The Limestone Coast Landscape Board, with funding from AgriFutures Australia, showcased five Carbon Explainer video series, at two breakfast events (Mount Gambier and Keith) in December in celebration of World Soil Day. We are excited to launch these videos soon on the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website - watch this space!

These videos have been filmed in collaboration with primary producers across the Limestone Coast, and have been designed to be a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about carbon and soil health. 

The Sustainable Land Management Survey was also launched at these breakfast events and we would like to hear from land managers, industry professionals and interested community members.

Calling all Limestone Coast residents – we want you to help shape the future of our sustainable primary production projects and resources.

From land managers and industry professionals through to curious community members, the Sustainable Land Management Survey will provide insight into practices, behaviours and knowledge underpinning our region’s valuable primary production sector.

Participants can win great prizes including free comprehensive soil tests, copies of The Soils of Southern South Australia publication and native plant vouchers.

As a producer or agribusiness you might know what you do and how you do it ... but have you ever considered why?

The Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness Cluster are hosting two 'Telling your provenance story' workshops where you will:

• develop the foundations of your own provenance story
• uncover what is unique in your business, region and overall approach to food or beverage
• gain tips and techniques that will help you share your story through written, visual and social media
• build a deeper connection with consumers

Presenters are:

• Jimmy Williams (Williams and Company) - produce marketing expert
• Katie Spain (Good Food, Gourmet Traveller, Wine Business Magazine) - food and wine writer

Naracoorte

• Date: Thursday 24 February
• Time: 1 pm - 5 pm
• Location: Town Hall meeting room - 95 Smith Street

Mount Gambier

• Date: Friday 25 February
• Time: 9 am - 1 pm
• Location: The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre - 1 Bay Road

For more information contact Sally Klose on 0427 829 143.

This project is supported by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Our region's landscape is breathtaking but do you know what is happening below the surface?

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board's Healthy Soils Webinar Series is a collection of free webinars aimed at helping landholders, primary producers, advisors and anyone wanting to improve their understanding of soils.

Rymill Coonawarra viticulturist Martin Wirper won a copy of 'The Soils of Southern South Australia' publication for taking part in the five-part webinar series, labelling the videos a great refresher course.

The Health Soils Webinar Series can be found on the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website.

Bring the whole farm team together to develop a property specific drought management plan that incorporates land, livestock, people, and business strategies.

With the support of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the Resource Consulting Service (RCS) has created a unique online drought preparedness course to share that knowledge with Australia's farmers and graziers.

Flexible and self-paced, the course incorporates case studies that showcase successful localised practices and increasing drought resilience across the nation. Your time investment is 6-10 hours, plus the ongoing development of your drought management plan to keep on top of the lessons you learn through its implementation.

You’ll come away with a meaningful and practical plan to prepare for a drought, manage in a drought and recover from a drought.

More infomation about the course can be found on the RCS Transforming Agriculture website.

The AgTech program is growing and expression of interest is now being sought from developers to trial new products at AgTech testbeds.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) have established AgTech hubs that serve as new technology testbeds and support proof-of-concept assessment of innovative solutions with commercial potential. Located on each demonstration farm, emerging technologies are now being trialled across different production systems.

For further information and to apply, including application guidelines and eligibility, view the AgTech testbeds website.

For more information email AgTech Program Manager, Ben Baghurst.

Rural Business Support's (RBS) team of Business Financial Counsellors are available to support eligible small business owners who are in financial distress.

The Small Business Financial Counselling (SBFC) program provides FREE practical support to eligible small business owners in rural and regional areas who are currently in financial distress due to the ongoing impact of COVID, drought or recent bushfires.

To be eligible to receive financial counselling, a small business must: 

• Have 19 employees or less
• Be experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship due to COVID, drought or bushfire
• Be located in an area classified as rural (i.e. outside of the greater Adelaide metropolitan area)

For more information, you can visit the Rural Business Support website.

Agriculture involves the production of food and raw materials from crops and livestock. Studying at TAFE SA, you can learn about essential farming skills such as dairy, agribusiness, livestock handling, soil, and water.

A variety of agriculture courses are available including:

• National qualifications
• Short courses
• Apprenticeships and traineeships
• Courses for school students

TafeSA throughout the Limestone Coast has many recognised qualifications such as:

• Certificate II Agriculture (AHC20116)
• Certificate III in Rural Operations (AHC32816)
• Certificate IV Agribusiness (AHC41019)

Visit the TafeSA website for more information.

A fantastic resource for winegrowers was recently launched at two Eco-vineyard events held on 17 and 18 November. The 'Natural Predators of Vineyard Insect Pests' booklet was developed by Dr Mary Retallack of Retallack Viticulture in partnership with the Wine Grape Council of South Australia.

