Around the Camp: Ground Cover, Forecasting, Wool and Sheepmeat Survey, Insecticide Resistance

Ground Cover
How to read a forecast
AWI & MLA Wool and Sheepmeat Survey
We need your help!!
Upcoming Leading Sheep events
Upcoming events
eBulletins

1. Ground Cover

Hard to keep – but worth it.

This photo shows the stark difference between a paddock that has had significant overgrazing and a paddock completely destocked for the last three years.

If you have been fortunate enough to receive rain over the past couple of weeks you may have seen a response from your pasture, a change in your stress levels, a smile on your face and found yourself looking at the price of females to restock.

Have you instead considered giving your grass a chance to grow, drop seed and establish a tussock before restocking?

While financial responsibilities and stock schedules are important, the benefits of spelling your pastures over the growing season are proven and are likely to return a greater benefit in the long term. More information on Pasture Management for Drought Recovery here.

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2. How to read a forecast

How would you read this forecast? 70% chance of 3 – 10 mm right? – Wrong.

The Bureau of Meteorology has an article that explains how to read rain forecasts. This article explains that the Chance of any rain (in this case 70%) is the chance of any rainfall greater than 0.2mm. Meanwhile, the Possible rainfall (3 to 10mm) forecast indicates a 50% and 25% chance of receiving that total respectively.

So for this forecast, there is a 70% chance of receiving measurable rainfall (0.2mm), a 50% chance of receiving greater than 3mm and a 25% chance of receiving greater than 10mm on this given day – a much different outlook than you first thought.

To get a better understanding of weather forecasting, read the full article here.

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3. AWI & MLA Wool & Sheepmeat Survey

Three times a year, MLA and AWI run a joint survey to collect wool and sheepmeat industry livestock numbers and lamb production expectations.

Your participation in this survey will provide MLA and AWI with the strong foundations required to produce forecasting and market information analysis that feeds back to you as a producer. They kindly ask for your time and considered responses to this survey – the more producer responses, the more reliable the data.

This round of the survey is currently open and surveys must be completed by 29 February 2020. To complete the survey click here, it only takes 10 minutes.

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4. We need your help!!

Have you been fortunate enough to receive rain this year?

Do you have any fly struck sheep?

If your answer is yes, we need your help. Through a partnership with AWI and NSW DPI producers from all wool-producing states are currently eligible for free insecticide resistance testing to determine the resistance profiles of blowflies affecting their flock.

By participating in the research and providing maggot samples, woolgrowers will receive feedback on which chemical groups are most effective for the treatment of their flock.

For more information on the insecticide resistance testing or to get your free maggot collection kit click here.

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5. Upcoming Leading Sheep events

20 March Leading Sheep Forum & Dinner, Longreach. For more information click here.

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6. Upcoming events

6 February Mental Health First Aid Workshop, Roma Cultural Centre. For more information click here.
10 February Twilight Dog Trapping Workshop, Thargomindah by Agforce, Bulloo Shire and TRAICC. For more information contact Trish McKenzie on 0418 485 501 or email.
17 February Rehydrating your Landscape, Augathella by SQ Landscapes and GrazingFutures. For more information contact Kate Percival on 0427 542 283 or email.
19 February Rehydrating your Landscape, Quilpie by SQ Landscapes and GrazingFutures. For more information contact Kate Percival on 0427 542 283 or email.
19 February Excel Spreadsheets for Grazing Enterprises, Dirranbandi by ConnectAg. More information here.
20 February Excel Spreadsheets for Grazing Enterprises, Bollon by ConnectAg. More information here.
21 February Rehydrating your Landscape, Thargomindah by SQ Landscapes and GrazingFutures. For more information contact Kate Percival on 0427 542 283 or email.
21 February BBQ at the Pub, Dirranbandi by Rural Financial Counseling Service. More information here.
24 – 26 February Breeding EDGE, Rolleston by MLA. More information here.
29 February Better Business Solutions, Quilpie by ConnectAg. For more information contact Rhonda Toms-Morgan by email.
9 March Rural and Regional Business Roadshow, Blackall by RFCS and AusIndustry. More information here.
9 March Rural and Regional Business Roadshow, Charleville by RFCS and AusIndustry. More information here.
10 March Property Mapping Workshop, Charleville by Agforce. For more information contact Trish McKenzie on 0418 485 501 or email.
10 March Rural and Regional Business Roadshow, Roma by RFCS and AusIndustry. More information here.
11 March Property Mapping Workshop, Quilpie by Agforce. For more information contact Trish McKenzie on 0418 485 501 or email.
12 March Property Mapping Workshop, Thargomindah by Agforce. For more information contact Trish McKenzie on 0418 485 501 or email.
14 March Property Mapping Workshop, St George by Agforce. For more information contact Trish McKenzie on 0418 485 501 or email.

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7. eBulletins

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