Inspect dams to reduce failures
Regular inspection, monitoring and maintenance of your gully dams will significantly reduce the risk of failure from leaks and banks collapsing.
Stock damage, soil erosion, siltation and excessive vegetation growth all contribute to the gradual deterioration of farm dams.
The rapid rise in dam water levels following an extended period of drought and dry seasonal conditions also adds to the pressure on dam banks, spillways and pipelines.
Gully dams fail on a regular basis across Victoria due to poor soils, poor construction, dry soils and a lack of maintenance. Estimates suggest more than 20 per cent of gully dams in Victoria fail within a few years of being built.
Regular inspection and monitoring of dams should be done regularly but this is far more critical over the next six to twelve months as dams start to fill after an extended dry period.
Landholders are encouraged to carefully inspect and monitor their gully dams to pinpoint issues and act before the dam completely failed. Landholders need to focus mainly on the dam bank, looking for signs of bank subsidence, cracking or tunnelling. Regular inspection should include: • Monitoring water levels for signs of leakage • Checking the bank water line for unusual turbulence or whirlpools indicating a possible leakage area
• Checking the dam bank for signs of cracking, tunnelling or settlement
• Checking the dam bank and immediately downstream for signs of seepage, softness or lush vegetation
• Checking the bank to ensure it is stable, firm, free of soil erosion, has at least one metre of bank above water level, a well-rounded crest and has a good cover of topsoil and grass
• Ensuring dam banks and adjacent areas are free of woody vegetation, including trees and shrubs
• Checking the spillway is stable, has good capacity and is free of debris and excessive vegetation
• Checking the inlet area to ensure it is well grassed, stable and free of soil erosion, and • Checking for rabbit or stock damage. Dam maintenance work involving the removal or destruction of native vegetation may require a planning permit, and landholders are strongly advised to check with their council planning officer before carrying out such work.
Market report for 12th and 13th June
With a very cold and wet day, there was some very good vealers sold to top 338.2 in a yarding of 353, which is the same as last week, where good cattle in short supply sold very well and secondary cattle there was increased demand with restockers keen to purchase better bred cattle.
210 vealers sold to 346.2 and averaged 270 and per head $880.31. 44 heifers sold to 307.6 cents and averaged 233.7 and per head $985.16.
89 steers sold to 303.6 cents and averaged 223.5 and per head 923.31.
The yard average for 343 head was 248.8 and 894.48 per head.
Vealers 1 Lim 1 Ang 2 Ang 1 Lim 1 Ang 1 Lim 1 Sim 1 Lim 1 Ang Heifers 1 M/G D J Kelliher, Neerim South 1 M/G D J Kelliher, Neerim South 1 Ang W R Pyle, Crossover 1 Ang W R Pyle, Crossover 2 B/Blue BK Ryrie, Crossover Steers 1 Ang F&M Murray, Drouin 490 295.0 1445 5 Ang G&J Budge, Yallourn 480 291.2 1397 Thursday’s Cow and Bull Sale had the same numbers as last week. The only change was an increase in grown steers which sold well with processors keen to fill orders.
400 cows, 17 bulls, 60 steers, with a full field of buyers. The bull sale where the better finished bulls sold to good demand with restockers buying a pen of lighter bulls.
400 cows sold to 245 cents and averaged 170.1 and per head 824.68.
17 bulls sold to 239.2 cents and averaged 183.4 and per head 915.83.
60 steers sold to 251.2 cents and averaged 204.1 and per head 950.65.
Yard average for 477 cattle was 174.7 and per head 843.78. Beef Cows 1 Ang J&L Oldham, Neerim South 490 1 Ang I&L Savage, Cloverlea 535 1 Ang A Furborough, Tynong 520 1 Ang J&L Oldham, Neerim South 535 1 Lim D Britt, Lillico 525 3 Ang G&J Turner, Trafalgar 668 2 Ang J Dunne, Churchill 543 Dairy Cows 2 Frie D W Harris, Bona Vista 2 Frie J Dunne, Churchill 1 Frie J Dunne, Churchill 1 Frie Goode Family Trust, Pwng 1 Frie C&M Young, Neerim 1 Frie L&L Allen, Hallora Bulls 1 W/Blk 1 Ang 1 Ang
D Britt, Lillico D&J Cullen, Bega D&J Cullen, Bega J&L Oldham, Neerim Sth D&J Cullen, Bega C A Pharaoh, Labertouche Roanda Farm, Thorpdale P&H Hatswell, Neerim East M&G Maskell, Drouin Sth
A Furborough, Tynong 1095 239.2 2619 G&J Turner, Trafalgar 895 231.6 2072 A&M McDonald, Yarragon 540 207.6 1121
1. Scott, 2. NGL, 3. SEJ,
4. Elders, 5. Landmark.
425 355 405 330 385 390 390 350 345
470 405 425 425 435 508 553 485 745 610 615
346.2 321.6 320.0 320.0 319.6 315.0 314.6 310.0 310.0
307.6 275.6 275.0 271.2 260.0 245.0 1200 236.6 1265 235.2 1223 235.0 1292 235.0 1233 230.0 1537 222.0 1204
220.0 210.0 200.0 193.6 183.0 176.6
1471 1140 1296 1056 1228 1228 1227 1085 1069
1445 1116 1168 1168 1131
1116 1160 970 1442 1116 1086