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Content

GrowingSA and WoTL conference competition winners
Gra$$ to Dollars Management Programs in the Limestone Coast
My Farm Dashboard
Stepping back into the workforce
Telling your provenance story workshops a success!
Exploring the soil sociobiome with Dr Christine Jones
2022 Grassland Society of Southern Australia Conference – Registration now open
Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards
Meat and Livestock Australia sustainability producer & value chain videos
Effective Conversations workshop
Trees For Life Tree Scheme orders now open
Limestone Coast Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators
 
Upcoming Events

July

August

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GrowingSA and WoTL conference competition winners

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board would like to congratulate Lucy Dodd and Michelle Desmazures on winning tickets to the Growing SA and the Women Together Learning (WoTL) conferences respectively, as part of our Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator program.

The lucky winners will also receive two nights' accommodation at the Hahndorf Resort and the Stables Inn Boutique Motel. 

We look forward to hearing from Lucy and Michelle after they have attended the conferences. 

If you weren't lucky enough to win, rest assured there are still tickets available for purchase - just click on the links below. 

Growing SA Conference
Annual conference of South Australia's grain and livestock industries gathering producers, industry service providers and decision-makers to hear the latest in policy developments, farm business advice and commodity research.

  • Date:  Monday 29 August – Tuesday 30 August
  • Location: Hahndorf

WoTL Conference
Thriving Women 2022: Growing and inspiring women connected through agriculture. Focusing on the 'Impact of Us' acknowledging and fostering the impact women are having on their own lives, businesses and industries.

  • Date: Monday 1 August - Tuesday 2 August
  • Location: Hahndorf

This project is funded by the Australian Government.

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Gra$$ to Dollars Management Programs in the Limestone Coast

Based on the highly successful Prograze course, the Gra$$ to Dollars program (supported by MLA Profitable Grazing Systems) is being offered in the Lower Limestone Coast and Mid Limestone Coast, commencing in Winter 2022.

The Gra$$ to Dollars program will be delivered over 11-12 months with eight half day on-farm sessions accompanied by half a day of individual coaching. Each half day session will include a theory session and a paddock inspection to assess pasture feed on offer, feed quality, and animal performance from pasture, grazing management and feed budgeting planning.

The program will provide tailored training to help you understand:

• How much can an animal eat, how to measure this and how to determine if this is adequate?
• How much pasture can you grow and how to improve this?
• How to turn the maximum amount of pasture profitability into meat and/or wool?

With the support of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board Adaptive Agriculture Project and MLA’s Profitable Grazing Systems program (PGS), the participation cost for red meat producers has been subsidised.

For more information or to register your interest, email or phone (0427 812 655) Tim Prance Rural Consulting. 

This project is funded by the Australian Government.

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My Farm Dashboard

The My Farm Dashboard brings together tools and data on key decision-making factors that affect farming systems that includes climate, commodities, and production in a single online portal. Providing farmers with the 'right information at the right time', thus avoiding unnecessary information overload.

Join us for an interactive session on My Farm Dashboard and experience what it can do for you!

Workshop details:

  • Date: Tuesday, 9 August
  • Time: 9 am - 2 pm
  • Location: Hatherleigh Football Club

Key Presenter is Cam Nicholson from Nicon Rural.

For more details email Felicity Turner.

This project is delivered by Southern Farming System through funding from the Australian Government and GRDC.

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Stepping back into the workforce

Applications are open for women to be part of a professional development program supporting career re-entry, and developing the skills needed to step back into the workforce.

Delivered in partnership with not-for-profit organisation THE Rural Woman, Dairy Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and University of New England the workshop aims to give you the skills to step back into the workforce in a career (or business) you desire.

The Digital Mavens program will run for nine months and is full of learning, coaching and connection. 

Applications close on 8 July with the program starting on 18 July. Go to THE Rural Woman website  for more information.

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Telling your provenance story workshops a success!

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is proud of its association with the Limestone Coast Food & Agribusiness Cluster, who have recently delivered two successful workshops in the Limestone Coast on ‘Telling your provenance story’.

Facilitated by respected Food and Wine Writer, Katie Spain, and Producer Marketing Guru, Jimmy Williams, the workshops were held in-person (Naracoorte) and online, which provided regional producers the opportunity to develop their provenance story and take a deep dive into their ‘why’.

The ‘Telling your provenance story’ online event was recorded and will be made available to members into the future in the on-line resource library, along with the workbook.

The delivery of these workshops were supported through the Limestone Coast Landscape Board's Adaptive Agriculture Project, through its grants program.  As a key focus, the project seeks to increase awareness of market opportunities in a changing climate, with a particular focus on provenance, traceability and marketability in the Limestone Coast region.

This project is funded by the Australian Government.

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Exploring the soil sociobiome with Dr Christine Jones

Sam Schinckel, Martin Williams and Christine Jones

The Kybybolite Netball and Football clubroom was packed to the brim with people attending the Limestone Coast Landscape Board's Discovering the Sociobiome of Healthy Soils with Christine Jones.

