Registrations are now open for the Future Drought Fund’s Science to Practice Forum happening online over June 6-8.

The annual forum is a showcase of the innovative tools and practices helping Australian farmers and communities respond to a changing climate and prepare for future drought.

Award-winning television journalist and presenter of ABC TV’s Landline, Pip Courtney, will host this year’s online forum and facilitate engaging discussions, with each day focussed on a particular theme:

Tuesday 6 June – Research and Development: Data-driven projects, stories around research trials and outcomes, future-driven content and content relevant to opportunities under the Future Drought Fund for Natural Resource Management, farming systems groups and research bodies.

Wednesday 7 June – Farmers, Producers and Agricultural Advisors: Stories of drought and preparing for it, ‘call-to-action’ presentations, content relevant to opportunities under the FDF for producers and their communities, farmer and farm-advisor delivered stories.

Thursday 8 June – Community and Policy: Community and social projects, including presentations on farmer wellbeing and community resilience in the context of drought, policy discussions and input from FDF network partners.

The forum connects participants to research and activities building the sustainability of Australian agriculture and is an opportunity to collaborate and network with like-minded people.

Those keen to participate can Register for the 2023 Science to Practice Forum via Eventbrite.

Hepburn shire farmers and others state-wide are being invited to join next month’s wind erosion webinar with Agriculture Victoria’s Mallee monitoring wind erosion project team and seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey.

Set for 12-1pm on Tuesday June 13 it’s a chance to to hear about what crops were grown in the Mallee last year and how satellite technology is used to monitor groundcover and obtain crop type estimation.

Those keen to register can contact Rebecca Mitchell on 0438 111 994 or email rebecca.mitchell@agriculture.vic.gov.au to learn more.

After registering, intending participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The session will be recorded for those who register but are unable to attend.

Supported by Mallee Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

• An overview of the Victorian Mallee seasonal outlook for 2023

Agriculture Victoria is offering young farmers and those new to farming the opportunity to take part in a Young Farmer Business Bootcamp with the next to be held in Netherby next month.

Bootcamps are set for June 1 and for June 8 and will run from 9.30am to 3pm at the Netherby Hall in Netherby.

The bootcamps are targeting young farmers impacted by flood and storm events, as part of Agriculture Victoria’s technical and decision-making support program. They aim is to help to grow the resilience of young farm businesses and prepare them for future events.

Over the two-day business bootcamp participants will develop:
• cash flow budgeting skills
• strong understanding of risk management and planning
• capacity to fine tune their business goals.

Those keen to attend can register here for their preferred bootcamp or contact Adam Buzza on 0419 571 208 or email adam.buzza@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Ag Vic 2023 BestWool/BestLamb Conference will be held at the Bendigo Showgrounds on Tuesday 20 June.

A pre-conference dinner will take place on Monday 19 June at the All Seasons Resort Hotel in Bendigo to celebrate 25 years of the BestWool/BestLamb program.

The dinner guest speaker will be Mark Wales, former SAS and winner of TV series Australian Survivor.

The line-up of conference speakers is sure to inform, challenge and excite participants with the most up to date sheep industry research and information.

Early bird registrations are now on sale until 31 May.

For the conference program and registration click HERE.

For more information contact Lyndon Kubeil on 0418 532 085 or lyndon.kubeil@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Hepburn Shire farmers are being welcomed to get along to an irrigation course hosted by Agriculture Victoria at Irymple, near Mildura, next month.

Topics to be covered will include:

soil water principles

irrigation of Mallee soils

readily available water holding capacity

irrigation system performance

leaching efficiency and nutrient management

irrigation scheduling

evapotranspiration graphs

water trading issues.

Workshop sessions are scheduled for Tuesday June 6 and Tuesday June 20 from 9 am to 5 pm and will take place at 308-390 Koorlong Ave Irymple.

Those planning to register or obtain more information can contact Maxine Schache on 0428 507 855 or email maxine.schache@agriculturevic.gov.au

Primary producers and keen gardeners in Hepburn Shire are being encouraged to get along to this month’s free half day drip maintenance course.

Hosted by Agriculture Victoria the free half day session is intended to help producers get the most out of their drip irrigation system and is aimed at maximising farm profitability and efficiency.

It’s scheduled for May 31 from 8.30am to 12.30pm and will take place at Iyrmple naer Mildura.

Topics to be covered will include:

• drip irrigation specifications – understanding design and specification sheets
• drip system monitoring – measuring pressures and discharges
• drip system maintenance – flushing, chlorination, acid injection

To register or for more information, please contact Maxine Schache on 0428 507 855 or email maxine.schache@agriculturevic.gov.au

Intending participants are requested to RSVP by 26 May and bring a copy of their irrigation design to the course.

