- ifarmwell – growing farmers’ wellbeing
- Biosecurity 101: Everyday biosecurity
- Junior Landcare
- Planning for a non-mulesed Merino enterprise
- Upcoming events
- eBulletins
1. ifarmwell – growing farmers’ wellbeing
ifarmwell is a website that has been designed by Australian farmers to help other Australian farmers cope effectively with life’s challenges and get the most out of every day. It does this by sharing practical ways of coping with difficult circumstances, thoughts and feelings (especially worries about things you can’t control) and helping you to work out where it is most useful for you to put your attention and energy.
You can do this from the privacy of your home, tractor or shed. The site will even send you text message reminders to keep you focused, and it is free!
The website is designed to be useful for BOTH farmers who are currently feeling down or stressed AND those who would simply like some new tools to improve their ability to cope with uncertainty associated with life on the land.
By completing the five short modules on this website you will learn new tools to equip you to take charge and reduce the negative impact that stressful situations have on your life, so that you have more time and energy to focus on the things that make you happy.
Visit the website at www.ifarmwell.com.au
2. Biosecurity 101: Everyday biosecurity
In this article Rachel O’Brien (Queensland Manager Biosecurity & Extension, Livestock Biosecurity Network) discusses how biosecurity is a concern each and every day, not just when new stock, supplies or visitors are arriving. The good news is, best practice management strategies can easily be worked into your everyday farm management activities. Topics covered include: vaccinations and treating animals, contaminated sites, carcass management and surveillance and weeds and pests.
Read the full article here http://www.lbn.org.au/2018/02/biosecurity-101-everyday-biosecurity/
Read the previous article on Biosecurity 101: If it moves, it poses a risk here http://www.lbn.org.au/2018/01/biosecurity-101-if-it-moves-it-poses-a-risk/
3. Junior Landcare
Junior Landcare is about encouraging young people to play an active role in ensuring the safe future of the environment. It recognises that the contribution of young people is vital if the land they are to inherit is to be in the best possible condition. Junior Landcare also encourages young people to develop a sense of responsibility to the land and other natural resources.
Junior Landcare enable kids of all ages to become involved with their local Landcare group and work on a range of environmental projects. It also provides a great framework for learning in outdoor ‘living classrooms’, and can be successfully integrated into a range of topics within the school curriculum.
For more information on Junior Landcare and available resources visit: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/junior-landcare/what-is-junior-landcare/
4. Planning for a non-mulesed Merino enterprise
Increasing numbers of Merino enterprises are moving away from relying on mulesing as their main tool to reduce the risk of breech flystrike. Instead, enterprises are turning to other control methods, such as breeding for low breech wrinkle and dags, increasing reliance on worm and fly control chemicals, additional crutching and accelerated shearing to manage the risk of breech flystrike on their properties.
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) have produced a report that outlines the key learnings from a number of wool-growing enterprises that have moved to a non-mulesed enterprise. It is intended to assist other woolgrowers in their consideration and planning to also move to a non-mulesed Merino enterprise.
View the full report on planning for a non-mulesed Merino enterprise here: https://www.wool.com/globalassets/start/about-awi/publications/gd2746-planning-to-move-to-a-non-mulesed-merino-enterprise_6.pdf
For other recent publications about breech strike prevention visit AWI’s website at www.wool.com/flystrikelatest
5. Upcoming events
23-25 March Breeding EDGE Workshop, Richmond. For more information and to register please contact Felicity Hamlyn-Hill at felicityhamlyn-hill@bigpond.com.
29 March Exclusion fencing and farm security field day, Millmerran. For more information and to register please contact Matt Clark 07 4695 2939 or Brett French 0427 354 182 or frenchb@raffgroup.com.au.
5 April 12.30-1.30pm Webinar Sleep well: strategies to improve sleep by AgForce. To find out more or to register click here.
10 April 1-2pm Webinar Succession planning do’s and don’ts by MLA. To find out more or to register click here.
11 April ReproActive workshop, Roma by Zoetis and Roma Vet Clinic. To find out more or to register click here.
20 April Facing the future with sheep, St George by TopX. To find out more visit http://topx.com.au/ or to register email russell@topx.com.au.
20 April 9am-12 noon Environmental Values workshop, Charleville by SWNRM. For more information contact Catherine Conroy on 4656 8500 or catherine.conroy@swnrm.org.au.
27 April Field day and community forum, Julia Creek by Southern Gulf NRM. For more information contact Pru Wharton on 07 4743 1888.
27 April 2-3.30pm Environmental Values workshop, Quilpie by SWNRM. For more information contact Catherine Conroy on 4656 8500 or catherine.conroy@swnrm.org.au.
27 April 6-8.30pm Rural Minds workshop, Charleville. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.
28 April 11.30am-3pm Rural Minds workshop, Augathella. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.
1 May 2018 Plug in day, Cunnamulla. Find out about and get help with property mapping, environmental values, biosecurity planning, financial counselling, QRIDA, Grazing BMP and vegetation management. For more information contact Andrea Wiles at andrea.wiles@daf.qld.gov.au.
4 May 2018 Queensland State Sheep show, Blackall. For more information click here.
8 May 2018 Webinar Succession planning: what to do when you don’t know where to start by MLA. To find out more or to register click here.
End of May 2018 (tbc) Exclusion fenced – what now, St George by Leading Sheep. For more information contact Jed Sommerfield on 0459 862 879 or jed.sommerfield@daf.qld.gov.au.
May/June 2018 (tbc) Herd and flock management days across south and south west Queensland. For more information contact Andrea Wiles at andrea.wiles@daf.qld.gov.au.
June 2018 (tbc) Electronic identification in sheep field days across Queensland. For more information contact Nicole Sallur at nicole.sallur@daf.qld.gov.au.
June 2018 (tbc) Grazing BMP, Roma, Mitchell/Morven. For more information contact Andrea Wiles at andrea.wiles@daf.qld.gov.au.
15 June 5.30-8pm Rural Minds workshop, Eromanga. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.
16 June 11.30am-3pm Rural Minds workshop, Adavale. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.
17 June 11.30am-3pm Rural Minds workshop, Cooladdi. RSVP and enquiries to Tim Saal on 0400 104 332 or timsal@rrmh.com.au.