Welcome to the August edition of ‘Around the Camp’. In this edition you will find a wide variety of articles from the latest in trialling drones to a new website that helps match rams to your businesses breeding objectives. As always if you have any suggestions for articles or feedback then please let us know.
- New RamSelect website helps match rams to your breeding objectives
- Drone trials considered a success
- CASE STUDY – Southern Queensland Murray Darling Feral Animal Initiative
- Serious about farm safety
- Working together to combat Wild Dogs
- Upcoming events
- eBulletins
1. New RamSelect website helps match rams to your breeding objectives
Leading farm adviser Craig Wilson, of Craig Wilson & Associates, NSW, said RamSelect.com.au would take the hard work out of using ASBVs when searching for the right genetics to improve flock productivity.
“RamSelect.com.au will be a game changer,” Mr Wilson said. “We have known for a long time that ASBVs allow us to compare animals on genetic merit, without the effect of feeding or environment. The RamSelect app makes it quick and easy to rank animals against individual breeding objectives. “For a lot of commercial producers sifting through long lists of objective data was time consuming and difficult work – they can now find the genetics they need in a matter of seconds and know that the recommendations are supported by objective data from Sheep Genetics.”
2. Drone trials considered a success
A high flying drone with infrared cameras could be the latest high-tech tool to deal with the very costly problem in Australia. Official estimates put the cost of feral pests like pigs, wild dogs, and rabbits at $1 billion each year in lost agricultural productivity. The cost, calculated by the Invasive Animal Cooperative Research Centre, is a serious burden for landholders plus the Local, State, and Commonwealth Governments.
Now an Australian company, Ninox Robotics, is coming at the issue of pest control from another angle; the sky. Managing Director, Marcus Ehrlich, said the company is trialling a suite of technology, using a military grade drone, across two states. Mr Ehrlich said it is the first time anyone has been given this special clearance from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to do these types of trials. “We’ve got beyond visual line of site, which allows us to go a long way from our launch point or ground control station,” he said. Read more
WATCH: A short video taken while they were trialling the drones south of Mitchell – http://mashable.com/2015/07/22/drones-australia-pests/
3. CASE STUDY – Southern Queensland Murray Darling Feral Animal Initiative
Producers have identified that feral pest numbers increased dramatically during the wet years of 2011 – 2013 and even though the region has been experiencing drought since 2014, the dry
conditions have not reduced pest populations. Funding was received from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to support feral animal management through the Federal Government Drought Assistance Program. The funding was provided for landscape scale action on wild dog and feral pig populations in the area. Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Balonne and Maranoa Regional Councils in partnership with the Queensland Murray Darling Committee looked to collaboratively use this funding to enhance existing pest control programmes targeting wild dog and feral pig populations that are further damaging drought impacted rural enterprises.
This case study focuses on the unique way that the project was delivered in the Goondiwindi Regional Council area.
4. Serious about farm safety
The serious about farm safety guide was developed by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and agricultural industry representatives. It is used to assist small to medium sized agricultural businesses to develop a management system for health and safety risks around the farm and other agricultural workplaces.
A simple health and safety system will reduce the risk of workplace injuries and can help to reduce your workers’ compensation premium.
The guide covers:
– legislative requirements for workers’ compensation
– safety management systems
– identifying and assessing risks
– implementing suitable safe work procedures
– general hazard information for the agricultural industry.
Workplace health and safety policies and procedures should form the framework of a health and safety system. This guide provides useful information and a series of simple templates to help you set up your own safety system.
Download the ‘Serious about Safety’ guide
Download the ‘Serious about Safety’ templates
5. Working together to combat Wild Dogs
The woolgrowing community in Victoria’s high country around the East Gippsland community of Swifts Creek continues to work together to help protect their sheep flocks from wild dog attack.
Hear firsthand from local producers and Victorian wild dog staff about their shared experience and how success can be achieved.
6. Upcoming events
- QRRRWN State Conference 2015 Biloela 3-5 September.
- Alternative funding strategies for young sheep producers – webinar 24th September, 8pm. Register here.
- Post weaning drought strategies – On farm feedlotting workshop 7th September, ‘Chelmer’ Nindigully. To register contact alex.stirton@daf.qld.gov.au
- Focusing on the Future workshops – To register or for more information contact Heather Smith – 0428 712 985 or PastoralprofitQLD@gmail.com
- Tuesday 8th Sept: Quilpie
- Wednesday 9th Sept: Charleville
- Monday 21st Sept: Jundah
- Tuesday 22nd Sept: Longreach
- Wednesday 23rd: Blackall
- Week of 11th October: Bollon and Eulo
- Queensland Weed Symposium Longreach 14-17 September
- The Friend a Farmer Twilight Dinner & Art Exhibition, Saturday 26th September, 2015. Contact: Amy Gunn for tickets or for further information phone 0488040559 or email friendafarmer@gmail.com
- Sheep Health and Disease Investigation workshops, Stanthorpe – 13th October and Warwick – 14th October. For more information contact Alex Stirton – 0428 109 620 or alex.stirton@daf.qld.gov.au
- SWNRM Ag Industry updates – To register contact 0746 568 500
- Wednesday 7th Oct – Morven
- Friday 9th Oct – Charleville
- Tuesday 13th Oct – Tambo
- Thursday 15th Oct – Quilpie
7.eBulletins
AWI Woolgrowers’ newsletter – July 2015
AWI Weekly wool market review – week ending 7 August 2015
Invasive Animals CRC The Feral Flyer – July 2015