcoming Workplaces is a Red Cross initiative that encourages and builds capacity in welcoming new arrivals into your workplace.

It aims to help build capacity in fostering appreciation of diversity in the workplace, increase understanding of the impact of forced migration and build skills/ values such as equality, solidarity, cooperation, empathy, responsibility and resilience.

Register to attend online.

For more information contact Del Delpitiya from Agriculture Victoria on 0436 649 860 or del.delpitiya@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government is committed to improving safety and skills on farms, visit Smarter Safer Farms on the Agriculture Victoria website for more.

• Wednesday 15 June and Thursday 16 June
• Location: Bendigo Exhibition Centre, Holmes Road, North Bendigo

This year's conference will be a single day event, highlighting industry research and developments which can be applied on-farm.

The conference will explore everyday challenges facing today's sheep and beef producers and will present new and exciting opportunities, information and learnings.

The conference will be held on the 16 June and dinner will be held the night before on the 15 June.

The program, tickets and more information can be found online via the Eventbrite website.

GRDC Farm Business Update – Swan Hill

The GRDC Farm Business Update events drive innovation and adoption of improved farm business management practices across the grains industry.

• Date: 15 June
• Time: 9.15 am – 3.15 pm 
• Location: Swan Hill Town Hall, 57 McCallum Street.

Go online to register or for more information about the event.

The event contact is Jane Foster on (03) 5441 6176 or admin@orm.com.au

GRDC Grains Research Update – Boort

• Date: 14 July
• Time: 9 am – 1 pm 
• Location: Boort Memorial Hall, Godfrey Street.

Go online to register or for more information about the event.

The event contact is Matt McCarthy on (03) 5441 6176 or admin@orm.com.au

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