Category: Media Releases

The Hon. David Littleproud MP, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources yesterday announced that Australian farmers in 2019 will have access to a wide range of online climate and weather information to assist with onfarm management decisions.

Media Release

Better weather information, better agricultural results
22 November 2018
• Easy-to-use climate outlook guides being developed for 56 Natural Resource Management regions
• Project funded with $2.7 million from the Coalition Government’s Drought Assistance Package
• Condamine, Mallee, West Gippsland and Riverina are the first Guides under development.
Australian farmers will soon have easy access to crucial climate and weather information thanks to a joint project between the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO.
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said the new weather and climate guides would give valuable information to all 56 Natural Resource Management regions.
“The Bureau has a wealth of information farmers need and this will put it in their hands,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Reliable climate information helps farmers make the best decisions they can to manage risks.
“It will help them better understand temperature and rainfall ranges, frost risk, the onset and length of wet seasons, water storage levels and the likelihood and severity of drought, natural disasters and cold snaps.
“Today Condamine farmers have a chance to tell the Bureau what information is most valuable for them and how to best deliver it.
“This will mean farmers won’t have to rely on guess work to make decisions that affect their livelihoods.
“This is particularly important during a drought like the one we’re currently going through.
“The Bureau will start off trialling the service online and taking feedback from farmers to make sure it hits the mark.
“The service is expected to be up and running early next year.
“These guides are part of the Government’s ongoing and long-term drought response.
“Our drought support covers a range of areas, including immediate financial assistance and building resilience and preparedness in rural and regional communities.”
Les Elphinstone
Manager KCGO read more

Media Release – The Hon. David Littleproud MP Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources

Making smart farming ideas a reality

14 November 2018

• More than $9 million is available under Round two of Smart Farms Small Grants.
• Grants of between $5,000 and $200,000 to assist farmers and groups to adapt to change, innovate and become more sustainable.
• Part of the National Landcare Program’s $134 million Smart Farms Program.

Landholders and community groups can now apply for up to $200,000 under round 2 of Smart Farms Small Grants.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud encouraged Landcare groups, NRM bodies, Indigenous organisations and community groups to throw their hat in the ring.

“The future of Aussie agriculture relies on sustainable farming and land management practices,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Our farmers are looking for new practices and tools to stay sustainable and profitable.

“These grants support new projects to improve Aussie soil, biodiversity and vegetation.

“They will also help support water security and promote climate-smart farming.

“Ultimately, this leads to more profitable agriculture, fishing and forestry industries.

“I know there’s exceptional ideas out there, and these grants can make them a reality.

“The first round of funding was highly competitive, attracting over 800 applications.

“I strongly encourage those who missed out in Round 1 to apply again.”

More information is available online. Visit the Community Grants Hub to apply.

Fast facts:

Smart Farms Small Grants is a competitive grant funding opportunity.

It supports projects to increase farming, forestry and fishing communities’ knowledge and capacity to adopt sustainable agricultural best practice. 

Almost $5 million in funding was awarded to 77 projects under Round 1.

More than $9 million is available for Round 2.

The National Landcare Program’s 2nd phase is investing more than $1 billion over six years to 2023, with $134 million for the Smart Farms Program.

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Media Release – Indian Sugar Subsidies

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Australian Irrigators’ Council – Media Release

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Deadline approaching for sugarcane tissue culture orders

Sugarcane growers and productivity services companies have until 15 November 2018 to place their orders for sugarcane tissue culture, if they are planning to use this technology for planting new crops in spring 2019.

Tissue culture is increasing in popularity due to its potential for managing plant diseases, and for allowing growers to access new varieties more quickly. 2018 was a record year for the technology, with over 76,000 plants ordered from Sugar Research Australia (SRA).

Tissue culture is a technique that grows planting material – in this case sugarcane – in a laboratory and nursery before being transferred to growers or productivity services for planting. These plants are then typically grown in small plots to bulk them out for more widespread commercial planting.

SRA Researcher, Ms Clair Bolton, said that growers and productivity services needed to place their orders by the deadline to allow sufficient time for the material to be prepared ahead of spring planting next year.

“SRA and productivity services encourage growers who are considering tissue culture to talk to their local productivity services organisation for local advice,” Ms Bolton said. “There are also information sheets available on the SRA website, as well as an online calculator that can help you work out how many plantlets you may need.”

Tissue culture has been recognised as an effective way of controlling diseases that are spread through planting material, including ratoon stunting disease, leaf scald, and Fiji leaf gall.

Sugar Services Proserpine Manager, Mr Peter Sutherland, said the Proserpine region had moved toward greater use of tissue culture and one eye sett material as part of a move to make it easy for growers to obtain new varieties quickly and replenish clean source material for their existing varieties.

He said that sourcing clean planting material – such as through tissue culture – was valuable for creating a strong foundation for productivity in the district. read more

Agrifutures Rural Women Awards

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