This edition of the newsletter contains information to assist the regions farming community with is jam packed with information which has been categorised into industry news, events, grants and scholarship information as well as links to some great resources. Grab a cuppa, relax and catch up on some of the happenings from around the region.
A resources page has recently been added to the WDA website. This page has links to a number of resources including GRDCTV and local networks YouTube channels, past newsletters, and the current events calendar. The project page can be found by going to http://wda.org.au/brif
For further information on these activities, suggestions on a hot topic or workshop that would be relevant to the region and would assist your business contact Mark Fletcher (03) 5391 6505 or email mfletcher@wda.org.au
CHRIS Drum’s cropping operation has been able to withstand the challenges of heatwaves, frosts and three exceptionally dry years in a row.
Changes he and his brother, Gerald, made a decade ago — after the millennium drought — mean they can produce yields above what they used to in a dry year.
The Drum family runs a continuous cropping operation at Banyena, in Victoria’s Wimmera region, where this year they planted about 2000ha of crops. More...
Each year, Horsham Rural City Council prepares an annual budget and reviews its Council Plan. Getting feedback from our community is a vital part of this process as it helps us shape our priorities and make choices that will keep rates affordable.
Your responses to the following questions will be used to inform the preparation of the draft Budget 2016/17. It will also be used to inform our longer term planning.
Please take the time to complete this short online feedback form and tell us what you think. Should take only a few minutes to complete. This consultation closes at midnight on Monday 7 March 2016.
Any feedback made via this feedback form may be published and used as part of a Council report. However, Council will not publish any personal details collected as part of this form. For more information about Council’s Privacy Policy, visit www.hrcc.vic.gov.au/council/governance/privacy https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/201617CouncilBudget
Hot weather can often be a difficult time on the property with the obvious fear of drought and dry conditions threatening production and turnover, but biosecurity threats shouldn’t be overlooked either. Two examples of sheep conditions in hot weather that can be managed with good biosecurity practices are fly strike and Barber’s pole worm. More...
As the new kinder year kicks off, the Andrews Labor Government is reminding families in Victoria’s drought-affected communities that they are eligible for free kinder in the year before school.
As part of the drought assistance package announced last year, free kindergarten is available to all families living in 10 drought affected local government areas of Victoria. More...
Hopetoun Women On Farms Gathering will bring together rural people from across Victoria.
Committee chairwoman and Yarriambiack Councilor Helen Ballentine said there was something special about women connected to agricultural communities that created a common bond, and encouraged conversations about rural life.
“Whether they be farming women, women in shops, or part of a whole network of industries and organisations that support farming, there is a passion, a bubble, an interest and an empathy for each other while going through inclement seasons, without having to say too much,” she said. More...
Do you want help as quickly as possible during a farm emergency?
If the answer is 'yes' then it is your PIC – Property Identification Code (PIC) - that will help authorities come to your aid sooner and provide vital assistance.
Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) District Veterinary Officer Amy Sluggett said a PIC was not only mandatory for livestock and some cropping enterprises – it is also a very good thing to have in a crisis. More...
BCG Weather Station Project Technology and big data have been a key focus for BCG over the past twelve months. As an incentive to get the weather station project benefiting farmers, BCG is offering an exOne of the first projects BCG is working on in this space is offering farmers throughout the Wimmera and Mallee the opportunity to purchase a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station which has been modified to incorporate sensors which can send data via the GWM water/ Taggle network. It runs on a D cell battery which have a five year life expectancy. The device, which easily integrates with mobile technology, collects rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind direction and speed data and sends it via the Taggle network to your phone, tablet or home computer. Weather information is provided to the user in almost real-time and is updated every half hour.
To get involved phone the BCG office on 03 5492 2787.
Farmers in Victoria need real insurance against the elements, and the state's peak farmer organisation believes multi-peril crop insurance could be the key.
VFF Grains Group president Brett Hosking said multi-peril crop insurance will be a main focus of the group's upcoming annual conference.
"The impact of drought and other climate conditions on the grains industry is of national significance," Mr Hosking said.
"It is paramount that we continue to discuss the options available to us, as well as argue for government support."
Recent statistics show that the grains industry brings in an estimated $12.38 billion to the Australian economy.
At the recent VFF Grains Conference, a resolution was put forward to lobby the federal government to commit funding for developing a commercially sustainable multi-peril crop insurance market, which will enable the industry to self-insure against production risk and climate variability.
