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Adaptive Agriculture Grants - Round 1 Projects Announced! |
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The Limestone Coast Landscape Board has awarded funding to six successful applications in Round 1 of the 2022/2023 Adaptive Agriculture Grants.
Successful applicants
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Coorong and Tatiara Local Action Plan: Salinity impacts on water security in Coorong and Tatiara districts and Building carbon and climate expertise in the Upper South East and Limestone Coast
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Mackillop Farm Management Group: Carbon without the jargon: deciphering carbon farming in the Limestone Coast
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Grassland Society of Southern Australia: Limestone Coast bus tour - farm diversity in the Upper South East
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Rural Industry Skills Training: More Lambs More Often – bullet proofing your business against variable seasons
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Women together Learning: Supporting women in the Limestone Coast region in building the adaptive capacity of farming businesses
Adaptive Agriculture Grants Round 2
Additional funding has been made available by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board for Adaptive Agriculture Grants Round 2, to support local primary production industries and groups implementing projects to build resilience and respond to the threats and market opportunities in a changing climate.
We look forward to announcing successful applicants soon.
Contact Chelsea Burns by email or phone 0427 015 531 for more information.
This project is funded by the Australian Government
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Grassroots Grants Announced For 2022/2023! |
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Limestone Coast Landscape Board are excited to announce that the recipients of their Grassroots Grants 2022/2023 funding have been announced.
Head over to the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website to find out about the exciting projects happening in our community.
We can’t wait to see the outcomes they produce and the impact they will have on landscape management in our community.
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Foot And Mouth Disease Awareness |
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Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease that affects cloven-hooved animals including cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.
Symptoms of FMD include:
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fever, drooling and reluctance to move
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blisters on the mouth, snout, tongue, lips or between and above the hooves on the feet
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these blisters may be intact or ruptured, exposing raw, painful tissue
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limping animals
An incursion of the virus would have severe consequences for Australia’s animal health and trade. Australia is free from FMD which allows favourable access to high value markets.
For more information about how the disease spreads, how you can reduce the spread, advice for travellers and how to report a suspected FMD case, visit the PIRSA website and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
Information sourced from the PIRSA website
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New Statewide Soil Extension Project
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is the lead agency for a new $2 million soil extension project that features participation by landscape board regions from across South Australia.
Funded by the National Landcare Program, the project seeks to improve the capacity of land managers to adopt best-practice sustainable agriculture through a focus on soil nutrition and health.
A highlight of the project is a new network of soil extension officers, established to provide land managers better access to the latest technical information and advice about soil health.
A big welcome to Ehsan Sayad who has commenced with the project as the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s new soil extension officer. Ehsan – who has a strong background in practical research, especially in forest ecology, nutrient cycling and soil fauna – recently moved to South Australia from Iran.
Ehsan is able to provide advice to growers about the nature of, and how to get involved with, the national Pilot Soil Monitoring and Incentives Program – where up to $10,000 in soil testing subsides is available to “farmers and land managers who own or manage land”. Email Ehsan for more information.
This project is funded by the Australian Government
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Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan Review |
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The Limestone Coast Landscape Board has commenced the review of the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan.
The Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan is pivotal in directing the long term sustainability of the Lower Limestone Coast water resources and the people, environment, townships, and industries that rely upon these resources.
The review will take a staged approach, commencing with an evaluation of the current plan which is expected to be completed by December 2023.
For more information visit the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website.
Seeking expressions of interest
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board are seeking expressions of interest from individuals, industry and community group representatives for appointment to the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Group.
If you are passionate about water resource management in the region, this is an opportunity for you or your group to inform the planning and management for sustainable water use balancing the needs of the environment, industry, social and culture for our precious resource.
Please visit the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan Review project page to express you interest.
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Feral Deer Shoot Hits The Region’s Feral Deer Population |
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The latest autumn shooting program removed over 1160 feral deer from the Limestone Coast region as part of a coordinated effort to reduce the pest’s impact on the region’s agriculture, native habitats and public safety.
Feral deer compete with livestock for pasture, damage infrastructure such as fences and have the potential to spread disease.
As part of its Feral Deer Control Program the Limestone Coast Landscape Board use a variety of control tools to achieve eradication such as aerial shooting, use of professional ground shooting contractors and commercial harvesting. Each operation takes into account local terrain and individual landholder circumstances to ensure high standards of effectiveness are achieved.
More information can be found on the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website.
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Limestone Food and Agribusiness Cluster
The Limestone Coast Food Group is excited to announce a series of webinars aimed at food, beverage and agri-business producers in the Limestone Coast.
These short, punchy one hour sessions will bring together a series of engaging and exceptionally knowledgeable presenters in each of the topic areas.
Webinar series:
There is something for everybody!