Victorian gardeners are being urged to keep watch for the highly invasive weed water hyacinth following a recent discovery in a residential garden pond.

Agriculture Victoria Biosecurity Officer Kaitlin Wright said over 90 of the aquatic plants had been removed from a Williamstown premises following an anonymous report from an astute gardener.

“Water hyacinth is considered one of the world’s most invasive plants because it grows so quickly and forms a thick mat on the water surface,” Ms Wright said.

“It then reduces water quality, pushes out native plants, reduces oxygen (killing fish), rapidly chokes waterways and blocks recreational activities such as fishing and boating.”

Water hyacinth (pictured above and below) is a State prohibited weed in Victoria, which means it’s illegal to sell, place in a waterway or otherwise spread the weed.

Over the past 12 months, water hyacinth has been reported in Bairnsdale, Warrnambool, Rutherglen and multiple Melbourne suburbs.

“Many home gardeners aren’t aware of the biosecurity risks associated with this environmentally destructive plant, so we’re always really grateful to members of the public for reporting sightings,” Ms Wright said.

“A single plant can produce more than 3000 seeds over summer, each of which can survive and plague a waterway for at least 30 years.”

Ms Wright warned gardeners not to remove water hyacinth themselves due to the risks posed by plant parts or seed being left behind.

“Please contact us on 136 186 if you’ve seen water hyacinth plants, or have them in your possession, and we will remove them at no cost to the owner,” Ms Wright said.

“The earlier we can treat an infestation, the greater opportunity we have to protect our beautiful waterways from decades of damage by the destructive water weed.”

Water hyacinth has round, bulbous stems that help it float. Over summer it puts up stalks with multiple pale purple flowers. Below the water’s surface, it has long, trailing dark purple roots.

For more information about water hyacinth and invasive plant management visit the Agriculture Victoria website at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au.

An animal welfare case against a Girgarre farmer has been resolved following a plea in the Shepparton Magistrates Court recently.

Due to a lack of prior criminal history, an early plea of guilty, plus the accused Grant Haydn Smith, being no longer involved in farming pigs and in the process of selling the property and stock, the Magistrate imposed a $3000 fine without conviction, with costs awarded in the sum of $278.38.

Magistrate Burt made a further order pursuant to section 12(1)(a) of POCTA disqualifying the accused from being the owner or person in charge of pigs for a period of two years.

Magistrate Burt did note “but for the plea of guilty, I would have imposed a larger fine, in the order of $10,000” and indicated that she did not impose a conviction because he has stopped working with pigs and this is his first time before the court.

Agriculture Victoria Program Manager Animal Health and Welfare Compliance, Daniel Bode said Mr Smith was the owner and person in charge of approximately 80 pigs in Girgarre in May 2021.

The pigs were confined to the property, which had minimal or no feed available to them, and a large portion of them were in poor body condition. None of the pigs on the property had access to adequate drinking water.

One pig was found with a broken leg that had not been provided any treatment, despite the issuing of Notices to Comply requiring Mr Smith to take specific action, including providing feed and drink.

Mr Smith pleaded guilty to four cruelty charges, one aggravated cruelty charge for the pig with the broken leg and one charge of failing to comply with a Notice issued by Departmental Officers pursuant to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

Mr Bode said this is a reminder to all livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian Government or the community.

“If you are responsible for the care of any animal, you have a duty to provide for that animal including ensuring disease or parasites are treated appropriately.”

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint in regard to the welfare of commercial livestock on Victorian farms can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Volunteers are needed for the Plains-wanderer song meter program and while Hepburn Shire locals do not live in its habitat they’re being invited to get involved to help save the critically endangered species.

Less than 1000 birds are thought to remain in the Northern Plains grasslands in Victoria, between Bendigo, Echuca, and Swan Hill.

Anyone interested is being invited to help protect Victoria’s critically endangered Plains-wanderer by recognising its elusive call. 

This work will help locate Plains-wanderers in the wild, letting Agriculture Victoria, science and conservation bodies know where they are in order to protect and enhance their threatened native grassland habitat.

To help the Plains-wanderer, sign up HERE. 

Further information on the Plains-wanderer Song Meter program is available HERE.

Geographic Names Victoria formally gazetted the renaming of the Jim Crow Creek to Larni Barramal Yaluk in the Victorian Government Gazette last week.

The Creek is a 26km long ephemeral creek, draining 123 square km of country, formed by the confluence of Sailors Creek and Spring Creek at Breakneck Gorge in Hepburn Regional Park, two kilometres north-west of Hepburn. 

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Hepburn Shire Council had worked with the community and project partners Mount Alexander Shire Council, North Central Catchment Management Authority and DJAARA to campaign for the renaming of the creek over many years.

Hepburn Shire mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the decision by Geographic Names Victoria was “most welcomed”.

