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Thursday, 24 October 2024

In this edition

Enhanced surveillance for animal disease in Victoria

Dr Jeff Cave, Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer

Victoria’s livestock industries are fortunate to be free of most of the serious diseases that affect animals in other parts of the world.

Despite this fact, on-going surveillance for new or exotic disease is important to reassure our trading partners of Victoria’s favourable disease status and to ensure the early detection of diseases that might impact on trade, public health, and farm or regional productivity.

Agriculture Victoria has an initiative that allows veterinarians who investigate and report on outbreaks of unusual or significant animal disease to be paid a subsidy to help cover the cost of the investigation and associated laboratory fees.

This subsidy may be paid when:

  • a large number of animals are affected or there is an unusual presentation of a disease
  • an initial investigation fails to establish a diagnosis, or veterinary treatment does not produce the expected response
  • clinical signs are consistent with an emergency disease without a clear alternative diagnosis
  • findings suggest a possible effect on trade, public health or the viability of a farm, industry or region.

This will increase the likelihood of detecting a serious animal disease should one occur and assist in covering the cost to farmers of investigating and reporting an animal disease outbreak.

Payment of subsidies is conditional upon approval being given by Agriculture Victoria before the investigation begins.

When there is a genuine suspicion of an exotic or emergency disease Agriculture Victoria will undertake the disease investigation and cover the full cost of the investigation.

In summary, early detection of new or exotic disease depends on farmers, vets and government working together:

  • producers and animal owners should call their vet when an unusual disease occurs in their stock
  • veterinary practitioners must remain vigilant and consider the possibility of new, unusual or exotic diseases
  • unusual disease incidents should be fully investigated, and appropriate samples should be submitted to veterinary laboratories.

Early detection of emerging or exotic disease is the key to their effective management.

If you suspect an exotic or emergency disease, please contact your local veterinarian, or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer, or in NSW your Local Land Services, or the Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Rural Financial Counselling Service
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The Rural Financial Counselling Service provides a free and confidential financial counselling service to eligible farmers and small related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can help you to access available support, analyse your business situation, negotiate with lenders and develop strategies to improve your financial position.

To find your closest service click here or call 1300 771 741.

Victoria’s finger on the pulse with new research
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The Victorian Government is boosting Victoria’s pulse production with new research that will help solidify Australia as an industry leader and meet growing global demand for plant proteins.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced $2.4 million towards a new research project at the Horsham SmartFarm with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

The Grains Research and Development Corporation invested $8.8 million on behalf of Australian grain growers, and $2.4 million from industry collaborators.

The four-year project will help Australian pulse producers develop varieties with traits that are driven by the market – supporting Australian farmers to market demand and ensure consumers are getting the product they want.

The national project will involve all parts of the pulse supply chain, including 13 subcontractors, food and ingredient manufacturers and processors, as well as an international partner.

The project will capitalise on the growing plant-based protein market, with demand for these foods forecast to surpass $250 billion globally by 2035.

Australia exports on average 2.5 million tonnes of pulses a year, making us the second largest pulse exporter in the world.

More than 90% of Australia’s pulses are exported with prices defined by visual quality and used primarily for human consumption with a small proportion sold into the lower value, domestic livestock feed market.

Victoria is a major contributor to Australia’s pulse industry, generating $638 million in export income last financial year.

For more information about the project visit grdc.com.au.

Have you reviewed your farm fire plan?
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A fire plan can help protect your home, livestock and vital farm infrastructure.

It will also help identify what you need to do and when you need to do it in preparation for the upcoming fire season.

Start today by downloading a copy of the Farm Fire Preparedness Toolkit available here

Webinar recording – Does it make cents to finish lambs?

Recording of dry season spring webinar series: October 2024

Listen to Geoff Duddy in this webinar to learn about finishing lambs in a tight season.

He uses examples to assist with decision-making around finishing lambs on grain versus selling as stores.