"Farmers need peace of mind against unpredictable weather conditions and multi-peril crop insurance is a reasonable answer, which is why it is top of our agenda for this year's conference," Mr Hosking said.
"Many farmers have had two consecutive years of drought, when just five years ago our growers were challenged by extreme flooding.
"Insurance will give incentives for continued post-drought farm expenditure, which will improve productivity in seasons immediately after droughts and ensure our small rural communities don't suffer through lack of spending."
Centacare Ballarat is outreaching to the Wimmera to provide personal support to individuals, families, children and professionals. We are able to deliver our program in a flexible way to ensure we are responsive to the needs of your community.
Whether you are a community member interested in exploring the options avail or a professional wanting to discuss our availability – please call Lauren Irvin on intake 53277960 or 1300303988.
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources scientist Dr Sally Norton has won the Victorian Wheat Research Foundation’s (VWRF) award for her outstanding contribution to Grains Innovation Park, Horsham. The annual award goes to a Horsham staff member who demonstrates a passion for their work which results in positive outcomes for the grains industry. VWRF chair John Ackland said Dr Norton was a worthy recipient for her work that not only benefits Victorian grain growers but potentially those all over the world.More...
Victorian Government and University of Melbourne scientists are testing wheats with different fertiliser needs and growth patterns in a bid to overcome future wheat quality problems linked to rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
Today the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 405 parts per million in air, but is expected to jump to 550 ppm by 2050 - this will potentially result in lower protein wheat with less baking qualities. More...
The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) Land Management Extension Officer Heather Field says water should be tested regularly in summer or during periods of drought.
Ms Field said the major water quality problem during dry periods was high levels of salt, but algae and animal manures may also foul water after heavy rains or strong winds.
“Poor water quality can affect livestock health, as well as plant growth, soil quality and farm equipment and infrastructure,” Ms Field said. More...
With much of the Wimmera and Mallee recovering from two very dry years, cash flow is tight and crop planning and budgeting require careful consideration.
Fertiliser is one budget line item with the potential for savings, but it is important to keep sufficient flexibility in the system to realise full yield potential if 2016 is to be favorable.
For those where cash flow is tight, allocate an amount for fertiliser, and then work backwards from there to derive suitable fertiliser mixes and rates. The aim is to provide the bare minimum without compromising potential yield. More...
Wimmera Development Association invites you to attend the Wimmera Southern Mallee Grains Centre of Excellence Information Day on Friday the 11th March, 10am - 4pm. The day will feature tours of the Research and Development being undertaken at Grains Innovation Park Afternoon presentations by Dale Grey, Dale Boyd and Paul Blackshaw will discuss the 2016 Seasonal Outlook, Soil Moisture Monitoring, Business Decision Making and Climate Variability and your Farm.
To register your interest to attend, contact Mark Fletcher (03) 5381 6505 mfletcher@wda.org.au by the 8th March
Download the information flyer HERE.
For a comprehensive list of events across the Wimmera Southern Mallee please download the 'Building Resilience in Farming' Calendar of Events with over 40 events across the region during March. Download HERE
Victorian Women on Farms Gathering to be held in Hopetoun in March are coming in from every region in Victoria. The event is attracting interest from farming women, women from rural communities, women working in the agribusiness service sector as well as people interested in specific program highlights. The program for the weekend is available on the website www.hopetounwofg2016.com.au or by contacting Cr Ballentine on 0429 006 016.
FREE Transport is available from Horsham by phoning contacting Jennie Schoolf jennie.schoof@hrcc.vic.gov.au
These courses teach first aid skills for people to give initial help to other experiencing mental health problems, in a mental health criss situation, or in the early stages of mental illness.
Places are limited with courses filling fast. Courses will be held in Horsham, Nhill, Edenhope, Warracknabeal, Kaniva, Hopetoun Rainbow and Jeparit.
For further details contact Felicity Johns, Wimmera PCP felicity.j@grampianscommunityhealth.org.au (03) 5362 1226.
Download information flyer HERE.
Birchip Cropping Group Inc together with the Grains Research and Development Corporations invite you to attend one of six planning, agronomy and financial workshops.
Thhe theme for the workshop series will be 'tight financials - great opportunities'. Special guest speakers Harm van Rees (CropFacts) or Kate Burke (ThinkAgri) will discuss agronomic and financial information to support decision making and build confidence in growers to farm in 2016. More...
DEDJTR's Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Dale Grey, will be presenting the latest Seasonal Climate update for Victoria.
