25, 2025
Agriculture Victoria’s soil research capabilities at its Horsham and Tatura SmartFarms have been boosted with a $1.49-million investment. Research scientist Katherine Dunsford said they were looking to expand understanding across a wider range of soil types and industries, particularly grains and dairy. Story, page 33.
Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Agriculture Victoria’s soil research capabilities at its Horsham and Tatura SmartFarms have been boosted with a $1.49-million investment from the Federal Government’s National Soil Action Plan.
Agriculture Victoria research scientist Katherine Dunsford said the ‘Improving soil structure for resilient ecosystems’ project would fund critical research into increasing drought resilience.
“In Australia soil is the basis for most agriculture, both food and fibre, and directly tied to our food security and economy,” she said.
“This project funding has helped us appoint a dedicated soil physicist to our soil physics laboratory facility at the Tatura SmartFarm.
“The soil physicist will apply their soil science, hydrology and ecosystem knowledge to our project and make the most of the technology and facilities available at the soil physics lab and our SmartFarms.”
Dr Dunsford said poor soil structure limits rainfall capture and root access to water, shrinking the soil’s water bucket.
“It can also lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and reduced fertility, resulting in lower plant production and poor environmental outcomes,” she said.
“Soils can have naturally poor struc-
ture or as a result of management decisions, such as excessive tillage or trampling by cattle in wet conditions.
“Our research focuses on understanding how different soil amelioration strategies such as organic materials and gypsum can improve soil structure and soil function.”
Dr Dunsford said they were looking to expand understanding across a wider range of soil types and industries, particularly grains and dairy.
“The goal is to guide farmers to effective soil improvement strategies to maintain or boost productivity, enhance drought resilience, and increase environmental services in a changing
climate,” she said. The National Soil Action Plan is a five-year plan under the 20-year National Soil Strategy.
The funding aligns to priority actions, which aim to improve Australia’s soil health and long-term security.
The Horsham SmartFarm is focused on improving productivity and biosecurity outcomes for the grains industry through seed-to-landscape innovations and mitigating the impacts of climate change through the adaptation of cropping systems.
The SmartFarm uses and demonstrates innovative, cutting-edge digital technology to increase productivity, profitability and sustainability of grain
growers. It incorporates research facilities at the Horsham Grains Innovation Park, and a 600-hectare research farm that supports a range of research activities including new pulse variety breeding, crop agronomy, soil sciences and nutrient management, crop protection and biosecurity.
People can learn more about NSAP at agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/ farm-food-drought/natural-resources/ soils/national-soil-action-plan.
To learn more about SmartFarms, people can visit agriculture.vic.gov. au/research.agriculture.vic.gov.au.
Agriculture Victoria is hosting a farm business success workshop for farmers at St Arnaud next month.
The Setting Strategies for Farm Business Success workshop, facilitated by Gavin Beever from Cumbre Consulting, will be at St Arnaud Sporting Club from July 23-24.
Mr Beever has more than 35 years of broad, practical experience in agricultural extension and farm management with a focus on creating high-functioning teams who achieve their goals.
Agriculture Victoria grains northern regional manager Rebecca Mitchell said the workshop was suitable for all members of a farm business.
“A key outcome of these workshops is the development of a basic business plan identifying actions and options that will help improve farm business management,” she said.
Participants will learn what is an effective business plan and how to define success; cashflow management and dealing with downturns; managing and understanding human relationships; how to undertake a business fitness check; and identifying success drivers and benchmarking.
Also presenting at the workshops will be Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey on understanding climate risks, leading biosecurity officer plants Jim Moran on farm biosecurity, and Autonomous Ag managing director Brendan Williams on the latest in AgTech. Visitagriculture.vic.gov.au/events for more information and to book.
By the time you read this, the Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins most probably would have visited Victoria’s south-west to meet with farmers trying to deal with the ongoing drought, which is now well into its second year.
In what is becoming an increasingly disturbing trend, the minister won’t give details of where or when.
When pressured if a reporter from Country Today could have any kind of media opportunity while she was in Victoria, the answer was, ‘… for planning purposes the minister is keen to meet with farmers on the ground’.
We took that as a no.
Ms Collins did hold an impromptu media briefing when she was on a dairy farm in South Australia three weeks ago, but all she said was the tour of three farms was about listening to farmers and reporting back to the prime minister.
In an interview on Country Today earlier this month, her first since being appointed as agriculture minister nearly 12 months ago, she was challenged about drought assistance and asked why there were no freight or fodder subsidies, which farmers have been begging for.
“We haven’t ruled anything out in terms of what our government may or may not do in the future, what we want to do is keep having those discussions,” she told Country Today
So, does this mean she would consider freight and-or fodder subsidies?
“Well, that has been ruled out in the National Drought Agreement,” she said.