Geoff is recognised nationally as a lamb feedlotting specialist and co-developed the Sheep CRC Lamb Feedlot Calculator. Geoff is experienced in all aspects of sheep production, reproduction, nutrition and finishing.

He spent 27 years with NSW DPI in both sheep and wool research and extension roles before establishing his own private sheep consultancy (Sheep Solutions) in 2013.

A link to the Lamb Feedlot Calculator can be found on the Feeding Livestock website. 

If you are looking to find information on site selection for a stock containment area or a Ssheep feedlot  we would recommend having a look at the Navigating Farm Developments online tool.

Alternatively, the National procedures and guidelines for intensive sheep and lamb feeding systems  provides relevant information on best practice management, performance targets, new R&D and primary information sources for sheep producers.

Check out our free hay calculator
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Heard about our hay versus grains calculator?

This tool calculates the gross margin of grain and hay production in dollars per hectare. It helps with deciding whether a crop should be left for harvest or cut for hay.

Just click on this link

Then fill in the white boxes – the grey boxes will automatically calculate it for you. Talk about easy!

WorkSafe – cattle crush information
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Attention dairy and cattle farmers.

WorkSafe have worked with industry to develop new cattle crush safety guidance.

We want to keep everyone safe when handling cattle.
Find out more: worksafe.vic.gov.au/safe-cattle-yards-crushes

Apply for new Future Drought Fund grants to support Aussie farmers
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The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund is looking for eligible Australian organisations to apply for 2 new grant programs.

These programs will trial innovative solutions with the potential to build the agriculture sector, landscapes and communities’ long-term resilience to drought and climate risks, through transformational change.

Both grant rounds are open to agricultural industries in Australia and will be delivered over 6 years. Applicants must form consortia, that is 2 or more organisations working together to develop and deliver an eligible project.

Applications close on 19 November 2024.

To learn more about the grants and apply, visit: Resilient Landscapes Grants Program - DAFF and Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants - DAFF

ICYMI

Webinar recording: Are you pinkeye ready?

Hear from pinkeye researcher Mac Kneipp about the current understanding of pinkeye, key preventative strategies and optimising treatment outcomes.

Watch the recording here.

Important results from crop rotation study

Agriculture Victoria’s long-term cropping research in the Victorian Mallee is unearthing important results which could impact agricultural land management in the region.

For the full media release click here

North American study tour as part of winning GRDC award

For Agriculture Victoria plant pathologist Dr Joshua Fanning, winning the 2023 Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Emerging Leader Award was honour enough, but it was the icing on the cake to travel to America and Canada to tour leading research institutes and cropping regions.

For the full media release click here

Dry seasons webinar recordings available here

The recording of the recent webinar ‘Growing more feed’ with Agriculture Victoria Livestock Extension Officer Fiona Baker - can be found HERE

Additionally, here are some resources that you might find useful. 

Feeding livestock website feedinglivestock.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria dry season and drought support page  Dry seasons and drought support | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria

Soil Moisture monitoring sites can be found HERE

Information on navigating farm developments online tool can be found HERE

An MLA guide to managing breeding ewes in containment can be found HERE

Stock containment areas design webinar can be found HERE

What's On

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.

Novice shearing and wool handling course
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Shearer training dates

This is a 5-day practical shearing course for new entrant shearers to learn the skills required to be a professional shearer.

This training is intended for those already working in industry and have experience in shearing.

Limited spots available, please register your interest for the course.

Fully funded by AWI and available for participants that meet certain criteria, please register your interest for the course.

If you are interested in attending any of the above courses, please contact ghaynes@swti.edu.au

Know your soil workshop
Mitchell Shire soil workshop
Hort Innovation – Webinar on consumer insights on sustainability
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How is sustainability influencing how Australians shop for fresh produce – and what does sustainability even mean to people in this context? 

