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Get up to date with the team at Western LLS. 

Just over a month until land carers from around Australia arrive in Broken Hill


The NSW Landcare and Local Land Services conference is coming around fast! 

From 22-24 October, hundreds of delegates from all around the country will converge on Broken Hill for three days of informative and engaging presentations, workshops, field trips and of course, socialising. 

Conference highlights include:
  • NSW biodynamic farmer and grazier Charlie Arnott will give the keynote address in what promises to be a fascinating and insightful presentation from the winner of the 2018 Bob Hawke Landcare Award. 
  • ARIA award and multiple Golden Guitar winning artist Sara Storer to perform at Welcome Adventure Function at the Silverton Hotel. Be sure to pack your party outfit and dancing shoes.
  • Four unique field trips to take delegates into the far west landscapes and get their boots on the ground.
  • The Landcare NSW Awards Gala Dinner, featuring entertainment from Paul Costa. 
  • A Q&A style panel session involving landholders and experts involved in rangeland rehabilitation and how the methods used in the Western region can be applied throughout NSW. 
  • To wrap it all up, an optional event at the Palace Hotel involving Drag Queen Entertainment - surely not one to be missed after three days at the conference! 
Registration for the conference is still open and can be made by clicking here with the standard registration rate available until 23 September. 

For further information contact Conference Manager, Bradley Hayden on 0412 461 392.
     
This will be the first time in the 20 year history of the conference that it is held in the far west - make sure you don't miss out on what promises to be a great event for all involved.  

Animal health advice from the District Veterinarians 


The Western LLS District Vets have produced two case studies that will be of interest for livestock producers. 
  • Erysipelas - the importance of establishing a diagnosis and developing management strategies
  • Urolithaisis - water belly in feedlot lambs
For further information on either of the case studies or animal health in general, contact:
  • Trent McCarthy, Buronga, 0437 822 012, email. 
  • Charlotte Cavanagh, Bourke, 0429 773 021, email. 
     
Funding for feed testing 

Landholders have the opportunity to have their livestock feed tested at no cost, with Local Land Services receiving funding from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) to cover the costs of feed testing. 

The tests are for dry matter percentage, energy, protein, digestibility etc. 

Testing enables producers to tailor the rations to the needs of the livestock and are generally $70 per test.

Landholders wanting to organise for their feed to be tested should contact Trent or Charlotte.
Trent and Charlotte are always happy to have a chat so if you have any burning questions or simply want to run something past them please get in touch on the above details. 

Aerial and ground baiting for wild dogs to get underway in October


Western LLS will be undertaking its spring aerial baiting program for the control of wild dogs next month. 

The aerial baiting is planned to occur between 14 and 26 October with 1080 poison baits to be used with the rate of application being 10 baits per kilometre. 

The area covered by the program is from Hungerford in the north-east, Broken Hill in the west and to Mt Hope in the south-east. 

Following aerial baiting, ground baiting will be carried out from early November. 

Landholders involved in the spring baiting program are reminded they need to get their bait orders to the chair or designated representative from their pest animal control or Landcare group. 

Landholders also need to ensure they have the appropriate 1080 signs up on their property and have notified their neighbours. 

Want to find out more information? Contact Biosecurity Team Leader, Tim Wall on 0428 915 070 or via email. 

Biosecurity Support Officer, Kagen Pearce and Senior Biosecurity Officer, Grant Davis pictured injecting meat baits earlier this year. Both Kagen and Grant will again be involved in the upcoming spring baiting program. 

Opportunities for landholders to receive funding for land management 


Western LLS currently has two opportunities for landholders to receive funding which will assist them to make improvement's to their properties productivity as well as environmental sustainability. 

Further information about both opportunities are on the Western LLS website, including program guidelines and application forms.  Both opportunities are currently open with applications due by Friday, 4 October. 

If landholders have any questions about either opportunity they should contact Rangeland Rehabilitation Officer, Paul Theakston on 0428 259 231.

This image was taken earlier this year after a landholder in the Western region who had been involved in a previous property planning program received approx 25 mm of rain. The two funding opportunities are supported by Western LLS through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program. 

'Buyer beware' when agisting livestock


Agisting stock to access feed can be a sound management decision in the current drought, however it can also bring risks to your animals. 

These include new weeds, pest species, diseases, parasites and the potential for stock theft. 

