It may come as no surprise to both farmers and hunters that better coordination of on-farm hunting activities is required.

This is one of the preliminary findings of the Australian Hunter and Landowner Survey, currently open to farmers and hunters around the country.

Bestprac has been operating in pastoral WA, SA, NSW and QLD since 1997. During this time it has evolved from structured facilitated groups into a hub of innovation and information for pastoral wool growers. Sadly June 30 2014, marks the end of the Bestprac project as we know it, but all is not lost.

By Sally Ware, Riverina Local Land Services, Hay

Local landholders combined with students from Charles Sturt University and University of Sydney to attend a forum held in the woolshed at Shear Outback recently.

AWI has released a publication called ‘Visual Classing Merino Sheep’. This publication lists the traits important to classing, which characteristics are desirable in the trait and explains the economic importance of each.  

Agrihort Communications
Knowing the quality and quantity of feed in your paddocks and how to ensure stock get the most out of it was the focus of Bestprac’s recent Queensland sheep producers’ information day.

A new age of dynamical modelling for seasonal outlooks has been introduced by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and will provide farmers, who are keen to accurately manage their climate risk, a new valuable tool for informed decision making.

Accelerating Pastoral Zone Innovation Webinar
June 6, 12:30-1:15pm

This webinar will teach you about an innovative way to improve your weaner survival and performance which is critical to increasing profitability. This innovation can provide a method for pastoralists to improve the management of weaners and overall profitability.

by Katie Fisher by Agrihort Communication

Fifth generation sheep and cattle producer, Fiona Warwick, believes she is blessed to be able to work in Australia’s pastoral industry. With that in mind, she is eager to constantly brush-up her leadership skills in order to take a strong and active role within her small local community in South Australia.

Fiona lives with her parents on a 96,000 acre pastoral sheep and cattle property – Holowiliena South Station, 60 kilometres east of Cradock in the Flinders Ranges.

CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation

Sheep breeders pursuing worm ‘resilience’ rather than ‘resistance’ could be placing undue pressure on their sheep during the current dry seasonal conditions.

According to Executive Officer of the WormBoss program, Dr Lewis Kahn, sheep breeders selecting better grown sheep are indirectly selecting for worm ‘resilience’ but this does not improve worm ‘resistance’ because they are separate traits.

CRC FOR SHEEP INDUSTRY INNOVATION
Australian sheep breeders battling with dry seasonal conditions should consider pregnancy scanning to better manage their flock size and increase profit margins.

In times when stock feed is in short supply, pregnancy scanning allows breeders to identify ewes which are not in lamb for culling, as well as provide targeted nutritional support to twin-bearing ewes.

AWI sponsors the annual AWI Nuffield Woolgrower Scholarship, in collaboration with Nuffield Australia. The scholarship is a unique opportunity for a woolgrower to study a particular subject of interest, and increase practical farming knowledge and management skills and techniques in the Australian wool industry.
 

AWI Market Intelligence – March 2014 report
In this month’s newsletter, AWI look into the recovery of Western Europe and comments in relation to Australia-China’s FTA.

A drought assistance package has recently been released to provide help and support for producers in drought declared regions. If you are one of these producers there may be opportunites for you to recieve help.

The Summer Sheep CRC Newsletter is now available and has a lot of interesting information inside!

Sheep CRC Media Release

Sheep producers can look to the future with confidence with news that the industry’s Cooperative Research Centre has secured funding for a further five years.

Sheep CRC Final Conference- Adelaide
This conference will focus on providing practical, take home messages for breeders, producers and companies in the meat and wool supply chains.

LAMBEX 2014 has today released a cutting edge program featuring a star line-up of new speakers, some familiar faces and – in its trademark style – an array of local and global issues that don’t shy away from any of the big ticket items influencing the sheep and lamb industry’s future.

Dr Garry Levot, Menangle

Australian Wool Innovation has funded the NSW Department of Primary Industries to conduct a 2 year survey of Australian sheep blowfly populations to measure their susceptibility to registered flystrike insecticides.

Pastoral producers are looking for savvier ways to make life and work easier, more efficient, and more productive. This year Bestprac and Australian Wool Innovation are profiling innovations from Australian pastoral properties to help you find ways to make beneficial changes to your own business

Katie Fisher, AgriHort Communications
Queensland producer Robert Brown knows only too well how important it is to stay proactive, optimistic and information hungry – even when times are tough and a drought seems never ending.

Dry seasonal conditions need to be planned for, and carefully managed for the sustainability of woolgrowing enterprises, the industry and the environment.
 

What’s on the menu for your Livestock?
Friday 4th April, 2014 8.45-3.30pm
Auditorium Longreach Pastoral College, Longreach

Natasha Morley, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

Labour contributes a significant cost to running a sheepmeat or beef cattle enterprise however there is little data on how much individual tasks contribute to this cost. In new research, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is looking to industry to help quantify this gap to ensure it can appropriately develop options for improving labour productivity and efficiency.

Press release Sheep CRC

Superior genetics for fat in sheep can be looked at as an “insurance policy” to protect against tough environmental conditions when managing pregnant ewes, according to The University of Adelaide researcher, Sam Walkom.

AgriHort Communications

Far west New South Wales has once again been plagued with a short to medium term weather forecast that predicts no rain for at least the next four months. Therefore, pastoralists now must make some serious business decisions, with feed quality predicted to decline and livestock needing to be maintained.

Leading Sheep QLD regularly run webinars on subjects for Pastoral Zone wool producers. These recordings are available by following our links below.

A scholarship for those passionate about agriculture

Agriculture offers the most dynamic and diversified number of career pathways of any industry in Australia.

AWI welcomes responses to this consultation document to be received by Monday 8 March 2014 by post to Mary Foster, GPO Box 4177, Sydney, 2001 or email to mary.foster@wool.com

CSIRO and Department of Agriculture and Food WA

The latest information on research and developments for Breech Strike Resistance has been released in the recent Armidale NSW and Mt Barker WA newsletters.

Sheep CRC have released their Spring Newsletter download it here

Often producers are kept busy doing the day to day farm jobs, that there is little time left to plan for the future. However, Bestprac’s newest Innovation Case Study shows the value of spending time setting clear goals. These should be both long and short term goals, with a determined path for achieving them.

This case study features James and Manny Walker from QLD.

On Thursday October 31, Bestprac coordinated a webinar to discuss the features of the recently released case study, ‘Ewe Turn- Using Genetics to Tackle Flystrike.’ Bestprac has made available the link to watch the webinar as well a full report of the questions and answers.

By Katie Fisher from Agrihort Communications

Meeting the growing trend of a casually-dressed society, the demands of emerging consumer markets in China and the long-time absent market in Russia are the key objectives for wool marketing in Australia this year.

On Sunday the 5/10/2013, Landline featured a story on 'Prickle Factor'.  

The Lifetime Ewe Management course (LTEM) continues to be supported with the latest contract extension from Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

On Thursday November 28, 2013 from 2-6pm, the Rural Financial Councilling Service, ANZ and Bestprac network will be supporting a forum in Broken Hill  to help pastoralists manage the recent dry conditions.

AuctionsPlus Wool is the subject of an upcoming Leading Sheep webinar. Our principal speaker will be Tony Benson the Market Operations Manager for AuctionsPlus and Wool Trade. The webinar is on Thursday 14 November starting at 1pm -2.15pm

DRAS is a scheme set up by the Queensland Government to help primary producers in the grazing industries manage their livestock during and after a drought. Many producers are looking to apply for assistance and there are a number of different packages available:

In this month's edition, we focus on some of our major manufacturing and end user markets, and some of the issues within these markets which we think are relevant to demand along the entire wool production chain.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to feral goats. While the sale of feral goats can provide some additional income to producers, they are estimated to eat roughly the same amount of vegetation as sheep, and their hidden cost should not be underestimated.

