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Latest news across the Riverina
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Japanese encephalitis alert
Japanese encephalitis (JE), a mosquito-borne viral disease exotic to Australia, has been detected in NSW. Infected mosquitoes can cause disease in wild and domestic birds, domestic and feral pigs, horses and other livestock species as well as people.
Report all unusual signs of disease in animals to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
More information on JE is available from the NSW Department of Primary Industries website and information on human health effects is available from NSW Health.
Read more.
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Tropical grass producer workshop
NSW DPI will be hosting a workshop a Wagga on the 6th of April for producers looking to sow or have recently sown tropical grass based pastures in the Riverina.
Following short presentations about sowing and managing tropical grasses from Bob Freebairn and Suzanne Boschma there will be ample opportunity to ask questions about establishment and management of tropical grasses. Following lunch there will be a visit to a tropical grass species evaluation site.
If you are interested in joining us at the workshop, contact Sarah Baker (sarah.j.baker@dpi.nsw.gov.au or 0439 167 600).
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Autumn fox & wild dog baiting season happening now
Local bait collection events are happening across the Riverina now.
Our Biosecurity Officers are holding bait collection events to support your pest control activities and help you meet your general biosecurity duty.
Look up your local event or touch base with your local friendly Biosecurity Officer to arrange support for your autumn baiting program.
Look up your closest here.
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Western Riverina Pest Project wins national award
Western Riverina - Your pest control efforts have been recognised! 🏆 The Western Riverina Pest Project has been awarded a national Froggatt Award for undertaking the largest feral pig control program in Australia.
This Invasive Species Council award recognises major contributions to protect the Australian natural environment from dangerous new invasive species.
It is the largest feral pig control program in Australia, with 43,608 feral pigs removed from the program area between June 2016 and June 2021 — the population density was reduced from a peak of 11.2 pigs per square kilometre in 2017 down to 0.88 pigs in 2020!
Thanks to the landholders over the 187 holdings covered, Western Local Land Services and Murray Local Land Services, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and our valued staff for your support in achieving this amazing outcome.
Read more.
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Now is the time to start preparing your site for planting native plants
The native plant nurseries are finalising the propagation of their seedlings for this year so it's a good time to contact them now and place your order to ensure that you can source species suitable for your site. If you are direct seeding your site, now is the time to get in contact with the provider to book your site in.
Late summer/autumn is also the best time to rip your planting lines to enable deep shattering of the soil. Deep cultivation will make it quicker to plant and will increase the survival rate of plants.
Rip lines should be approximately 4-5m apart in the upper areas of our region and 6-8m apart in the lower region of the Riverina. If you need help determining what plant species are best suited to your site or ripping specifications then please contact Cherie White on 0427 407 126.
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Autumn beef webinar series - making bull selection decisions for heifer matings
Our better bull buying on-line series starts this week and is your guide to selecting and buying bulls that best suits your breeding objectives, region and target markets.
In partnership with Southern Beef Technology Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries (Animal Genetic and Breeding Unit) and HVC Production and Breeding, we're hosting a series of on-line webinar workshops for landholders and cattle producers during March 2022.
Find out more and save your spot
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Feral deer and pig control workshop (Wagga)
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Riverina Local Land Services are offering a free pest animal workshop which will be of great benefit to local landholders (with morning tea and lunch provided).
The workshop will feature presentations from local pest animal experts, and will include:
- deer identification and monitoring using wildlife cameras
- recording/reporting pests into FeralScan
- feral pig management tips and tricks
- how to get involved in control programs.
Thursday 17 March 2022, Time: 9:00 - 12 noon, Lake Albert Hall, Eastlake Dr, Wagga Wagga.
RSVP essential. Book your spot now.
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Keep an eye out for seeding saltbushes
The saltbushes are seeding on the Hay plains. Favourable climate conditions this summer have encouraged a significant seeding event for all types of saltbushes.
Pictured in the photograph is the very attractive red, fleshy seed of thorny saltbush (Rhagodia spinescens). Birds and ants are attracted to the seed providing an ideal means of distribution.
Landholders are encouraged to stop and have a look at the seeds as now is an ideal time to identify any unknown saltbush species. A free Ute Guide to Common Shrubs of the Hay Plain is available to help with identification. To obtain a mailed copy, please contact Sally Ware (sally.ware@lls.nsw.gov.au) mobile 0429 307 627.
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Community outreach events
The National Recovery and Resilience Agency and Rotary are holding Community Outreach Events this week with one scheduled for Coleambally in the Riverina later this week.
