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New Farm Enterprise Seminars

Are you looking for a new farm enterprise for your property or a value adding opportunity to your existing farm business?

By Department of Primary Industries - 7th May 2003 - Back to News

Are you looking for a new farm enterprise for your property or a value adding opportunity to your existing farm business? Or are you thinking of buying some land and wondering what is the best thing you can do with your property?

The Future Family Farm Unit in the Department of Primary Industries, in conjunction with the University of Melbourne, are organising a series of seminars across the State to look at emerging opportunities for landholders looking for a new farm enterprise. The seminars for Gippsland are being held in Pakenham, May 17 and Bairnsdale, May 18.

At each seminar, there will be three case studies of farmers who have successfully diversified their operations. These case studies will cover a range of opportunities including organics, wool, native flowers, fruit, vegetables, farm tourism, milking sheep and goats, agroforestry, horses, ginseng, prime lambs and aquaculture. As well as the actual case studies, there will be industry speakers who will outline the opportunities and the pitfalls in these industries.

The seminars will also cover such things as how to find a suitable new enterprise, marketing strategies, likely costs and returns, capital requirements, plus a range of sources for further information.

The seminars run from 9.00am to 4.00pm and the cost is only $48 per person, which includes lunch. Prior booking is essential as spaces are limited. For registration and more information, contact Glenice or Janet on 1800 808 542.

GRAZING CAPEWEED - BE CAREFUL

Dr. Mike Terry, District Veterinary Officer, Bairnsdale.

The current season has been favourable to the growth of Capeweed and dense stands are seen in many paddocks. It is often the dominant pasture species in winter following a good autumn break.

Farmers in the past have reported that they have reared top prime lambs on this plant, however, there is a down side. The plant will at certain times store high concentrations of nitrates principally in the mature stems and leaves. If weather conditions are right for inhibiting the action in the capeweed plant of the enzymes which convert nitrates to ammonia, then toxic qualities of nitrate can occur.

When nitrate is eaten by ruminants, it is broken down to nitrite by bacteria in the rumen. When nitrite is absorbed into the bloodstream it binds with the haemoglobin in red blood cells to form a substance called methaemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen to the tissues. Effectively the animal is starved of oxygen and dies. Clinical signs of nitrite intoxication include difficult, rapid breathing, gasping, salivation, scouring, recumbency and death, usually within a few hours of the onset of signs. Often the best lambs are affected, possibly because they eat more.

Sheep and cattle grazing capeweed often scour mainly because nitrate causes an inflammation of the digestive tract lining. A blood sample from an affected animal has a brownish coffee-coloured look.

Treatment is a veterinary emergency. It involves intravenous administration of an antidote best administered by a veterinarian.

Probably the safest way to prevent nitrate poisoning is to cut and fill a large sealable plastic bag with the plant and submit to a laboratory for nitrate/nitrite estimation prior to grazing. If this is not possible, a few lower value "pilot" sheep could be grazed for a week on suspect pasture prior to putting the whole mob in. If these pilot sheep seem OK, then probably the pasture is OK. If signs of sickness occur the mob must be immediately shifted to another paddock, preferably not dominated by capeweed.

STOCK CONTAINMENT GRANTS

FOR FIRE EFFECTED AREAS

Funding is still available to landholders for the confinement of stock to a selected area of their property to protect vulnerable fire effected areas of the farm. The proven benefits to landholders are:

· to reduce the impact of soil erosion on the whole of the property by the protection of vegetative cover.

· to confine the spread of weeds from imported feed.

· to reduce the time taken for animal health and husbandry tasks.

· to allow pastures to regenerate.

How to apply for funding:

· Contact DPI Calvert Street to arrange an inspection.

· DPI officer will inspect to determine suitable site for stock containment area.

· Grant amount of upto $2,000 for materials for fencing and water reticulation will be determined.

If you have any questions or would like to apply for a grant for a Stock Containment area, please ring Julianne Sargant, DPI Calvert Street, Bairnsdale, on 5152 0628.

RAINFALL EVENT DAMAGE REPORTING

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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