For the latest climate predictions and recent climate and soil moisture trends, join Dale's 45 minute webinar at: 12:00 noon EDST on Friday 4th March.
All you need is a computer with a reliable internet connection and a headset or, if no headset you can phone in. For more information on joining the webinar, click on the link in the invitation below.
Please remember to register in advance to avoid delays in joining the webinar on the day and try and log in at least 5 minutes before the webinar start time of 12.00 pm. You need to Register now at the Goto meeting website! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2955960418271340546
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
You will be asked to download a small program to get the webinar to work.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
Applications now open
The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon Christopher Pyne, MP has opened the second round of the Next Generation Manufacturing Investment Programme for applications.
Funding of $30 million is available to help eligible businesses with capital projects to establish or expand their high value manufacturing capabilities in South Australia or Victoria. More...
Applications for Energy Assessment grants close 4pm, Thursday 31 March 2016.
Businesses now have until Thursday 31 March to submit applications for an energy assessment grant up to $5,000. Sustainability Victoria is evaluating and approving applications as they are received, so apply now to ensure a fast turnaround. More... Download the guidelines and application form
Food Source Victoria (FSV) is a new four-year $20 million program supporting Victorian agri-food businesses and their value chain partners to grow exports, create regional jobs, and develop the capabilities to capitalise on growing global demand for premium food products. The FSV Fund ($18 million) is a contestable grants program to help agri-food businesses work with one another and their value chain partners to plan and implement improvements along the export value chain. As part of the Fund, there are two grant programs: a. Food Source Planning Grants enable agri-food alliances in Regional Victoria and value chain partnerships to access independent, skilled business advisers to support the development of Growth Plans that identify clear actions. b. Food Source Growth Grants assist alliances and value chain partnerships to implement the improvements recommended in their Growth Plans, or an equivalent pre-existing export-focused business plan, to grow exports and create jobs. The FSV Scholarship Program ($2 million) provides study and training grants to ambitious professionals in regional agri-food businesses. The scholarships aim to equip candidates with the knowledge and skills they need to help their business expand into a new market, export a new product, or introduce another form of value adding that will boost exports and/or create jobs. In the interests of promoting equal opportunities for women, at least $1 million of the $2 million program will be dedicated to providing scholarships for women. For more information: www.vic.gov.au/foodsource
The Industry Skills Fund (the Fund) assists industry to invest in training and support services and to develop innovative training solutions. The fund will help build a highly skilled workforce that can take advantage of new business growth opportunities and adapt to rapid technological change
The Industry Skills Fund (fund) is a key element of the Australian Government’s strategy to boost business productivity and increase competitiveness across the economy. The fund provides training places and support services for industry.
The Fund prioritises SMEs, including micro businesses, and is delivered through the Single Business Service, which streamlines access to essential information for all Australian businesses. More..
Starting off the new year with a big to-do list for the property? Then why not integrate some key biosecurity actions at the same time with the help of the Farm Biosecurity Toolkit?
One of the features of the Farm Biosecurity website is the option for producers to create a tailored, online toolkit to assist implementation of the right biosecurity actions to protect their property. More...
Farmers and farm workers are more likely to be seriously injured or die at work than other Victorians.
The farming industry employs about 3% of the Victorian workforce, however it accounts for approximately one-third of workplace deaths across the State.
In the first six months of 2015, 24 people lost their lives in on-farm incidents across Australia. A further 50 people were involved in non-fatal incidents.
In Victoria, there were a number of tractor roll overs. In the last couple of months, there have been two electrocutions.
While the statistics are chilling, there are ways farmers can actively prevent these incidents and make their workplaces safer:
Use safer vehicles or purchase the right vehicle or machine for the task at hand. Basic maintenance checks should be carried out regularly.
When harvesting, remember fatigue needs to be managed.
Know or learn about the dangers of electricity - do a risk analysis and then plan to control those risks that have been identified.
Factsheets and more information is available from various websites including
Phone the VFF Workplace Relations Department on 1300 442 481 for more information about your legal duties as an employer and what you can do to manage risk on your property.
January 2016 Synopsis On balance, most models suggest average rainfall for the period Feb-Apr. Whilst predictions at this time of the year are notoriously poor and four to six months out even worse, there is surprisingly high model consensus for a wetter winter. More...
You couldn't operate a farm or build a fence without the right tools, so how could you implement biosecurity practices on your property without a basic understanding of what it involves?
Fortunately, help is just a click away, with the Farm Biosecurity website providing farmers and industry stakeholders with access to a suite of free livestock biosecurity manuals, containing all the measures that can be used to reduce the risks of diseases entering or spreading amongst livestock. More...
