WaterSmart Dams

Keep up to date with happenings for this exciting State-wide multi-disciplinary project. FBG is thrilled to bring 3 demonstration sites to the table with the aim of showcasing several diverse examples of how farmers may look to improve their water security and/or improve water quality.

We currently have two sites up and running, and a third in the pipeline:

1. Jacup Community Dam (hosted by Mark Lester) - are used CBH tarps a viable catchment lining option?

2. Dam expansion and evaporation suppression technologies (hosted by the Jones family at Gairdner). Are you appropriately matching your dam catchment to the size of your water storage (or vice versa)? And what are some methods to reduce evaporation? We will be demonstrating a Daisy dam cover this summer.

3. Improving water quality using emerging filtration system technology (hosted by Dave Turner). How to make the most of lower quality dam water to drive spray efficacy?

Follow along at:

Phase out of live sheep exports by sea

Have your say in the phase out of live sheep exports from Australia.

The Australian Government has committed to phasing out live sheep exports from Australia by sea.

The phase out will not take place during this current term of the Australian Parliament. This will provide time for individuals and businesses to adapt and prepare for a transition away from live sheep exports by sea.

An independent panel has been established to consult with impacted and interested stakeholders. The panel will provide advice on how and when the government will phase out live sheep exports by sea.

The Government is seeking input on:

• how the government should phase out live sheep exports by sea

• the timeframe to implement the phase out

• how the phase out will impact exporters, farmers and other businesses across the supply chain

• support and adjustment options for those impacted by the phase out

• opportunities, including options to expand domestic processing and increase sheep meat exports.

Consultation will not consider the merits or otherwise of the government’s policy to phase out live sheep exports by sea.

The phase out does not apply to other livestock export industries, such as live cattle exports, nor does it apply to live sheep exports by air.

More information can be found here

And your feedback can be given here

Fitzgerald Biosphere Community Collective Update

The Fitzgerald Biosphere Collective is thrilled to announce the appoinment of Annie Leitch as Communications and Extension Coordinator.

Welcome aboard Annie - she will start with FBCC on Monday 31st October

Increasing groundcover to build resilient soils in the western Fitzgerald Biosphere

Over the past 12 months, FBG project office,r Jolene Daniel, has been working with a range of farmers in the western Fitzgerald Biosphere to investigate ways to increase soil health across our landscapes, as well as supporting early adopters of transformative NRM practices.

This project covered a range of different approaches including summer-active multi-species, new options for perennial pastures, marginal land fodder sites, native grass pasture (kangaroo grass), as well as utilising the Enrich model in a number of demonstration sites.

The project has just wrapped up, and the final report can be viewed here

This project was funded by the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund: Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program

WaterSmart Dams Survey

What on-farm water supply issues do you face? Are you interested in different approaches to improving water supply and retention on your farm?

Have you say - scan the QR code below:

Bremer Bay Trails Master Plan - Have Your Say!

FBG and the Bremer Bay Trails Committee, together with the Shire of Jerramungup, are preparing an update to the Master Plan for trails in the Bremer Bay area. To this end, your input is sought!

You can provide your feedback via a survey which can be found here

If you have anything you’d like to discuss futrther, contact Nathan McQuoid on 0439 936 591 or at nathanm@westnet.com.au

Fitzgerald Biosphere Communications & Extension Coordinator

In exciting news, the Fitzgerald Biosphere Community Collective (of which FBG is one of the administrative stakeholders) is advertising for a newly created position - Communications & Extension Coordinator.

We are seekly a skilled and motivated communications professional who will be tasked with increasing awareness of the Fitzgerald Biosphere and carrying out a range of activities for the Collective.

Expressions of interest are open until 9th September. Please get in touch if you would like to view the Selection Criteria.

For more information, email fitzgeraldbiosphere@gmail.com or call Elisa Spengler at RAIN on 0417 174 299 or Maddy Wylie at FBG on 0421 645 410.

2022 Soil Health Champions

At the recent Talkin’ Soil Health conference, facilitated by Wheatbelt NRM and held in York, champions of soil health in each of the NRM regions across WA were announced.

In exciting news, the Soil Health Champion for the South Coast region was our very own Jolene Daniel.

You can check out her story, along with the other winners, with accompanying short films here.

Update on foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease prevention and preparedness

With biosecurity firmly on the agenda at the moment, DPIRD are running series of information forums in coming weeks around foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease

Situation update 3 August 2022

Foot-and-mouth disease preparedness: information forums

A series of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) preparedness information forums have been coordinated to provide useful advice and guidance to livestock owners and answer questions. These are free to attend. 

The forums will:

·        Ensure livestock producers are aware of the disease signs and know what they should be doing to prepare and protect their stock.

·        Provide information on the risk mitigation measures that are in place and can be put in place at a farm level.

·        Provide information on response arrangements should we get a case of FMD or LSD in Australia.

