On-farm demonstration opportunity available

Expressions of interest are now open for an onfarm demonstration opportunity.

Is there a technology, innovation or research finding that your producer group is keen to test on-farm?

Agriculture Victoria, in partnership with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), is conducting a new producer demonstration program with the opportunity to establish five new on-farm demonstration projects.

Agriculture Victoria project leader farming systems Bindi Hunter said the program was inviting expressions of interest from Victorian sheep and beef producer groups to design and conduct their own three-year project.

“The demonstrations are conducted on group members’ farms (preferably three sites per project per year) and involve participation by members in group activities, including skill development, site monitoring and discussion of results.

“Projects must be focused on increasing adoption of key management practices or commercially available technologies that improve business profitability, farm productivity and sustainability,” Ms Hunter said.

Selected projects will focus on demonstrating systems or technologies in one of four priority areas:

1. Manage and adapt to a changing climate or specific regional conditions (e.g. addressing feed gaps, grazing system, enterprise mix)

2. Reduce emissions or emissions intensity, (e.g. reproductive efficiencies, feed types and quality, soil fertility management)

3. Manage animal health and welfare risks resulting from increasing/ emerging biosecurity threats in a changing climate

4. Implement on-farm innovations that improve production and management efficiencies (e.g. recent research findings, genetics, ag tech).

Expressions of interest close on Monday, May 13. For more information and to receive an expression of interest form, go to https://go.vic. gov.au/3fTKvdU or contact Bindi Hunter, on 0428 589016 or at bindi.hunter@ agriculture.vic.gov.a