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Thursday 20 March 2025
Drought support events program
Agriculture Victoria continues to support drought-affected farmers in south west Victoria with an ongoing program of events. Check out the events being delivered as part of the Drought Support Package.
Bushfire recovery support
If your business or industry has been impacted by the 2024-25 bushfires in western Victoria, support is available to assist with your immediate and long-term recovery.
Upcoming supports include:
- Business Recovery Advisory Service – free business support for impacted businesses, via telephone, online or in-person for impacted businesses, to find the right strategies for long-term recovery.
- Business Bushfire Recovery Grant Program – $5,000 grants to small businesses, including eligible primary producers, that have experienced significant disruptions and revenue losses due to the bushfires.
These programs are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the Western Victoria Bushfires which commenced in December 2024 (AGRN 1166).
Caption: Paul and Jenny O'Sullivan with emissions specialist Alison Kelly inspect livestock at Malabar Farm
Pilot program helps farmers beef up carbon capture
Agriculture Victoria has partnered with South Gippsland farmers Jenny and Paul O’Sullivan of Malabar Farm near Walkerville to find profitable and sustainable ways to reduce emissions on their sheep and beef properties.
The O’Sullivans participated in Agriculture Victoria’s On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot, a program that helped nearly 250 farmers across the state understand and act on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The Pilot was launched in 2022 under the Victorian Government’s $20 million Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge that invested in flagship trials of leading research, and development of tools and services helping farmers to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and profitability.
Agriculture Victoria Emissions Specialist Alison Kelly worked with the O’Sullivans to develop a customised on-farm emissions action plan to reduce their GHG and sequester and store carbon.
‘Reducing emissions through efficient production and carbon storage is top of mind for farmers in this pilot like the O’Sullivans who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation,’ Mrs Kelly said.
‘Determining the environmental impact of your farm’s production through a process called “Know Your Number” is now something that governments and the whole supply chain are increasingly demanding.’
As part of the program, Mrs Kelly worked with the O’Sullivans to determine their ‘number’, a net farm annual emissions footprint estimate, via an existing Greenhouse Gas Accounting Framework calculator for beef and sheep enterprises.
She said the O’Sullivans tailor made action plan helped them apply for a government grant to implement some of the opportunities from the plan such as:
- the establishment of a 1.7 km long and 10-metre-wide plantation, which will provide carbon sequestration, biodiversity and livestock shelter benefits.
- support to follow up on benchmark soil sampling to monitor changes in soil organic carbon levels across several paddocks and organic treatments using a blend of animal manure and chicken bedding litter.
As well as revegetation and land use improvements, the O’Sullivans continue to reduce their farm GHG emissions with a 7 kW solar power system for their workshop, fences and pumps. They are also screening their bulls for feed conversion efficiency and hope to learn from feed additive research to see how they can apply benefits to their grazing operation to possibly further reduce emissions.
Read more about Agriculture Victoria’s On-Farm Emission Action Plan online and other farmer case studies.
Get set for tussock treatment in the cooler months
Serrated tussock has infested over 250,000 hectares of land in Victoria and has caused great damage to agriculture and native grasslands. Now is a good time to inspect your property for Serrated tussock, with increased plant visibility due to less pasture competition and frost bleaching.
Most parts of Victoria have had a very dry 6 months, which has resulted in Serrated tussock standing out from overgrazed pastures. In frost-prone areas, the tussocks are bleached a golden yellow to white colour by frost during late autumn and winter.
The lack of pasture and change in Serrated tussock colour makes the plants easier to spot in a paddock, making now a good time to do a survey of your land.
The lack of rains and autumn break in some parts of Victoria has been detrimental to pasture cover and also good for the growth of Serrated tussock. Controlling Serrated tussock before the plant goes to seed is critical to prevent further spread, lost productivity and increased control requirements.
Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) is a long-lived perennial that can invade poor soils and survive fire, drought and frost. It reduces the productivity of pasture and can create a fire hazard. Its fibre content is so high that stock are unable to digest it.
Seeds are spread by the wind, machinery and also by water and animals. The seed remains viable in the soil for an average of seven years and can dominate if there is no competition from other pasture species.
The good news? There are many options available for the treatment and removal of Serrated tussock.
If done regularly and before the infestations are large it is possible to lessen the impact on our property. Depending on the size of the infestation plants can be removed manually using a hoe or spade or spot sprayed using a registered herbicide.
Small seedlings recently germinated will appear bright green until they are bleached by frost and will be erect and stand out from the other grasses in a pasture.
The Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) has a host of information on treatment options and case studies including videos and information sheets that can be posted or emailed to landowners.
'We are asking landowners to conduct assessments of their properties before spring when the grass starts to flower.
'Serrated tussock flowerheads develop a distinctive purple colour as the seeds ripen in late spring and early summer. During winter you will be able to see the plants easily when they are bleached a lighter colour,' said VSTWP Community Engagement Officer Ivan Carter.
