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Grant Assistance For Bushfire Environmental Damage On Farms

In response to the environmental damage caused by the Bogong Complex fires to freehold land earlier this year, the State Government has announced the Bushfire Environmental Recovery Program to assist farmers with recovery works.

By Department of Primary Industries - 30th July 2003 - Back to News

The Bushfire Environmental Recovery Program applies to environmental damage caused to freehold areas by the Bogong Complex Fires in the East Gippsland and North-East regions. The objective is to reduce the risk of erosion and catchment damage in areas affected by the fires through a partnership between the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the landholders.

Grants will be available to assist with the restoration and protection of steep slopes or soils vulnerable to wind and water erosion, active eroding gullies, native vegetation, and farm dam water quality

Landholders will be able to access the grants through an expression of interest to DPI. The closing date for expressions of interest is 26 September, 2003.

DPI staff are contacting all fire-affected farmers who have already registered with the Department for assistance after the Bogong Complex fires.

Other farmers who think they may be eligible should contact Keren Walker at DPI Swifts Creek on 5159 5100.

IF YOU LOVE HIM, TETHER HIM…

Fiona Dean, Animal Health Officer, Bairnsdale

Falling or jumping from a moving vehicle causes many serious physical injuries to dogs. Often the farm utility is the culprit. Generally, the impact of the fall is borne by the dog’s legs, with the most common injuries being broken and fractured legs, and dislocated hips. Skin cuts and abrasions are also extremely common, along with muscle trauma and long-term arthritis. Pain and suffering are the result of these types of injuries. In many cases, and depending on the severity of injuries, death, either instantaneous or protracted, results.

All owners have a duty of care to these animals to provide a safe environment, whether they are working dogs or pets. Current awareness programs aimed at alleviating the horrors of motor vehicle accidents run with the slogan, "Belt up or suffer the Pain." These programs depict the consequences of not wearing seat restraints whilst driving in motor vehicles. The programs focus attention equally on both long and short-term trips. The same level of awareness and responsibility must be applied by dog owners when transporting dogs.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, provides that owners transporting dogs by tray or trailer, must by law, ensure that the dog is secured in such a way as to prevent it falling off or out of the vehicle. Only dogs that are being used to directly assist in the movement of livestock are exempt from these requirements. Usually this can be achieved simply by tethering dogs with a short chain, approximately 15cm in length. The tethering point should be the centre of the front gate, as tethering to the side of the gate allows opportunity for strangling if the dog becomes hung up. Alternatively, a more comfortable scenario could be the use of a dog box situated in the front of the tray.

SPRAY APPLICATION TRAINING HAS AN IMPACT

Spray Application in Viticulture: Research to Practice^® is a three-day workshop to facilitate the adoption of new pest and disease management strategies. An evaluation of the workshops has shown that they have led to changed practices in the grape and wine industry, with positive economic and environmental outcomes.

The training and education team at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Knoxfield developed the Research to Practice^® concept with support from the Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture. Further financial support has been provided by the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.

Leader of the spray application training group, John Lopresti, said that over 800 viticulturists have benefited from attending the spray application workshops, with 81% of participants improving their pesticide application practices as a result.

"Adoption of practices based on sound scientific information has resulted in significant reductions in pesticide use, improved disease control and related increases in yields and incomes," said Mr Lopresti. "Through better spray targeting and strategic pesticide use, environmental impacts have also been reduced, while the cost-effectiveness of spraying has been improved."

One vineyard manager was able to reduce pesticide usage over one season by 52% and total spraying costs by 33%, resulting in savings of $230 per hectare, while still maintaining excellent disease control. Another grape grower was able to reduce his copper sprays by 40% and sulphur sprays by 30%, using practical advice provided in the spray workshop.

"These results were achieved through growers moving away from regular ("calendar") spraying towards more strategic pesticide application, adjusting chemical rates to suit vine growth and monitoring for pests and diseases," said Mr Lopresti.

Overall, 46% of workshop participants reported improved disease control and increased yields, while 25% achieved better spray coverage and reduced chemical wastage. Fourteen percent reduced both their pesticide use and spraying costs.

Environmental, social and economic benefits will continue to flow from this project, as Victorian and Australian viticulturists continue to implement changes contributing to sustainable production in the grape and wine industry.

The next series of Spray Application in Viticulture: Research to Practice^® workshops is currently in preparation. For further information, please contact Karen Green at DPI Knoxfield on (03) 9210 9229.

THERE IS MORE TO WATER THAN YOU REALISE

Farmers on the Franklin River, near Toora in South Gippsland, are part of a Riparian Syndicate group looking specifically at the waterway and stream banks, known as Riparian areas, as part of their farm businesses. This group is part of the broader Gippsland Dairy Riparian Project (GipRip), funded by GippsDairy and the Dairy Research and Development Corporation (DRDC).

Water is important to all of us, and to understand more about the quality of water, how to monitor it and how to improve the quality through farm management practices is one of the key issues this group wishes to address.

At a recent group meeting, Gippsland Waterwatch Coordinator David Meikle, took river samples from under the tree canopy to identify the critters in the samples, referred to as bioindicators, as an indication of the water quality. These bugs and critters are known as macroinvertebrates and include water mites, mayfly nymphs, water bugs and aquatic worms. As one farmer suggested at the end of the day, "There’s a lot more to water than you realise."

Everyone was surprised by the difference in the amount and variety of bugs from the different sample areas, with the bugs in the sample from under the native vegetation area being more numerous and diverse than from under the willow. This indicates the plant material and suitable chemical and physical environment is available for sensitive macroinvertebrates such as the Mayfly nymph to live in.

At the next meeting held further up the river, Tanya Butcher, the South Gippsland Waterwatch Facilitator, took water samples to demonstrate how to monitor the key physical and chemical parameters and assess the quality against West Gippsland standards. These parameters included phosphorus, salinity, turbidity and pH.

Over the last 3 years, streams and rivers in the Corner Inlet catchment, where this part of the GipRip Project is located, have been monitored through the Nooramunga-Corner Inlet Project. This is run by concerned volunteers and Waterwatch, to assess the water that runs through their various properties and out to sea via Corner Inlet. Changes in the water quality are quickly picked up and acted upon, be it notifying the relevant authorities or concentrating Landcare and riparian management activities in observed problem areas.

The Riparian Syndicate group meets monthly and is facilitated by Target 10 Dairy Extension staff through the Syndicate group project, with the aim of assisting dairy farmers to improve their businesses by working together as a group on issues that concern them. One of the farm businesses participating in this group is also one of the GipRip farm demonstration site and recently hosted a Riparian Field Day.

For more information on Waterwatch in South Gippsland call Tanya Butcher on 56 624 555. For more information on the GipRip project, call Jenny O’Sullivan on 5663 2386, and for Target 10 call Julie Williams on 5624 2285.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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