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Agfutures Forum Targets Bass Coast Farmers The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is running a free forum over two sessions to help support Bass Coast rural communities, identified as undergoing significant change. By Department of Primary Industries - 12th June 2009 - Back to News The forums will be held at the Kilcunda Hall on Thursdays, June 11 and 25 respectively.
The Bass Coast forum is part of the AgFutures project being delivered in 12 farming areas in 2009 as part of the Victorian Government’s $205 million Future Farming Strategy of which $3.74 million was allocated to the project. It is also being supported by Bass Coast Shire Council, Western Port Greenhouse Alliance and Bass Coast Landcare Network.
AgFutures Project Officer Karen Thomas said drought, climate change, increased competition for natural resources, population change and global economic conditions are all bringing real challenges to farming communities.
"In providing people with up-to-date and reliable information about changes affecting agriculture, DPI is helping farmers to make better, long-term farm business decisions," Ms Thomas said.
"AgFutures forums are designed to provide tailored information to local farming communities and to encourage discussion between farmers, rural communities and service providers to support local decision-making processes."
Both forum sessions will be held at Kilcunda Hall, Bass Highway, Kilcunda from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm.
The first session will cover Social Landscape Change in the District, Future Farming Rural Land Use and the CSIRO Sustainable Communities Project.
This will be followed by a second session covering Commodity Performance and Outlook, Greenhouse Emissions Audits (how local organisations are helping farmers respond to climate change) and Building Soil Carbon. The latter topic will include a bus tour of three farms on Phillip Island.
Ms Thomas said feedback from other forums showed the majority found the information relevant and the information provided would be used in future business decisions.
"Our forum will also provide information on services farming communities can tap into when making decisions about how to respond to change," Ms Thomas said.
For more information or to register, please contact Karen Thomas on 9785 0103 or 0488 372 411 by Tuesday, June 9.
For further information on the program, go to the AgFutures website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agfutures or call the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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