That agreement dates back to the 1990s, when the system of low or no-interest loans for farm-
Libby Price
ers hit by drought, and freight and fodder subsidies, were dumped for policies, which ‘should be to prioritise drought preparedness, sustainability, resilience and risk management for farming businesses and communities in order to reduce the need and dependency on short-term government programs and assistance’.
In fairness to the government, all farmer organisations agreed at the time and signed the agreement.
The logic was that unviable farmers were being given cheap loans, and that freight and fodder subsidies artificially increased prices.
In stark contrast, Ms Collins was very quick to jump on a plane to see the floods in NSW and also Queensland earlier this year.
In February, she announced $72.7-million for flooded farmers in North Queensland plus $1-million in emergency fodder support. So there is a precedent.
Fodder is being trucked from as far away as Western Australia and Queensland.
Breeding stock is also being sent north to NSW and Queensland. With not a cent in assistance. Maybe, just maybe, the government could have a rethink.
The State Government is celebrating the achievements of Victorian farmers, with primary producers and food manufacturers hitting a 10-year, $20-billion export target six years ahead of schedule.
The government this month released a 2023-24 food and fibre export report showing Victoria was Australia’s top food and fibre exporter, with 27 per cent of the total national export value.
Economic Growth and Jobs Minister Danny Pearson said the result made
Victoria ‘the nation’s premier state for food and fibre’, and achieved a government goal of exporting $20-billion of food and fibre by 2030.
Mr Pearson said Victoria was one of only two states to record growth in food and fibre export value in 2023-24.
“When it comes to food and fibre, we are the reigning premiers – and we have absolutely smashed our export target six years ahead of schedule,” he said.
“Every contract signed by a Victorian business to sell their goods
overseas helps to grow jobs at home, and that’s why we back our exporters so strongly.”
The report showed butter exports surged by 81 per cent, which Mr Pearson labelled a testament to the quality of Victoria’s produce, as well as sustainable farming practices and safety standards.
China remained Victoria’s largest export market, buying nearly $5-billion of Australian food and fibre in the 2023-24 financial year.
Victoria also achieved export growth in other overseas markets, including
Dynamic Ag livestock consultant Steve Cotton spoke about sheep management during dry seasonal conditions at an Agriculture Victoria best practice ewe management workshop earlier this month.
Dr Cotton said producers’ most pressing decision in the current climate was to sell or retain sheep.
“Think through that and do a feed budget, establishing if you sell too many this year, can you afford to buy back in? Producers need to consider how long it would take to breed their way back in,” he said.
“We expect sheep prices might be a bit dearer next year, so that might be a problem.”
Dr Cotton said future sheep prices would need to be compared with what it would cost to feed sheep through the winter until August, when the grass was expected to keep growing.
“It’s thinking about strategies to understand keeping versus selling, and also considering some fundamentals,” he said.
“In this environment, we need to consider if we are lambing at the right time, if we have our stocking rate matched for our rainfall, and if we are matching pasture supply with animal demand.”
The workshop was at Jason Pymer’s Wonwondah property, and gave attendees many points to consider.
“Steve’s a pretty good presenter. He doesn’t
sugarcoat things, he tells you how it is, it gives you food for thought,” Mr Pymer said.
“Now we’ve had a bit of rain, we’ve got a bit of confidence and we’re feeling a bit better about the season.”
Mr Pymer said he had ensured his 2000-head flock would have enough feed for the winter.
“We’ve got plenty of grain and hay on hand as far as feeding goes, but it would be much nicer to have green grassland, hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll get that,” he said.
“Our ewes and the majority of our young sheep are in containment, and they’ll stay there until we’ve got enough green feed for them.
“The ewes have finished lambing, and we’ll keep supplementary feeding them until we don’t have to.”
Alongside workshops and other events, Mr Pymer said BestWool/BestLamb groups welcomed producers, with several groups in the southwest region, including at Horsham, Ararat, Northern Grampians, Apsley and Willaura.
“We get a variety of speakers, and we have a tour going shortly to have a look at some different properties,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a social connection too, we have about 20 members in the Horsham South group.”
People can find more information on BestWool/ BestLamb groups at Agriculture Victoria’s website, and fine dry seasons support at agriculture. vic.gov.au/dryseasons or by calling 136 186.
the United States, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and India.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said in an uncertain global trade environment, the State Government was making efforts to support exporters, with $34.9-million in the 2025-26 State Budget to help small and medium-sized businesses to identify new markets and diversify their customer base.
She said the government had also invested $18.8-million into a Trade and Investment Network, which aims to support Victorian exporters by cre-
ating business opportunities. A government economic growth statement released in December identified agribusiness as a priority sector and trade as a critical driver of economic growth.
It said agriculture production was ‘an integral part of Victoria’s regional economy’, with about three quarters of the industry’s workforce living in regional areas.
