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Image: feral pig wallow. Credit: Maree Kelly
Summer Feral Focus
Use the heat of summer to your advantage for pest control.
Feral pigs are unable to sweat and so need to be near water at least once per day, so target your control programs around water sources.
Similarly, grazing pest species such as deer will seek shelter during the heat of the day and may venture out to graze in more open country at night and at first and last light. Fallow deer fawning is generally during November and December, so keep an eye out for dependent young when undertaking control programs.
Keep an eye on animal tracks across your property. Can you tell the difference between a fox and a dog track?
If you would like to talk more about your pest control programs, please contact your local Biosecurity Officer by phoning 1300 795 299.
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Turning tin into gold at Wee Waa
A riparian area has been revitalised and a paddock described as the ‘hardest country on the place’ has added a biodiverse and productive showcase on the Dixon’s farm, ‘Rosebrook’ near Wee Waa in North West NSW. Jason and Kate Dixon were in the grip of drought when they approached North West Local Land Services in 2019.
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EOI for PROGRAZE courses
We are calling on expressions of interest for livestock producers to participate in upcoming PROGRAZE courses.
PROGRAZE develops skills in pasture and animal assessment, teaching skills to improve the productivity and sustainability of your grazing systems.
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Managing livestock in extreme heat
Heat stress affects the welfare and health of livestock resulting in decreased production, infertility and compromised immune systems leading to increased susceptibility to disease.
We can’t control the weather; however, we can take steps to reduce the effects of heat on our livestock.
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What do I need to do about pest animals on my property?
This is a common question from land managers. In NSW all land managers, regardless of public or private land, must demonstrate that they are meeting their General Biosecurity Duty. This means you need to be taking reasonable steps to prevent, eliminate or minimise biosecurity risks.
But what does that even mean? And what species are classified as pest animals in the North West region?
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North West Dung Beetle Monitoring Project
North West Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators (RALFs) Lana Andrews and Rachel Dorney have partnered with The University of New England (UNE) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to provide extension services to the dung beetle monitoring program being run by the Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers project.
The project aims to fill seasonal and geographic gaps in the distribution of dung beetles across southern Australia and quantify the benefits they provide to primary producers.
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Pasture dieback
Pasture dieback is a condition that kills sown and native summer growing (sub-tropical/tropical) grasses. It begins in small patches which can grow to affect large areas, significantly reducing pasture productivity. The condition has spread rapidly in Queensland in areas with over 600mm annual average rainfall. In NSW the condition was first seen on the Far North Coast in autumn 2020 and is spreading.
NSW DPI, Local Land Services and DAF Queensland have recently published a guide to assist with the identification of pasture dieback.
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New resources on our website - Resilient Regional Agriculture
New resources and results from the Resilient Regional Agriculture project are now available on our website. This project aims to increase the capacity of agricultural systems in the region to adapt to significant changes in climate and market demands.
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Anthrax warning amid flooding and a wet summer
Local Land Services is urging producers to report any sudden deaths in livestock, following the recent flooding events.
Farmers should suspect anthrax as the possible cause if animals die suddenly. There may be no signs and the disease can begin with sporadic deaths of single animals over a few days before building to dramatic losses in a very short time.
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How much are feral pigs costing you?
With harvest underway and in some cases completed, how did this year’s crop fair in terms of damage by feral pigs? Did you notice much as you harvested?
Local company AgEcon have completed an economic impact analysis on feral pig control in a number of cropping scenarios.
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NSW Wild Dog Fence Extension Project
The NSW Wild Dog Fence Extension project has made substantial progress despite the considerable challenges it has faced, none more so than impacts from COVID-19.
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Self-feeding silage pit project expressions of interest
Silage can be a valuable on farm tool, allowing producers to harvest paddock feed when it is in surplus to be stored and then used at a later date when there is a feed deficit, whilst maintaining a reasonable level of nutritional quality.
Self-feeding silage pits are utilised commonly in the northern hemisphere, however we are interested in their application to northern NSW grazing operations – primarily beef at this stage. Therefore, we are very interested in hearing from you about your experience with silage pits.
The aim of this project is to ascertain whether self-feeding from silage pits is a valid option for producers in our region in the future.
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Farming systems research update Narrabri
Since 2014, the Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has been investigating the relative productivity of several different crop rotation systems at the University of Sydney’s farm “Llara”, near Narrabri.
This work was part of a Farming Systems project funded by NSW DPI, QDAF, CSIRO and the GRDC and is aimed at addressing issues of long-term fertility decline and increasing soil pathogen and herbicide resistance issues.
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No idea about deer?
Deer are encroaching across the North West region and we are hearing reports of high populations.
The danger with deer is that they can be living and building populations almost undetected in the landscape before they become noticed. Once you do start to notice them, the numbers are significantly higher and with control methods limited to shooting, managing the population becomes more challenging.
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Have you experienced flood damage? Complete the natural disaster assistance survey
The primary industries natural disaster damage survey is a simple online survey Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services staff, farmers and agricultural industry representatives can use to record damage to primary production and animals from natural disasters such as floods, fires and storms.
Information collected helps to quantify the impact of a disaster on agriculture and target resources and assistance to an area.
If you've suffered damage to crops, livestock or infrastructure from the recent flooding, please report it.