Drop in for a chat to find out what support is available for farmers, farm workers and your community. Free Rotary BBQ & $500 Rotary vouchers available.
Thur 10 March, 8:30am - 12:30pm - Coleambally Community Hall, Kingfisher Ave, Coleambally
For more information contact Claire on: 0427 563 876 or Claire.Butler@recovery.gov.au
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Snapped: Malleefowl Sanctuary Project
Here're a few photos of the great work happening through the Malleefowl Sanctuary Project! 🐣🐣🐣 Riverina landholders Rod and Dave are working with Dr Joe Benshemesh from the National Malleefowl Recovery Team to excavate eggs from active mounds on their land.
The eggs are then placed into an incubator at Rod's farm where they hatch. The chicks are then released into the Malleefowl sanctuary which is located on Dave's farm. We currently have 10 chicks in the sanctuary. Exciting times for Malleefowl recovery!
This project is supported by Riverina LLS, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
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The 2022 NSW Landcare and Local Land Services Conference is going online!
We’d love you to join us for this inspiring one-day event - Thursday 17 March 2022. The ticket price has been reduced to $100 making it the best value conference you are likely to attend this year!
The conference will be followed by a FREE online awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of our incredible Landcare community from 6pm-8pm.
The conference theme – Rethink, Renew, Recharge – provides a platform to plan for the future of the Landcare movement, and promote innovative practices across NSW.
Register now for a day of inspirational speakers and to connect with your community.
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Woolshed and yard design at 'Curragh', Oxley
Now this is a shearing shed! In case you missed it earlier, take a walk through Bill Ryan's shearing shed, yards, confinement feeding yards and staff quarters. The shed and yards are set up to make shearing more efficient, safer and simple.
Find out more about this project in this short video developed through the Farm Business Resilience Program, a partnership between the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, the Future Drought Fund, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services.
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Rescue of Riverina Native Birds’ Art project coming soon
The ‘Rescue of Riverina Native Birds’ Art project is a collaboration between Riverina Local Lands Services, South West Arts and Western Riverina Arts.
The project will soon be coming to the region for exhibition to raise awareness of several endangered birds that call our region home – the Plains-wanderer, Australasian Bittern and Malleefowl.
The project involves bringing a number of local artists together to depict the birds and their environments in various art forms. An exhibition will be touring many locations throughout the region extending from Forbes to Balranald, and will
commence in May.
Read more here.
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Succession Planning - Getting into the Nuts and Bolts
Succession planning is part and parcel of any family business. In starting your succession journey conversation, understanding what you want and communicating expectations are important.
This workshop presented by SproutAg is an introduction and a quick dive into the nuts and bolts of succession planning that will ensure success and protect family relationships throughout the journey.
This event is a collaboration between NSW DPI & Local Land Services with support from the Farm Business Resilience Program funded through the Australian Governments Future Drought Fund.
Through the Farm Business Resilience Program there will be several events over the next 3 months dealing with an array of topics. If you would like to keep up to date with what is happening near you, jump onto the website and register for the mailing list.
Read more here.
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Snapped: Four seasons of seed wrap workshop
We recently partnered up with Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, Riverina Revegetation and Narrandera Landcare Group to deliver the first of a series of workshops titled “Four Seasons of Seed” across the seasons of this year, starting with Summer.
This first Summer workshop was held at Narrandera Landcare Nursery and Food Garden on Monday 28th February, featuring four guest speakers who provided information on the uses of native seed and the practicalities of collecting it.
Read more about the day.
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Heat maps highlight Riverina regional priorities
Following are heat maps from our landholder support survey last year highlighting where the interest is in response to certain issues:
- planting paddock trees
- controlling foxes on farm
- feral cats on farm.
We will use this info to design programs and projects for the next 12 months to tackle these issues with our ratepayers.
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Understanding the costs and benefits of exclusion fencing - Riverside station, Booligal
Jim, Robert, Ed and Alison Crossley have implemented a big project to set the property up for future generations. So far around 60 kilometres have been installed and a total of 150 km will be complete by mid 2022. This work limits the impact of wild dogs, pigs and enables better management of total grazing pressure to increase their overall profitability per hectare.
This infrastructure means they can implement rotational grazing to improve their plant species diversity, better manage rest periods and total grazing pressure, which will create greater resilience in dry times.
Find out more about this project in this short video developed through the Farm Business Resilience Program, a partnership between the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, the Future Drought Fund, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services.
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Get the latest animal health updates
Did you know we sent out an animal health update each month? Delivered direct to your inbox it includes issues our veterinary team are seeing out in the paddock, as well as tips and advice for the month ahead.
Click here to subscribe.
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