In this edition

Events

• Applications for 2023 Victorian Rural Women's Leadership and Mentoring Programs now open
• BestWool/BestLamb & BetterBeef Regional Networks Roadshow
• Horticulture Pulse Check
• Farm budgeting masterclass
• Excel for farm business
• Autumn start-up & soil pit
• Succession planning workshop
• Heathcote flood recovery expo
• Business EDGE workshops

Resources

• Pastures may need extra care after the wet spring
• Innovation Ag Podcast
• Webinar recordings

Supports

• Victorian flood and storm support for farmers
• Farmer Online Assist Program
• Health and personal wellbeing
• Managing stress on the farm
• Dealing with a stressful season
• Mosquito management strategies
• Financial support for flood-affected farmers
• Farm Business Resilience Program

Applications for 2023 Victorian Rural Women's Leadership and Mentoring Programs are now open

Designed to encourage and empower participants to have an active voice and role in the agriculture sector, both programs support rural women to work collaboratively, explore issues impacting their industries and communities and develop real solutions.

Both programs offer guidance, support and networks to help you to focus your efforts, develop your skills and confidence, and work with other rural women.

Depending on your goals, you might be interested in applying for one or both programs via a single application process.

Find out more and apply online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Applications for both programs are open until 5 pm on Monday 27 February 2023.

BestWool/BestLamb & BetterBeef Regional Networks Roadshow

Hear the latest on livestock production and flood recovery at one of Agriculture Victoria’s regional roadshow events.

Agriculture Victoria is keen for livestock producers to attend the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef Regional Roadshow, ‘High performing livestock, pastures and people’, which will deliver four half-day forums for sheep and beef producers across regional Victoria.

The roadshow is a collaboration between Agriculture Victoria and its beef and sheep networks partners Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Wangaratta

Location: Oaks Conference and Function Centre, 1 - 15 Racecourse Road, Wangaratta

Date: Wednesday 28 February

Time: 9 am - 1 pm

Cost: $25

Registration: Here online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Sale

Location: The Matador, Corner Princess Hwy & Raymond Street, Sale

Date: Wednesday 1 March

Time: 9 am - 1 pm

Cost: $25

Registration: Here online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Buninyong

Location: Buninyong Bowling Club, 708 Inglis St, Buninyong

Date: Thursday 2 March

Time: 9 am - 1 pm

Cost: $25

Registration: Here online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Dunkeld

Location: Sterling Place Community Centre, 14 Sterling St, Dunkeld

Date: Friday 3 March

Time: 9 am - 1 pm

Cost: $25

Registration: Here online via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Contact: Kirstie Anderson on 0437 990 967.

The 2023 BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef Network Regional Roadshow is delivered in partnership with Australian Wool Innovation Limited and Meat and Livestock Australia. Session funding from the Innovative Livestock Networks and Farm Business Resilience projects.

Horticulture Pulse Check

Location: Tatura SmartFarm

Date: Thursday, 23 March

Time: 10 am - 3 pm

Registration: Reserve a spot online via Eventbrite.

Details

• Tips on managing disease
• Soil health after waterlogging
• Preparing for extreme conditions
• Farmer health
• Business support
• Horticulture innovation and practices
• Technology and orchard management

Contact: Andy Clark

Farm budgeting masterclass

Budgeting skills are essential in running a business, not just for cost management, but more importantly for profit maximisation.

Location: Online
Register your interest: Online

Excel for farm business

This course is designed for people who are either new to Excel, or who want to fill in gaps and gain confidence and independence using Excel.

Location: Online
Register your interest: Online

Brett Davidson

Regional Manager Dairy Northern, Agriculture Victoria

Pastures affected by flooding and severe waterlogging will need some extra care this season to re-establish healthy productive pastures.

By focusing on soil testing, soil temperatures, seed depth, irrigation, weed control and grazing management, this will all help with pasture re-establishment.

Soil testing is highly recommended after flooding. Sandy soils can have issues with leaching of various nutrients, such as sulphur, potassium and nitrogen while dentrification can occur on heavy soils that have been inundated for prolonged periods.

Previously planned fertiliser applications may need to be adjusted to suit. The soil test may also indicate the need for gypsum application to help build and protect soil structure.

Soil temperature is a critical aspect of any pasture establishment. The ideal soil temperature for sowing varies depending on the species being sown. For ryegrass and clovers, the ideal soil temperature for germination is between 20 and 25°C. Persian and  Shaftall clover can withstand higher soil temperatures of up to 35°C. Oats have an ideal soil temperature range of between 10 to 25°C, while wheat and barley prefer temperatures a couple of degrees lower than oats. 

If you are unsure of soil temperatures, a good rule of thumb for ryegrass and clover is to sow when daily maximum air temperatures for five consecutive days average less than 25°C. Above these temperatures seedling establishment is reduced significantly and pastures may need to be resown. 

The sowing depth of seed is proportional to the seed size. A general rule of thumb is that sowing depth should be twice the length of the seed. For example, ryegrass seed should be sown at 1-2 cm depth. If seed is sown too deep, it will increase the time it takes to emerge, or it may fail to emerge at all.