People can read the Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance Summary 2023-24 by visiting global.vic. gov.au/victorias-export-performance.
Agrains and oilseed analyst says he’s never seen a time like this year where the outcome of grain prices and the market is so heavily reliant on politics and with so many uncontrollable aspects in play.
Vitor Pistoia, who works for Rabobank, spoke at the Grains Research and Development Association’s Farm Business Update at Horsham Town Hall on Thursday last week about 2025 grains and oilseeds outlook, talking about what is the end game for markets considering tariffs’ impacts.
The conference facilitated the adoption of innovative and leadingedge farm business practices that drive high performing farms.
Other guest speakers included Rose Roche and Martijn Mooij, from CSIRO, who spoke about the Ag2050 Scenarios report – an outlook for productive, resilient and sustainable landscape farming systems; Nuffield Scholar and grain grower Jarrod Ameryon exploring the human side of success in agriculture; and Sally Murfet, from Inspire AG, who made a presentation about creating farm teams that perform well together.
Mr Pistoia said while the wheat market was already set, for barley, it was more about internal demand.
He said the amount of feed-lot demand from northern New South Wales and Queensland, and how long farmers in drought would need to keep buying feed for their animals would affect barley prices.
“On the canola front in this region, of course, canola has been ditched from the program because of the late and tough start, but there are some paddocks out there – and is Europe going to buy canola from us? What about Canada?, ” he said.
Mr Pistoia said the situation with the United States’ tariffs would affect the genetically-modified canola market, while non-GM grain was based on European demand.
“We have the baseline tariffs.
That’s the frozen that we refer to, and they are set to expire on July 9,” he said.
“As I say to everyone, politicians are doing politics – it’s impossible to forecast the end-game, defined in print, that will have a signature at the bottom because that is what matters.
“The deals – whether it’s a free trade agreement between country X, Y, and Z, whether it’s for steel, mineral sands, or wheat and canola – we must wait and see what politicians will come up with.”
Mr Pistoia said farmers he had spoken with were parking drought conditions aside, and focusing on
“We have the baseline tariffs. That’s the frozen that we refer to, and they are set to expire on July 9”
– Vitor Pistoia, right
whether they would get their crops out of the ground.
“Is urea going to disappear from the market – following Israel and Iran – that’s also a question of the moment,” he said.
“Our views are that things potentially will not get that complicated for this crop because the procurement has been done for our season, but for the coming season, well, that’s an open story – anything can happen.
“Crude has increased in recent days. No one knows when this is going to end, so that’s another thing to keep an eye on.
“But basically it’s for the next season, not this one. This one is getting crops out of the ground.
“How are my potential yields? Am I going to break even with wheat at 300 or 330 or 350? What’s the likelihood of getting 300, 330 and 350? Those are more the questions in recent days.”
Mr Pistoia said the current global situation was a crucial moment that would be written into history books.
“The whole structure of how poli-
tics, the global economy, takes place is being reshaped,” he said.
“We don’t know what’s going to be the end game, but it is being reshaped.
“Who would say that after the Russian invasion and everything –that Ukraine would be able to keep exporting and supplying?
“Well, that is also another aspect of the grains, oils and seeds industries that people need to eat, they need to eat bread, pasta, rice, drink beer, and so on, and feed the animals.
“So on that front demand – there is a minimum in the elasticity in the market, and that is what supports, and that’s why we never see grain prices going to zero, but they can be under 300 because of the overall supply and demand, and of course the seasons’ seasonality.”
Agriculture Victoria officials hope a new web tool designed to measure crop density will help farmers improve their yields.
Seasonal risk agronomist Dale Boyd said an early estimation of crop emergence could prove vital amid dry winter conditions currently challenging growers across the state.
He said successful crop establishment depended largely on soil moisture, which had been limited by a lack of rainfall during May.
“Having the planting equipment and good quality seed can really help make the most of what moisture is there,” he said.
“The crop density calculator can be easily downloaded to the home screen of your smartphone, and is part of the soil moisture dashboard, which provides real time moisture profiles across the state.
“The crop density calculator is a simple tool that will assist cropping farmers and-or their agronomists, to make informed decisions on crop-management strategies according to the number of plants they have successfully managed to emerge this season.”
Mr Boyd said the calculator provided instant feedback after entering numbers in required sections such as row spacing and plant counts.
“As phones are carried most of the time, there will be plenty of opportunities to analyse multiple paddocks,” he said.
The crop density calculator can be found online at extensionaus.com.au/soilmoisturemonitoring/estimating-crop-plant-density.
More information on drought and dry seasons, as well as technical decision-making support, is available at www.agriculture.vic. gov.au/dryseasons or by calling 136 186.
Wimmera Bearings stock a huge range of trailer parts, so when building or repairing a trailer, come and see us!
