EO's round up
Chemical review process
A number of growers participated in a recent Zoom session relating to hazelnut pests and diseases and chemical requirements. HGA appreciated the practical input given by the growers.
The session was facilitated by Peter Dal Santo and a large amount of information was gathered and added to the working spreadsheet. The update spreadsheet will be circulated shortly to a broader group of growers for their review.
There are a number of important questions that need to put to the broader membership so look out for a short survey and please respond with your answers. This additional information will give HGA a very valuable working document.
COVID update – Victoria
The Victorian Government has announced additional support for businesses most affected by the extension of the public health lockdown in Melbourne.
Grants from the $367 million joint Commonwealth-Victorian package will flow to more than 100,000 businesses across Melbourne.
The new package includes:
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
The Small Business COVID Hardship Fund provides $10,000 grants for eligible small and medium businesses that have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70 per cent.
The Fund will assist eligible small and medium businesses:
- whose operations have been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place between 27 May and August 2021
- that have experienced at least a 70% reduction in turnover as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions
- that are not eligible for other key COVID-19 Victorian Government business grant programs that have been announced since 27 May 2021.
The program offers grants of $10,000 to eligible small and medium businesses, including employing and non-employing businesses. This program will allow more businesses who have previously not received support, to receive financial relief now.
Business Costs Assistance Program
More than 95,000 businesses in metropolitan Melbourne will automatically receive payments of $2,800, with grants scheduled to be paid within seven business days.
This applies to businesses and sole traders who have received or been approved for a Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension grant.
COVID-19 Disaster Payments
Eligible workers who lose hours due to the lockdown will be able to access the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment, as will sole-trader businesses who lose work and do not qualify for Victorian Government support programs.
The payment is set at $450 for people who have lost 8-20 hours work over seven days and $750 for people who have lost 20 hours or more. People who receive certain Commonwealth income support are eligible to receive a $200 payment.
More information about the business programs is available at business.vic.gov.au.
Regards and keep safe,
Trevor
Trevor M Ranford B.Sc., Dip MP (AIMSA), Adv Dip Hosp (Wine Marketing), AFIML
Executive/Communications Officer
Hazelnut Growers of Australia Inc
Mobile: 0417 809 172
|
|
|
Australian Farm Institute: A guide to participating in soil carbon farming
Soil carbon farming has been mooted as one of the key strategies for offsetting Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the ancillary benefit of improving soil health and farm productivity.
However, several barriers restrict farmers from participating in schemes designed to monetise the production of carbon credits. Some of these obstacles include differing perceptions of what increase in soil carbon storage is achievable and whether income is likely to exceed a project’s cost.
This new Occasional Paper by Professors Robert E White, Brian Davidson and Richard Eckard from the University of Melbourne, explains in simple terms the procedures for a landholder to participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund.
|
|
AgDay 2021 challenges Australians to choose an #AgVenture
On this year's AgDay, Friday 19 November, the NFF will challenge Australians to consider the career opportunities in agriculture and to embark on an #AgVenture.
"There is a job for everyone in agriculture – whether it’s riding the boundary fences of a Top End cattle station or breeding the next breakthrough wheat variety in an inner-city laboratory, Australians really can choose their own #AgVenture," NFF CEO Tony Mahar said.
"Australians planning to host an AgDay event can register their event, big or small, at www.agday.org.au, and receive a special AgDay celebration pack.
"And, we’re calling people already loving a career in agriculture, to share their story using the hashtags #AgVenture and #AgDayAU," Mr Mahar said.
|
|
New Food Safety Culture fact sheet
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia & New Zealand (FPSC) has released a Food Safety Culture fact sheet to provide helpful tips and practical actions that can be taken to improve and measure food safety culture.
Key topics covered include:
- What is food safety culture?
- Planting the seed of food safety culture from the top
- Measuring food safety culture
- Pathways to best practice.
|
|
NSW spray drift pilot program
The APVMA calculates mandatory buffer zones (also known as ‘no spray zones’) using the Spray Drift Management Tool (SDMT). A pilot program has been established to provide NSW applicators with access to a modified version of the SDMT so applicators can input site-specific information and calculate reduced buffer zones applicable to their local conditions and application preferences.
The main objective of the pilot is to identify the extent to which the SDMT is of practical benefit to applicators as well as other potential benefits, such as reducing reliance on increasingly complex labels and increasing understanding of the relationship between application parameters and off-target drift.
The APVMA has issued a permit to Grain Producers Australia, who will be the point of contact for anyone interested in participating in the pilot program, which will include a questionnaire that will help inform the wider rollout of the SDMT and the future development of spray drift policy in Australia.
|
|
High Court’s decision clarifies casual employment entitlements
From Bradbrook Lawyers: On 4 August, the High Court handed down its judgment in the case of Workpac v Rossato. The decision provides major clarification about casual employee entitlements and is considered a significant victory for employers. In short, the High Court has decided that casual employees can’t claim paid leave entitlements without a firm advance commitment from the employer as to the duration and timing of future engagements.
The decision overturned the Full Federal Court’s judgments in Skene and Rossato and has put to bed employer’s concerns about double dipping.
Importantly, the court said that it’s not enough that a casual employee reasonably expects future work. This alone doesn’t make them a permanent employee.
An employee won’t be a permanent employee (and therefore entitled to paid leave) unless the contract of employment is clear that:
- The employee is engaged according to the employer’s requirements; and
- The employee has the choice to accept or reject each engagement.
Employers should review how their casual workforces are engaged. If unsure, seek legal advice about the wording of the engagements. It’s critical that casuals are engaged by a written contract to clarify the employer’s intentions regarding the arrangement from the start of the employment relationship.
|
|
Diary dates
18 August: Fresh Produce Safety Conference - Sydney and online
5-7 November: Australian Women In Agriculture annual conference - east coast, TAS
1-3 December: Australian Biosecurity Symposium - Gold Coast, QLD
7-9 November: Gulfood Manufacturing - Dubai, UAE
12-14 March 2022: FOOD EXPO - Athens (Greece)
March 2022: ANIC Nut Conference
8-11 March 2022: Fine Food Australia - Sydney
5-9 September 2022: X International Congress on Hazelnut - Corvallis, Oregon (USA)
|
|
|
|
|
![#AgDayAU. I [heart] farmers. Australian Farmers. National Agriculture Day.](https://mcusercontent.com/76998bee78a42d5006b1f13b3/images/b3574192-9b73-bb2f-5cc9-c4c742298dc7.png)
