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February 15, 2021: Grower Group Alliance Newsletter
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IN THIS EDITION

INSIDE GGA
GENERAL NEWS
FUNDING & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
HAVE YOUR SAY
CALENDAR 
INSIDE GGA
Governance Podcast Episodes #2 & #3
Episode 3 of GGA's Governance Training podcast is live, discussing "Achieving Best Practice Board Performance". The podcast is ideal for new recruits to committees with no training. Access the Podcast series via GGA website.
Who's coming to Breakfast?
Grower Groups, are you coming to brekky? Senior delegates from DPIRD, GRDC, CBH and Farm Weekly will be joining the GGA network at our Feb 22nd Update Breakfast. Don't miss the opportunity for a full GGA update and to network with fellow grower groups. RSVP by Feb 15, click here for the Breakfast Invitation.
Hands on Precision Ag Training Workshops
Attendance at the February Hands on Precision Ag workshops hosted by 7 Grower Groups has been very strong. Two more are still to run, growers receive an introduction into PA so each participant can develop their own implementation plan. Click here for more information on the last dates and locations.
Pre-Seeding Frost Planning Workshops 
Nine pre-seeding frost planning workshops to help growers and advisors mitigate the effects of frost this year will be held between March 2 - 18. Growers will have the opportunity to work up a personalised frost plan for their own property with input and guidance from the experts in the room. Click here for more information on dates and locations 

Governance e-Course Liftoff
GGA has Covid-proofed our Governance training with launch of a Governance training e-course! With 50 places available for 2021, the program starts 15 April and features the content broken into 6 modules, a new one released every 3 weeks through to September. Course includes live and recorded sessions, notes, quizzes and a Governance helpline. This project has been supported by CBH, standby for registration link coming soon to gga.org.au. The traditional one day workshops will still be available this year, in June.

National Extension Skills Training Cohort 2021
A cohort of 18 WA participants, including 16 from Grower Groups, have registered for an 11 month 2021 national program to develop their extension delivery skills. The first cohort starts their program on Feb 18. You can click here to see what the program involves.
GENERAL NEWS

Positions available on Industry Funding Scheme committees
Expressions of interest are now open for positions on the three Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) Management Committees and the IFS Review Panel (biosecurity). There are four vacancies on each of the management committees (Cattle Industry; Grains, Seeds and Hay; Sheep and Goat) and three vacancies on the Review Panel. Expressions of interest can be made here until Monday 22 March.

PDS Webinar 
Thinking of applying for Meat and Livestock Australia’s Project Demonstration Sites (PDS) program? MLA is holding a webinar giving an overview of the program and sharing what you need to do to apply. It’s open to grower groups, producers, consultants, facilitators and anyone interested in running or participating in a PDS. The PDS call opens on 1 April, and the webinar is on Wednesday 10 March. Register here. 
Confinement feeding: fresh advice
Many sheep producers with low levels of paddock feed over summer are turning to confinement feeding to minimise soil erosion and optimise nutritional requirements. In response to increased enquiries about confinement feeding, DPIRD has updated its Dry Season 2021 web pages with fresh advice and information. Find it here.
Shearing Shed Open Day
Geoff Bilney's new shearing shed in Broomehill will be open on 25 February. It's based on the AWI shed design project which aims to optimise the flow of sheep, people and wool along with quality and welfare considerations. Shearing will be in action during the day, and the shed builder in attendance. Details are here.
Methidathion - disposing of unwanted chemical
The use of Methidathion (Suprathion 400 EC Insecticide) is no longer permitted in Australia. Chemical holders wanting to dispose safely of unwanted chemical can register for collection  through Chemclear until 28 February. For information regarding the cancellation of this product, contact the APVMA at enquiries@apvmagov.au
Grains Research Updates - February 22 and 23
Registrations for the GRDC Grains Research Updates are open. GRDC have significantly subsidised the cost to encourage participation from growers and agribusiness personnel. The Research Updates will be held on February 22 and 23 at Crown Perth. Click here for more information.

Regional GRDC Grains Research Updates will follow across the WA grain growing regions. Dates set so far for these are 17 February (Geraldton),  3 March  (Albany), 11 March (Merredin).

Australian Grass Land Society Virtual Symposium 2021
Save the date: Wednesday Evenings (7pm-9pm) March 2021
This year's  Virtual Symposium will focus on “Resilience in the face of change—pastures for the future.” This series offers you the opportunity to hear the latest pasture research in Australia and to interact with colleagues from around Australia who are actively engaged in lifting pasture productivity for grazing industries and mixed farming. Click here for more information.
FUNDING AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Community NRM funding round now open
A total of $8 million has been made available by the state government to support Natural Resource Management projects across the state. Community groups with a natural resource management focus can apply for Community Stewardship grants of between $1000 and $450,000. Applications close 17 May. A new Community Collaboration Grants category supports collaborative projects between three or more natural resource management groups. Expressions of interest for these close on 5 April.  Click here for more.