When it comes to insurance, comparing your policy to your neighbour’s is like comparing apples to oranges. While it’s tempting to assume that similar homes, businesses, or vehicles mean similar insurance needs, the truth is far more complex.
Insurance premiums are carefully calculated based on a range of factors unique to each policyholder. For instance, your neighbour might have chosen a higher excess to lower their premium, while you’ve opted for a comprehensive policy to ensure greater peace of mind. Di erences in claims history, security features, or even the materials used in your home can all in uence costs.
en there’s lifestyle to consider. Does your business rely on specialised equipment? Have
you recently renovated your home or installed high-value ttings?
ese details create vastly di erent insurance needs from one household or business to the next.
It’s also essential to think beyond price. A lower premium might look appealing, but it could leave you exposed to nancial risk if your coverage doesn’t match your circumstances. Conversely, paying for features or bene ts that don’t apply to your situation is just wasted money.
is is why working with a quali ed insurance broker is so important. Brokers take the time to understand your individual needs and tailor solutions accordingly. ey’ll ensure you’re not overinsured or underinsured and help you navigate the ne print that can make or break a claim.
“Remember, your neighbour’s policy isn’t yours for a reason. Insurance is deeply personal, just like the lives and assets it’s designed to protect.
By focusing on your unique circumstances, you can ensure that your coverage is as individual as you are - and that’s a neighbourly move worth making.”
BY BRONWYN HASTINGS
Stawell livestock agent Damien Harrington has retired after almost half a century in the field.
Mr Harrington has seen a shift in production across five decades and two states.
Beginning his career with Elders in northeast Victoria in the 1970s, the then-20-year-old sold merchandise and helped sell cattle on sale days.
He moved to Albury in 1978, where the pace quickened with weekly cattle sales in New South Wales, before he was transferred to Hay in 1980.
“That was an eye-opener, leaving beautiful hilly, green country to go to dry, flat country in New South Wales,” Mr Harrington said.
“But I got to like it. I was lucky enough to be there when the livestock industry was fairly big.
“We had sales in the spring of 70,000 and 80,000 yarded sheep, and a lot of those properties up there could have been upwards of 20-odd shearing stands in the sheds, so it was fairly full on.”
Mr Harrington said while there were still some large livestock stations in the area, irrigation cropping had developed.
In 1982, mid-drought, he moved to Wycheproof.
“It was pretty stark then – I think that’s when they had the dust storms in Melbourne – but then in 1983 the
drought broke, and things just exploded.”
Mr Harrington married and moved to Stawell in 1985, where he rounded out his career, ultimately becoming AWN branch manager and livestock agent.
He has maintained his client base through company changes, and has seen slow changes in farming and production.
“Stawell has been a very stable area. Everyone around here does a bit of cropping and the majority of them have livestock,” he said.
“There’s probably more agriculture now, and there has been a transition to prime lambs and meat, away from the traditional wool.
“When I first got here, it was predominantly merinos, but the wool industry started to fade in the last 10 or 11 years, and obviously you’ve got to have an income, and the prime lambs were a good cash income. We used to attend wool sales nearly every week, but I hadn’t been to a wool sale in years.”
Mr Harrington said his retirement
would bring more time with his grandchildren, travel, and time at his Lake Lonsdale property.
“I’ve really enjoyed the area – the clientele has been fantastic, they’ve been a great support to me over the years,” he said.
“We’ve changed companies a couple of times, from Elders, to Rodwells, and now to AWN, and they’ve been very loyal. But, you build trust in your clients, and they stick with you.
“They’re very astute stockmen, and that made life a bit easier.”
Did you know we also do windscreens
Agriculture Victoria is providing a free service to suppliers, transporters and farmers to navigate permit requirements and expedite access to fodder.
Importers looking to bring fodder into Victoria from interstate can go through Agriculture Victoria to apply for a plant biosecurity permit, PBP, to ensure biosecurity risks are properly managed.
Ongoing drought conditions have created serious challenges for Victoria’s livestock industry, particularly a critical shortage of hay and fodder.
Agriculture Victoria chief plant health officer Stephen Dibley said all fodder imports would require a PBP, except for NT and Tasmania.
“Given the ongoing tough conditions across the state, Agriculture Victoria is prioritising permit applications for fodder to make sure essential transport can be fast tracked,” he said.
“Once a PBP is submitted, our team will be in touch to discuss and assess the specifics of the request.”
Costs associated with the inspection of interstate fodder by Agriculture Victoria where it is required, will be waived.
To apply for a plant health permit, people can visit agri culture.vic.gov.au or email market. access@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
Contact Horsham Autoglass today to organise prompt repair or replacement.
The Victorian Farmers Federation is imploring the State Government to strengthen its wild-dog management programs in the Mallee and northern Wimmera as livestock attacks continue to mount.
