Dairy training helps to upskill employees

Agriculture Victoria is seeking support from private landholders, including farmers, to help combat pests and weeds which cost Victoria more than $1 billion a year in management and control programs.

Landholders are being invited to take part in a state-wide survey to better understand the social and behavioural factors that influence pest and weed management.

Agriculture Victoria is the lead agency in the delivery of programs to combat established invasive species which is underpinned by the $4.3 million Weeds and Rabbits Project funded by the federal government.

Agriculture Victoria acting program manager Heidi Kleinert said they had been working closely with key stakeholders and community members o better understand the barriers people face with implementing weed and rabbit management practices

Ms Kleinert said community participation was crucial to understanding this space.

“Rabbits and weeds are a problem for all landholders, including farmers and public land managers, and we need to tackle this together,” she said.

“We are asking land managers to share with us how they manage weeds and rabbits on their property. The survey results will tell us what is working well at the moment, but also where improvements can be made.”

North East landholder and community representative Neil Devanny said a major issue for farmers in meeting their obligations to control pest animals and plants came down to setting and managing priorities.

“We all need to harvest our crops, shear our sheep, market our livestock and so this work must happen. It is easy to drive past a rabbit burrow or weed and say I will do that tomorrow,” he said.

“An effective pest program needs to remind and prompt landholders to take action, especially on a collective basis.

“Land manager input will assist in developing collective ownership of the programs to benefit the community as a whole and support the good work that is already being done.”

The survey closes on June 24. To complete the survey go to: https://weedsandrabbits.com/survey/

Job seekers matched with Victorian dairy farmers will be brought up to speed with specific training as part of a new program run by Dairy Australia and backed by the state government.

The $715,000 Dairy Farm Induction Program will help job seekers rapidly upskill and provide employers with training to induct new workers into their farm business.

The program is part of the $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan which seeks to support Victoria’s agricultural industries and provide job-ready workers to meet labour demands.

The new program highlights an important component of the Workforce Plan in making sure incoming workers have access to rapid and high quality training, to ensure agricultural roles can be taken up quickly.

As part of the Dairy Farm Induction Program, an online learning package will be offered to help job seekers understand the culture of the workplace, and important day-to-day tasks such as machinery operation and handling stock.

Consultants also will be available to support farmers by providing training support on their farms for a smooth worker induction.

Ms Symes said the need to find new workers to meet labour gaps in agriculture had been less than anticipated due to the strong position of the agriculture sector – but the effects of this pandemic will still be felt for a long time to come.

“This program is just one example of how we’re working with industry to make sure their needs are met and to keep Victoria as the dairy heartland of Australia,” she said.

Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said the new program would fast track the dairy industry’s ability to upskill new workers and help make training more accessible.

“It is needed now to support the production of high-quality dairy products through the pandemic and to grow one of Victoria’s industry success stories,” he said.