COVID-19 Assistance
Lotterywest is offering support for communities impacted by Covid-19.
The Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund: Strengthening and Adapting Organisations supports organisations and community groups to prepare for, and implement, longer-term organisational changes. Closes 24 February 2021.
Lotterywest Prevention and Early Intervention Grants  are designed for initiatives that minimise the secondary and longer-term social and economic impacts of the COVID-19. Closes 30 April.

South Coast NRM grants
People working and volunteering in NRM on the South Coast are eligible for three grants on offer by South Coast Natural Resource Management. Three categories of grants ($750 to $1000) target professional development and training for organisations, staff and volunteers. Click here for more information.

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital
These grants offer an opportunity for regional Australia to access support for;

  • Delivering activities, programs and services;
  • Purchasing or hiring equipment and materials;
  • Community infrastructure projects;
  • Operational and administrative costs associated with your project will be considered. 
Applications close February 23.
Soil health award
Do you know someone who is helping to improve soil health in Australia? Nominations for the inaugural General Jeffery Soil Health Award are now open for any individual farmer, land manager, extension specialist or educator who is making an exceptional contribution to soil health in Australia. Nominations close 31 March. Click here for more information.
Active Regional Communities Grants
Grants of up to $5,000 aim to increase the opportunities for regional people to participate in sporting and active recreational activities in regional Western Australia. They're tailored to meet the ever-changing demands and challenges of sport and active-recreation groups within the nine diverse regions of Western Australia. Ongoing grant opportunity. Click here
Budget Sponsorship Grants
$1,000 - $5,000 for grassroots organisations seeking to make meaningful improvements to the lives of Australians. Closes 31 March 2021. Click here
LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
Grassroots Mentoring Program
The Evoke Ag Grassroots Series is a six week content and mentoring program designed to nurture the next wave of Australia’s agrifood tech entrepreneurs. It includes six educational sessions released weekly as webinars, starting 15 February. No fees or registration required: find out more here. 
Leedersheep program seeks input
Sheep Producers Australia is reinvigorating its Leedersheep Program. Several programs are planned for 2021 to help sheep farmers enhance their leadership skills. Register your interest and offer input into programming here.
Growers as Innovators: Workshops and Ideas Program
Are you a grain producer with a new technology idea that might be worth commercialising? Got a value-added product you’re thinking of developing? Two 90 minute online workshops can help get you started. Workshops are on 16 and 17 February. Register at Farmers2Founders.

The more intensive, 3-month Farmers2Founders Ideas Program starts next month. Applications have been extended until 26 February. The program provides funding, tailored resources and coaching that equips people to test ideas and build the confidence to kick start entrepreneurial business ventures. It runs from 29 March to mid-June 2021.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Stocking rate calculator gets an overhaul
Meat and Livestock Australia has produced a more user-friendly version of its stocking rate calculator to help estimate the number of cattle or sheep to run per hectare. Find it here.
HAVE YOUR SAY - SURVEYS AND SUBMISSIONS

National Feral Pig Action Plan 
Feedback is invited on the Draft National Feral Pig Action Plan. The plan aims to help land managers deliver effective, coordinated and humane management of feral pigs, to reduce the threats they create. The draft plan is open for stakeholder review until 26 February. Feedback can be submitted to planfeedback@feralpigs.com.au

WA Soil Health Strategy 
The Soil and Land Conservation Council (SLCC) invites feedback from stakeholders about the Western Australian Soil Health Strategy Draft 2020. The public consultation period closes at 5pm Friday, 19 March 2021.

The Western Australian Soil Health Strategy Draft 2020 was prepared using input from over 400 contributions, received across a a range of agricultural and environmental sectors and backgrounds.

Receiving community feedback about the draft strategy is important for finalising its development. The SLCC and DPIRD are keen to receive your comments about the draft strategy, in particular, the focus goals and key actions. Click here for more information.
CALENDAR

Add your event and be seen

Get visible by adding your event to  the Grower Group Alliance Calendar, it's WA's most browsed agriculture industry calendar. Email details with links to the GGA team at admin@gga.org.au and we'll add it if it aligns with our calendar content priorities.
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Collaboration themes | 12 minutes | Uncomfortable with conflict around thinking in your organisation? Could you reframe the conflict process as a fantastic collaborative thinking model? This insightful talk will completely pivot your perception of conflict to see it as a rich, valuable process for secure, productive work groups.
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