By Katie Fisher from AgriHort Communications

Farming can be an isolated business but, with the advent of social media, communication in agriculture has been made easier and more enjoyable. For many producers, social media has rapidly become the preferred communication method. It facilitates connecting with like-minded individuals to discuss and share ideas around personal interests that can eventually grow into conversations.

South Australia will host biennial sheep and lamb conference LambEx 2014 at the Adelaide Showgrounds from July 9-11.

Labour contributes a significant cost to running a sheepmeat or beef cattle enterprise however there is little data on how much individual tasks contribute to this cost. In new research, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is looking to industry to help quantify this gap to ensure it can appropriately develop options for improving labour productivity and efficiency.

AWI's Beyond the Bale September 2013 edition

Young Climate Champion woolgrower James Walker from Queensland has modified his production practices in response to climatic and seasonal variability. James has provided more watering points for his sheep, and harvests grass during times of peak production to capture quality feed while it is available. James is also using dynamic weather forecasting models to help predict rainfall patterns.

A new Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN) is being rolled out in all states and territories to encourage farmers and farming organisations to be prepared for possible exotic disease incursions and the risks to Australia’s multi-billion dollar livestock industry.

Breech and bodystrike can be major issues for pastoral wool growers. Bestprac has released another Innovation Case Study focusing on using objective and subjective genetic tools to remove wrinkle.

The case study features David Thompson and his family from Katanning WA. 

Sheep CRC

The Sheep CRC have released their Winter Newsletter.

Leading Sheep QLD

The Making More from Sheep funded (with the support of Leading Sheep) a series of 4 "Nutritional Management of Merinos for Optimum Reproduction" workshop throughout Qld (Longreach, Cunnamulla, Bollon & St George) in August with a total of 80 participants. 

Leading Sheep QLD
Date Claimer: Blackall (Showgrounds) - 17th September and Longreach (Pastoral College) - 19th September

Rams are purchased on one day of the year but their effect on your flock lasts for many years. Make sure you buy the right genes for production, quality and disease resistance.

Bestprac, Agencies and Businesses join forces for Collerrina farming community
Report by Mark Gardner, Vanguard Business Services

Bestprac and other sponsors brought together a range of government agencies and industry in Collerrina, some 30km NW of Tottenham in NSW, recently to talk to the community about everything from grazing management and native pastures, animal post mortem, animal nutrition and mental health.

CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation

This year come to the Bestprac National Forum to hear John Symons from Turkey Lane speak about his success with ASBVs. John and Jo adopted Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs), and made some small changes to his management technique, to increase wool returns by over 400% over the last 13 years.

Andrew Miller is the Owner Manager of Coniston Station, Quilpie Qld and has been working on the Bestprac Project Advisory Panel over the past year.  Andrew has recently become involved in the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Challenge. 

The three year Southern Livestock Adaption program looked at a range of future climate scenarios and the impact on farm profitability and productivity. Information generated from the program is now available.

by Liz Guerin

The contribution of non-domestic grazing pressure to pastoral areas of western NSW has been reported to increase grazing intensity by at least 50%. So, if you are a good manager and making stocking decisions to conserve feed, this can be a huge issue - both environmentally and financially.

Leading Sheep QLD

With the closure of the Queensland Government Wormbuster Laboratory, there have been many people querying who else provides these services and what to do now.

Australian Wool Innovation Limited

Early trials of two technologies currently used to treat human conditions warrant further research as potential flystrike prevention alternatives according to Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). 

WoolBook is a productivity tool for recording, analysis, presentation and exchange of accurate and relevant information from across the wool industry to enhance the value of Australian wool.

This week’s Wool Market Report  on the latest market information of the Australian Wool Market:

 

Australian Wool Innovation Ltd
Without a substantial and co-ordinated effort, wild dogs may eliminate the sheep industry from entire pastoral zone of Australia within 30-40 years.

The extent of the wild dog expansion across Australia is outlined in a new scientific review by Ben Allen and Peter West from the Invasive Animals CRC published in this month’s Australian Veterinary Journal.

CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation

The new LiceBoss website, is putting the power in producers’ hands to make informed decisions about the best methods for controlling lice in their specific circumstances.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)
How quickly things can turn around! In the last month, we have received 105mm of rain, with even more on our leased property. So, our crops are off to a great start. It’s a real pleasure to see everything go so green so quickly, to see full dams again and watch creeks flow that haven’t done so in years.

By Liz Guerin
In August of this year, the draft National Wild Dog Action Plan will be released for public consultation, after six months of project work initiated by WoolProducers Australia. 

Frontier Services

Outback Links, a program run by Frontier Services, matches up skilled volunteers with families in rural and remote Australia who need a helping hand.

Tony and Julie Smith own and manage ‘Rawnsley Park Station’, a pastoral station located 35 kilometres north of Hawker, on the southern side of Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia.

View full case study here

FundingLINK is one of Australia's most comprehensive searchable catalogue of environmentally focussed grant and funding opportunities available throughout the country. Finding grant and funding opportunities has never been so easy!

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)
To paraphrase a fashion term, patchy is the new black! May had some good rain events across SA, but you had to be under them! For example, at home we got 14mm in the gauge, while 10kms away on our leased block we got 20mm. This block had scored more in a previous rainfall as well, so consequently Ben is sowing some crop there, rather than on our home paddocks.

By Liz Guerin
There is the old adage that ‘where you have live animals, you are going to have dead ones too’.

But the key messages, from the recent Karoonda Veterinary and Animal Health Day, were about keeping it in proportion and using your powers of observation to understand, not only, why you might be losing the odd sheep, but also around knowing and responding to risk.

Media Release from Johnes Disease Program
Farm Biosecurity – the program which provides Australian producers with information on protecting their properties from diseases, pests and weeds – has a brand new website.

The refreshed http://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/ is a one-stop-shop for all information about on-farm biosecurity, including tips and tools such as videos, records and manuals.

CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation

Worms cost Australian sheep producers more in lost productivity than any other animal health problem, a situation made worse with drench resistance now widespread and increasing in severity in all sheep regions.

By Pene Keynes

After a long period of dry, rain on the roof was a welcome sound at the joint Natural Resources Arid Lands and Bestprac forum, ‘Looking beyond the Horizon’ in Hawker on May 31. 

By Sally Ware, NSW DPI, Hay

With nearly 70 final year, agriculture focused, Sydney and Charles Sturt University students in town, the Wool Seminar held at Shear Outback in Hay was always going to be a success.

By Pene Keynes  

Climate is one area that businesses are looking for more information on when making 'on the ground decisions.' Melissa Rebbeck and Susan Carn at the Hawker 'Looking Beyond the Horizon' forum were successful in providing some useful facts and hints on this topic.

By Pene Keynes

At Hawker, presenters and producers alike were positive about the direction and future of the wool industry. It was interesting to learn about what Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and producers can do to help maintain and grow this industry.

By Pene Keynes

Controlling dogs in the pastoral zone is vital for the future of the wool industry in this zone. Currently, a lot of funding and energy is being put into tackling this issue, through the ongoing operations of the ‘Bite Back’ program.

By Pene Keynes

Katherine Vincent, Senior Associate from Johnston Withers has seen the best and worst scenarios for succession in farming businesses and at 'Looking Beyond the Horizon' she was willing to share.

This case study tells how a sequence of events since 2009 has allowed Warren and Barbara to see their station through new eyes. View full case study here.

This case study tells how Brendan and Carmel became involved in Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU)™ and outlines some of the intervention works undertaken to improve land management and production.
View full case study here.

 

By Liz Guerin

Look up in the sky...is it a bird? Is it a plane? No... it may be a drone, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Long used for military purposes, several Australian companies are using drones for real estate and mining purposes and, with equipment costs falling, the possibilities for applications in both agriculture and pastoral industries are vast.

By David Cussons for Farming Ahead Online

Calculating stocking rates and carrying capacity has become a bit easier thanks to a new smartphone application.

