With our region impacted by flood waters, the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) continue working with landholders, local council, contractors and other government agencies to locate and safely rehome displaced or straying livestock.
Due to the sheer scale of these floods, and the damage to infrastructure, flood recovery may be slow. It may take many days or weeks to locate and rehome livestock.
You can help by calling the Agriculture and Animal Services hotline on 1800 814 647 to report any lost, found, or injured stock between 8am and 8pm every day or email aasfa@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au.
The Agriculture and Animal Services hotline operates from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.
Have you been impacted by flooding, need assistance with emergency fodder or have stranded or injured livestock? Emergency support is available by calling the AASFA hotline including animal assessment, veterinary advice, and coordination of disposal of deceased animals. You can contact the Ag and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647 between 8am and 8pm every day or email aasfa@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au
If you have damage to your property, you can now report it online via the Primary industries natural disaster damage survey. The survey allows you to record crop, animal, or infrastructure damage and losses, or to upload photographs to show the severity of damage in your area.
Vets in flood-impacted areas are seeing an array of animal health and welfare issues including lameness, bloat, pneumonia and infections. Call your district vet if you see any illness in your animals.
Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito borne disease that causes significant reproductive disease in pigs, with up to 100% still-born or mummified piglets. It may also cause neurological signs in young (<6 month old) piglets.
Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) is transmitted by mosquitoes, so controlling mosquitoes on your property is an effective way to minimise the risk. JEV can also cause severe neurological disease in humans - consult with your doctor or NSW Health for more information on vaccinations for people working with pigs.
An updated version of the Integrated Mosquito Management Principles for Piggeries is now available, along with a suite of other resources on the Farm Biosecurity website. These resources will support you to manage mosquitoes and the risk of Japanese Encephalitis on your property.
If you suspect your piggery may have Japanese Encephalitis or for more information, contact your local vet or nearest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.
Australia’s animal biosecurity surveillance network – we all have a role to play
Many producers will be familiar with the role our District Vets play in investigating animal health issues such as sudden deaths, abortions, and lameness. What you may be less familiar with is how these farm visits contribute to the greater surveillance network that helps keep our export markets open and our “clean, green” image intact.
When we come out to your farm to investigate a disease, we are always vigilant for emergency, exotic and notifiable diseases. Fortunately, we rarely find them and can focus on diagnosing and managing the disease affecting your animals. Every time we obtain a negative test result we are proving we don’t have these diseases in Australia.
Our favourable animal health status underpins the ‘clean, green’ image of our animal industries and this supports our competitive advantage in international markets. However, our valuable trading partners and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) are continually calling for more robust evidence to support our freedom from disease claims.
Australia is currently free of several significant emergency animal diseases (EADs) including African swine fever, African horse sickness, lumpy skin disease (LSD), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. However, many of these exotic animal diseases have been increasing in incidence and/or geographical distribution towards Australia’s borders over the past three years. The recent arrival of both LSD and FMD in Indonesia is just one example of this.
The introduction of any of these exotic diseases would have significant socio-economic consequences for our community.
The surveillance our District Vets carry out when visiting your farm provides evidence to support the EAD ‘free’ status of NSW and Australia which in turn gives confidence to our export partners. This surveillance is also the main tool to support early and rapid detection of emergency animal diseases if they were to get into the country.
Despite the name, Strawberry Footrot is very different from virulent footrot.
It is a disease that is caused by a combination of bacterial and viral infection which produces lesions around the feet and mouth, and is a common cause of lameness in sheep. Affected stock may be reluctant to walk and have severe, localised swelling, often extending up the leg.
The viral component of the disease is zoonotic (contagious to humans). Wearing gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment when handling sheep with suspicious wounds is recommended.
If you have concerns about the health of your livestock, please contact
your nearest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.
Thank you to everyone who gave their feedback on the regional strategic weed management plans. The plans were downloaded by more than 1000 people and we are now busy collating and reviewing all of the feedback received. Feedback will be considered in finalising the plans which are set to be released early next year.
Weed watch | Water Lettuce
Water lettuce is a highly invasive water weed which is very likely to move from Queensland down the Darling Barka River systems with the current prolonged flood event.
Water lettuce grows quickly, blocking waterways and smothering native plants. It causes:
• poor water quality
• blocked irrigation equipment
• problems for boating, fishing and water activities
• less food and habitat for fish and other water life
• more habitat for mosquitos.
Rivers, billabongs, wetlands, lakes, reservoirs and slow-moving streams are most affected. It is most invasive in northern NSW.
Water lettuce looks like an open head of lettuce floating on the water. It’s roots hang in the water and do not attach to the bottom. If you think you have seen this plant, please notify the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244.
