eNews #15

• 3-9th August - Landcare Week
• 17th August - The Connection between Soil and Animal Health
• 19th August - Staying Safe & Savvy Online - Guyra
• 28th August - WaterWise Farms: Stock, Storage & Security
• 3rd September - Dam Good Water: Enhancing Farm Dams
• 15-18th  September - Spring into Nutrition Farming

Would you like to improve one of your farm dams and help demonstrate practical enhancement options for other landholders?

Southern New England Landcare Ltd is inviting Expressions of Interest from landholders who would like to enhance a farm dam on their property as part of a demonstration site project. This is an opportunity to improve dam water quality, support biodiversity, manage stock access and showcase practical farm dam enhancement works in a local farming setting.

Funding support may be available to contribute towards eligible project materials, depending on the selected dam and proposed works. This may include fencing materials, native plants, guards and stakes, and either a trough and submersible solar pump for off-stream watering or materials towards the construction of a hardened stock access point.

Common Names: Whisky Grass, Broomsedge, Broomsedge bluestem, Beardgrass, Sage grass, Sedge grass, Deceptive bluestem, Smooth bluestem, Yellowsedge bluestem, broomstraw
Scientific Name: Andropogon virginicus
Where in the Succession: Low fertility exploiter

Whisky Grass is a warm-season perennial tufted grass species, growing between 0.5 and 1m in height. It can be commonly mistaken in Australia for Kangaroo Grass and Grader Grass.

It is native to eastern North America and further south into Central America, and has now been introduced across many parts of the world. It is quite adaptable to climate, growing from cool temperate winters into humid subtropical conditions with a preference for the coastal regions of New South Wales and Southern QLD.

Where will I find Whisky Grass growing, and why is it growing there?

To Landowners and Graziers in the Northern Tablelands region,

GLENRAC are seeking partnerships to host Farming Forecaster soil moisture probes on grazing properties.

The broad intention of these sites will be to improve confidence in seasonal decision making across the Northern Tablelands region.

To achieve this, expressions of interest are invited from graziers across the local area, including but not limited to beef and sheep producers.

By partnering with GLENRAC there is an opportunity to subsidise upfront and installation costs as well as contributing to the greater benefit of producers across the region.

The NSW Government is developing a new NSW Biosecurity Strategy, outlining a whole of government approach to uplifting and improving the NSW biosecurity system.

We are currently seeking feedback from our stakeholders and the community to inform the development of this new strategy.

You can view the draft NSW Biosecurity Strategy and share your feedback through 'Have Your Say'.

Have your say by 11:59 pm Wednesday July 2026

A strong biosecurity system protects NSW from the impacts of exotic and established diseases, pests and weeds.

This brochure summarises the results of a study into greenhouse gas emissions, flows and stores in the landscape of the Lower Apsley River Landcare Group.

Call the SNEL office today for a hard copy or download here. 

Providing a convenient and flexible way for locals to obtain
the latest updates, ask questions and provide feedback.

Armidale - Wed 22/7/26 & Thu 23/7/26, 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
EnergyCo, 175 Rusden St, Armidale

Walcha - Mon 27/7/26, 12pm - 4:30pm
Walcha Shire Council Chambers, 2 Hamilton St. Walcha

Uralla - Wed. 29/7/26, 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
Uralla Court House, 9 Hill St, Uralla

No appointment is needed. Read more HERE

Webinar: Farm Business Insights - Performance Trends of Livestock Assets and Practical Planning Tools

11 August 2026 – 10:30am

Join Local Land Services and Agripath in this online webinar for data-driven insights into enterprise profitability in the North West.

What the webinar will cover:

Drawing on years of farm business data from North West NSW, Agripath’s Business Analyst Alastair Scott, will provide insights into livestock asset performance, livestock enterprise profitability and key performance trends to help producers and advisers make better-informed management decisions. The webinar will include a demonstration of a cost of production tool for forage oat crops. Topics include:

• How we measure farm performance
• Key drivers of livestock assets over the last 5 years
• Stocking Rate - Manipulating Stocking rate - Pasture Types
• Animal Performance - Drivers of Animal performance - Enterprise Choice, Costs, Income

Register here or contact Lana Andrews on 0417 328 615