By Sally Ware, NSW DPI, Hay

Landholders are invited to join final year university students from Sydney, Charles Sturt and Melbourne for a wool production seminar at the Hay Shear Outback Shearing Shed on Thursday, May 23.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Last week we drove some friends around our whole property. As I’m chiefly an office girl these days, I don’t get out there much, so I got a real shock to see how dry it had become in just a couple of months!

It made me question our decision to lamb down in late Autumn, as we saw a few early lambs, with their mothers, and not a great deal of good stuff to eat. However, the latest outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology, for winter, is for it to be dryer than average. So, if that’s the case it’s a mute point!

Australian Wool Innovation

Applications are now being sought for the next Wild Dog Control program from Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

Stage one achieved control methods across 1.3 million square kilometres of country in every mainland state of Australia through almost 50 wild dog control groups.

If you are passionate about the future of the pastoral wool industry, this is your opportunity to have your say and represent your industry at a national level.

The national Bestprac program currently has a postion available for a South Australian representative within the Project Advisory Panel (PAP).

Weather Watch (April 2013)
by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

My life experience has taught me that there is always someone worse off than myself. This belief was reinforced recently when Ben and I were in south-west Western Australia with the Climate Champion Program.

By Liz Guerin

Telemetry is a technology that allows data measurements to be made from a distance. In the pastoral sector it is used mainly for monitoring and control of stock water including tank monitoring or pump control, monitoring pipelines, mills and bores, and provides a 24/7 watch over watering points.

Whilst not replacing the need for checking troughs and tanks, telemetry can save pastoralists considerable time and money.

From Beyond the Bale

Young woolgrower Dan Korff uses the latest on-farm technology to provide productivity efficiencies on the property he manages, ‘Avington’ in central Victoria. Dan loves the wool industry and is passionate about encouraging the next generation to join it.

From Beyond the Bale

With many rural-based businesses adjusting to greater competition for skilled labour and the continued migration of people to urban centres, a recent study has highlighted the important role that employers play in attracting and retaining staff in the pastoral livestock industries.

Nuffield Australia has just opened its application process for 2014 Scholarships on 1st April and a record 24 Scholarships are available to primary producers from across Australia.

Sheepmeat Council of Australia and WoolProducers Australia

Sheep producers and industry bodies are supporting the broad direction of the new Ovine Johnes Disease (OJD) National Management Plan.

WoolProducers Australia (WPA) and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA) sought feedback from producers and industry on a policy discussion paper released in late January.

Christine Ferguson- 2010 Nuffield Scholar
Pushing goat meat to new levels
Producing rangeland goats in the far north-west of NSW is a tough business, so when Wanaaring pastoralist
Chris Ferguson tells you something was frustrating her; you sit up and take notice.

Meat and Livestock Australia

Researchers suggest populations of feral pigs can triple each year during good seasons if not controlled.

Increasing feral pig populations threaten Australia’s agricultural viability, biosecurity and environment, but a number of control measures have been developed with support from MLA.

Over 130 smartphone Apps have been listed and road-tested in a ‘Smartphone Apps for Farmers’ compendium. The free PDF booklet is available from the SA Ag Excellence Alliance website. Check it out here

By Liz Guerin

Fencing. The never-ending chore, that most farmers love to hate, could potentially become a thing of the past with the development of a prototype ‘virtual’ fence by CSIRO researchers.

The virtual fencing system could replace ‘traditional’ fixed fences, with virtual fences being drawn and moved using a mouse and computer screen, saving producers money in terms of capital and labour.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Last week the Bureau of Meteorology released its Seasonal Outlook for March to May. When I looked at the map I got very excited as my patch has a 65% chance of exceeding median rainfall.

by Kevin Ingram, Pooncarie

Hay Merino Breeders Inc recently hosted the 22nd Peppin Shaw Competition in the Western Riverina; this being the world’s largest commercial flock ewe hogget competition.

We travelled by bus, over the two days, covering close to 1000km on varying road conditions. The unpredictable problems of broken vee belts and a seized air conditioner bearing were capably handled by Purtilll’s Coach Captain, Kevin Gough. 

Sheep CRC

Key findings:
• When ASBVs are used to select rams they consistently deliver a more productive flock
• ASBVs offer benefits to all production systems, whether they are Terminal, Merino or Maternal flocks
• ASBVs provide increased certainty in selecting the right ram for a breeding program

Woolproducers Australia and the Sheepmeet Council of Australia

Submissions commenting on the discussion paper about the National OJD Management Plan are helping to narrow the issues yet to be finalised.

Producer representative bodies WoolProducers Australia (WPA) and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA) are hoping further submissions will be received before the closing date of March 1.

South Australia Sheep Advisory Group

Participation to the industry meeting of the 18 February 2013 was by invitation.

What's Climate Kelpie?

Climate Kelpie is for Australian farmers and their advisors. It connects you to tools and information about climate to help you make decisions about your farm business.

Farmer case studies - Folow this link to read about how farmers are working with the climate.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) discuss animal welfare impacts for target and non-target species and describe control techniques and their application, as well as covering health and safety aspects.

Each week the Market Intelligence and Reporting Team at AWI review the latest market information of the Australia Wool Market. The report provides a week to week tracking of the Australian Wool Market during the season, to give stakeholders a better understanding of weekly wool price movements and factors that may influence or impact upon this movement.

by Liz Guerin
Dogs are said to be ‘man’s best friend’ but with wild dogs costing Queensland alone an estimated $67 million per year in livestock losses, disease spread and control, many pastoralists are looking for a new ‘best friend’ as a solution.

Enter, the guardians! Alpacas, donkeys and maremma dogs are being used with success as the sheeps’ ‘best friend’ (or the friend of any domestic livestock or free range poultry) and can be an effective tool against predators.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Australia spent its birthday weekend living up to its reputation; a sunburnt country with droughts and flooding rains. However, I don’t remember tornadoes being mentioned in the famous poem!

by Angus Whyte

Below are some examples of the type of questions people are asking when they are faced with a shift to a planned grazing system?

The impact of using the Sheep CRC's new DNA test, for identifying carriers of the horn gene in Merinos, is now well defined in a report prepared by Professor Julius van der Werf.

The Western Division Newsletter is produced by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI). It provides landholders living in the western areas of NSW with information relevant to their lifestyle and pastoral enterprises.

Access here to subscribe to this newsletter

On the 19th of December Animal Health Australia ran an interactive web conference (webinar) to present the findings on the latest results of long-term field tests of Pfizer’s Gudair® vaccine against ovine Johne’s disease. This can now be viewed in full by those who could not participate.

Several CSIRO scientists have contributed to a publication marking 100 years of rangeland research in the USA.

A special issue of the journal Rangeland Ecology and Management commemorates the establishment of the Jornada Experimental Range in south-central New Mexico in 1912.
 

By Liz Guerin
The principles of ewe nutrition in the pastoral zone are no different to ewe nutrition in any other area. In fact, considering the differences in feed base, growing season length and, in some instances, poorer feed quality, – they become even more important.

AWI Press Release

Australian woolgrowers have voted to maintain the two per cent levy on wool sales to fund research, development and marketing of the natural fibre.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Last week I attended the POAMA workshop at the Melbourne Bureau of Meteorology. I had been asked to do a short presentation in which I explained how I first got interested in seasonal forecasts, and later began incorporating them into my farm decision making.

CRC FOR SHEEP INDUSTRY INNOVATION

Recording the performance of the Australia’s sheep flocks is to become quicker and easier, following development of a new mob-based walk over weighing system, as a result of an initiative of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC).

The Australian goatmeat industry has experienced strong growth, over the past 20 years, with over 1.5 million goats processed annually. This growth has been largely supported by the sale of goats sourced from the rangelands which accounts for more than 90 percent of production.

