The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW has announced $100,000 will be released from its Disaster Relief fund to help farm families in NSW struggling with worsening drought conditions.
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by Glen Uebergang, Northern Tablelands LLS Mixed Farming Officer
With useful rainfall in many parts of the Northern Tablelands, landholders may be thinking about planting late season annual forage crops. To reduce pressure on your perennial pastures and provide a bulk of quality feed it may be appropriate to plant forage crops such as oats, barley, triticale or ryegrass. Following are a few points for your consideration:
by Brett Littler (Central Tablelands LLS Livestock Officer), Jason Siddell (Northern Tablelands LLS Livestock Officer) and Andrew Biddle (Northern Tablelands LLS District Vet)
Many experienced farmers have been reviewing their feed budgets in this really dry time. Quantity of feed is obviously paramount at all times but particularly for pregnant or lactating livestock. Quality feed becomes even more important during drought but we understand it is getting harder and more expensive to source.
by Kim Deans – Northern Tablelands LLS Farm Planning Officer
There has been useful rain on the Northern Tablelands in the last couple of days although it hasn’t been enough in most places to run much water. Ensuring good quality water for livestock is an ongoing part of managing livestock at all times but becomes particularly relevant when water supplies are limited in dry times.
More than $27 million for 15 projects through round one of Smart Farming Partnerships grants.
Grants of up to $4 million are part of the $134 million Smart Farms Program
Part of the $1.1 billion phase two of the National Landcare Program
Soil health, innovation, digital farming and next generation weather forecasting will be improved thanks to $27 million in funding through round one of the Smart Farming Partnership grants.
Armidale Urban Rivercare invite one and all to celebrate the conclusion of the Prickly Problems Project where the group has achieved greatness in removing a forest of the invasive plant Rubinia.
Come together with the Armidale Urban Rivercare Group to celebrate past, present and future successes rehabiliating Armidale's Dumaresq Creek.
Brunch will be provided with talks from founding member Bruce Whan and the official opening of the site by Armidale Regional Council Mayor, Cr Simon Murray. More event details at https://snelandcare.org.au/event/ppp-party.
Road to Regen is an event inviting you to take a closer look at regenerative farming by hearing from Joel Williams and Grant Sims in a workshop setting, and then having the opportunity to see it happening on ground at Jason Simmons property on Long Swamp Road South-East of Armidale.
With 100 agriculture and science students from five high schools across the region talking about regenerative agricultural practices it’s hard not to be excited about the future of farming.
The take-up of solar power has accelerated throughout the New England North West region. Farming the Sun's community bulk-buy program has added 2% installations in the last 18 months alone!
“We've seen the level of community interest in solar power grow greatly over the ten years that we have been coordinating the Farming the Sun community solar collaboration”, said Project Director, Adam Blakester.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is coordinating a fox baiting program to be held in the Armidale district and surrounds commencing on 14th June 2018. Get involved by contacting your local fox group coordinator or Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Armidale office on 02 6770 2000.
By Nigel Brown, Geoff Green and Beth Brown - Northern Tablelands LLS
The January to April 2018 period was the driest first quarter of the year for NSW as a whole since 1986. Few places across the Northern Tablelands have had a typical growing season and much of the area is in a really weak condition for livestock production this winter.
Making timely decisions is crucial so asking for professional help is a priority. The aim of this article is to provide resources and contacts for expert advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – it’s what we’re here for!
Malpas Catchment action is happening once more. Project Officer Rachel Lawrence has commenced in a part-time role with Southern New England Landcare. Rachel will work with landholders and community groups in the catchment as well as Armidale Regional Council and NT LLS towards improved outcomes for Malpas Dam and Armidale and Guyra’s water supply.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services urges cattle producers to be vigilant for signs of Three-day Sickness in stock after numerous cases have been reported around the Inverell district. Otherwise known as Bovine Ephemeral Fever, the virus is spread by biting midges and is normally associated with wet summers in Queensland and weather events out of the northwest.
THIS IS NOW A FREE EVENT!
In recognition of the very difficult drought times we are experiencing, this is now a FREE EVENT courtesy of Harnham Landcare Group and Southern New England Landcare Ltd. Participants must register (see below) for catering purposes by 3pm Tuesday 15th for Kentucky event or 3pm Wednesday 16th for Guyra event.
Landholders and community members in the Southern New England will soon have the opportunity to hear from a renowned speaker who links the health of the soil to the health of plants, animals and ultimately humans.
Peter Norwood is an agronomist, animal nutritionalist and human nutrition consultant specialising in nutritional balancing. He is based in Victoria, and will be in the Southern New England as a guest of the Harnham Landcare Group and Southern New England Landcare.
The following is an excerpt from In Situ Science's Podcast. Thank you for taking the time to conduct this interview, Dr James O'Hanlon (postdoctoral researcher at UNE).
How do you know if you have healthy soil? Look for worms! Dr Maarten Stapper joins Dr James on In Situ Science to chat about how caring for soils and healthy ecosystems can improve our farming practices. Listen to this podcast and other fascinating insights into the sciency world at https://insituscience.com/
Dr Maarten Stapper now runs his own agricultural consultancy that helps farmers transition towards organic farming practices whilst maintaining their productivity. He believes very strongly in the role of organic farming, not only for improving our environment, but also human health. Martin also talks openly about the industries behind science and farming that may be actually hindering progress in agricultural research. Find out more on Maarten's company website BioLogic AgFood.
Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) have long been a valuable resource for farmers when times get tough. Now, the stretches of grazing land alongside our roads and property boundaries are getting extra attention under the Protecting Biodiversity on TSRs in the Northern Tablelands Project.
Want to know clues to finding the rare Regent Honeyeater? Why are they so endangered and why are other woodland birds also threatened? Ever wanted to record what birds are in your area? Can you pick a Striated Thornbill from a Buff-rumped Thornbill? Come and join a workshop on the identification and survey methods for Regent Honeyeaters and other woodland birds. Sunday 29th April 2018, Uralla Community Centre. Download the flier here.
A new Drought Transport Fund announced by the NSW Government will help farmers manage livestock through dry conditions. The NSW Drought Transport Fund will provide up to $20,000 in low interest loans, with a two-year interest and repayment free period.
Big ideas were planted with more than 100 students from five schools across the region when they combined to discuss regenerative agriculture on Tuesday 10th April 2018. Image - Armidale High School's Bec Smith (L), Dr Maarten Stapper and Sara Schmude pictured at the event. Photo courtesy of Meg Francis. Check out the full story here.
More than 100 baby Bell’s Turtles will provide a major boost to the wild population of this endangered species after being released into the Macdonald River at seven sites near Bendemeer, north of Tamworth in April 2018. The release of turtle hatchlings through the Turtles Forever program is the result of a unique partnership between a detection dog, local farmers, ecologists and researchers.
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