• Coronavirus update
• National Horse Traceability Working Group seeking consultation
• If it has been out and about, then check it out
• Farmers needed for new horticulture business study
• CLOSING SOON! June 2021 storms and floods grants
• The Very Fast Break - out now
• Monitoring continues for Japanese encephalitis
• On-farm Action Plan Pilot
• VGT community grants closing soon
• Fox and wild dog bounty – north east collection details
• The Ag Recovery Team is here to help
• What's on?

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

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) utilising 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.

“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

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 seasonalworkforce@agriculture.vic.gov.au

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 Rural Finance.

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

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

WATCH THE VICTORIAN VIDEO HERE

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. A number of suspected cases are under investigation.

The detections are the result of national surveillance efforts to identify new cases and determine the extent and spread of the disease and the source of its introduction.

Japanese encephalitis has also been confirmed in piggeries in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia and in a small number of feral pigs in the Northern Territory.

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. Only infected mosquitoes can spread infection. Pork is safe to eat.

In general, spread is through the movement of some species of migratory water birds and through the movement of infected mosquitoes, often over long distances. It does not usually spread directly from animal to animal (i.e. it is not considered contagious).

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.

For more information about Japanese encephalitis virus and animals visit Agriculture Victoria’s website: agriculture.vic.gov.au/je

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

Caption (L-R) Agriculture Victoria Grains Seasonal Risk Project Manager Graeme Anderson, Mt Lavinia farm owner Joan Liley, Agriculture Victoria Farm Emissions Specialist Alison Kelly, 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 as they become available.

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT) is calling for grant applications for their 2022/2023 Small Community Grants Program.

$5,000 IN GRANTS AVAILABLE

The VGT are interested in supporting groups, starting from just two landholders, who are genuinely willing to control gorse and stay on top of it.

• Grants close 28 May 2022

For more information contact the VGT Executive Officer on 0417 593 250 or at info@vicgorsetaskforce.com.au or visit our website.

Victorian fox and wild dog collections have recommenced.

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.

Collections will only be accepted at the designated times.

2022 Benalla collections

Address: Depot, 89 Sydney Road, Benalla.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10 am – noon

Dates:

• Wednesday, 25 May
• Wednesday, 22 June
• Wednesday, 20 July 
• Wednesday, 17 August 
• Wednesday, 14 September 
• Wednesday, 12 October. 

2022 Broadford collections

Address:5 Mollinson Street, Broadford.

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm

Dates: 

• Thursday, 26 May 
• Thursday, 23 June 
• Thursday, 21 July 
• Thursday, 18 August 
• Thursday, 15 September 
• Thursday, 13 October.

2022 Ovens collections

Address: 5338 Great Alpine Road, Ovens.

Collection type: Fox and wild dog

Time: 1.30 – 3.30 pm

Dates:

• Tuesday, 24 May 
• Tuesday, 21 June 
• Tuesday, 19 July 
• Tuesday, 16 August 
• Tuesday, 13 September 
• Tuesday, 11 October.

2022 Mansfield collections

Address: Depot, 128 Highett Street, Mansfield.

Collection type: Fox and wild dog

Time: 2 – 4 pm

Dates:

• Wednesday, 25 May 
• Wednesday, 22 June
• Wednesday, 20 July 
• Wednesday, 17 August
• Wednesday, 14 September 
• Wednesday, 12 October.

2022 Tatura collections

Address: Depot, 255 Ferguson Road, Tatura

Collection type: Fox only

Time: 11.30 am – 1.30 pm

Dates:

• Monday, 23 May 
• Monday, 20 June 
• Monday, 18 July 
• Monday, 15 August 
• Monday, 12 September 
• Monday, 10 October.

2022 Wodonga collections

Fox and wild dog

Address: 14 Moorefield Park Drive, Wodonga.

Collection type: Fox and wild dog

Time: 9 – 11 am

Dates

• Tuesday, 24 May
• Tuesday, 21 June
• Tuesday, 19 July 
• Tuesday, 16 August 
• Tuesday, 13 September 
• Tuesday, 11 October.

Agriculture Victoria’s Ag Recovery Team is here to support growers in the horticulture industry affected by the June storms and floods across Victoria.

Phone 0427 694 185 or email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au or visit the Agriculture Victoria website agriculture.vic.gov.au

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.

Image of a dairy digester in California, photo courtesy of University of Davis, California

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/

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 sub-series.

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.

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.

To register in advance for these webinars, go to https://bit.ly/AgVicWMW10

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

BOOK NOW - Agriculture Victoria is offering young farmers and those new to farming the opportunity to take part in one of a series of Young Farmer Business Bootcamps, to be held in MTallangatta this autumn.

Over the two full days business bootcamp participants will develop cash flow budgeting skills, a strong understanding of risk management and planning plus have the opportunity to fine-tune their business goals.

Presenter Paul Blackshaw, Meridian Agriculture farm business advisor based at Rutherglen, will share his vast experience and knowledge in farm financial analysis, benchmarking, farm business performance and succession planning.

Tallangatta – Friday 27 May and 3 June

Registrations are limited to 15 participants per business bootcamp.

Register now HERE

For assistance or more information please contact Paul Simpson, on 0455 750 605 or at paul.simpson@agriculture.vic.gov.au

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.

Agriculture Victoria is offering the Farm Finance – Getting Prepared sessions as in-person events after having to shift to an online format for the past two years.

The workshops will be an opportunity to have open and transparent conversations about farm finance and get some tips on how to communicate in ‘bank speak’.

By the end of the session participants will have a new clarity on finance and how the whole system works.

All sessions will be held between 6 – 8.30 pm and are scheduled for:

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

To register or 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.

The Murray Muster 2022: Focus on Feedbase

Wednesday and Thursday 18 and 19 May at Yarrawonga.

The countdown is on for Murray Dairy's flagship event, The Murray Muster.

This event is an opportunity for the local dairy industry to come together to connect, network and celebrate the achievements of dairying in the Murray region.

On Day 1, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from headline industry speakers, farmer panels, and climatic and agronomic specialists on a range of topics around animal feedbase.

Guest speaker, Dr. Anneline Padayachee: The Food and Nutrition Scientist will then move the event into the night, talking all things human nutrition and food trends at the Murray Muster Industry Dinner.

Independent Management Consultant, Dr. Nollaig Heffernan will kick-start Day 2 of The Murray Muster with a Breakfast Speaker Session before attendees are invited to link into the Focus Farm Tour at Tallangatta South.

The Murray Muster is a free event, however, registrations are essential.

Attendees have the option to attend either both days or select an individual day.

Click here for more information and to register your attendance.

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.

Register for your exclusive ticket to export:

Part 3: Business Matching Essentials

Tuesday 24 May 2 – 3 pm

Register HERE

When: 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.

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 purchase tickets and view the full conference program at Eventbrite

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 -  tickets will NOT be available on the day.

For further information contact: Amanda Davis, Meat & Wool Project Officer at amanda.davis@agriculture.vic.gov.au

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