Funding for the guide was provided by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board via the Landscape levy, with further support from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Download a copy of the guide and check out the short video of further information about beneficial insects in vineyards.

This project is supported by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.

The Department of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is excited to launch registrations for the ABARES Outlook 2022 conference which will be held online from Tuesday 1 March to Friday 4 March.

This year's conference theme is Growing agriculture through innovation and sustainability.

Sessions include:

• Global and national context
• Drought resilient farms
• Benefits of water trade in the Basin and how markets could be improved
• Trading in a greener environment - can Australia's agriculture exports maintain competitive advantage?
• Future of food: what it means for Australia
• Agriculture's new workforce
• Plus, key commodities

Registration is free and you will be able to watch the sessions live and on demand.

PestFacts South Australia provides grain growers and advisors with the latest information on invertebrate pest activity and management during the winter growing season.  

The PestFact newsletter offers advice, warnings and reminders for a range of invertebrate pests of all broadacre crops including cereal, oilseeds, pulses and fodder crops. 

Search and view all historical pest reports across South Australia and Western Victoria on their PestFacts map.

African lovegrass is a hardy perennial weed that produces large, unpalatable tussocks of low nutrition value to livestock and displaces productive plants in pastures.

Our Landscape Officers target control of this declared weed on roadsides providing greater protection to farms and stopping the spread of African lovegrass throughout the Limestone Coast.

We urge all landholders in the region to support African lovegrass control by treating infestations on properties. Our Officers are available to provide information and advice on how to manage pests on your property.

If you suspect you’ve got African lovegrass on your property, let us know by calling our offices in Mount Gambier (8735 1204) or Keith (8755 1620).

Maintaining pressure on rabbit and fox populations each year improves agricultural productivity.

Using a range of methods and coordinating with your neighbours to control rabbits and foxes will ensure the best results and restricts rapid recovery of the rabbit fox populations.

Our Landscape Officers are located all around the Limestone Coast and can help landholders control declared pest plants and animals by providing:

• Advice such as best practice control methods and timing of control
• Bait supply and equipment to assist with your fox and rabbit control program
• Publications and factsheets     

Landholders can contact their local Landscape Officer for pest control advice by calling our offices in Mount Gambier (8735 1204) or Keith (8755 1620).

Summer is the time to identify and control Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) and Caltrop (Tribulus terrestris), to help reduce its impact on local agricultural productivity.

Do any of these weeds look familiar? Identifying pest plants correctly is key to planning a control program and growing what plants you want on your property. Contact your local Landscape Officer for control advice.

Silverleaf Nightshade

This declared weed can have severe impacts across a broad range of land uses, including cropping systems, perennial and annual pasture production, irrigation, and even urban residential land.

Growing during summer, Silverleaf nightshade uses valuable moisture and nutrients needed for crops and pastures. It is important to identify and control this pest early, as once established, it is extremely difficult to eradicate.

Caltrop

Caltrop is very easily spread, as its burrs attach to livestock, the soles of shoes, clothing, tyres, and anything it can get its spikes into.

Seeds also remain viable in the soil for years, so when removing Caltrop try and collect any burrs as well. Physical removal is best, but herbicide can also be used before seed sets.

Feral deer can reduce productivity on farms as they compete with livestock for pasture, damage infrastructure such as fences and have the potential to spread disease. As little as nine red stags on a property is the same as 387 rabbits and reduces the grazing capacity of that property by over 30 sheep.

The Limestone Coast (LC) Landscape Board is seeking interested landholders in the region to participate in the feral deer control programs offered by the LC Landscape Board. This register of interest is held by the LC Landscape Board and landholders will be contacted with more information when a control program is planned for their area. Please note all information kept by the LC Landscape Board is confidential.

Managing feral deer is best achieved by involving all land managers in the local area, as feral deer can wander across adjoining properties.

Visit the LC Landscape Board website to register your property and be alerted of future deer control programs in your area, and to find our more information on feral deer programs in the Limestone Coast.

In our region, bushfire is a real threat. Be sure to understand your bushfire risk so you can prepare your property and know what to do if a bushfire starts. Preparing for a bushfire will not only help to mitigate the impact of fire on people, homes, animals and businesses but also helps to protect our regions natural resources.

We can all be bushfire ready. There are nine simple steps to surviving a bushfire: 

1. Do your 5 minute bushfire plan
2. Talk about your plan to family, neighbours & friends
3. Have flexibility in your plan
4. Clear around your property
5. Have an emergency kit ready
6. Know when to leave and where to go
7. Listen to the weather and know your total fire bans
8. Subscribe to the CFS warning email
9. Check radio, website, social media and news updates

For more information about preparing for bushfire season go to the CFS website or visit the Limestone Coast Landscape Board for a collation of resources (sourced from a variety of organisations such as the CFS, Australia Red Cross, Department of Environment and Water and Department of Primary Industries and Regions)

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