VFF vice-president Peter Star said non-lethal methods of controlling dingo populations in the region had failed to protect livestock, and urged the government to roll back protections for the animals.
In March last year, the State Government announced it would lift an unprotection order for dingoes in Victoria’s north-west, keeping the order in place across most of the rest of the state.
The order, until it was suspended, had declared dingoes to be unprotected wildlife on all private land, enabling farmers to use lethal methods on the dogs in order to protect livestock.
Across most of eastern Victoria, dingoes are also unprotected on public land within three kilometres of a private land boundary.
In October the government opted to continue protections for dingoes across north-west Victoria, citing biodiversity concerns as studies estimated dingo popu-
lations in the region were ‘critically low’.
The government said it had invested millions of dollars to help farmers adopt non-lethal control methods for the dogs and funded trials on management strategies.
But Mr Star said lifting the unprotection order had resulted in an uptick in livestock attacks.
“What we’re seeing since the unprotection order was lifted is dogs coming on private property in more pack situations, as opposed to when there was the unprotection order, where they were just single dogs that were coming on and the wild dog controllers within the north-west were able to deal with those dogs, and hence keep the problem at bay,” he said.
“I’m talking about roughly eight to 10 dogs a year that were taken out by the wild dog control program, and the number of sheep being predated upon was very minimal.
“What we’ve seen in the last 18 months is that there have been more sheep killed in the northwest during that period than what has been killed in the previous 10 years or more under the wild dog control program.”
Mr Star said non-lethal controls, including electric fencing and guardian animals such as
“They have a right to farm. It is their livelihood. It is their mental wellbeing that is totally under threat”
– Peter Star, right
sheep dogs and donkeys, had so far failed to adequately address the attacks.
“What I would like to see from the government is the ability for landholders to control these wild dogs, dingoes – whatever you want to call them – on their own property, the same as anywhere else in Victoria,” he said.
“They have a right to farm. It is their livelihood. It is their mental wellbeing that is totally under threat.”
Mr Star said the VFF was calling on the government to expand wild-dog control programs, including baiting and trapping, in identified high-risk areas; give livestock producers access to practical control tools, training and other government resources; prioritise co-ordination across agencies, landholders and conservation groups to ensure effective, unified management; and ensure policy changes were science-based, and encourage reporting and evidence collection
so control strategies were datainformed and responsive.
“There just seems to be a lack of appreciation, certainly within the biodiversity section of the Victorian government, concerning all of this,” he said.
“Logical argument has to prevail. It just can’t be at the whim of a few people within the department who are passionate about dingoes, and I think this is what it boils down to.
“There are biodiversity staff within the Victorian government who are very passionate about the preservation of dingoes. In their passion for preserving the dingoes, they’re also sourcing a lot of their scientific stuff from a very narrow field.
“It needs to change. There needs to be an open discussion.”
Energy and climate change experts along with farmers experienced in alternative energy will be guest speakers at the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo in Bendigo on July 23.
The conference, in Victoria for the first time in six years, will bring together farmers, energy experts, researchers, industry leaders and government representatives to explore the practicalities, opportunities and challenges of renewable energy in agriculture.
Dairy farmer Sandra Jefford, who is working on a controlled microgrid and using solar for irrigation for her Gippsland property, and New Zealand farmer Mike Casey, who has been electrifying his farm over the past few years and has the first electric Monarch Tractor in the southern hemisphere, will be among speakers at the conference.
The keynote speaker at this year’s conference is Grattan Institute’s energy and climate change program director Tony Wood, a well-known and influential thinker in renewables and climate change policy.
Sessions will feature a range of topics including electric utes, battery storage, bioenergy, solar pumping, future grid, agrivoltaics, and sharing the benefits when hosting large scale solar and wind farms.
Conference founder and farmer Karin Stark said momentum was building across the sector.
“Farmers are increasingly turning to renewables to tackle the challenge of rising diesel and electricity prices,” she said.
“But there’s still work to be done in making the right technologies available and ensuring regional contractors and services are equipped to deliver.”
Ms Stark said the conference would also explore agriculture’s growing role in decarbonising the electricity grid.
“We’ll be discussing the evolving distribution network and microgrids, and the potential for smaller, distributed solar projects on farms – say five megawatt systems –feeding directly into the local network,” she said.
“There are also emerging opportunities for farmers to be paid for providing energy services as new markets develop.”
An environmental project that protects the habitat of squirrel gliders and fosters connections between people and wildlife will need the support of the region’s landowners to be a success.
Project Platypus launched the Tail of the Squirrel Glider project to a fully booked venue at Pomonal Estate Winery, in front of more than 60 people who gathered to learn how they could help make a positive impact toward saving the threatened squirrel gliders in the area.
Project officer Phoebe NowellUsticke said community support for the project had been amazing.
