• Gemma Turnbull — Team Leader based in Bourke
• Tanisha Shields — Senior Land Services Officer based in Balranald
• Claudia Bryant — Land Services Officer based in Broken Hill
• Luke Stacey — Senior Land Services Officer based in Buronga
• Max Brownlow — Senior Field Officer based in Broken Hill

Showcasing technology in the Western region (webinar recording)

 

For those that missed our recent webinar on how technology can be used in the pastoral zone the recording is now available. Click here to view the recording.

The webinar featured Phil Tickle from Cibo Labs who presented on the PastureKey service which combines world-leading satellite remote sensing and data science with on-farm knowledge to estimate feed supply for every hectare. The service also monitors changes in the feed base and land condition on a weekly basis. 

Also, David Ward from Goanna Ag presented on water management technology which is allowing landholders and their properties to communicate with each other like never before. Just imagine the advantages if your property could talk to you and you could understand what it was saying.

Reports of 'Pizzle Rot' received, landholders to be on the lookout

 

Western LLS has received reports of Ulcerative Posthitis (commonly known as 'Pizzle Rot') of rams in certain areas of the region. This is a condition that affects the prepuce of wethers (and sometimes in rams), causing severe irritation and ulceration of the skin. 

The debris from the ulcer can form a crust which may block the opening to the prepuce, affecting a ram's desire and ability to mate. 

Pizzle Rot is caused by multiple factors including the presence of a urease producing bacteria, high protein diets and inadequate testosterone levels. Landholders seeing this issue should contact their local Western LLS district vet or their private vet.

Our district vets would appreciate hearing from any affected producers to complete a brief survey to assist in increasing their understanding and targeting assistance with this significant production issue. 

• Zi Lim, Broken Hill, 0417 496 541 and zi.lim@lls.nsw.gov.au                
• Charlotte Cavanagh, Bourke, 0429 773 021 and charlotte.cavanagh@lls.nsw.gov.au
• Trent McCarthy, Buronga, 0437 822 012 and trent.mccarthy@lls.nsw.gov.au

       

Getting into the nitty gritty of African Boxthorn

 

What is it?

A familiar nuisance to the Western region is the very resilient African Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum). ­Brought to Australia from South Africa in the mid-1800s as a hedge plant, this weed has spread from around old homesteads and urban areas. The woody, thorny shrub has fleshy green oval shaped leaves and grows to 5 m high and 3 m wide very quickly. Its seeds are spread primarily by animals and can germinate at any time during the year.

Why is it a problem?

African Boxthorn poses many threats to agricultural production in the Western region. African Boxthorn:

• has large thorns which can injure livestock
• forms impenetrable, spiny thickets that block access for vehicles, livestock and people
• invades pastures, roadsides, reserves, remnant bushland and waterways
• provides shelter and food for pest animals including foxes and rabbits
• prevents livestock from accessing shade
• is poisonous to humans
• is a host for pest insects including fruit fly, tomato fly and house fly.

What to do?

The Western Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan has identified the African Boxthorn as having the priority weeds objective of "asset protection". This means that this weed is widely distributed throughout the Western region and thus its spread should be minimised to protect priority assets (e.g. riparian areas or waterways). In order to comply with their General Biosecurity Duty, all landholders with African Boxthorn present on their property must:

• mitigate the risk of the plant spreading from their land
• reduce the impact of plant on priority assets.

African Boxthorn can be managed by a variety of control methods. The control program for African Boxthorn will depend on the size of the infestation. For more information on this weed, visit the NSW DPI website.

To discuss the options for controlling this weed on your property contact a member of the Ag team. 
               

Carbon Neutral 2030 Grazier Network

 

Registrations are now open for the Carbon Neutral 2030 Grazier Network. The network will provide the latest tips and information on positioning your business to take advantage of the rapidly evolving world of environmental markets and certification schemes. Group members will be encouraged to share their experiences, ask questions and learn from each other’s experiences.

What’s in it for you?

• the latest on targeted research helping to cement the foundations for graziers to participate in globally recognised environmental markets
• resources to help position your business to become ‘low carbon’ or ‘carbon neutral’
• have your questions about environmental markets answered
• learn about other graziers’ experiences
• the opportunity to participate in data collection to support the development of remote sensing tools and technologies in your region.

How to apply

For more information, or to apply to be part of the Carbon Neutral 2030 Grazier Network follow the links below.

• Carbon Neutral 2030 Grazier Network flyer
• Carbon Neutral 2030 Grazier Network online registration

Set ewes up for success through a lifetime ewe management course

 

Sheep producers wanting to gain skills and confidence to manage ewe reproduction and increase profitability in their enterprise are being encouraged to join a group of like-minded farmers in their local area to participate in a Lifetime Ewe Management course, something that Western LLS is now accredited to deliver.

The course is ideally suited to small groups of five to seven participants who, along with an experienced sheep consultant, meet six times over a 12 month period to cover a number of topics including:

• learning how to condition score
• preparing ewes for joining
• managing singles and twin-bearing ewes at different stages of their reproductive cycle
• assessing pasture and calculate supplementary feeding rates
• setting up lambing paddocks
• forming weaning strategies to maximise weaner survival
• setting targets for condition score, conception, lamb survival, ewe mortality, lamb growth rate and feed on offer.

The cost of the course is $2,400 plus GST per participant, however the Australian Wool Innovation offers eligible wool growers a subsidy of $1,000 which all eligible producers are encouraged to access. Producers interested in forming a group in their local area or finding more about the course should contact Tanisha.

Looking at pastures — Woollybutt grass

 

Woollybutt grass (eragrostis eriopoda) is a densely tufted perennial that can grow up to 40 cm tall with a bulbous woolly base. The many stems are branched with hairless nodes and 9–20 cm long seed heads that have a purple tinge. The seeds on the seed head are in spikes 1–2 cm long and contain up to 20 paired seeds.
 
Woollybutt grass is a desirable species that can be found on a variety of soil types across the Western region and is moderately palatable, which is dependent on its environment and grazing management.

It is a desirable species due to it being a perennial that can provide dense, long lasting groundcover and producing a large amount of seed and biomass. The presence of perennials in pastures increases groundcover, reduces erosion and creates conditions that improve pasture quality and reliability.

When managing Woollybutt grass, producers should be mindful to be utilising approximately 30 per cent of the foliage (70 per cent remaining) at each graze followed by a rest period to allow recovery. Perennial grasses can survive grazes below this level in good seasons but their capacity to withstand drought will be reduced and population can decline significantly.
 

Woollybutt grass in the region has declined over time due to it having a slow response to overgrazing and prolonged dry periods. The loss of Woollybutt grass is a problem as it is the key perennial species in some land types that are now relying on low quality annuals for stock feed and groundcover that is leading to lowered production and degradation of the landscape.

For more information on managing and increasing perennials in pasture please contact a member of the Ag team or attend a Tactical Grazing Management workshop.

                           

Technology in Ag — Software

In case you missed it

Until next time...

• Gemma — (02) 6870 8632 and gemma.turnbull@lls.nsw.gov.au
• Tanisha — 0447 642 131 and tanisha.shields@lls.nsw.gov.au
• Claudia — 0448 796 109 and claudia.bryant@lls.nsw.gov.au
• Luke — 0419 518 307 and luke.stacey@lls.nsw.gov.au
• Max — 0408 241 200 and max.brownlow@lls.nsw.gov.au