Sheep producers now have, at their fingertips, access to localised best practice advice for controlling worms, with the launch today of a revamped WormBoss website.

Worms cost Australian sheep producers more than any other animal health problem and sustainable management is essential for on-farm productivity.

Accurate information about ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) for producers

Vaccinating sheep with Gudair® is a key tool in the fight to control the spread of ovine Johne’s disease (OJD), in Australia, but it is not a silver bullet.

Preventive chemical application is an important part of flystrike management in sheep.
There are many different types of flystrike preventative chemicals on the market, all with different protection periods and chemical withholding periods.

Agriventure is an international program that pairs young people from all over the globe wanting to work in Agriculture and farming businesses requiring staff. Access this site if you want to know more.  

Lifetimewool has a series of ewe and pasture targets that increase productivity and profitability of the Merino sheep enterprise for regions across southern Australia. There are also management guidelines and tools for ewe flocks at all times of the year.

This publication by the NSW Department of Primary Industries reviews the effectiveness of different guardian species available in Australia for livestock producers. 

The Landcare online website has information about the Landcare dedicated to managing environmental issues in local communities.

The Australian Rangeland society is an association of people interested in the management and sustainable use of resources in natural or semi-natural landscapes, such as grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands. This website and society provides a forum for the free exchange of ideas and information regards the rangelands.

The DAFF website gives businesses access to the Department's information, from climate change, to resource management, biosecurity etc.

This website has information regarding Caring for our Country which is one way the Australian Government funds environmental management of our natural resources by supporting communities, farmers and other land managers to protect Australia's natural environment and sustainability.

The Sheep Genetics website gives producers information on ASBVs, Breeding tips and most importantly is the hub for LAMBPLAN, MERINO SELECT, and KIDPLAN. These programs have practical information for meat and wool sheep, and goat producers on the genetic potential of their animals and uses a national database of information.

LiceBoss is a decision support system which can help woolgrowers control lice more effectively, minimise pesticide residues and reduce the cost of lice control.

The Nuffield Australia Farming Scholars’ website gives you access to blogs and reports from past scholars, current scholars and australian news and information on how to apply for your own scholarship.

Feral animal management in Australia has information on how best to manage this presence to reduce agricultural and environmental impacts of feral animals in australia.
 

The Invasive Animals CRC contains information from the largest integrated invasive animal research program in Australia.

The invasive animal CRC creates new technologies and integrated strategies to reduce the impact of invasive animals on Australia's economy, environment, and people.

Wild Dogs Fact Sheet from the QLD Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Contains information on the management of Wild Dogs

Wild Dog Control, QLD Department of Agriculture website

This website contains information and a number of links to other valuable websites on this topic including management strategies.

The Shearing Contractors' Association of Australia is a national industry association, representing the interests of Australian shearing contractors. The website offers membership, and information on news and events, wool harvesting jobs, shearing supplies, finding contractors, and work cover links.

The Australian Governments, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Climate Change Website includes all of the relevant information on what you need to know about the topic.

The shearing world website contains information including available jobs, contractors, industry employers, competitions and a posting of current records.

The Carbon Farming Initiative website has all the information for farmers looking to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse emissions on the land.

by Liz Guerin

Murphy’s Golden Rule states that whoever has the gold makes the rules. It was a rule that, in the 1980’s and early 90’s, many banks followed with their agricultural clients and this has resulted in many producers harbouring feelings of dread and distrust when faced with the prospect of dealing with banks (and bank managers).

Report on Australian Rangelands Conference at Kununurra, Western Australia September 23-27, 2012
Kevin Ingram

This was a truly applicable theme for the 17th Biennial Australian Rangelands Society Conference held at the Kununurra Leisure Centre, Western Australia. I saw the range of landscape diversity from the East Kimberley Ranges, involving the Durack Family “Kings in Grass Castles” history, to the wildlife activity of the scenic waterways of Lake Argyle and the Ord River. Business diversity was evident in agriculture, horticulture, tourism and mining developments. From indigenous culture and art to future beef production programs, I had a truly extraordinary experience.

By Angus Whyte

I flew into Darwin very early on Saturday (22nd) morning, spent a few hours going around the Parap markets and getting some supplies for the trip to Kununurra (850km). I had to wait as Annabel Walsh and Becky Kossler flew in to Darwin at 2pm, then we all drove to Katherine, then on to Kununurra on Sunday, arriving in Kununurra at about 3pm local time (to register), after some detours and sightseeing on the drive from Katherine (another story!).

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Australia has the most variable climate of all agricultural producing countries; but last month that variation was ridiculous! On the 11th October we had snow around the Quorn district and the highest the temperature got that day was 14 degrees. Just 4 days later the temperature reached 35!

This month, we shall provide some context for the current wool prices in Australia, and summarise relevant trade and financial news.

WoolProducers Australia and Sheepmeat Council of Australia

The National Ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) Management Committee has re-confirmed its intention to adhere to 1 January 2013 as the implementation date for the revised OJD management plan.

Fumigation is a valuable tool in successful rabbit management programs. It is an effective follow-up technique to poison baiting and warren ripping, and is a particularly useful control method in areas where other techniques cannot be used (eg poison baiting). Fumigation works by replacing the air in warrens with lethal gasses, which are in-turn inhaled by rabbits, causing them to suffocate and die.

Paper submitted at the Rangelands Conference 2012

By Angus Whyte, Landholder Wyndham Station Wentworth NSW and Peter Jessop Rangeland Scientist DPI Dareton NSW

A bit of background and explanation of where we live, Wyndham is a 12,500ha property on the Anabranch River in Western NSW about 200km south of Broken Hill; we graze sheep and cattle as well as from time to time opportunistically crop some of our floodplain country. I’m a fourth generation landholder in the area, my parents live on another property about 20km away and we help them with the running of their property when required.

For all wool producers, shearing sheds are an important tool of the trade. Bestprac has spent the last month researching different shearing shed redevelopments to provide tips and learning’s to the Bestprac network.

The latest innovation case study, Making sheds a ‘shear delight’, includes two videos and two written reviews, providing different perspectives.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

A spider has taken up residence in my rain gauge! Its thick web completely covers the top. However, I haven’t needed to evict it as we’ve had no rain for six weeks, and there’s nothing much in sight.

By Pene Keynes
The Burra AWI Wool Clip coordinated by Bestprac on 27th of September was a great success with over 50 wool producers and industry members in attendance. The guest presenters were received well by producers and provided very valuable information on subject matters ranging from production, animal husbandry and health and pasture management, to information on wool marketing trends and forecasts for new and emerging markets.

By Sally Ware
Livestock Officer
NSW DPI Hay

Once known as “prem” wools and seen as a sign of a “last resort” management tool such as shearing early to control lice or flies, short wools are becoming “new age”. Mark Bazeley, principal owner of the wool broking business “Riverina Wool” which has been based in Moama in southern NSW for the past 30 years has been watching the change in demand from wool processors for these type of wools for a number of years.

By Liz Guerin
Training the next generation of agricultural scientists to service the shortfall in sheep industry needs and accelerate the delivery of innovation has been the objective of the CRC postgraduate program. With 70 students already moving through the program and completing Masters and PhD qualifications, the future of the sheep industry is looking bright.

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Early in 2011 a sample of blowfly larvae collected from struck ewe lambs on a Nimmitabel property were submitted to NSW DPI (Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute) as a possible cyromazine1 breakdown. Wether lambs on the same property that had been treated with dicyclanil2 were not affected. The property had a long history of cyromazine and dicyclanil use but it was deduced that the ewe lambs had been under-dosed with a cyromazine spray-on product.

Dr Mark Ferguson

It is a beautiful thing when science and stockmanship find some common ground. Such is the case for the recent realisation of the value of increasing the genetic fat and muscle in Merino ewes. In what could be described as parallel universes, two dedicated sheep teams made exactly the same discovery: The more genetic fat and muscle a Merino ewe has the better she handles the climatic extremes, that is, the more bullet proof she is.