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Rates are returning in 2022
Over the last three years the NSW Government waived Local Land Services rates as part of its nearly $4 billion drought and water security support package to help primary producers through the state’s worst drought on record. With widespread improvements in seasonal conditions across the state, rates will be reintroduced in 2022.
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Wallabadah Creek Catchment Community - Landholders working together to protect groundwater
The Wallabadah Creek Catchment Community (WCCCC) is a landholder group focused on regenerating and maintaining sustainable groundwater for their catchment and community. They are working to achieve this through farming practices and rehabilitation of the landscape.
The group was formed when locals started to ask questions like why their bores were drying up, what could they do to prevent this from happening again and is it possible to reverse the impacts of a drying catchment, evidenced by long term water supply data and anecdotally by long term residents.
This video “Wallabadah Creek Catchment Community: Working with LLS” has been developed and produced by Local Land Services to illustrate WCCC’s journey since inception in 2019, and to raise awareness of how a community driven group can drive on ground results.
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We're changing the way our offices operate
North West Local Land Services is changing the way its offices operate to better meet the needs of its customers.
We are adding more time to our phone lines each day, with our lines now extended for an extra hour and a half – 8am to 5.30pm. You can always contact us via email, Facebook messenger and our online form.
Our offices are still open by appointment Monday to Friday, and we will have our traditional face to face customer service in our offices. Please call to make an appointment as our staff are often on the ground, delivering our services to customers.
To contact your closest Local Land Services office, call 1300 795 299.
www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/north-west
E: admin@northwest.nsw.gov.au
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Expressions of Interest: Climate Friendly Carbon Farming for Drought Resilience Program
Climate Friendly are seeking expressions of interest from mixed cropping and livestock enterprises across the North-West Local Land Services NSW region to participate in a Carbon Farming for Drought Resilience Program. Successful candidates will be granted a $10,000 drought resilience and carbon farming goods and services package, with a total of four packages available. Each successful candidate will be supported to plan and implement a carbon farming and drought resilience project.
Your expression of interest is due by Sunday, 6 February 2022 by filling out this form (estimated time for form completion: 5 – 10 minutes).
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Upcoming Events & Training in 2022
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WEBINAR: How much are feral pigs impacting your bottom line?
When: 2pm Wednesday, 2 February 2022
It’s a well-known fact that feral pigs can cause significant impacts on both grazing and cropping enterprises. But exactly how much that equates to financially hasn’t been looked at closely for over 10 years. The improved seasonal conditions across NSW over the past 12 months have triggered huge increases in feral pig populations.
A survey conducted by local company AgEcon evaluating the actual financial impacts from feral pigs was commissioned by North West Local Land Services targeting our region’s farmers for the winter 2020 and summer 2020/21 cropping periods. Join us for a webinar as we hear from Senior Biosecurity Officer, David Lindsay with the survey results including a breakdown of regional commodity losses, total regional losses and proven effective control methods.
If you have livestock, be sure to join in to hear from District Veterinarian Justine McNally about the disease risks posed by feral pigs. We will also be joined by Emma Sawyers from FeralScan who will give an update on the FeralPig Scan reporting app and how it can help paint the picture of pest control in your area.
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Vertebrate Pesticide Training | Tamworth
When: 16 February, 2022 10am - 4pm
Where: Sustainable Farm Training Centre, Marsden Park Road, Calala NSW
We are offering FREE Vertebrate Pesticide Training for landholders. Completion of this course will give participants a five year accreditation to use vertebrate pesticides (1080, Pindone, RHDV & PAPP) on their property.
The course covers a range of topics from the legislative requirements of using vertebrate pesticides through to modes of action and practical usage.
Participants may elect to also complete the Canid Pest Ejector (CPE) course, which will follow the VPT course.
Please RSVP to book your spot, by calling 1300 795 299.
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Rehydrating your landscape
Join us and the Mulloon Institute to learn how regenerative practices help rehydrate landscapes, repair waterways and restore riparian zones.
When:
- Tuesday, 22 February 2022, 12.30 - 4.30pm at “Middlebrook Park”, Garoo (near Tamworth)
- Wednesday, 23 February 2022, 12.30 - 4.30pm at “Glen Nevis”, Maules Creek
- Thursday 24 February 2022, 12.30 - 4.30pm at “Inverness”, Warialda.
RSVP’s are essential for catering purposes.
For more information, or to register, contact Pippa Jones on 0427 454 795 or pip.jones@lls.nsw.gov.au
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Merry Christmas from the North West Local Land Services Team
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Thank you for working with us in 2021, in what been yet another challenging year!
We certainly hope our advice and support has made some of your on-farm management decisions a little easier to make - whether they were livestock health, nutrition and welfare related; pasture or soil management decisions; biosecurity related; or decisions about managing native vegetation, river health or threatened species.
Our offices will be closed from 4.30pm Friday, 24 December 2021 for the Christmas and New Year break and will re-open at 8.30am on Monday, 10 January 2021.
During this time:
- Flood affected landholders who need advice with evacuation or assistance with emergency care of livestock and companion animals, please call Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 to lodge a request for assistance.
- If you require assistance due to flood or storm emergencies, please call NSW SES on 132 500.
- If you suspect an emergency animal pest, disease, or residue, please contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
- If you need to report an exotic plant pest or disease, please call the Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
- For assistance with non-emergency livestock health issues, please contact your nearest private vet.
We hope you have a joyful, safe and happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to working with you again in 2022.
The North West Local Land Services Team
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