Benefits of working with the Local Land Services Natural Resource Management Team
Landcare grants available for landholders, schools and Landcare groups
Landcare funding is now available for landholders, schools and Landcare groups in the Riverina region for the delivery of Landcare projects and programs.
We’re currently seeking video applications from landholders, schools and Landcare groups interested in applying for this funding.
Landholder grants of up to $5000, school grants between $3,000 - $5,000 and Landcare group grants between $5,000 - $10,000 are available. All you have to do is submit a 3-minute video telling us about your farm/school, a project you have completed or a project you would like to complete and how this benefits the environment.
Bringing back the Bunyip Bird: Australasian Bittern Summit 2023
Riverina Local Land Services is hosting the Australasian Bittern Summit 2023 in Leeton NSW on Tuesday, 31 January 2023 – Friday, 3 February 2023.
This is the first time such a conference has been held and is an amazing opportunity to see and hear about all things Bittern.
The conference includes an interesting and engaging program with unique tours to the key Bittern wetlands of the Riverina including the internationally recognised Fivebough Wetland and Bittern-friendly rice crops.
Expert speakers from across Australia and New Zealand will cover a range of topics, including innovative monitoring methods, wetland management and Bittern-friendly rice.
Bitterns are considered a flagship species for encouraging and promoting healthy wetland management. There are many projects currently being undertaken to improve the long-term outlook for this species.
The Summit will bring together all those interested in this curious bird. The event is an opportunity to find out what is happening and what can be done in the future for the long-term survival of the species.
We are seeking expressions of interests for the Farming Forecaster project and nominations of 20 new forecaster sites to be added to the platform in the eastern Riverina.
These sites ideally will be based around an existing weather station and/or soil moisture probe. What is Farming Forecaster?
Real-time data: see how rainfall events/changes in weather patterns affect soil moisture and future pasture production.
A risk management tool: using leading edge technology, Farming Forecaster provides a road map of pasture availability and predicted livestock performance over the next 3-4 months.
The video details the best approach for the recovery of a bogged harvester using straps supplied by Central Wheatbelt Imports.
If expecting a wet, boggy harvest, growers should be prepared for recovery.
Farming Forward Project launched
We recently launched our Farming Forward Project involving a series of events and activities across Local Land Services regions over the next two years covering drought planning and preparation, understanding and managing soils and livestock production requirements.
Soil management
Soil testing programs and soil health workshops will build knowledge and understanding in interpreting soil testing data, soil capabilities and other key soil constraints including soil moisture to allow producers to adapt and implement management strategies that increase productivity and sustainability.
Livestock production
Through the delivery of PROGRAZE™ and Tactical Grazing Management courses, we will assist livestock producers to improve their knowledge of animal nutrition requirements at different ages and stages of production. Producers will also improve their capacity to assess pasture/feed availability and match these requirements to increase productivity.
Drought planning and preparedness
Drought planning and preparedness events will help landholders to be proactive in planning, decision-making and undertaking priority activities to improve resilience. Events may include developing drought plans, calculating carrying capacity, managing fodder and water, maintaining groundcover and stock management areas (also known as confinement feeding).
By coordinating our service delivery in these three key areas across all Local Land Services regions, we can be even better placed to help landholders make informed decisions to improve their farm businesses.
We will continue to deliver other local targeted extension and advisory services as required whilst focusing on the Farming Forward Project throughout 2022/23.
Livestock producers can now apply for short term grazing access to select travelling stock reserves (TSRs) across the Riverina.
Short term grazing permits can give producers access to a TSR until 30 June 2023.
Successful applicants will also agree to undertake positive land management practices on the TSR, such as protecting biodiversity and controlling pests and weeds.
The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has released an initial stage of the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory (NVR) Map.
The draft NVR Map identifies rural land that is regulated under the Land Management Framework and, for now, only applies to select local government areas in the Riverina, Murray and South East Local Land Services regions.
In the Riverina region, these local government areas are:
Coolamon Shire Council
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Hilltops Council
Junee Shire Council
Lockhart Shire Council
Snowy Valleys Council
Wagga Wagga City Council
As this is a draft map, it does not have regulatory effect. Landholders can submit a request for a free map review to DPE if they disagree with the draft map’s categorisation of their land.
If you need assistance viewing the map, would like a free Category Explanation Repot, a map review or need any further information, please complete and submit this enquiry form.
Bringing Back the Bunyip Bird: Australasian Bittern Summit 2023
31 Jan to 3 Feb, 2023
A unique opportunity to connect with scientists, conservationists, wetland managers, birdwatchers and farmers who share a passion for the iconic Australasian Bittern.
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Local Land Services acknowledges that it stands on Country
which always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters,
and we show our respect for Elders past, present and emerging.
Our mailing address is:
Building 24 Darnell Smith Drive
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that the information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of Local Land Services or the user’s independent adviser. For updates go to www.lls.nsw.gov.au
