Thursday 13 March 2025

Empowering businesses in Nowa Nowa to transform

The Victorian Government is backing businesses in Nowa Nowa and surrounds to reach their full potential, making sure they have the tools they need to generate new jobs and economic growth for the community.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced $320,000 of Forestry Transition Fund grants have been awarded to AvaGrow Farms, the Nowa Nowa General Store and Post Office and LCT Auto.

AvaGrow Farms in the Wairewa Valley is known for its high-quality vegetable production and will use a $165,666 grant to build a high-care post-harvest facility, which will include a hydro vacuum cooler, a cool room, a water storage tank and a power upgrade.

When finished it is expected to create three new full-time jobs including a Post Harvest Coordinator, a Logistics Coordinator and a Quality Control Manager.

Adding more flair to the region’s growing tourism market, the Nowa Nowa General Store and Post Office will use a $150,000 grant to renovate its existing premises to include a customer service area, a visitor information section, and indoor and outdoor dining. The expansion is also expected to create one full-time and two part-time positions.

The projects align with the Nowa Nowa Futures Local Development Strategy to build the area’s long-term economy.

Round Two of the Transition Fund is currently open for interested business and organisations looking to create new jobs in communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting. For more information or to apply visit deeca.vic.gov.au/forestry or call 1800 318 182.

Thinking of keeping backyard chooks?

Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer, Northern Region 

Chickens can be a great addition to your home, filling various roles such as producing eggs, fertilising gardens, eating your food scraps, plus being a pet and providing companionship for the family. 

The most trouble-free chickens to purchase are vaccinated hens at the point of lay (16 – 18 weeks) from a reliable commercial source. You will need at least 2 as chickens are social animals. 

Chickens need a well-drained and well-ventilated pen, with enough space to ensure chickens don’t fight, and is functional and easy to clean.  

A chicken house should give shade from direct sunlight plus water proofing from rain, particularly where the chickens roost and lay. It works well if the chicken house is located under a tree for shade.  

The chicken house should be north facing with an eve about a metre long to protect from the summer sun but let the light in during winter. Make sure the house is tall enough to stand up in. Cover the floor with sawdust to form a deep litter for the chicken’s droppings. 

Make sure the chicken house is fox proof and unless the sides are attached to a wooden or concrete floor, dig them into the soil to a depth of at least a half a metre.  

Make sure there are no gaps that predators could get in, there are secured catches and locks, and consider using a fox light. 

For chickens that are not allowed to roam outside their pen clip one wing, not both, to prevent them from flying. Always secure your chickens in the chicken house before the end of the day.  

Nesting boxes need to be off the ground, be deep and fairly dark for seclusion, and regularly add fresh straw. Ideally build the house with outside access to the nesting boxes. 

Perches for roosting need to be wide enough for the chickens to comfortably stand on, at a jumping height and the right thickness for their feet. 

Chickens are naturally omnivores, so they eat a variety of foods. Pellets are a satisfactory food source but can be supplemented with food scraps.  

Don't feed more scraps than the chickens can consume or else the leftovers will attract vermin and create odours, don’t give food scraps that are mouldy or have gone off otherwise you chickens may become sick. Give a source of calcium such as shell grit to help form their eggs. 

Commercially available feeders and water dispensers work well – have them off the ground to keep them clean. A round feeder is good for the pecking order as the weaker chicken can be on the other side of the circle and not beside the dominant chicken.  

Provide enough pellets for no more than one week to prevent them from becoming stale. Chickens also need continual access to clean, fresh water – they drink a lot.  

Monitor your chickens daily for their health, egg production, and food and water availability, and collect their eggs daily. Regularly clean your chicken coop including feeders, drinkers and equipment, and frequently replace nesting materials.  

Always wash your hands with warm water and soap after handling birds, eggs or other materials in the coop. 

Agriculture Victoria is currently responding to an outbreak of H7N8 avian influenza (bird flu) on four Victorian poultry farms. A housing requirement is now in place only for properties with 50 or more birds in the restricted area.  

This disease detection serves as a reminder for all bird owners to routinely monitor the health of their birds. If you suspect your birds are sick, contact your local vet or call the all-hours Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.   

To avoid this happening to your flock avoid contact between poultry and wild birds, keep feed and water in a protected place where wild birds can’t access, and keep your poultry away from water sources frequented by wild birds such as streams, dams, ponds and even puddles. Limit visitors to your birds and use clean footwear. 

Safeguarding livestock from pests and disease

The Victorian Government is helping to protect Victoria’s thriving agricultural industry with support for new projects that better control pests and disease that impact our livestock.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence opened the 2025 Livestock Biosecurity Funds program recently, encouraging eligible organisations to apply.