You will also need to consider the property's feed composition and supply, water access and farm infrastructure. 

These points and others, such as whether the property has a current biosecurity plan, form the basis for a conversation between you and the agistment property holder. 

It is always recommended to inspect the property in person prior to sending stock, and to be clear if there will be someone on site (owner or manager) to check livestock. 

If you can reach an agreement of price and conditions, this also needs to be set in writing as an agistment agreement. 

If problems later arise, agistment arrangements based on a nod and handshake can lead to costly legal issues. Get your agreement in writing and make sure you understand the detail before you sign anything. 

You can also carry out your own research on the agistment region through:
  • reading the region's strategic weed plan and pest animal plan
  • talking to your stock and station agent 
  • connecting with the region's LLS staff. Your local staff can give you their counterpart's details, or you can look them up on the LLS website. 
Read more in the NSW Department of Primary Industries' Agistment Guideline. 

With many landholders agisting stock in other regions to access feed, there are things you will need to carefully consider when sending animals afar. 

Kicking goals in the local Brewarrina community 


A group of five men from Brewarrina have been carrying out maintenance work on the wild dog fence thanks to a partnership project between Western LLS and the Border Fence Maintenance Board. 

The team commenced work at the end of July and have been carrying out general repairs and maintenance in the Hungerford area.  

They have two more 10 day sessions left and their project work will be complete, however there is hope for similar projects to be undertaken in future. 

The group have great appreciation toward Western LLS and the Border Fence Maintenance Board for their support of the project and have thoroughly enjoyed working on country which has been to the betterment of the local community. 

For further information contact Land Services Officer - Aboriginal Communities, Guy Gibbs on 0428 673 829.

Pictured from left to right are Tom Conroy, David Torcetti, Wock Clarke, Paul Rose and Glen French. 

Out and about at the Wentworth Show


At the end of August, a number of the Western LLS team headed to the Wentworth Show to chat with landholders and community members about its projects and discuss opportunities and issues at a local level. 

Over the two days, just over 600 people came and said gday with the team at its trade exhibit which was situated in the vacant sheep pavilion and they were interested in:
  • the recent changes to the Biosecurity Act 2015 and collecting a visitor sign for their property 
  • hearing about local projects and the benefits they were having on local producers, the environment and in the community
  • talking about pest animals and management techniques 
  • collecting a native tree to plant and the old favourite - what is in the touch box?
Western LLS always enjoys the Wentworth Show and is looking forward to being back in 2020! 

The trade exhibit also included NSW Farmers, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and Western Landcare NSW, making it a one-stop-shop for landholders and the community.

We have our winners for the 2019 Life and Light Photo Competition


Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Life and Light in the Western Region Photo Competition who were announced at the Wentworth Show at the end of August. 

In total, 272 images were entered with some amazing photos showcasing the beauty, diversity and uniqueness of the Western region. 

List of the winners
  • colour open – “Drink ‘o’ clock at the waterhole” by Ruth Sandow
  • colour secondary – “Beauty After the Dust” by Charli Smith
  • colour primary – “Desert Flowers” by Abbie Kelly
  • black and white open – “Where there is life, there is hope” by Maureen Duncan
  • black and white secondary – “Just Having a Rest” by Charli Smith
  • black and white primary – “Donkey Stare Off” by Zahra Cawley
  • professional – “Aerial View of the Lachlan River" by Myriam Bruinen
  • people’s choice – “Calm Before the Dust” by Jessie Rogers.
Thanks to everyone who took part in this year's competition and keep snapping in anticipation for next year! 

The Life and Light Photo Competition is run jointly by Western LLS and Western Landcare NSW, with the prize money of $4,000 made possible thanks to the sponsors. Image: 'Beauty After the Dust' - Charli Smith. 

Emissions Reduction Fund methods for protecting native forest under review


Landholders and community members are invited to have their say on two methods that set rules for participation in the Emissions Reduction Fund as part of the independent Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee's review of these methods. 

The two methods - the Avoided Deforestation and Avoided Clearing methods - provide opportunities for landholders to protect native forest on farm land that would otherwise be cleared and as part of its review, the committee is undertaking public consultation. 

To view the methods, read the review discussion papers and to have your say click here. Comments can be provided up until 9 October. 
 
The Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund supports activities to reduce emissions across the economy, providing farming communities with new sources of income while improving the productivity of the land. Image: Native forest near Bourke. Dept of Environment and Energy.

Drought community grants 


The Tackling Tough Times Together grant program helps communities access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought. 

Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly. 

Three tiers of grants are available:
  • up to $20,000 - projects to be finalised within 18 months of approval
  • up to $60,000 - projects to be finalised within 18 months of approval
  • up to $150,000 - applications for this tier are by expression of interest and multi-year projects (up to three years) are welcomed. Applicants must speak with the team to discuss their project before applying. 
For further information regarding these funding opportunities click here. 

Dates for the diary

 
 
 
Getting more lambs on the ground workshop series
 
What: Landholders that want more information or have a burning question about lamb production are encouraged to attend one of the workshops which will look at:
  • pre-joining (looking at the condition of your ewes and rams)
  • joining period (paddock size, timeframe, ewe and ram numbers)
  • lambing (pregnancy scanning and associated benefits, nutrition, stress on ewes)
  • lamb marking (looking at the difference in your numbers, nutrition, the impact of pest animals, management options). 
When and where: 
  • 9 am Monday, 16 Sept - Darnick Hall
  • 2 pm Monday, 16 Sept - Ivanhoe RSL
  • 6 pm Monday, 16 Sept - Ivanhoe RSL
  • 9 am Tuesday, 17 Sept - Mossgiel Hall
  • 2 pm Tuesday, 17 Sept - Booligal Hall
  • 6 pm Tuesday, 17 Sept - Booligal Hall
  • 10 am Wednesday, 18 Sept - Hillston RSL
More info: click here to view the flyer, visit the Western LLS website or contact:
  • District Veterinarian, Charlotte Cavanagh - 0429 773 021 or email
  • Biosecurity Officer, Johno McLean - 0428 362 073 or email. 
 
RAMping Up Repro (Oxley)
 
What: RAMping Up Repro is a hands-on workshop focussed on improving ram performance and working longevity in commercial sheep enterprises. This workshop will also include discussion about seasonal conditions, with an emphasis on spring joining and feed availability, seasonality and joining, heat stress and conception rates and more. 
When and where: 
27 September, Oxley (near Balranald). 
More info: Register and get directions on the Sheep Connect website or contact Senior Land Services Officer, Tanisha Shields on 0447 642 131 or via email. The workshop is being coordinated by Sheep Connect NSW with assistance from Western LLS and the Australian Wool Innovation. 


Grazing Naturally 2.0 workshop (Wilcannia)
 
What: This two day workshop will look to build on the knowledge gained by landholders who attended one of the grazing naturally workshops earlier this year. This workshop will offer hands on advice for landscape management and explore options that will help to increase production, improve the properties natural resource base, provide greater biodiversity and enhance the resilience of the property. *Landholders that did not attend one of the workshops earlier this year will still find this event beneficial.  
When and where: 
2-3 October, Wilcannia (venue TBC). 
More info: Visit the Western LLS website or contact Land Services Officer, Andrea Cashmere on 0417 050 138.
 
 
What to weigh up when livestock feeding 
(Euston, Homebush, Balranald, Mossgiel)
 
What: Landholders wanting to find out more about livestock feeding and what should be considered are encouraged to attend one of our upcoming workshops which will look at simple ways to:
  • calculate a livestock feed budget
  • calculate the cost of feeding 
  • how long you can feed for
  • gross margin calculations. 
When and where: 
  • 9 am Wednesday, 9 Oct in the Benanee Fire Shed, Euston
  • 2 pm Wednesday, 9 Oct in the Homebush area (venue TBC)
  • 9:30 am Thursday, 10 Oct in the Clare Hall (via Balranald)
  • 3 pm Thursday, 10 Oct in the Mossgiel Hall. 
More info: Visit the Western LLS website or contact Senior Land Services Officer, Tanisha Shields on
0447 642 131 or via email. Participants will need to bring their own computer.
Until next time...

Thanks for reading our September newsletter, please hit reply or contact your local Western LLS office for further information on any of the items.

Please forward this newsletter onto anyone who would benefit or enjoy seeing what has been happening in the Western region.
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Western Local Land Services 
Web: www.lls.nsw.gov.au/western
Freecall: 1300 795 299






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