Mick Alexander

Pre 1990, our farming systems included a program of ploughing, scarifying and cultivating multiple times before planting a crop. This methodology had its drawback including loss of carbon, often serious erosion and loss of topsoil during high rainfall events.

Mick Alexander

The most recent long-term study in Texas, USA, has verified the importance of rotational grazing for improving ecosystem health. Texas AgriLife Research scientists agree that multi-paddock grazing improves vegetation, soil health and animal production relative to continuous grazing in large-scale ranches. “The study measured the impacts on vegetation and soils achieved by commercial ranchers, who adapted management practices in response to changing circumstances to achieve desirable outcomes”, said Dr. Richard Teague, AgriLife Research rangeland ecology scientist.

by Liz Guerin 

In Central Queensland, low lambing percentages have been the ‘norm’ in recent years. However, Longreach pastoralist, Pat Hegarty is bucking this trend, averaging 106% last season, and says his success is due largely to their sheep feeding and supplementation program. 

Andrew Miller, Bestprac PAP, member attended the AWI 2012 Flystrike R&D Technical Update on behalf of Bestprac.

The update was held in Sydney at the National Australian Maritime Museum. A number of speakers such as Daniel Brown, Johan Greef and John Larsen spoke about recent developments and research into fly strike. A few key points for pastoral producers are listed below. 

Research and development continues to explore ways to best protect the Australian sheep flock from breech strike.

At the latest AWI Breech Strike Research and Development Technical Update, overviews of recent field trials were presented across various projects.

Nicole Sallur, Extension Officer, Agri-Science Queensland, DAFF

“I look after my pastures, the pastures look after my stock and my stock look after me!”

Andrew Graham, Productive Nutrition.

Wind and water erosion are major factors that contribute to the loss of soil in the South Australia Murray Darling Basin (SA MDB) rangelands, particularly where ground cover has been eroded from drought or overgrazing. It is said that soil loss, through the degraded areas of the SA MDB rangelands, is between 330,000-440,000 tonnes per annum (Lewis 2009). The total value of this soil loss is estimated to be in excess of $600,000 per annum.

By Allie Jones
Graduate Officer – Sheep and Wool
Orange Agricultural Institute, NSW DPI

Over 50 people travelled to John Vagg’s property, ‘Orana’ Station, 33 km north-west of Ivanhoe, in early August to participate in a goat information day organised by NSW DPI and supported by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

The Sheep CRC can provide the following training courses and workshops:

by Liz Guerin

It has been a busy and challenging twelve months for young Windorah pastoralist, Andrew Miller and his family. Having both worked on and managed many properties during the last 12 years, when the opportunity to lease 29 000 hectare Coniston station came up, the Millers’ jumped at the chance. 

Sheep CRC Press release

Advances in electronic identification (EID) systems are making precision management of sheep even more simple and affordable.

Nathan Scott, consultant with Mike Stevens & Associates based in Victoria, said producers don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve the benefits of EID for their sheep operation.

Session notes from the Blackall and Stanthorpe AWI Wool Clip events.

Profitability of a Merino Sheep Enterprise - Doing the numbers and understanding the levers.

AWI Press Release

The Board of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is recommending a change from the current 50:50 Marketing versus Research & Development investment split to a 60:40 ratio for the 2013/14 to 2015/16 strategic period.

Goondiwindi vet Dr Mike Rival sees many Merino wool producers fail to maximise the number of lambs on the ground through a lack of attention to ewe selection and nutrition.

The old adage of breeders to breed ‘one good lamb’ is faulty, Dr Rival says.
Download Case Study

Rural Directions Pty Ltd presentation from the AWI Wool Clip events at Blackall and Stanthorpe.

Profitability of a Merino Sheep Enterprise - Doing the numbers and understanding the levers. Download Presentation.
 

The next generation of leaders within the wool industry has completed the 2012 Breeding Leadership Course, AWI’s professional development course for young woolgrowers.

Australia’s Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD) Management Plan finishes at the end of this year. An extensive review of the plan has been undertaken which identified improvements to assist producers to control and prevent OJD.

South Australian pastoral zone sheep producers are improving their flystrike management practices following a series of industry workshops held over the last six months.

by Liz Guerin

For Luke and Sonja O’Connor, of Floods Creek and Mount Poole Stations, their decision to pregnancy scan their merino flock yearly has increased their profitability and given them opportunities to make more informed decisions.

By Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Dear Woolgrowers and Industry Stakeholders,

I wanted to write to you to confirm Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is committed to meaningful and relevant genetic and genomic research. However to gain investment, projects must show a feasible plan for industry uptake.

FAST FACTS

• Green pastures mean that worms will be active, but early diagnosis using worm egg counts and effective drenches (passing resistance tests) should reduce impacts on growth rates, wool cuts and staple strength.
• Whilst resistance is the inevitable outcome of using worm drenches, strategies can slow its development.
• Tools such as the Making More From Sheep manual and WormBoss can help woolgrowers manage worms and other sheep parasites for maximum profitability.

by Liz Guerin
Being able to communicate is a vital part of society and now Australian researchers from Flinders University, Adelaide, are working to ensure everyone has access to telecommunications.

By Jane Garrett

The WA Group ran it’s Climate Change Workshop at Hamelin Station on 18th and 19th May with session leader David Galloway from Ferart Design & Northwest Carbon.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

This month I’ll mention some weather information available from a variety of sources: the internet, mobile phones, television and even a higher power!

By Greg Curran
Veterinary Officer and Technical Specialist
NSW DPI Broken Hill

Flock scanning in the far north-west by Cousins Merino Services has shown, for the first time, that high daytime temperatures during joining combined with high ewe body temperatures reduces fertility. 

Why do we need a National OJD Management Plan?
Ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) is a silent but costly disease. Sheep may look healthy but shed high numbers of bacteria and spread the infection before the disease becomes apparent.

The PestSmart YouTube channel contains clips of practical instructions on a range of pest animal control methods, new products and monitoring techniques.

The PestSmart Toolkit provides comprehensive management information packages on several key vertebrate pest species in Australia including rabbits, wild dogs, foxes, feral pigs, feral cats, carp, and tilapia. More information: Invasive Animal CRC

Pigs arrived in Australia with the First Fleet and today feral populations inhabit around 40% of Australia. Feral pigs cause agricultural damage through predation of newborn lambs, reduction in crop yields, damage to fences and water sources, and competition with stock for feed by consuming or damaging pasture. They also are considered a major threat to stock as a potential carrier of exotic diseases.

By Susan Carn

In mid April I went to the Adelaide Bureau of Meteorology Climate Forum, thanks to an invite from Darren Ray (Senior Meteorologist/Climatologist). It was attended by representatives from government and industry, for example SA Water, PIRSA, CFS, Windfarms etc.

By Allie Jones, Livestock Extension Officer and Charlotte Cavanagh, Veterinary Officer, NSW DPI (Bourke)

Staff from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) received numerous reports of low conception and lamb marking rates during 2011. The reports came from producers who had expected good results, given the good seasonal conditions, and were having trouble explaining and understanding the poor results. Similar reports were received from a number of regions across a large part of NSW.

• The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee has slightly reduced its forecast for 2011/12 to 345mkg, the same level as in 2010/11 and down by 1.4% from the December 2011 forecast.
• While sheep numbers have risen, the expected improvements in fleece weight have not materialised in all regions.
• Seasonal conditions continue to be good in many areas and grower confidence remains strong, with recent producer survey results showing a continued intent to increase sheep numbers.
• The Committee’s first projection for 2012/13 has been set at 350 mkg, driven largely by an expected increase in opening sheep numbers and in the number of sheep to be shorn.