The VSTWP has developed an online video and information sheets to help landowners identify the noxious weed which can be viewed at www.serratedtussock.com.
'Serrated tussock is a costly weed to have on your property especially when it becomes established,' Mr Carter said.
'It is best to check your property for new infestations and treat plants every season before seeding,' he said.
'A mature Serrated tussock plant can produce thousands of seeds in a season, blowing up to 20 kilometres from the parent plant.'
For more information, please visit Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party or contact the VSTWP at info@serratedtussock.com
GRDC seeks grains industry experts for regional panels
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking grain growers, agronomists, researchers and agricultural industry stakeholders keen to ensure Australian grains research delivers impact for the sector.
Applications are currently open for positions on GRDC’s three regional panels for the northern region (Queensland and New South Wales), southern region (South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria) and western region (Western Australia).
If you are interested and would like to find out more about the regional panels, you can go to the GRDC Panels page. For specific details about the position criteria and applications go to the GRDC Careers page or email RP2025@grdc.com.au.
AgTech Innovators – Episode 7
Episode 7: ClimateTech meets AgTech, with Peter Castellas.
Now is the time to be bold.
If you’re working in the AgTech sector, now is the time to be brave, as interest from large investors has never been stronger.
That’s the advice of Peter Castellas, CEO of Climate Zeitgeist and founder of the Climate Investor Forum, who joins us for this episode of AgTech Innovators.
In case you missed it 📰
Media articles
Safeguarding livestock from pests and disease
Heliotrope: summer weeds are flourishing in the south west
Webinars
On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot update Password: Climate
What's On
Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events.
GRDC events
Mildura WESI, Weed Spotter and GNP training
A free one day weed ID session led by Bec Schwinhammer Agriculture Victoria Weed Spotter and Bianca Gold Weed Management (DEECA).
Bec and Bianca will share a selection of early invader environmental weeds and State prohibited weeds (SPW) that are relevant to the Mallee and surrounding area.
Places are limited and registration is a must, so be sure to register via https://forms.office.com/r/4S6hREqV2z
Climate change implications on Mallee horticultural crops
Climate change is a critical issue facing irrigated horticulture in the Victorian Mallee, with increasing temperatures and a water constrained environment posing major threats.
In this webinar Jeremy Giddings will summarise the findings of a Mallee CMA study project managed by Ag Vic and how the results could be used by industry and government.
Date: Wednesday 26 March. 12 noon
Cost: Free
Password: Climate
Decisions that drive recovery and resilience
A powerful and practical one-day workshop on building skills for recovery and resilience, with a focus on developing drought management action plans.
Location: Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning
Date: 26 March, 9 am - 3 pm
Watertight water planning workshop
How much water do you have, how much do you need and is it the right quality for the job?
Agriculture Victoria, Southern Rural Water and farmers will present on a range of topics such as preparing a water plan, pipeline hydraulics and water quality for livestock and sprays.
Location: 'Fernleigh Park', 2713 Ballan-Meredith Road Fiskville
Date: 27 March 9 am - 3 pm
Mythbusting the seasonal outlook
Agriculture Victoria invites south west farmers and service providers to a webinar to bust some myths about seasonal outlooks and autumn forecasts.
Date: 27 March from 12 noon
Looking after your livestock, looking after you
Farmers are invited to a one-day workshop to help keep your animals and you going during challenging times.
Location:
North Park Community Sports Centre, Lamont Street, Stawell
Date: 31 March, 9 am - 3 pm (Stawell)
Soil moisture, monitoring wind erosion and seasonal outlook webinar
Join presenters Dale Grey and Dale Boyd, Agriculture Victoria’s Seasonal Risk Agronomists and the Mallee Sustainable Agriculture Services – Wind Erosion and Land Management project team to learn about:
• Current soil moisture levels in the Wimmera-Mallee and impact of rotations and soil type on these levels.
• Case study on historical analysis of break timings for Berriwillock.
• Observations across the Mallee from the recent autumn wind erosion and land management survey.
• A summary of crop types, land management and ground cover from 2024.
• How satellite technology is used to monitor ground cover and obtain crop type estimations.
• A review of the 2024 seasonal conditions and the current seasonal outlook for the Wimmera-Mallee.
2024 was a challenging year on farm. It is time to Recover, Reset and Regenerate.
Producers and industry stakeholders are invited to a workshop at Moonambel.
This will be interactive and hands on workshops that will explore:
- Pastures - What has survived? Grazing management, Weed management, Nutrition soil condition, Pasture pests diseases, Pasture renovation
- Livestock- Where are you at? Planning for the future, rebuilding, breeding, condition scoring, supplementation requirements, fodder stock take, animal health
- Farm Finance - Where are we at? Cashflow and Budgeting
Date: 27 March, 9 am to 4 pm
Location: Moonambel Recreation Reserve, Moonambel
For further information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/events
Birchip Cropping Group events
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
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