“We have had so many generous donations since starting our fundraising. Now we have a packed house to hear about the great opportunities to get involved in the project,” she said.
The event was met with excitement and a touch of wild wonder as community members gathered to celebrate the conservation initiative.
Project Platypus board chair Clive Carlyle provided a heartening reminder of how community, science and nature could come together to make a positive impact.
“Project Platypus is extremely fortunate to have such capable staff as well as the commitment from our community,” he said.
Project Platypus manager Mark McLean introduced the project’s development and aims, which include protecting the habitat of squirrel gliders in the region and fostering meaningful connections between people and wildlife.
“This project will rely on the support of local landholders to help find important habitat and protect it for the future,” he said.
Ecology experts Elia Pirtle and Chris
Pocknee, from Biolinks Alliance, presented their insights into the ecology of squirrel gliders, their behaviour, threats to their survival and steps that can be taken to support the gliding marsupials – sparking great interest and conversation among attendees.
“We have a great blueprint for how to save our squirrel gliders, through co-ordinated linking of habitat where gliders are known to live,” Dr Pirtle said.
Ms Nowell-Usticke also spoke about past community engagement activities, which included a recent incursion at Pomonal Primary School.
Students had a unique hands-on experience with squirrel gliders thanks to Black Snake Productions.
Ms Nowell-Usticke also shared plans for future events, volunteer opportunities, and the upcoming plantout scheduled for early August.
“This plantout will be the first official planting for the project and will be a fun and rewarding day out for anyone wanting to get involved,” he said.
The event also featured fun for all ages with the ‘build-a-glider’ station, which had children and adults crafting paper gliders, with prizes awarded for the most aesthetic and furthest glides. A highlight of the day was the appearance of Luna and Jupiter, real-life squirrel gliders that gave a first-hand
look at what the project and community effort is aiming to protect.
All in attendance were thrilled to see the elusive creatures up close, along with a supporting cast of remarkable animals relevant to the lifecycle of a squirrel glider.
More than $1000 was raised to sup-
FIRST-HAND LOOK: Squirrel gliders Luna and Jupiter brought great joy to people at Project Platypus’ launch of the Tail of the Squirrel Glider project at Pomonal Estate Winery.
port the project, which will go towards setting up nest boxes with cameras to monitor the occupants.
People interested in becoming involved in the project can visit the Project Platypus Facebook page or website.
increase.
Experts have reported a mixed bag of trends across Australia’s agricultural sector in the past month, with lamb prices continuing to lift, the dairy industry struggling and grain markets ‘at a critical juncture’.
Bendigo Bank’s most recent monthly agribusiness commodity update provided snapshots of several industries, including beef, sheep, wool, dairy, cropping and horticulture, examining Australia-wide trends in each.
Bendigo Bank agricultural analyst Rod Baker said Australia’s grains industry was at a turning point, particularly in western Victoria, with weather in the coming weeks to play a key role in shaping future price direction.
Mr Baker said ongoing demand for supplementary feed in western Victoria and interstate had pushed barley to trade at a consistent premium to wheat in the ex-farm market.
He said easing wheat prices in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales reflected both improved weather conditions and pressure from falling global benchmarks, which he said had eroded export margins and driven more grain back into the domestic system.
Mr Baker said a lack of competitiveness in global markets had resulted in not only an absence of new export business, but in exporters drawing down old stock rather than buying fresh grain, resulting in more grain remaining available for domestic and capping prices.
There was good news for the sheep industry, with the Australian lamb price record broken three times during the final week of May. The new record currently stands at $431 a head.
Analyst Joe Boyle said lamb markets firmed following supply disruptions and subsequent concerns regarding supply shortages during the typically quieter winter months.
Australia’s heavy lamb indicator rose above $10 per kilogram for the first time in its history and finished May $9.85 per kilogram, marking a 16.2 per cent month-on-month increase and a 30.9 per cent jump above the five-year average.
Mr Boyle said he expected lamb prices to re-
main firm throughout June, slightly lower than the record levels seen during May, but still above the five-year average, with dry conditions across Australia’s south expected to reduce production this season.
Australian cattle prices were also stronger throughout May, with the young cattle indicator for eastern states up 22 per cent from the beginning of the year and the national young cattle indicator up 23 per cent.
With Brazil declared free of foot and mouth disease, Australian farmers are set to face increased competition in export markets such as China, South Korea and Japan.
But analyst Tom Herbert said while Brazil could compete with Australia in cattle supply, it lagged behind Australia in quality.
With strong beef exports to China so far in 2025, Mr Herbert said Australia could be close to triggering a safeguard tariff in July or August.
Meanwhile the dairy industry is struggling in the wake of extreme weather conditions, with about 60 per cent of all dairy farms in Australia estimated to have been affected by either drought or flooding in recent months.
