Spotlight on climate risks
Climate Risk in Agriculture will be the focus of a conference being staged in Warragul this month.
Presented by the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, the conference will feature a line-up of expert speakers.
The conference will be held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on June 20.
WGCMA chief executive officer Martin Fuller said the calibre of presenters was inspiring.
Mr Fuller said the conference was a unique opportunity for local farmers to hear from experts in the field as well as share local experiences.
ABC Landline reporter Tim Lee will be MC for the event.
“As someone who grew up on a Gippsland farm and who has travelled across the country reporting on rural issues, Tim has a passion for and deep understanding of life on the land,” Mr Fuller said.
He said the veteran journalist was not the only impressive name to be added to the list of conference presenters.
Madeleine Johnson, a research fellow from Deakin University and Cara Stitzlein from the CSIRO also will present at the conference.
Madeleine Johnson’s presentation, Climate Cognisant Regional Development, will examine modelled futures of key commodities in Gippsland under climate change scenarios.
Cara Stitzlein advocates a ‘farmer first’ approach in the development of digital tools for the farming sector. She will discuss a tool for farm emissions accounting and exploring carbon farming opportunities.
Local farmers Niels Olsen from Hallora and Jen Ribolli from Perry Bridge have also been added to the program as part of a farmer discussion panel.
In a world first, Niels was recently issued the first credits for soil carbon under the Emissions Reduction Fund for sequestering soil carbon using his SoilKee Pasture Renovator.
On her Perry Bridge farm, Jen is taking a regenerative approach to pasture management, focussing on improving soil health to increase drought resilience.
Mr Fuller said they were very aware this was a difficult time for many in the farming community and were offering free tickets for farmers experiencing financial hardship as a result of the drought.
He encouraged farmers in this position to contact the WGCMA.
“Our staff will take confidential enquiries and arrange tickets for farmers in this position.”
The Gippsland Climate Risk in Agriculture 2019 Conference will run from 8.30am until 4.30pm at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul on Thursday, 20th June.
The conference program, including a full list of speakers and sessions, is available online at www.wgcma.vic.gov.au/for-landholders/climaterisk-in-agriculture-conference-2019
Tickets to the event are $35 and can be booked online at www.trybooking.com/BAUZZ. Farmers experiencing financial hardship can contact Sam Shannon on 1300 094 262 for complimentary tickets.
Market report for 5th and 6th June
With a very cold and wet day there were some very good vealers sold to top 338.2. In a larger yarding of 353 which is 180 more on last week where good cattle in short supply sold very well and secondary cattle demand was not there with a lot of dairy steers offered.
201 vealers sold to 338.2 and averaged 255.3, per head average was $827.11.
36 heifers sold to 299.2 cents and averaged 245.1 per head average was $1128.24.
112 steers sold to 300 cents and averaged 203.9 per head average was $896.23. The yard average 353 head 232.3 and 867.06 per head. Thursday’s cow and bull sale had lower numbers because of the long weekend, but the cattle sold very well.
408 cows, 12 bulls, 4 steers with a full field of buyers in a market that was firm for good cows.
The bull sale where the better finished bulls sold to good demand.
408 cows sold to 240 cents and averaged 159.4 per head average was $776.93.
12 bulls sold to 227.6 cents and averaged 208.7 per head average was $1359.16.
4 steers sold to 264.6 cents and averaged 259.2 per head average was $1593.77.
Yard average for 424 cattle was 162.4 and per head average was 801.12.
Vealers 1 Lim 1 Lim 5 Ang 1 Lim 1 Lim 1 Lim 1 Lim Heifers 1 B/B 2 B/B 1 Lim Steers 1 Lim B&S Garratt, Moe 1 Lim B&S Garratt, Moe 3 Ang Brochloch P/L, Yarragon S 2 Ang A Sutherland, Warragul 7 Ang Brochloch P/L, Yarragon S Beef Cows 1 Lim J Dickinson, Iona 2 Ang AM&PE Laidlaw, Tanjil Sth 1 Ang HD Middleton, Trafalgar 1 Ang J Heenan, Gainsborough 4 Ang AM&PE Laidlaw, Tanjil Sth 1 Char T Beck, Shady Creek 1 Ang Blyth Bros, Warragul Sth Dairy Cows 1 Frn DF Barry, Labertouche 1 Frn A&A Bayley, Yarragon Bulls 1 Ang 1 Santa
K&L Young, Ellinbank 360 NJ&HE Braithwaite, Bena 480 PJ Foreman, Moyarra 377 GT & DM Price, Neerim Sth 395 J&V WillIams, Caldermeade 380 PJ Foreman, Moyarra 425 NJ& HE Braithwaite, Bena 525
J&V Williams, Caldermeade 460 J&V Williams, Caldermeade 495 G&S Edwards, Bunyip 600
Blyth Bros, Warragul Sth 855 227.2 1942 Blyth Bros, Warragtul Sth 730 225.2 1643
1. Elders, 2. SEJ, 3.
Landmark, 4. NGL, 5. Scotts.
575 575 465 465 483
520 505 715 570 600 700 696
750 630
338.2 1217 334.6 1606 312.0 1176 310.0 1224 310.0 1178 305.6 1298 302.6 1588
299.2 1376 290.2 1436 288.2 1729
300.0 1725 291.2 1674 285.0 1325 283.6 1318 282.0 1361
240.0 1248 238.6 1204 228.6 1634 226.6 1292 222.6 1335 220.2 1541 218.0 1515
211.2 1584 195.0 1230