To achieve a dense, productive pasture aim for plant densities of 600 seedlings/m2. Plant densities should be measured one week post emergence. If the plant density is below 600 seedlings/m2 action may be required. 

Pasture with counts lower than 80 per cent will require more drastic action to perform at their best. Newly established seedlings are more susceptible to moisture stress than established plants. 

The first irrigation will typically use 1.5 ML/ha with subsequent irrigations requiring 0.5 ML/ha, depending on soil type and irrigation layout.

After the pasture sward is established, the first grazing is crucial to get right, as it can set the pasture up for the remainder of the season. The pasture should be 10 cm high and at least at the two-leaf stage.

Before grazing check if the root system is developed enough by using the ‘pluck test’. To complete a ‘pluck test’, take a tiller between your fingers and pull in a motion to mimic a hungry cow’s bite. If it tears without pulling the plant out of the ground, it is ready to graze.

Graze pastures to a residual height of 4-6 cm. This will help promote tillering, minimise damage to the pasture and set the residual height for future grazing's. On-off grazing should be used to help achieve residuals of 4-6 cm when first grazing new pastures. 

It is vital to get the basics of pasture establishment and grazing right to ensure the best result possible and produce healthy productive pastures.

For more information visit Agriculture Victoria’s Land and pasture management page on its website.

Innovation Ag Podcast

Is there such a thing as an innovation roadmap in farming and agriculture?

Probably not. But consider this podcast series the next best thing.

Episode 1: What is innovation and what motivates people to do it?

Episode 2: Innovation and Decision Making – How do you implement change, without betting the farm?

Location: Listen on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music or here on the VicHub Drought & Innovation website.

Webinar recordings

On the Agriculture Victoria Flood recovery webinars webpage, you'll find webinars about:

• Control and repair of paddock-based erosion
• Repairing erosion damage to roads, tracks, stream crossings and dams
• Flood recovery: Biosecurity planning
• Flood recovery: Feed budgeting
• Flood recovery: Animal health issues
• Cash flow budgeting.

A range of support measures are available for flood and storm-affected farmers. Information about these measures can be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods. For any urgent animal welfare needs, please contact 136 186. 

Technical Information and decision-making support 

Agriculture Victoria is working with Victorian farmers and industry to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters (including floods and storms) through delivery of technical information and decision-making support services to help farm business recovery including: 

• Grazing, cropping and pasture management
• Irrigation and horticulture system rehabilitation 
• Soil erosion management  
• Land management 
• Animal health and nutrition  
• Farm mapping and planning  
• Water quality
• Weed management.

Farmers are encouraged to contact the Agriculture Recovery team on Phone: 0427 694 185 (Mon-Fri between 8.30 am and 5 pm) or Email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Flood and storm affected farmers are eligible to apply for financial support via the current flood recovery grants. Applications close at 4 pm on Sunday 30 April 2023.

Available grants include:

Primary Producer Recovery Grants:

• Up to $75,000 grants to cover the cost of recovery and get businesses up and running again.
• Note: This replaces the $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up, Relief Grants announced on 19 October.
• Producers that have received a Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up Relief Grant of $10,000 can now apply for up to a further $65,000 under the Primary Producer Recovery Grant, bringing the total to $75,000.

Rural Landholder Grants:

• Up to $25,000 grants to cover the costs of disaster impacts for small-scale producers.

Primary Producer Concessional Loans:

• Up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, or to cover short-term business expenses.
• The Primary Producer Flood Recovery Concessional Loan has been amended to allow primary producers who suffered a significant loss of income as a direct result of the 2022 Victorian floods and storms but who did not suffer direct damage to assets to apply for a concessional loan of up to $100,000.

Primary Producer Transport Subsidies:

• Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.

Contact Rural Finance or 1800 260 425 to access the Primary Producer Flood Relief Program. 

For more information, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

It is normal to have strong reactions following a distressing or frightening event and people can experience a range of physical, mental, emotional and behavioural reactions.

There are a number of support services available (listed below) to assist you and your family recover from the strong emotional or physical reactions you may be experiencing.

Are you concerned about your own mental health? Reach out to Lifeline for a safe place to talk on 13 11 14.

Available support includes:

• Your doctor or local community health centre
• A counsellor or psychologist
• Parentline 13 22 89
• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
• Nurse-On-Call 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Australian Psychological Society Referral Service 1800 333 497

Click to read or download this Managing Stress on the Farm book from the National Centre for Farmer Health website.

You can also request free hard copies from the website.

Stressful periods like floods, extended wet conditions and associated production losses often result in farmers themselves getting a bit stuck and operating at less than their best.

A key to recovery is to remain as healthy as you can and recognise that experiencing stress following extreme climatic events is normal.

The National Centre for Farmer Health has developed some quick tips to help you on the journey.

• Mosquito management strategies - a factsheet outlines how mosquitoes are managed and mitigated, and by who
• Mosquito-borne disease information (including Japanese encephalitis vaccination program updates) can be found via the Department of Health website.

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

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or relayservice.gov.au

Don't forget to check out Agriculture Victoria's social media sites for up-to-date information and news.