Click the link below to register for the free information forum near you: 

·        Manjimup – Thursday 11 August 2pm to 4pm – register Manjimup

·        Cunderdin – Wednesday 17 August 2pm to 4pm – register Cunderdin

·        Katanning – Friday 19 August 2pm to 4pm – register Katanning

·        Dandaragan – Tuesday 23 August 2pm to 4pm – register Dandaragan

Update on national response activities

Commonwealth biosecurity officers have been granted extra powers under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to direct all travellers from Indonesia and Bali to walk over sanitising foot mats after disembarking, and other measures such as shoe cleaning.

In addition, since 27 July travellers have been asked if they have been in Indonesia during the past 7 days and referred for biosecurity assessment.

DPIRD response and preparedness activities

Farm visitors and contractors – fact sheet

In response to questions about visitors and contractors on farm, a fact sheet is now available, which provides biosecurity protocols for reducing risk, it includes:

What to do:

·      Before you arrive – preparing for arrival and biosecurity kits for vehicles.

·      When you arrive – tips to minimise contact with livestock.

·       When you leave – washing down, equipment cleaning and changing clothing.

Download the fact sheet here.  

Livestock biosecurity at events – fact sheet

A useful factsheet ‘Livestock biosecurity at events – basic advice for event holders and exhibitors’ is available.

Download the fact sheet here.

Farm gate signs

Free farm gate signs will be available from DPIRD regional offices south of Broome from 5 August 2022 or Elders and Nutrien Ag offices from 10 August 2022.

Traveller information

Information for travellers returning from Indonesia is available on the webpage, Emergency Animal Disease Hub - foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin diseases.

It includes:

·      Biosecurity protocols to follow and declarations to make.

·      What not to bring into Australia (meat or dairy).

·      Advice on cleaning or disposing of shoes.  

We also continue to share information in the following ways:

·     Regular email updates, those not already receiving them can register here.

·     Social media updates, via DPIRD’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Industry-led activities

Webinar – practical biosecurity actions for livestock producers

A collaborative cross-industry webinar will be held on 6pm Tuesday 9 August (AEST), in partnership with Integrity Systems Company, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Animal Health Australia (AHA) with support from the FMD/LSD Industry Taskforce.

Livestock producers will find out more about: 

·        Practical biosecurity and traceability actions that you can implement on-farm. 

·        How you can contribute to an effective disease response. 

·        The first 72 hours following an emergency animal disease outbreak - what happens during a livestock standstill.  

Includes a Q&A with representatives from Meat and Livestock Australia, Animal Health Australia and Integrity Systems Company.  

Register for the free webinar here: Practical biosecurity actions for livestock producers

Further information

Please click the links below to access further information: 

Resources from DPIRD: 

·        Emergency Animal Disease Hub - foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin diseases - view

·        Foot-and-mouth disease - prevention and preparedness - view

·        Lumpy skin disease: prevention and preparedness - view

·        Livestock ownership, identification and movement in WA - view

·        Farm visitor contractor guide to biosecurity (fact sheet on right) - view

·        Regular updates via email - if not already receiving this email - register here

Other government resources: 

·        Engagement Hub - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, QLD - view

·        FMD National Outlook - Australian Government - view

·        Lumpy Skin Disease - Australian Government - view

WA growers urged to monitor amid reports of mouse damage to crops

Growers across the WA grain belt are encouraged to actively and frequently monitor for mouse activity, with the recent detection of significant mouse damage to crops in Merredin and surrounds.

At a 27 June field walk arranged by Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group (MADFIG) and Nutrien Ag Solutions Merredin, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) representatives spoke with growers who reported holes in crops the size of utes, due to mouse damage.

Some growers in this region had not actively monitored their crops before or during seeding and were unaware of the level of risk from mouse activity.

Increased mouse activity in WA was anticipated this year due to the volume of grain left behind in paddocks after a record breaking 2021/22 harvest.

With the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website predicting warmer, drier conditions for WA in July, it could be a perfect storm for further extensive mouse damage in the region, as milder weather contributes to more active mouse breeding.

Steve Henry, leading mouse expert and researcher officer at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, said that mouse numbers can build rapidly under the right conditions, leading to crop damage throughout the growing season.

“Mice can do damage at all phases of the crop, so if they’re taking whole plants out when the crop’s being sown, there is a related loss of yield when the crop is harvested. The key message now is to be vigilant in the late winter/early spring and be prepared to bait if you see signs of mouse activity,” Mr Henry said.

Early detection and integrated management across the farm is crucial for reducing the risk of mouse impacts. Once mouse numbers are very high, it is very difficult to reduce damage and control strategies can be costly.

Read the full article on monitoring mouse activity on the GRDC website >

Please feel free to reach out to Georgia Megirian, GRDC Crop Protection Manager - West for any queries or concerns on 03 9230 4600 or at georgia.megirian@grdc.com.au