Organisations can use the grants to adopt emerging technologies to respond to unsolved livestock biosecurity issues, encourage collaboration where possible, and provide measurable benefits to livestock and beekeeping industries.

Victoria will continue to face new and emerging biosecurity risks – driven by climate change and increasing trade and travel – so innovative solutions will be essential to help protect Victoria’s agriculture industry.

Agriculture Victoria and the state’s livestock advisory committees set up the grants program which is funded through duties generated by the sale of cattle, sheep, goat and pigs and their carcasses in Victoria, and beekeeper registration fees.

Prospective applicants joined an online forum recently to hear from the livestock advisory committees about what they are hoping to see in applications this round. A recording of the session will be available on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Last year the Cattle Compensation Fund awarded $1.5 million to Veterinary Support Services to run the Victorian Livestock Veterinary Scholarship program – supporting eight early career veterinarians across regional Victoria, providing one-to-one clinical supervision and training from an experienced large animal veterinarian

To apply visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestockbiosecurityfunds. Applications close on 14 April.

Encouraging emerging talent in the wool industry

The Student Bursary to attend the Inaugural Women in Wool Conference and Gala Awards Night is aimed at giving a student, or recent graduate, the opportunity to attend both the Inaugural Women in Wool Conference and Gala Awards Dinner in Geelong on Thursday 3 April 2025.

'The recipient must be a current student or recent graduate in the field directly related to the wool industry.  This is a great opportunity for a young woman to attend the Women in Wool conference in Geelong and hear about the latest news and share ideas with others at this event' said President Victoria Fish.  'The future is in the hands of our younger generation no matter what sector of the wool industry they belong to!'

The mission is to empower and uplift women in the global wool industry through the connection, education and promotion of women in all sectors of the wool industry. 

Two awards will also be presented at the Gala dinner following the conference.

• Career Legacy Women in Wool Award

• Early Career Women in Wool Award. 

Both will recognise the contributions made to the wool industry by emerging young women and those who have made outstanding contributions and significant impacts in the wool industry.  These awards are sponsored by Vitale Barberis Canonico.

Nominations close Sunday 16 March 2025.

Water hyacinth is banned in Victoria

Did you know that water hyacinth is banned in Victoria?  

While it may be used for decoration, food or medicine in other countries, it poses a serious threat to waterways and farmland here in Victoria.

Have you or someone you know grown this weed?  

We are offering free, safe removal.

Call 136 186, email weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/waterhyacinth

In case you missed it 

Putting Victoria’s pets at the paw-front

Expanded facility putting the heat on crop research

Avian influenza detected at fourth Euroa property

Use a netting fence to protect from dam pollution

Maintain ground cover to protect soils

What's On

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can be found in one spot at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events.

Drench resistance in sheep webinar 

Worm control is becoming a significant challenge for sheep producers in East Gippsland, as wet summers drive outbreaks and provide ideal conditions for Barber's pole worm. Increasing drench resistance is making management tougher, highlighting the need for strong worm control strategies to protect flocks and productivity.  

Join our upcoming webinar on assessing drench resistance in sheep on Monday, 17 March, 7 pm.  

Save the Date - Farming Stronger Tools for Peak Performance

Join us for Farming Stronger: Tools for Peak Performance, a practical, results-driven workshop designed to give farmers the science-backed strategies used by top performers to sustain energy, manage stress, and optimise their operations - even in the toughest seasons.

When: Tuesday 15 April, 10:30 am - 2:30 pm. 

Ellinbank Football Club, Ellinbank Recreation Reserve, Korumburr-Warragul Road, Warragul South

Lunch provided

VFF Stock Sense Calving essentials webinar series

Webinar part 1
When: 18 March
Time: 6 – 7:30 pm

Webinar part 2
When: 19 March
Time: 6 – 7:30 pm

New to calving? Wanting to learn more? Maybe you just need a quick refresher!

This 2-part FREE webinar is perfect for you – hosted by the Stock Sense team and Dr Rob Bonnano.

Get ready for the calving season with a checklist covering everything you need to know.

Structured to cover 101 Essentials, methods to preventing calving problems – a whole system approach, and a Q&A session to conclude.

Managing biodiversity on farms

A walk and talk with local ecologist Peter Gannon. Join West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority for a discussion and a farm walk to learn more about protecting farm biodiversity values.

Hear about potential opportunities in carbon and biodiversity markets and grants to support farmers in protecting biodiversity.

When: Thursday 27 March 10:30 am - 2 pm 
Where: 1984 Foster Mirboo Road, Mirboo 

Save the date for Farm World 2025 at Lardner Park

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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