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New MFMG Podcast! |
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MacKillop Farm Management Group (MFMG) have launched their new podcast ‘The Prosperous Farmer’. These podcasts feature real stories from the Limestone Coast and western Victorian, with experts on the benefits of adopting industry leading research.
If you’re curious about adopting cutting edge cropping and livestock systems based on research - you can find it the podcasts on the MFMG website or check your preferred podcast platform.
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board are proud of its association with MFMG and are fortunate to have supported the production of Episode 6 ‘Driving farm productivity and profitability with John Francis’ through the Adaptive Agriculture Grants 2021/2022.
This project is funded by the Australian Government.
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Celebrate Landcare Week! |
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Get ready for Landcare Week (August 1 - 7), where this year we are celebrating the diversity of landcare people and projects across Australia!
Together, we'll be commemorating our great landcare achievements, including how landcare brings all of us together – landcare volunteers, landcare groups and other environmental community groups, Traditional Owners and First Nations organisations, farmers and landholders, youth groups, Landcare facilitators and coordinators, government agencies, researchers and academics.
We know that many of us have been struggling through drought, bushfires and floods, making landcare more important than ever. So this Landcare Week, let's stand united, support one another and encourage others to join our incredible movement that benefits our environment, the landscape and biodiversity, our communities and our own wellbeing.
More information can be found on the Landcare Australia website.
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New Season Weeds To Watch Out For! |
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With winter weather comes winter weeds and the Limestone Coast Landscape Board is encouraging landholders to be on the lookout for declared weeds such as:
Early intervention and control of winter weeds can reduce control costs significantly as the young, seeding plants require less herbicide. This also allows desirable pasture species to thrive and out compete weed species.
Landscape Officers for the Limestone Coast Landscape Board are located all around the Limestone Coast and can help land managers with advice on weed control techniques, weed identification and resources to support best practice control.
For more information or advice on pest plant and animal management in your area contact your local Landscape Officer or by calling the Limestone Coast Landscape Board on 8429 7550
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Strengthening Rural Communities Grants
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program aims to give the thousands of small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia an opportunity to access funding to support broad community needs.
Three funding streams are available:
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Rebuilding Regional Communities: grants up to $10,000 to respond to ongoing impacts and recovery from the COVID pandemic;
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Bushfire Recovery: grants up to $25,000 for 2019/20 bushfire recovery; and
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Small & Vital: grants up to $10,000 for broad initiatives that strengthen local people, places, and climate solutions with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).
Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly.
The current round closes 30 August 2022.
For more information, go to the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal website.
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Exploring Organic Amendments Workshop |
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This workshop is about the 'why' and the 'how' of creating and using quality compost on your farm.
Why you should attend?
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Ideal training for agronomist working with and advising on biologicals for their clients
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Increase your awareness of landscape evolution & what’s unique to the region
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Increase your knowledge of the function of soil microbes & the role they play in creating healthy soils & plants
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Increase your awareness of organic amendments and know what’s available locally
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What makes good compost?
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Know what to ask compost manufacturers to ensure quality & certification
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Examine different approaches to making high quality compost at the scale required on farm
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Compost blending theory & practical insights
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Focus on regenerative and organic.
Who should attend?
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Agronomists
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Viticulturists, Horticulturists and Farmers
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Nursery and Garden
Workshop details:
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Date: Wednesday 17 August
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Time: 9 am to 2.30 pm
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Location: Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, Mount Gambier
More information can be found on the Australian Organics Recycling Association website.
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Australian Biosecurity Awards 2022
Do you know an individual, group or organisation that deserves to be recognised for their contributions to biosecurity? If you do then nominate them now!
Awards categories:
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Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award
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Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation
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Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Award
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Industry Award
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Government Award
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Environmental Biosecurity Award
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Community Award
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Education Award
Applications close Monday 22 August at 5 pm (AEST).
More information can be found on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
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Free RLEM Insecticide Resistance Testing Is Back! |
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Have you noticed a chemical control failure or suspect insecticide resistance in red-legged earth mite (RLEM)? If so, Cesar Australia can help test whether your local RLEM populations have developed insecticide resistance.
For more information regarding this free service visit the Cesar Australia website or contact Aston Arthur by email or phone 0427 875 040.
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Farm Household Allowance |
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The Farm Household Allowance (FHA) offers a diverse range of support for farming families to make it easier to get help they need to address issues that are causing stress. This might include:
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rising input cost
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market volatility
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drought
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succession planning issues
The FHA has helped over 17,500 land managers and their partners along the road to long-term financial improvement.
For more information about the FHA visit the Australian Government Services Australia website.
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My Farm Dashboard |
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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:
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Date: Tuesday, 9 August
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Time: 9 am - 2 pm
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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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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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