Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary Industries

Ag News

Ag News - 23/02/06

By DPI - 23rd February 2006 - Back to News

East Gippsland Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Forum

Expressions of interest are being sought from landholders, farmer groups and industry representatives with an interest in and an understanding of agricultural issues facing East Gippsland to become members of the East Gippsland Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Forum.

The forum is being established as part of the National Landcare Program and will contribute to the planning and development of initiatives for the region that assists primary producers in their business planning efforts to improve sustainability and productivity thorough improved Landcare farming systems & resource management.

East Gippsland Sustainable Landcare Coordinator Julianne Sargant said the forum aims to have a cross section of membership, from a wide range of geographical locations and industry sectors.

"Within the East Gippsland Region it has been identified that to support and ensure ongoing and sustainable agricultural industries, primary producers need to ensure that they are maximising their production opportunities, maintaining sustainable business profits and implementing best practice Landcare farming systems."

Members will be appointed for a period of 1 year.

Applications must be lodged by Friday 10th March 2006. For further information contact Julianne Sargant at DPI Bairnsdale on (03) 51 520 603.

Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing Grants For East Gippsland

The Gippsland Wild Dog Management Group has announced that Land Protection Incentive Scheme (LPIS) Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing grants are now available.

Financial assistance is available to landholders in the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority area to construct electric wild dog exclusion fencing on the public land – freehold land interface.

Vaughn Kingston, Executive Officer for the Gippsland Wild Management Group said wild dog exclusion fences should be considered part of a property management plan.

"Well designed, constructed and maintained wild dog exclusion fencing has long been accepted by the Gippsland Wild Dog Management Group and landowners, as shown in the Gippsland Wild Dog Action Plan, as an integral part of protecting livestock from wild dog attacks.

"Once established, wild dog exclusion fences should be maintained to provide a greater level of livestock protection from wild dog activity," Mr Kingston said.

Priority will be given to:

· Areas of known wild dog activity

· Sites linking existing wild dog exclusion fences to provide a contiguous barrier to wild dogs

· Landowners who are committed to constructing and maintaining fences to the wild dog exclusion fence design standards.

Landowners with applications previously submitted will be considered within this round of grant funding.

The Gippsland Wild Dog Management Group will allocate funds in line with priorities once all applications have been received. Closing date for applications is Friday 25^th March 2006.

Inquiries should be directed to Vaughn Kingston at DPI Bairnsdale on (03) 51 520 600.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com