“The term Jim Crow has its origins in racial segregation and anti-black racism and is therefore unacceptable. Larni Barramal Yaluk, which means home or habitat of the Emu Creek, reconnects the landscape with Dja Dja Wurrung culture and language,” said Cr Hood.

“This change ties in with Council’s ongoing reconciliation and recognition work. We are very pleased the creek is now formally renamed.”

Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Rodney Carter commented on the importance of the name change. 

“This creek has an identity and has a spirit. We are at last affording it the respect it deserves by giving back its name, to now say its name is speaking to Country in the most beautiful way,” Mr Carter said.

Hepburn Shire Council and Mount Alexander Shire Council had both determined to request Geographic Names Victoria to rename the creek at their Ordinary Council Meetings in April last year.

From cattle to cropping, Glenlyon to Gippsland, and everything in between, Agriculture Victoria is on the hunt for this year’s Footy’s Favourite Farmer, with some attractive prizes up for grabs.

Last year, Ricky Allan (in the photo above) was a worthy winner, displaying leadership in multiple roles at the Wycheproof Narraport Football Club, such as the presidency, senior and juniors’ coach and more, all while supporting his family and the community as a farmer.

Who do you think deserves the 2023 title as Footy’s Favourite Farmer?

There’s over $20,000 worth of prizes up for grabs – for the farmer and their local club, and you could even win a spot prize yourself!

We know our farmers are a hard-working and humble bunch – so Agriculture Victoria says it would like your help to nominate your local farmer. All you need to do is tell them, in 50 words or less, why your nominee deserves to be Footy’s Favourite Farmer in 2023.

There’s over $20,000 worth of prizes for them and their club up for grabs, and you might even win a spot prize yourself!

Hurry – get your entries in before Wednesday 26 July to be in the running. Nominate your favourite farmer today.

Victorians have already saved millions of dollars on public transport fares last month after the state government’s regional fare cap came into effect.

Passengers have saved more than $4 million since the cheaper fares were introduced on March 31,
with the average V/Line passengers paying 50 per cent less for their trip.
More than 1.5 million people took a trip on public transport across regional Victoria in the first
month of the new fairer fares, including over 210,000 passengers on Bendigo line.
The first week alone saw more than 420, 000 passengers travel across the state, making it the
busiest week on the network since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
V/Line patronage data shows more passengers are taking advantage of cheaper fares to travel to
and from major events like the Grand Prix, AFL matches and Groovin’ the Moo, as well as tourism
destinations across Victoria, with an uplift in patronage on weekend and special services.
Daily fares are now capped at the current metropolitan fare of $9.20 or $4.60 concession, while on
weekends or public holidays, fares are capped at $6.70 for a full fare of $3.35 for concession per day.
As Victorians continue to embrace travel on V/Line thanks to the fairer fares, the state government
says it will upgrade and boost the regional public transport network, including progressively adding new
trains and more services to the network.
Since 2014, an extra 800 V/Line train services have also been added – with a record 2,200 regional
train services now operating every week. Almost 200 extra weekend services are set to be added to
the V/Line timetable from 2024 – with a further order of 23 VLocity trains to meet the demands of a
growing network.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “We said we’d make regional travel cheaper and we have – saving families and commuters millions of dollars. Whether you’re travelling by bus or train, public transport is now more affordable and accessible for everyone.”

Hepburn Shire residents with burning issues on their chest are about to get several prime opportunities to air them.

The Hepburn Shire Council says it’s hosting a series of community conversation sessions that are scheduled for multiple towns over coming weeks.

The sessions are intended as an opportunity for residents to express views on matters such as housing, business and economic development, environment and heritage, urban design, transport movement and access, and community and culture along with council projects and initiatives.

The sessions are also prime opportunities to discuss council concerns like waste management, walking and cycling and the upcoming budget.

The council’s economic development and sports and active recreation teams will attend the sessions to talk to local business operators, community event organisers and sporting clubs about “how we can support our communities to thrive”.

Upcoming sessions are scheduled for:

• 29 May – Daylesford, Victoria Park Pavilion
• 30 May – Hepburn Springs, Hepburn Springs Reserve
• 31 May – Trentham Listening Post, Trentham Pavilion
• 1 June – Clunes, Clunes Town Hall
• 7 June – Creswick, Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve
• 8 June – Glenlyon, Glenlyon Town Hall

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council will continue to receive public submissions to guide its community equestrian facilities plan up to May 28.

The council currently supports a range of equestrian groups in Bullengarook, Gisborne, Macedon, Kyneton, Woodend, Lancefield and Riddells Creek.

It is preparing a Community Equestrian Facilities Plan – co-funded with the Victorian Government – to guide the future direction of these facilities and is inviting feedback to help inform the development of this important plan.

The council has appointed recreation consultants @Leisure to undertake the development of the plan.