GROUND COVER: Southern region online magazine
Ground Cover is available as an online magazine
and can be viewed in your web browser.
Click the link below to open Ground Cover Issue
120 or type the URL into your web browser www.grdc.com.au/GC120S.
Click the link below to open Ground Cover Issue
120 Supplement or type the URL into your web
browser www.grdc.com.au/GCS120S.
As a grower, agronomist or farm adviser you know pest management can be very challenging. Subscribing to the FREE PestFacts south-eastern email service is one of the easiest ways you can stay informed about invertebrate pest threats in your region.
Throughout the winter growing season PestFactssubscribers provide pest reports and field observations on the appearance and distribution of invertebrate pests across south-eastern Australia. We use this information to regularly produce the PestFactsnewsletter and provide advice and recommendations to hundreds of individuals, organisations and businesses working with broad-acre crops and pastures.
GrowNotes Alert is a free nation-wide system for delivering urgent, actionable and economically important issues to you, the grower, adviser and industry body, the way you want. Real-time information from experts across Australia, to help save our industry billions of dollars annually and to help growers increase profitability.
A GrowNotes Alert can be delivered via App, SMS, voice, email, social media or web portal (or a combination of preferred methods). The urgency with which they are delivered can help reduce the impact of weed, pest and disease costs. GrowNotes Alert improves the relevance, reliability, speed and coverage of notifications on the incidence, prevalence and distribution of weed, pest and diseases. More...
Regional Support Contact List On the land, the worst feeling is helplessness and isolation. The ongoing strength and resilience of the regions farmers is amazing but sometimes seeing a way forward is hard and there may be times when you just need a good chat.
There are a number of organisations that can assist you. CLICK HERE for details
Newsletter and Event Calendar Contributions Do you have a story or article that you would like to contribute?
Do you know of any industry networks or colleagues that would find this newsletter beneficial.
If so please forward information to mfletcher@wda.org.au
This project is funded with the support of the Victorian Government.
CHRIS Drum’s cropping operation has been able to withstand the challenges of heatwaves, frosts and three exceptionally dry years in a row.
Hot weather can often be a difficult time on the property with the obvious fear of drought and dry conditions threatening production and turnover, but biosecurity threats shouldn’t be overlooked either. Two examples of sheep conditions in hot weather that can be managed with good biosecurity practices are fly strike and Barber’s pole worm. 
Technology and big data have been a key focus for BCG over the past twelve months. As an incentive to get the weather station project benefiting farmers, BCG is offering an exOne of the first projects BCG is working on in this space is offering farmers throughout the Wimmera and Mallee the opportunity to purchase a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station which has been modified to incorporate sensors which can send data via the GWM water/ Taggle network. It runs on a D cell battery which have a five year life expectancy. 
Victorian Government and University of Melbourne scientists are testing wheats with different fertiliser needs and growth patterns in a bid to overcome future wheat quality problems linked to rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
Good quality water is vital for stock health. 
With much of the Wimmera and Mallee recovering from two very dry years, cash flow is tight and crop planning and budgeting require careful consideration.
Wimmera Development Association invites you to attend the Wimmera Southern Mallee Grains Centre of Excellence Information Day on Friday the 11th March, 10am - 4pm. The day will feature tours of the Research and Development being undertaken at Grains Innovation Park Afternoon presentations by Dale Grey, Dale Boyd and Paul Blackshaw will discuss the 2016 Seasonal Outlook, Soil Moisture Monitoring, Business Decision Making and Climate Variability and your Farm.
These courses teach first aid skills for people to give initial help to other experiencing mental health problems, in a mental health criss situation, or in the early stages of mental illness. 
Birchip Cropping Group Inc together with the Grains Research and Development Corporations invite you to attend one of six planning, agronomy and financial workshops.
The Industry Skills Fund (the Fund) assists industry to invest in training and support services and to develop innovative training solutions. The fund will help build a highly skilled workforce that can take advantage of new business growth opportunities and adapt to rapid technological change
Starting off the new year with a big to-do list for the property? Then why not integrate some key biosecurity actions at the same time with the help of the Farm Biosecurity Toolkit?
GrowNotes Alert is a free nation-wide system for delivering urgent, actionable and economically important issues to you, the grower, adviser and industry body, the way you want. Real-time information from experts across Australia, to help save our industry billions of dollars annually and to help growers increase profitability.