Bendigo Bank senior insights manager James Maxwell said farmgate prices of about $8.80 per kilogram of milk solids had disappointed producers, with current prices likely insufficient to arrest the contraction of Australia’s dairy industry.
He said producers were already facing significant pressure on cash flow from higher input costs, which had been exacerbated by adverse weather.
Mr Maxwell said he expected prices to lift through the season, but current offerings would do little to encourage industry growth, with a forecasted third consecutive annual decline in production of between 8.2 or 8.1 billion litres – three billion litres less than was produced in 2000.
People can view Bendigo Bank’s full commodity updates online at www.bendigobank.com. au/business/industries/agribusiness/agricultureinsights/commodity-updates.
Early-career farmers can apply for scholarships of up to $10,000 to help develop new skills under the latest round of a State Government program.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence has announced the opening of the government’s Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship Program for 2025, which encourages farmers to pursue learning in areas including agronomy, irrigation, land management and conservation, marketing and accounting.
The program offers scholarships of up to $10,000 for farmers aged 18 to 40, including up to $5000 for training and-or study, and another $5000 for successful applicants to apply their newly learned skills on farm through practical investments, such as invest in farm planning, new technologies, professional development, or
equipment that supports innovation and growth.
Ms Spence said since 2015 the program had helped 133 young Victorian farmers.
“The 2025 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship Program is a great opportunity for farmers looking to broaden their skills and resources,” she said.
Young Farmers Advisory Council chair Clay Gowers encouraged young farmers to apply.
“It’s a great opportunity to boost the productivity of your farm business, enhance sustainability on farm and improve your own skills,” he said.
Applications are open to people who have been working in a farm business for at least three days a week for the past three months, with a minimum of two years’ total on-farm experience. To apply, people can visit vic.gov.au/young farmers. Applications close
BY JORDAN BAUER
SPECIAL COUNSEL, HARWOOD ANDREWS
The agriculture industry is notoriously dangerous.
The Victorian work health and safety, WHS, framework places obligations on business and individuals to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
WHS obligations extend to employers, employees, self-employed persons, manufacturers and suppliers of plant, people managing or controlling a workplace and company directors.
At an employer level, there are obligations to provide a safe working environment free of risks to the health and safety of its employees.
Employers must ensure their farming operations do not create a risk to health and safety, including for employees, family members, visitors, customers and volunteers.
There are also additional obligations such as ensuring plant and systems of work are safe, there are adequate facilities and to provide training on safe working methods.
The potential for illness and injury on farms is increased by the use of heavy machinery, livestock, the use of chemicals and environmental hazards.
Additionally, the labour-intensive nature of the agriculture industry creates physical challenges for the individuals performing work.
It is important that employers or the person/s managing or controlling a workplace proactively identify risks and control hazards to mitigate against workplace injuries.
Specific risk mitigation strategies will need to be assessed based on the individual farm or working environment. However, employers are required to eliminate or reduce risks so far as reasonably practicable to comply with WHS legislation.
The hierarchy of control assists employers to meet these obligations by eliminating hazards and risks; reducing risks; implementing administrative controls; and using personal protective equipment.
The reduction of risks may involve implementing a single risk control measure, or a combination of multiple measures.
It is also important to ensure that persons performing work at a farm are informed of safety procedures addressing hazards, emergency procedures, safe use of machinery and any other risks that may have been identified by the employer.
Employers should also be mindful of their reporting obligations to WorkSafe Victoria in the event of certain workplace incidents.
There are also various obligations on employers to not disturb an incident scene until a WorkSafe inspector arrives.
• People needing help with understanding their WHS obligations or risk mitigation tips can contact Harwood Andrews for more information.
HOST: ABC Landline presenter Pip Courtney will emcee the 2025 Australian Women in Agriculture National Conference.
The Australian Women in Agriculture, AWiA, 2025 National Conference will take place in Adelaide in August, with the theme Growing Futures – Breaking Barriers.
The conference, at the Stamford Grand at Glenelg from August 5 to 7, will reflect AWiA’s ongoing commitment to empowering women in agriculture through leadership, innovation, and advocacy.
AWiA acting president Cressida Cains said the 2025 conference would be a landmark event, uniting women from across the country who are passionate about shaping the future of agriculture.
“This conference is an opportunity for women in agriculture to connect, learn, and be in-
spired,” she said. “We’ll explore leadership, communication, advocacy, sustainability, and new technologies to equip women with the tools they need to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in our sector.
“It’s a space to grow skills, share stories, and build a strong network of support.”
The three-day program will include a diverse lineup of speakers, expert panels, interactive workshops, and networking events designed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among women from all areas of the agricultural industry.
ABC Landline presenter Pip Courtney will emcee the event.
“With her deep connection to rural Australia and storytelling expertise, Pip will guide an in-
spiring program of speakers,” Ms Cairns said.