Dr Christine Jones took over 60 people on a journey to gain a better understanding of the important principles of soil health. One of her messages was 'if we want to restore soil health, farmers need to change to practices that encourage a diversity of life in the soil'. 

The audience then listened to Martin Williams who spoke about changing mindsets and looking for resets in the environment. 

The day concluded with a visit to Sam Schinckel's farm who has planted a multispecies crop to increase diversity of living things in his soils. This particular paddock had 19 different varieties plant.

The day was a sucess with over 73% of people attending saying that they will likely implement changes or new practices as a result of this event. 

This project was funded by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board through the landscape levy.

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2022 Grassland Society of Southern Australia Conference – Registration now open

Registration is now open for the Grassland Society of Southern Australia (GSSA) 63rd Annual conference.

The two-day program promises to deliver a range of informative speakers, and the acclaimed 'Bus Tour' which is always a highlight of the conference. Plenty of networking opportunities will also be available including the welcome reception, conference breakfasts and conference dinner.

The 2022 GSSA Conference program includes the following sessions:

  • What does soil carbon mean for your business?
  • Optimising pasture diversity and its benefits
  • Protecting your pastures
  • Prioritising your pastures

Conference details:

  • Date: 12 -14 July
  • Location: Lardner Park, Victoria

Register online or find more information on the GSSA website.

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Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards

The Agricultural Bureau is pleased to present the following awards and scholarships for 2022:

The Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship for Farmers sponsored by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is an $10,000 grant for a farmer (aged 18-40) to pursue further study, take a study tour or run a special project. DEW is committed to supporting communities and industry to make decisions and take action to ensure the sustainable use of our natural resources.

The Rural Youth Bursary sponsored by PIRSA is a $5,000 grant for rural young people (aged 18-30) working in a rural community, not necessarily in agriculture, to undertake further study in their chosen career which will ultimately benefit the rural community.

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Meat and Livestock Australia sustainability producer & value chain videos

MLA’s new sustainability producer and value chain videos capture the innovation, tools and practice change producers and the value chain are applying to their businesses to improve their profitability and sustainability. They are designed to support others wanting to make progress around sustainability and to highlight to consumers the commitment our industry has to our land, livestock and livelihoods.

Five years ago, Christophe and Sylvie Bur started out on their sustainability journey and so began their investigations to become carbon neutral farmers, choosing the pathway set by the Emissions Reduction Fund, to pursue the potential business and income stream options available to them.

This is the latest in a series being compiled by MLA:

Christophe & Sylvie Bur, Zeebra Plains Maryborough QLD            
This land is only suitable for growing grass for cattle to graze on
Sustainable beef is a reality. We are doing it every day.  
Soil health and cattle health are closely linked   
We want the nature and the cattle to be as close as possible to their natural state          
Sustainable beef means more than just being carbon neutral

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Effective Conversations workshop

Have you ever wondered why you can communicate with some members of your farm team or family members and not others? Good communication is one of the key skills for successful teams and effective relationships.

The Limestone Coast Women in Ag Network will host Jeanette Long, trainer and coach who is passionate about developing people skills in agriculture, for an Effective Conversations workshop.

Come along to our interactive workshop presented by Jeanette Long that will explore strategies to effective communication.

Workshop details:

  • Date: 29 July
  • Location: Millicent Soccer Club rooms
  • Time: 9.30 am to 2.30 pm

For further details visit the MacKillop Farm Management Group (MFMG) website.

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Trees For Life Tree Scheme orders now open

Melaleuca lanceolata. Image credits: Vicki-Jo Russell - Trees for Life

The Trees For Life Tree Scheme is so much more than trees. It’s the perfect way to source native plants to make a start, enhance existing vegetation on your property, or build on the revegetation you’ve already done to grow a great result. It’s easy to order with over 200 species on offer, including many shrubs (such as Melaleuca lanceolata pictured) and grasses.

Whether your aim is to improve your land or provide food and homes for local wildlife, Trees For Life can help you source the right native seedlings and provide all the expert advice and information you need. You can choose to grow your own, or have one of their passionate volunteers grow your seedlings for you. Order your seedlings now and they’ll be ready to plant in winter 2023.

Discounts* are available for:

  • 2019 to 2022 fire-affected landholders with support from the Wildlife Recovery Fund
  • Landholders with an ElectraNet easement
  • Schools and small community groups

You’ll find more information on the Trees For Life website, including Frequently Asked Questions and order forms with a species list for your area.

You can also phone 08 8406 0500, or email info@treesforlife.org.au

Orders close 31 August 2022.

*Conditions apply and discount doesn’t apply to membership.

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Limestone Coast Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators

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Get Involved!

AgConnect promotes the latest sustainable agricultural news and events across the Limestone Coast. If you have an upcoming event or agricultural news you would like to share contact us:

Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators

Skylea Mclean: skylea.mclean@sa.gov.au

Eykolina Benny: eykolina.benny@sa.gov.au

 
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