Earlier in May, more than 30 farmers and community members from as far away as Narrabri and Euchareena gathered at Taronga Western Plains Zoo to get a glimpse of, and learn more about efforts to save, the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The event provided the opportunity to see the birds up close and raise awareness of the recovery efforts by the Department of Planning and Environment, BirdLife Australia and the Taronga Conservation Society - including the successful captive breeding and wild release program.
Attendees really enjoyed seeing, hearing and learning about the Captive Breeding program and understanding how many birds have successfully been released back into the wild and re-sighted over the past 3 years.
Since 2008, more than 400 captive bred birds have been released into the wild across Victoria and NSW. Many of these birds have survived and been re-sighted over the years and have been observed successfully breeding.
Event attendees also heard how the birds are given song training to help other Regent Honeyeaters recognise their own song. Keepers are giving zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters ‘singing lessons’ to help them breed in the wild, increase their population and survive for generations to come.
Given that there are only a few hundred Regent Honeyeaters left in the wild, very few of those attending had ever seen or heard the species first hand before and were delighted to see the captive birds in their flight aviary.
Remember to pay attention to any coloured leg bands if you can see them as the colour combination can help identify the bird!
The Reaching out to the Regent Honeyeater Project is supported by Central West Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
The Central West LLS Ag Team love delivering you relevant information through our field days, workshops and online resources! We aim to help you improve your farming business to give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals, to be profitable and sustainable.
To help us do this better, and to find out what you have learnt so far, we ask you to please participate in our online survey.
As a thank you for your time, you will go into the draw to win an amazing Yeti Esky prize pack.
Managing your livestock through the cooler months requires preparation and quick decisions to reduce the impact of seasonal conditions on their health and welfare.
Each year across the region, there is a period of time where pasture quality does not meet livestock energy requirements. The length of this period depends predominantly on seasonal conditions and stocking rates. Did you know that this period of time is your feed gap and it can happen multiple times throughout the year?
For any further information or to discuss your livestock production and management contact your local district vet or livestock officers.
Dr Sue Street regarding things to consider when grazing livestock on crops.
Like all new pastures and crops, introduction needs to be slow. Ruminants tend to graze at a ratio of 70:30, 70% in the morning vs 30% in the afternoon. Therefore it is best to fill livestock up with hay during the morning graze and then introduce them to the new crop in the afternoon. This will decrease the risk of digestive upset in an unadjusted rumen.
There are a few more things that you need to be cautious about when grazing winter forage crops, including photosensitisation.
Photosensitisation in livestock is caused by an abnormal reaction of the skin to sunlight, usually after ingesting plant toxins. These toxins can either cause a primary photosensitisation through photodynamic agents building up in the skin, or a secondary photosensitisation through damage to the liver and subsequent inability to metabolise chlorophyll.
More than 120 attendees from across Central West came together to learn more about utilising eID (electronic identification) to boost productivity and profitability, while hearing from farmers already using eID and connecting with sheep technology providers such as Gallagher, TePari and AllFlex.
Congratulations to Paul Taylor who completed our survey and won the TruTest SRS-2 Stick Reader!
Our cropping advisor Tim Bartimote discusses some of the issues this season related to seed quality and considerations for management.
Sowing seed with low vigour is like trying to run a 100 metre sprint after doing a heavy legs session at the gym. You would expect in each case some reduction in performance. This is where testing seed, as close as practical to sowing, is highly recommended when you are concerned about retained seed. With cropping, there is not an undo button, so a seed test can be considered cheap insurance to provide confidence that what is going into the soil is ready to spring away with the right amount of moisture.
However, if you do find yourself in the situation where the seed that has been sown is struggling to get up and going, then it is probably worth noting that a yield reduction of some description is likely. The degree to which yield is decreased is affected by a number of variables. For example, one study found that yield reductions ranged from 3-31%. Having a timely sown but slow crop is better than having no crop at all, as long as a reduction in yield does not lead to an unprofitable paddock. Therefore, assessing your current plant population will help in making an informed decision as to whether you carry the crop all the way through.
Producers should also bear in mind that impacts of poor-quality seed may also impact general growth and the speed to maturity compared to the same variety with better seed quality. This becomes a bigger issue in drier seasons when hotter temperatures in the spring cause significant impacts on yield potential. A later maturing crop will likely face more exposure to these temperatures at critical growth stages.
Low seedling vigour can have a significant impact on the prevalence of weeds in a crop. High crop competition can notably reduce weed pressure, particularly when canopy closure is achieved quickly. However, if plant growth is slowed or delayed due to reduced fitness then the ability to compete can be restricted. If this is your situation, then consider your weed management plans. To minimise yield reductions already in place from low vigour, timeliness of chemical control becomes crucial so that weeds can be sprayed when they are small, therefore increasing spray efficacy
Obviously, avoiding this situation altogether by having high quality seed is the best option. But in June, when it’s a bit late for that, the next best option, if the crop is worth keeping, is to understand that yield reductions are likely. Producers would also do well to match ongoing inputs to a more realistic yield potential. Ongoing management may be needed to ensure that issues stemming from low seed quality do not compound yield reductions.