Keynote speakers include rural advocate and leader Georgie Somerset, Australia’s inaugural Special Representative for Australian Agriculture Su McCluskey, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research chief executive Professor Wendy Umberger, CSIRO’s Dr Lilly Lim-Camacho, National Growth Areas Alliance chief executive, National Farmers’ Federation rural affairs general manager Charlotte Wundersitz and Primary Producers SA chief executive Caroline Rhondes. For more information and to secure a ticket, people can visit www.awia.org.au/conference.
The Victorian Farmers Federation has announced Charlie Thomas as its new chief executive after an extensive recruitment process.
VFF president Brett Hosking said he was excited to welcome the wealth of experience and knowledge that Mr Thomas would bring.
Mr Thomas will begin with the VFF on July 7.
“Charlie’s experience and reputation representing farmers and rural Australians over the past 15 years is second to none and we’re incredibly excited for him to hit the ground running,” Mr Hosking said.
“He’s known for his work improving member-based organisations through strategic partnerships, successful advocacy and genuine engagement with key stakeholders.
“With prolonged drought, a looming state election and a number of critical issues facing farmers, having Charlie’s expertise, guidance and contacts will be invaluable in helping to represent the interests of farmers and regional Victorians.”
Mr Thomas said he was eager to get to work on behalf of all VFF members and farmers.
“Many farmers are doing it tough at the moment and my focus will be demonstrating a strong value proposition for members that enables the VFF to continue to drive positive change for
“It’s an honour to be appointed as CEO of the Victorian Farmers Federation, an organisation that has been the respected voice of Victorian farmers since 1979”
– Charlie Thomas, right
Victorian farmers and our regional communities,” he said.
With a state election on the horizon in 2026, Mr Thomas joins the organisation at a key time.
“Our farmers and regional communities deserve to be heard. From day one, I’m looking forward to meeting key stakeholders and the government to help ensure farming communities are a priority and a legitimate focus for decision makers,” Mr Thomas said.
Mr Thomas is the deputy chief executive at the National Farmers’ Federation.
Raised on a farm near Condobolin, New South Wales, his early experiences shaped his deep commitment to advancing the interests of rural communities and Australia’s farm sector.
Over more than 15 years, Mr Thomas has honed his strategic and collaborative approach to political advocacy.
He has earned a reputation for enhancing the impact of member-based organisations through strategic partnerships, successful advocacy, and deep engagement with stakeholders.
Before joining the NFF, Mr Thomas held senior positions in policy and corporate affairs at the Property Council of Australia and the NSW Farmers’ Association – focusing on sustainability, land use, and regulatory reform.
At the NFF, Mr Thomas has spearheaded the sector’s national advocacy strategy and overseen substantial growth in the NFF’s commercial operations.
He has led impactful national campaigns on a wide range of issues, including land use, taxation, and water rights.
Mr Thomas also holds legal qualifications from the University of Sydney and a Master of Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School.
BY NEIL JAMES, AGRICULTURE VICTORIA
With some good rain across Victoria, farmers may be looking to return stock to paddocks following months of containment feeding.
Returning stock too early could result in damage or death of deeprooted perennials such as phalaris, cocksfoot and fescue.
The loss of perennial pasture is primarily caused by over grazing, but when combined with extended dry periods, pasture decline can intensify.
Perennial ryegrass, however, rarely survives prolonged dry periods, regardless of grazing pressure.
Many pastures are already under stress due to the prolonged dry conditions.
Late season rainfall will have triggered some green leaf growth.
However, repeated grazing of these new shoots can deplete the plants’ root reserves, ultimately leading to plant death.
Ideally, livestock should be held in containment until pastures have grown sufficient leaf area to maximise photosynthesis and rebuild their root reserves.
This may take four to six weeks following rain or longer, depending on the starting condition and temperature.
Where stock containment is not possible due to the onset of lambing, or excessively wet conditions, farmers might consider containing
stock in a paddock corner or using part of a laneway to form a small sacrifice paddock.
Keeping the area small minimises paddock damage and reduces energy requirements of stock when compared with searching for feed over larger areas.
Resowing perennial pastures is extremely expensive, often exceeding $200 a hectare, and producers planning to sow new pastures are encouraged to review how those species have performed in environments similar to their own.
The Pasture Trial Network developed and hosted by Meat and Livestock Australia, compiles data from independent trial sites assessing a wide range of pasture varieties.
It can be used to compare the performance, seasonal and total dry matter production, of tested varieties of legumes and grasses. For more information about perennial pastures, people can visit the Agriculture Victoria website: agriculture.vic.gov.au/supportand-resources/newsletters/sheepnotes-newsletter/spring-2018/ getting-the-most-out-of-your-oldperennial-pastures. For more information about drought and dry seasons support, visit agriculture. vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.
• Neil James is Agriculture Victoria livestock and land management extension officer.
