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March 2, 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 
TED TALK OF THE MONTH
INSIDE GGA
Pre-Seeding Frost Planning Workshops
Opportunity knocks for growers in frost prone areas this month. 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 
Hands on Precision Ag Training Workshops
As seen in the article in Farm Weekly, the grower group-hosted Precision Ag workshops have delivered useful information specific to each region. Two more are still to run on 9 and 10 March. Click here for more information on the final dates and locations.
Five year strategy launched at GGA Breakfast
Chair, Peter Roberts shared a first look at GGA's intended 5 year strategic direction with almost 70 stakeholders at the GGA Annual Update Breakfast last Monday 22 February. GGA's vision is for a producer led system of agricultural innovation, adoption and collaboration. Staff also outlined the 2021 Program of Brokered Projects and Capacity Building ahead. The Zoom recording is available on request for participants that were unable to attend. Further communications around the Strategic Plan and the role groups have to play will be shared with the network after the GGA Board formally adopts the strategy at the March Board meeting.
Governance Podcast
Episode 4 of GGA's Governance Training podcast has been released, "Achieving Best Practice Board Performance cont.". The podcast is a great refresher for those that may have done training some time ago or complete rookies to committees with no training at all and needing technical support immediately to understand their role. Access the Podcast series via GGA website.

Governance e-Course 
GGA's Governance training e-course is now open for registrations with 50 places available for 2021. The e-course runs from 15 April - 22 September and rolls out in 6 easy paced modules over 6 months. The e-course style of learning is ideal for learning from the convenience of your own home, in your own time which is ideal for those that struggle to attend our 1 day face to face workshops. Course includes live and recorded sessions, notes, quizzes and instructor helpline. This project has been supported by CBH, the usual 1 day face to face workshops will still be available this year, 18 June (Perth), 25 June (Esperance).


Diploma of Project Management Enrolments
1 or 2 places may still be available for the 3 day GGA Project Management course to run at Muresk on 24/25/26 March. Last minute withdrawals have seen a shuffling around of delegates due to work clashes. Check vacancies on the registration website if interested.

GENERAL NEWS
GIWA Crop Report
The defining aspect of the 2020 Western Australian grain growing season was the 16.6 million tonnes grown on very little rain. As shown in the Grain Industry Association of WA's February Crop Report, many areas grew above average tonnage on well below average bgrowing season rainfall. The total grain production in the state was a fraction behind 2013 (16.9mt) and not far short of the record years of 2016 (18.1mt) and 2018 (17.9mt). See the report here.

Executive Officer position
The Facey Group is seeking an Executive Officer for its Wickepin-based operations. The successful applicant will report to and assist a volunteer committee to deliver research, extension and networking to the agribusiness community. Apply via Seek or contact Sarah Hyde on eo@faceygroup.org.au

Positions available on Industry Funding Scheme committees
Expressions of interest are 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.
Stubble management
The post-harvest management of stubble is an issue for grain growers each crop cycle. GRDC recommends growers be flexible in their approach, and start managing stubble early to reduce impact on the sowing of subsequent crop. Full advice is here. Results of more than 300 trials on stubble retention, management and benefits (covering wheat, barley and canola) can be accessed here.
Pantry Blitz 2021
When you sign up for a pantry pest trap in this month-long biosecurity surveillance project, you're helping protect the agriculture industry and food sector. Participants are asked to report once a week about any trapped pests that may have hitched their way in to pantry stores. Register here before 8 March.
Desalination requirements
Landholders intending to install a desalination plant to prepare groundwater for livestock, crop spraying, horticulture irrigation or domestic use are reminded to lodge a Notice of Intent to Pump Water (Desalination) with the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation before they begin. Notice is required 90 days before pumping commences. The online form can be found here.
Skeleton weed check
Grainbelt farmers are encouraged to keep up paddock searches for the declared pest skeleton weed throughout late summer and autumn. DPIRD project manager Martin Atwell said the weed, notable for its bright yellow daisy flowers and upright, skeleton-like stems, grows quickly and sets seed within days of flowering. Monitoring should include previously searched and treated paddocks for any late setting plants. 
Emissions challenge article
Despite negative headlines about the impact of meat growers on the environment, Australia’s red meat industry is taking progressive action towards carbon neutrality, according to Meat and Livestock Australia’s Managing Director, Jason Strong. He explains the initiatives being taken towards CN30 – the target to be carbon neutral by 2030 – in this article.
PDS Webinar 
There's still time to apply 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

Australian Grass Land Society Virtual Symposium 2021
This year's event happens each Wednesday evening (7pm-9pm) in March. The focus is on “Resilience in the face of change—pastures for the future.” This series offers 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
Coles Nurture Fund
Grants of up to $500,000 are offered by the Coles Nurture Fund. It's open to small and medium sized businesses for the development of new market-leading products, technologies and processes. The fund encourages innovation, helping Australian producers improve existing products or services, or develop new systems that result in improved sustainability, efficiencies or cost savings. Applications for Round 9 close on Friday 19 March. See more here.

JobMaker Hiring Credit Scheme
The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme is an incentive for businesses to employ young job seekers aged 16–35 years. Eligible employers can access the JobMaker Hiring Credit for each eligible additional employee they hire until 6 October 2021. More information is here.

Community NRM funding
A total of $8 million has been made available by the state government to support Natural Resource Management projects across WA. Community groups with a Natural Resource Management focus can apply for Community Stewardship grants between $1000 to $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.

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. Applications close 12 March. Click here for more information.

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
Online Farm Trials Training
Those new to Online Farm Trials or just wanting a refresher can access a half hour training session on 11 March or 24 March at 8.30am. The training sessions will show how to add trials to the OFT portal quickly and easily. To register interest in a training session, or request a session aimed specifically at your organisation, email j.channon@federation.edu.au. 

New training videos (how to upload or search for trials, how to add trial sites) have also been uploaded to the OFT portal. The videos can be accessed
here.

Carbon Regional Forum
A forum targeted at Landcare and grower groups is being held on 4 March in Cranbrook. Co-hosted by WALN and the Gillamii Centre, the forum aims to help groups better understand Australia’s Carbon Farming industry, and find collaborative opportunities. Find out more here.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Grains Research Updates
Strategic and innovative information that's relevant to growers and advisors in each region is the focus of the latest GRDC Research Updates. The region-specific events are at Albany (3 March), Merredin (12 March) and Geraldton (17 March). Details of a fourth event in Esperance are yet to be confirmed. Learn more and register here.
HAVE YOUR SAY - SURVEYS AND SUBMISSIONS
Online Farm Trials Survey
You're invited to participate in an online survey designed to understand the impact and value of Online Farm Trials to the Australian grains community. They survey is part of research being conducted at Federation University Australia into the impact of OFT on project implementation and development; knowledge building, decision making and practice change. Find more information here.
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.

The
Western Australian Soil Health Strategy Draft 2020 was prepared with input from over 400 contributions, received across 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

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