There is rarely a linear path to create an idea or business. Every decision you make, every action you take in your business, has a flow on effect. The circumstance, the market, the business changes with each decision made.

http://anthillonline.com/

This case study focuses on Andrew Dufty, a successful and motivated farmer from western Victoria. Andrew has a message and focus that can be applied to any business; including rangeland businesses.

by Liz Guerin

Keeping up to date with the latest information or innovations has always been a responsibility of producers. However in pastoral areas, this becomes an additional challenge for producers when the tyranny of distance is considered.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Last month I was fortunate enough to attend the National Press Club lunch in Canberra to celebrate the Climate Champion Program. I am one of 34 farmers from different regions and enterprises across Australia who are working with scientists to bring climate research to the paddock, and we let researchers know what climate tools and information farmers need.

Australian Story Link
EMU™ is a trademarked, not-for-profit process that builds on existing local land managers knowledge of the land and its management.

Developed by Sheep CRC - A series of recordings from live webinars with an audience of sheep producers interested in introducing Precision Sheep Management to their enterprises, are now available for download.  Click here to view.

These free, one-day workshops are supported by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a part of a national program to increase sheep industry productivity.

This short course is designed for sheep breeders to increase their understanding of the technology, data collection and analysis. Participants will develop the skills and confidence to effectively implement eID within their enterprise. More Information

Flystrike and Lice Management workshops will be held at locations around Australia and will provide information for sheep producers on an integrated approach to managing breech strike and body strike. More information

By Liz Guerin
Flystrike costs the sheep industry around $280 million per year in the form of lost productivity, mortality and costs of control. Recent high rainfall and warm conditions across Australia have meant optimal fly conditions and whilst productivity loss has been the result for many sheep producers, there have also been flocks that have ‘survived’ these wet seasons with very low levels of strike.

by Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

Gosh it’s autumn already! Summer was cooler and a bit wetter than usual here, which was a nice change. This can be attributed to the current La Niña. During La Niña phases, temperatures tend to be below normal, particularly over northern and eastern parts of Australia. The cooling is relatively strongest during the October to March period.

You can now go online www.feralscan.org.au to map where wild dogs, feral goats and starlings occur anywhere across Australia, to record sightings, damage and control activities to help manage these pests.

Yes.

Will pastoral sheep producers benefit from participation in a LTEM group? Again yes.

AW Howard Memorial Study Awards for Australian Grazing or Rangeland Extension Consultants, Advisers and Agribusiness Specialists; and Australian Graziers or Rangelands Pastoralists.

FarmDay is when a farm family hosts a city family for a day of real hands-on experiences and a greater understanding of the day-to-day life of the farming family  >> www.farmday.com.au
 

Improve your businesses safety systems and procedures to improve your productivity >> www.farmsafe.org.au

NASA's eye on the earth >> http://climate.nasa.gov/

A one-stop information package delivering the essential processes for a successful beef business.
>> www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/extension-and-training/more-beef-from-pastures

Changes to all OH&S Acts that will affect all employers and employees from January 2012 >> www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Submitted from a Bestprac member

Applications for the 2013 round of Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships will open on the 1st April 2012.

What should I be monitoring?

By Liz Guerin
EMU™ numbers are taking off in the arid lands of South Australia – and according to Coober Pedy based NRM officer, Janet Walton, this is a good thing!

We are of course referring to the number of pastoral properties participating in the Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU)™ project, and not the long legged, feathered variety.

By Mark Gardner

On the 13th December some 32 producers and industry people gathered to look at and discuss new water monitoring technology and to see some in action on Mike and Meg Bennett’s property “Kirkton” Narromine, some 45 km west of Dubbo, on the banks of the Macquarie River.

The day show cased some of the latest technology related to water monitoring.

By Susan Carn

This year had an exciting start for the Carn’s - the wrong kind of excitement – a Bushfire!

It was located between our home, just south of Quorn, and Wilmington. Although it didn’t ever get closer than about 10kms, it was still rather frightening for me. Ben was off fighting it for most of two days, leaving me with nothing to do but make a “leaving plan” and track the fire and weather on the internet.

The Climate Smart Agriculture Team have released the NSW version of the Climate Dogs.

Sheepmeat Council of Australia and WoolProducers Australia will continue a national program for the control and prevention of Ovine Johne’s Disease after June 2012.

The fact sheets on how the beef and pastoral industries can improve staff attraction and retention strategies is based on the findings of Final Report B.NBP.0370 Attracting and retaining staff in Australia’s beef, sheep and pastoral wool industries.

by Liz Guerin
Close to ten years ago, Steve Cresswell and family changed from merinos to white dorpers in order to take advantage of lower production costs and ease of management.

A Sheep CRC research trial is underway to establish the fit of ‘Mob-based Walk Over Weighing’ technology

By Liz Guerin
Blackall and Benlidi Bestprac Group look at Electronic sheep management technology.

During 2009 and 2010 Bestprac has been delivering a FarmReady Industry Grant Project; “Implementing new practices to manage climate change variability in the Australian Pastoral Zone”.

Record recent rains through inland Queensland, NSW and Victoria - and the forecast for more rain over summer - has the sheep industry on a flystrike watch.
 

Designed to equip land managers with the knowledge to be self-reliant in livestock and property protection against wild dogs, foxes and other predators >> Guardian Dog Manual

 

By Lloyd Dunlop, Lamb Consultant, Goondiwindi
 

Sheep CRC

ABARE Report: "Farm Innovation in the broadacre and dairy industries 2006 - 07 and 2007 - 08"
Report available on ABARE website

Australian Pastoral Property Innovation Manual - order now

Implementing new practices to manage climate change variability in the Australian pastoral zone

Eligible participants are able to claim up to $1500 per financial year to attend FarmReady-registered courses >>  www.farmready.gov.au

By Liz Guerin
Passionate about sustainability, Ben is the Production and Environmental Manager of his family’s 513 000 hectare

Sheep CRC News Release
Sheep producers are on to a winner with the innovative Lifetime Ewe Management program.
 

Arthur LeFeuvre, WormBoss
 

Go to www.wormboss.com.au and subscribe to the monthly worm news. It’s free and keeps you updated on worm activity in your part of the world

Making More from Sheep Forums

By Liz Guerin 
In a semi arid area where options for increasing wool clip profitability through means such as reducing micron are limited, strategies which improve wool marketing are vital

By Jane Garrett, Gascoyne Bestprac Group Facilitator
Road Trip, May 2010

The Invasive Animal Cooperative Research Centre: Australia’s largest integrated invasive animal research program.

This website and database contains information on vertebrate pest animal species in Australia and New Zealand. Browse the site for general information or use the search function for more specific results. >> www.feral.org.au

Help map the feral animal sightings in your area >> www.feralscan.org.au

New strategy for flystrike control - Progress to date
Source: AWI (18 April 2011)

By Liz Guerin
If a nagging idea of how to do things better has kept you up at night, or if you’ve woken at 2am with a brilliant solution to a problem, then you are not alone.

Central Queensland graziers Graeme and Susan McDonald are demonstrating best-practice grazing management (Grazing BMP) on their property “Albeni”
By Mick Alexander

By Geoff Duddy, Livestock Officer (Sheep & Wool), Industry & Investment NSW
It is estimated that around 32% of the national ewe flock are scanned annually with an increasing number of producers now identifying litter size.

“We’ve found that the city families who have participated in FarmDay are now our greatest advocates in metropolitan areas and are educating their friends and family on the importance of supporting Australia’s farmers.

By Liz Guerin
For most producers, knowing that they are looking after their land well is it’s own reward.

By Sally Ware, Livestock Officer (Sheep and Wool), I & I NSW, Hay

Provided by AWI
Local woolgrower groups are taking action to protect their sheep flocks against wild dogs.
 