With an increasing number of road repairs and earth works being carried out after last year’s flooding, Central West LLS is urging landholders to be vigilant for new weed incursions.
Road base and materials coming on farm can result in weeds being introduced onto farms.
Weed management is part of every landholder's general biosecurity duty. You can help stop the spread by:
Identifying: Know where the soil or road base has come from and what weeds may have been there. Keep an eye on sites where the works have been and make sure you know what is growing there.
Monitoring: Check the roadway where the road base came in as well as the site where it has been used.
Controlling: Control new weeds early to prevent seed set.
Get in touch with your local agronomist or council weeds officer if you need some help with identification and control options or you can download the Weedwise app on your phone.
In response to feedback from Aboriginal stakeholders across the Central West LLS region, staff from across the business have been attending Yarning Days each month – with staff visiting with local Aboriginal stakeholders to share updates and gather ideas for program design, input into planning and collaborative opportunities.
This new personalised approach with stakeholders and the community has been extremely valuable in identifying areas of support and opportunities for working together, like:
The process of co-identifying and locating locally endemic plants for use in vegetation rehabilitation on land owned by Aboriginal people;
Discussions about community access to significant locations situated on public land;
Training and development opportunities to assist in passing on traditional knowledge; and
Supporting our Aboriginal land managers with advice on agricultural production and environmental best management practices
At workshops we heard what community are working on and their current priorities as well as discussing the roles of different business units within Central West LLS.
Our staff will continue meeting with Aboriginal stakeholders across the region each month, with different teams from the business taking part to build their knowledge, understanding and networks.
TSRs & collecting firewood off limits
Cooler weather has set in across NSW, and fireplaces are roaring.
Central West LLS are reminding people that it is illegal to collect firewood from Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs). TSRs are home to many native animals and plants including rare and endangered species. Standing and fallen timber provide extremely important habitation for native animals. Decaying timber is also important for nutrient recycling back into the soil of TSRs.
Anyone caught removing timber or disturbing vegetation (alive or dead) from a TSR can be fined up to $5,500 under the Local Land Services Act 2013.
LLS do not provide permits for collecting firewood as this activity is not permitted on TSRs. People can apply for a permit to collect firewood from selected state forests. Contact 1300 655 687 for details or visit Forestry Corporation for further details.
For more information or report any illegal activity on TSRs call LLS on 1300 795 299 or visit our website.
Keep an eye on your letterbox this month for your Annual Land and Stock Return.
Your information is important to us and helps keep NSW safe.
We’ve streamlined the online process this year to help make it even easier to provide your livestock numbers.
The online portal opens 30 June and closes 31 August 2023.
You can still manually submit if online doesn’t work for you.
Even if you don’t have any stock, filling out your Annual Land and Stock Return helps us keep your details up to date and guarantees penalties won’t be applied to your next Local Land Services rates notice.
Want to find out more? Call our team on 1300 795 299.
RFCS NSW: Navigate your farming & small business natural hazards workshop
Learn how to identify and evaluate farm business risks, develop your business risk action plan and get support to integrate risk management into your business planning.
Bathurst, 13 June | Molong, 14 June | Forbes, 15 June | Grenfell, 16 June More info The Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF) is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Hollows for homes
Join us for a practical workshop where you’ll learn about woodland habitat, it’s ecological function as well as how existing vegetation including large hollow bearing trees is critical for our native wildlife. Includes a site visit to nearby farm, "Carinya" where augmented hollows have been installed.
15 June, 10 am – 1 pm
Where: Hair of the Dog Hotel, Ballimore More info Image: David Milledge, DPIE
Soil pits & kits workshop
Led by soil science experts, the soil pits and kits workshops will focus on practical skills that will enable land managers to make more informed decisions about their soil and farm management.
22 June at “Yarranbee” Coonamble, 9 am - 3 pm
23 June at “Bonnayr” Curban, 9 am - 3 pm
This free event includes morning tea and lunch. More info & RSVP
Condobolin carbon conference
Join us, Department of Primary Industries, Central West Farming Systems, and the Southern NSW Innovation hub for a day of learning about carbon experience.
14 June, 10 am - 4 pm
Where: Condobolin Research Station, 152 Fifeild Rd Condobolin More info & RSVP
Swift parrot identification & habitat management workshops
You’re invited to join us for a Swift Parrot information session, followed by a field walk and discussion!
26 June, 8.30 am – 11.30 am
Where: Grenfell Bowling Club, Cross Street More info & RSVP
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:
PO Box 1048 Dubbo NSW 2830
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