Join Hort Innovation research team as they share insights about:

  • how sustainability is shaping what produce Australians buy, and how this has changed over the last year
  • how ‘best before’ dates influence what consumers do with fresh produce
  • what consumers think about packaging – plastic packaging in particular
  • what can be done to reduce food waste in households.

This webinar is ideal for those engaged in marketing, sales and category management for fruit, nuts and vegetables, but is open to all who are interested.

Webinar details

Date: Monday, October 28

Time: 11 am to 12 pm 

Register here – Webinar Registration - Zoom

Healesville – Business skills for the future workshops
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Calling horticulture businesses and commercial beekeepers - join our upcoming Business Skills for the Future workshops in Healesville.

Gavin Beever from Cumbre Consulting will cover topics such as profitable decision making, cash flow budgeting, understanding key business performance ratios, succession planning and more. 

When: Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 November, from 9:30 am to 3 pm.

Where: Healesville RSL.

Register here

Farm emissions – the ins and outs with Cam Nicholson
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Tatura SmartFarm, 255 Ferguson Road, Tatura

14 November from 10 am – 3 pm.

Targeted to livestock producers, this is an introductory event discussion carbon farming, farm emission sources and emissions intensity.

Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services is a farmer, agronomist and industry advisor. Cam has exceptional knowledge and experience of carbon farming.

Cam’s insights into supply chains and the practicalities for livestock farmers mean he is one of the best presenters on this subject. Cam has the tips on how to improve your productivity and the positive relationship this has with emissions intensity.

This is a free event. Morning tea and lunch provided. Registration is essential by 6 November.

Register here

This event is part of the Carbon Farming Outreach Program (CFOP).

The Victorian Carbon Farming Outreach Program is delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the National Carbon Farming Outreach Program.

The program is delivered through a partnership between Agriculture Victoria, 10 catchment management authorities and Landcare Victoria and other bodies.

Regional Victorian Artificial Intelligence Forum – Friday 15 November
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Regional Victoria’s showcase on AI in industry 

Learn how AI and the latest cutting-edge technologies can help transform and revolutionise your business. 

Join us at Regional Development Australia Melbourne’s (RDAM) upcoming Artificial Intelligence Forum, to be held in Bendigo on 15 November. 

This forum will highlight the importance of understanding and harnessing these innovative technology solutions, their benefits and practical applications in business, as well as address concerns surrounding risk, compliance, and legislation of AI in industry.  

For early adopters of AI or for businesses starting to explore the space, the forum will inform, showcase, and inspire. 

Showcasing demonstrations of real-world adoption of AI and digital innovation, we will talk to and hear insights from industry leaders and businesses driving productivity and innovation through the integration of AI.   

With keynotes, panel discussion and collaborative conversation, this will be a platform to connect and explore the array of opportunities in AI businesses are undertaking in regional areas and beyond. 

Speakers include:

Simon Wilson, CEO Founder of Australian Regional AI Network and CEO of RegGrid

Jannat Maqbool, Manager of Industry Programs at ARM AI Adopt Centre. Jannat has 25 years of experience in IoT and smart cities, financial services innovation, digital engineering, and AI, across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and is actively engaged in the technology ecosystem.

Case study presenters/demonstrators include:

  • Stef Cola, Director of Engineering at CultureAmp, and founder of Ligantic  (Innovative chat tool powered by AI)
  • Briana Cowan, founder of Mingle Media, runs workshops on leveraging AI to boost productivity in business
  • Edward Barraclough, founder of Drone-Hand, autonomous livestock and total property monitoring.

For more information or for tickets click here

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Contacting Agriculture Victoria

Call 136 186 from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (except for mobiles and public telephones).

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

All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us.

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

 

 

'Like' our Agriculture Victoria Facebook page.

 

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @VicGovAg

 

Subscribe to the Agriculture Victoria YouTube channel. 

 
 

Email - sarah.hetherington@deeca.vic.gov.au

 
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