A step into the world of high-tech livestock identification and weighing is opening up a realm of new opportunities to drive sheep production for NSW Central West farmers, Ray and Belinda Haigh.
Provided by Sheep CRC

AWI has released a new publication to help producers tackle breech flystrike. The 'Managing Breech Flystrike' Publication is designed to help producers reduce their flock’s flystrike risk and develop an effective flystrike control plan.

Sheep Genetics is the national genetic information and evaluation service for the meat and wool sectors of the sheep industry delivered as LAMBPLAN and MERINOSELECT. >> www.sheepgenetics.org.au

AWI and MLA have joined forces to develop Making More From Sheep, a best practice package of information, tools and learning opportunities for Australian sheep producers. >> www.makingmorefromsheep.com.au

By Liz Guerin
Regardless of the type of livestock enterprise you are involved in, achieving production and performance should be one of your main objectives. Whether it’s bales of wool, lambs weaned, live weight of animals – it is the interaction between the genetics and environment that adds up to performance and that’s what makes you money.

Excellent resource for all the calculations you do in your business such as working out the volume of fuel tanks.
http://www.handymath.com/

by Liz Guerin

Anyone who works on the land will tell you that they are at the mercy of climate.

Developed by Grain Growers Limited’s Commercial Services Division, and “It provides rural landholders and other industry stakeholders with information about Australia’s climatic history, current season conditions and long term climate prospects”.

Press Release - AWI

By Wendy Davidson
Leonard Cohen from Canopy addressed the Flinders Merino Bestprac group, in September 2011, to discuss Carbon Farming. Leonard spoke extensively about the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) being administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Efficiency.

by Liz Guerin

http://node3.au.trclient.com/4562/online/18210328-169.html

It’s time for ram breeders and sheep producers to reap the benefits of electronic identification (eID) by registering for a new training course aimed at integrating the technology into existing farm management strategies

Livestock Health and Pest Authorities deliver the frontline livestock health service in NSW. http://www.lhpa.org.au/

By Allie Jones, Livestock Extension Officer (Sheep and Wool)
NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services
 

With the Federal Government’s carbon legislation now passed, many wool growers may be wondering what impact the Carbon Tax will have on their existing operations, or how they can take part in a carbon economy.

More information, including dates and locations of PestSmart Roadshows can be found at www.feral.org.au/pestsmart.

By Liz Guerin
Over the last seven years the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) has developed more than twelve new species-targeted, humane and environmentally friendly tools for the management of invasive animal species such as wild dogs, foxes, cats and rabbits...

Unbeknown to the wild dogs, pigs, cats and foxes of the Nebine catchment, Candid Camera of a different sort has arrived in the area with the recent delivery of remote monitoring equipment to the Lower Nebine Bestprac Group.

For producers living south of the Dog Fence in the sheep pastoral zone of the SA Arid Lands region, wild dogs have become an increasing problem.

Susan and Ben Carn run a 10,000 hectare property just out of Quorn in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.

Sally Ware, Livestock Officer, NSW DPI, Hay
 

By John Squires
Doug and Wendy Avery of Bonavaree Farm Co Ltd in Marlborough, New Zealand, visited Australia in August to present information at the National Bestprac Forum which was held in Hawker.

The Sheep CRC, includes all of Australia's leading sheep industry organizations in a program aimed at transforming wool, meat and the sheep that produce them. >> Go to Sheep CRC website

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is a producer-owned company, working in partnership with industry and government to achieve a profitable and sustainable red meat and livestock industry in Australia. >> go to  MLA website
 

Australian Wool Innovation is a not-for-profit company owned by over 29,000 Australian woolgrowers. AWI invests in research, development, innovation and marketing along the global supply chain for Australian wool. >> go to AWI website

Bestprac has received funding through the FarmReady program to undertake the project

.

>> go to Australian Farm Institute Research Reports

MLA has made it easy for sheep producers to access a range of resources on the impact of climate change on Australian livestock industries including tips on adapting to these impacts. >> go to MLA Climate Change Resource Centre website

The Ag Forum is a chat room for discussion of current issues in Australian and international agriculture policy. Join the conversation today!
>> go to Australian Farm Institute BLOG

The department is responsible for implementing the Australian Government's policies to protect our environment and heritage, and to promote a sustainable way of life.
>> Go to the DSEWPC website

OzClim enables you to generate and explore Australian climate scenarios. You can choose from a selection of most requested scenarios or create your own scenario.

Knowledge for managing Australian Landscapes 1990 - 2009

Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry

Participative Action Research, or PAR as it is known, is a process by which producers have significant inputs into defining research needs, designing and executing the trial projects. While common in “inside country”, it is not as common in the Rangelands.

Coping with a variable climate: Making the most from every drop of rainfall
Eric, Wendy, Luke and Karissa Harvey, Dubbo, in Central West NSW
Prepared by Mark Gardner (Vanguard Business Services) with Eric Harvey

The Use Of Old Man Saltbush In Assisting With A Changing Climate And Noting The Production Consequences
Glenroy Estate, Via Carrieton, South Australia
Prepared by John Parnell with Wendy Davidson (Wendy Davidson Enterprises)

Think Tank: Ensuring Sustainability and Embracing Change in the SA Rangelands
Prepared by Chelsea March (Rural Directions Pty Ltd)

The Forum was a unique group of primary industry and planning groups formed in 2007 to help south-west Victoria’s primary producers adapt and prepare for changes in climate and climate variability.

Impacts and adaptation options for South Australian primary producers
Elliot Dwyer – Primary Industries and Resources SA
Elizabeth Gunner and Karen Shepherd – Rural Solutions SA

Presentation by Tom Wiley at the Climate Forum WA 2010

Helen Scott, Founder CO2 Algae
Presentation at Climate Forum WA, May 2010

Mark Alchin, Industry Development – Pastoral, Department of Agriculture and Food
Presentation at the Climate Forum, WA, May 2010

Climate Change and the Pastoral Industry in the Murchison - A Case Study
Peter Nash, Senior Consultant, Coastal Zone Management Pty Ltd
presented at Climate Change Forum WA, May 2010

Future price fundamentals for Australian wool
Presentation by Dr Paul Swan at the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation by Richard Apps at the Bestprac National Forum 2012

Sheep Genetics Update
Presentation by Luke Stephens MERINOSELECT at the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation by Brendan and Carmel Reynolds at the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation By Jamie McTaggart at the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation by Ben Forsyth at the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation by Janet Walton at the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation by John Squires at Bestprac National Forum 2011

Michelle Cousin's presentation to the Bestprac National Forum  2011

Lu Hogans presentation to the Bestprac National Forum 2011

Presentation by Susan Carn to the Bestprac National Forum, August 2011

Forum Presentations available to review

“Wootoona” Near Quorn in the Upper North of South Australia
Prepared by John Squires (Rural Directions Pty Ltd) with Ben and Susan Carn

Bokhara Plains, 35km North of Brewarrina, NSW
Prepared by Sally Ware (NSW Department of Industry & Investment) with Graham and Cathy Finlayson

“Kallara”, Darling River flood plain at Tilpa, Western NSW
Prepared by Sally Ware (NSW Department of Industry & Investment) with Justin and Julie McClure

These guidelines have been formed as a result of the Envirofund/PIRD funded project ‘improving hardy sheep containment in the rangelands’. They are to be used as guidelines only for Best Practice Management.

By Susan Carn (Hawker/Blinman Bestprac Group)

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

By Sally Ware
Livestock Officer Sheep & Wool
Department of Primary Industries – Hay
Phone: 02 6993 1608

Eight out of ten shearers could make more money just by giving their handpiece, combs and cutters a little more attention.

by Susan Carn

Invasive Animal CRC launches PestSmart toolkits.

After some strong results and positive experiences with pen weaning, James Robertson of Chowilla Station near Renmark, is preparing to learn more about intensive livestock management as the recipient of a 2011 Nuffield scholarship supported by Australian Wool Innovation.

by Susan Carn

by Geoff Duddy, Livestock Officer (Sheep & Wool), Industry & Investment NSW
Vitamin and mineral supplements are normally only beneficial when a deficiency exists or as a preventative when a problem is expected. Unfortunately producers are seldom sure of the need or, importantly, the cost benefits associated with the timing and value of many vitamin supplements.

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

by Susan Carn

By Mick Alexander, Grazing BestPrac

By Liz Guerin

The latest Merino Superior Sires has been released onto the Merino Superior Sires website and can be downloaded now at www.merinosuperiorsires.com.au

By John Squires, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

By Sally Ware, I & I NSW

Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV) for dag and breech cover have been launched by Sheep Genetics.

The Wool Carbon Alliance (WCA) has resolved to reset the carbon agenda and recognise the role sheep play in the natural carbon cycle, a role not properly recognised under current carbon accounting protocols.
 

Innovation 1 - Prevent shedding sheep from damaging fencing. 
Innovation 2 - Keeping troughs clean. 
Innovation 3 - Atlex stockyards.
 

By Liz Guerin
Today, the Sleep’s are passionate converts to rotational (or cell) grazing and convinced more than ever of the benefits for their land and business

Deb Maxwell, Sheep CRC
The Lifetime Ewe Management program aims to optimise production of both meat and wool from ewes and their progeny...
 

Lauren Costin, Productive Nutrition
Productive Nutrition are independent agricultural consultants based in South Australia and are using their experience and expertise in livestock nutrition to investigate saltbush and its value to livestock grazing systems.
 

Productive Nutrition
After three years of development and consultation with stakeholders, the National Procedures and Guidelines for Intensive Sheep and Lamb Feeding Systems, Edition 1, is now complete and available to download.
 

By Liz Guerin
Wild dogs do unquestionable damage to sheep flocks and in many instances have been the primary factor contributing to producers moving out of sheep industries.
 

By Liz Guerin
In 2007 the Blackwater Dog Trust, confronted with an increasing dog problem, decided that they needed to reinvigorate group participation and momentum in order to begin addressing the issue.

By Liz Guerin
Dunluce, owned by Ninian & Ann Stewart-Moore is now the most northerly sheep property in the Flinders Shire and possibly Queensland following many sheep graziers leaving the industry for numerous reasons, including wild dogs.

By Mark Gardner

During August, Bestprac delivered a Flystike Management webinar that was hosted by the Sheep CRC.

Mark and Vicki Murphy, ‘Karbullah’ via Goondiwindi have moved-on from a ‘cure’ approach to flystrike.

Feral dogs maim and kill sheep, AWI has two major projects in wild dog control.

University of New England (UNE) offers the most comprehensive range of sheep and wool units in Australia.

The Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation webinars are available on the CRC website.

By Liz Guerin

by Liz Guerin

The Australian wool industry has done extensive research to find an effective intradermal agent.

By Liz Guerin

Australian outdoor clothing company Snowgum is offering Australian woolgrowers a 20% discount off the price of its Australian superfine Merino apparel.

By Liz Guerin

By Greg Curran
Regional Veterinary Officer
NSW Dept Industry & Investment

A major resource for the entire Australian sheep industry has been launched.

As part of the DAFF Funded project a forum was held in Orroroo, SA, on June 28.

Climate Change in Western Australia: Positioning Your Industry to Capitalise on a ‘Carbon Based Economy’
By Jane Garrett
 

By Lloyd Dunlop
Dudley fell in love with the taste of Damara. “I first tasted Damara meat while working in South Africa a decade ago.

"Making More From Sheep" Program- co-owned by  Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

What are the model work health and safety laws? Why do we need model work health and safety laws?

Held 10 May 2010, Monkey Mia, WA

.. as the breeding component of the flock continues to drop, producers must make every lamb count.."

Heavenly blessings often come with a curse.

Stuart Mitchell, PAP Chairperson, submitted another innovation this month - for those of you with wet paddocks!

A University of Queensland centre, Rangelands Australia, has become the first University-based initiative to be recognised by an Australian Rural Education Award

Step 4: Nutrition

Implications for the Sheep CRC and the Australian sheep industry
With thanks to Sheep CRC
 

Group reports for 2009 activities provided by group facilitators Chelsea Muster, Sally Ware and Jane Garrett.

Charles Crouch, Principal Economist, DEC Office of Climate Change
Presentation at Climate Forum WA, May 2010

Ian Foster, Research Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food

Step 3: Exercise

- the impacts, issues and tools available

 Step 2:  Motivation

Australian Wool Innovation is helping growers make sense of the increasing problem of lice infestations with a new extension program known as LiceSense.

Mark Gardner, Vanguard Business Services, NSW
On 2 and 3 July 2009 a dozen people undertook a car convoy trip from Coonamble to Cobar and Nyngan as part of the Innovations project.

Step 1:  Your Health Check

Rod Fardell, Body Options
 

Jane Garrett, WA Bestprac Group Facilitator

Chelsea Muster (Rural Directions Pty Ltd)

Cell grazing, planting saltbush, meat sheep, organics, hinge joint fencing and much, much more

By Trudie Atkinson, NSW DPI, Trangie and Sally Ware,NSW DPI, Hay

Dubbo 24 August 2009

We were late, we were forgotten, we were early- we had a ball!

By Sally Ware, NSW DPI, Hay

Low prices, coupled with the dry seasons were the catalyst for Rick and Jo Gates to look for alternative sources of income on their property “Burndoo”.

Fran Brownhalls, Cunnamulla, Qld

Summary of Key Findings

By Nandi Herholdt, The Ryder Self Group

Industry Feedback

By Nandi Herholdt, The Ryder Self Group

By Chelsea Muster, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

What are the key profit drivers in your livestock business? How can profit be influenced or increased?

By Chelsea Muster, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

Which are you using, LEAD or LAG indicators?

By Brian and Margie Rowe, Carrieton Bestprac Group

By Sally Ware, NSW DPI

Andrew and Megan Mosely believe it is very important to have an objective measurement of the genetic performance of their sheep

By Mary Goodacre, AWI

Woolgrowers could literally save themselves thousands of dollars by taking simple steps to improve their pre-sale clip preparation.

By Wayne Perkins, Perkinz Managing Director

The "CrutchMaster" is a simple effective solution for crutching and comes either as a stationery or mobile unit, from one to three stands.

By Natasha Morley, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

Report from Bayer Animal Health information sessions about alternatives to mulesing.

By Stuart Mitchell - "Cashel Vale", Bollon, Q.

During October 2008, I was privileged to be given the opportunity to participate in The Natural Fibres forum at the Slow Food conference, Terra Madre in Turin, Italy.

By Chelsea Muster, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

Three years in the making, and here it is! South Australian Pastoral producers now have a set of responsive grazing management tools that are specifically designed for South Australian land systems.

By Australian Wool Innovation Ltd

AWI is pleased to launch www.wool.com, the premier online destination for the Australian Merino wool industry.

By Chelsea Muster (Rural Directions Pty Ltd)

At a recent combined North East Eastern Districts and Yunta Bestprac meeting, members shared how the use of Fly Baits (or Fly Traps) has been successful in helping control fly numbers on their properties.

By Carlyn Mellors (Rural Directions Pty Ltd)

Why undertake a business plan?

 By Carlyn Mellors (Rural Directions Pty Ltd)

As we move into a new year it is important to reflect on the year that was and set goals for the year ahead.

By Chelsea Muster, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

The Mosely Family, based at Cobar, NSW, have adopted the holistic management principles to their business, working on balancing social, environmental and economic outcomes, both now and for future generations.

Update from Stuart Mitchell, PAP Chairperson

In September this year, on behalf of the Bestprac network, I attended a breech blowfly strike control research update sponsored by AWI in Sydney...

 By Chelsea Muster, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

A recent workshop held at North Well Station, in the North East, has highlighted the importance of water budgeting and analysis of water quality to pastoralists.