Dear ,
Rainfall across the state has been sporadic this month. In my areas, the Barossa and South East, there have been some decent rainfalls; however, the cold morning frosts are causing some concerns for pasture growth. I hope you have received rain, we need a wet winter and a longer spring to replenish our hay reserves and provide adequate nutrition for weaners and livestock.
On 19 June, Livestock SA held a Special General Meeting where an overwhelming 88% of members voted in favour of transitioning to a new corporate |
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structure, aligning with industry best practices for governance. The ballot was conducted from 27 May 2024 to 16 June 2024, with 553 members participating. I thank you all for taking the time to vote. The revised board structure will come into effect after the 2024 Annual General Meeting in November.
Livestock SA and partners have been organising several events across the state to support our members, such as the “Livestock Strategies for the Next 100 Days.” I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Barossa Improved Grazing Group event last week. With a challenging start to the season, the insights on developing forward-focused strategies were invaluable. Felicity Turner from Turner Agribusiness discussed the importance of decision-making tools for livestock and feedbase management. Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock provided insights on early weaning lambs and calves, covering when and how to do it. Finally, Ken Solly shared tips on coping better with dry times, and Mary Chirgwin the importance of vaccine coverage during dry conditions. Thank you to the Department of Primary Industries, the SA Drought Hub, and AgRi-Silience an initiative of the Commonwealth Governments Future Drought fund for making these (and other events) possible.
If you were unable to attend these events, make sure you check out Early Weaning in a Tough Season webinar here.
Another important event is "Managing Livestock in Challenging Times," where Ken Solly has focused on managing livestock under challenging conditions. This event covered important topics such as nutrition, management challenges and high-risk issues, and personal management during tough times.
We’ve had a great number of producers attending these events with excellent feedback. Members have been saying, “We got a good idea of what we need to do, and it made us think further than a couple of weeks ahead,” and “Tough years are the best for questioning the why and when!” If you’ve been able to attend one of these events I hope you have gained some good strategies from them.
Many attendees took a lot from Ken’s advice about prioritising your physical and mental health. You can watch this 10-minute talk by Ken as he shares valuable strategies for managing yourself during challenging seasons.
The hasty inquiry by the House Standing Committee on Agriculture into the legislation to end live sheep by sea by 1 May 2028 was completed in June. Unsurprisingly, the committee recommended the bill be passed and it is expected to be introduced to the Senate soon. The industry remains united in its opposition to this bad policy. The "Keep The Sheep" campaign has now gained over 60,000 signatures. The policy precedent this sets for agriculture and other industries is alarming. CEO Travis Tobin discussed the need for governments to listen to and work with industry experts, not anti-industry activists, on holistic solutions to complex challenges in this month’s Stock Journal column, which you can also read here.
The dingo unprotection order that ceased in the northwest of Victoria on 14 March remains a significant concern for Livestock SA and our producers on the border of Victoria. The National Wild Dog Action Plan is engaging with the Victorian Government as the review process progresses to try and find a balanced approach to wild dog control. Livestock SA fully supports every effort made to have the Victorian Government understand the impact this can have across the country.
The first meeting of the forum that was established to address the road infrastructure in outback South Australia following the Port Augusta roundtable with the Minister of Regional Roads that Livestock SA initiated was recently held. Pastoralist and member David Bell represents Livestock SA on this forum. The meeting communique is available here.
This month, Livestock SA submitted five submissions to various government bodies. These submissions included responses to the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy renewal, advocating for a continued industry-led, science-based approach to animal welfare improvements (here); the Data Interoperability Framework, stressing the importance of industry-specific standards and data integrity within national traceability systems (here); the House Standing Committee on Agriculture’s inquiry into the bill to end live sheep exports (here); the Dog and Cat Management Act review, addressing responsible pet ownership and livestock protection (here); and the Draft Native Vegetation Amendment Bill 2024, aiming to balance environmental conservation with agricultural productivity (here). These efforts reflect Livestock SA’s proactive engagement in shaping policies that impact the livestock industry. Kind regards, Joe Keynes President - Livestock SA |
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Strategies for calf weaning in a dry season Following the success of our Early Weaning for Lambs webinar, we are holding another one to focus on the strategies for calf weaning in a dry season with Ashlee Wachtel from Tailored Livestock Consulting.
Topics being covered: Managing stress in your system Minimum age and weight targets Feeding for success Managing cow condition score for rebreeding purposes
Date: 10 July 2024
Time: 7:30pm to 8:30pm Register: Click here |
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AgRi-Silience Producer Expression of Interest Looking for an impactful program tailored to your grain, livestock or mixed enterprise business needs? AgRi-Silience is for you! Benefits Past Participants Have Experienced: Identifying core business values and developing a strategic plan. Clarifying future directions, including succession planning and/or setting up a plan for success. Adapting to challenges within business and personally. Refining strategies to expand your business. Mastering goal setting and planning for success.
Each business will gain access to expert facilitators and advisors, enabling them to work on identified areas of need customised to your needs. What you’ll gain by participating over the next year: Comprehensive Workshops: A three-day, guided, peer-to-peer workshop program. Personalised Coaching: Individualised coaching to implement your plans. Expert Consultancy: $3,500 worth of consultancy from subject matter experts focused on your specific needs. Each business will work with expert facilitators and advisors, focusing on customised areas of need.
Click here for more information and to register your interest. |
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Heed industry experts not anti-industry activists Governments need to listen to and work with industry experts not anti-industry activists on holistic solutions to complex challenges. Failing to do so will not deliver the policies and regulatory frameworks needed to responsibly and sustainably progress, it will only ever result in detrimental short- and long-term outcomes.
Read the full Stock Journal column here. |
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Early Weaning in a Tough Season Couldn’t make the “Early Weaning Lambs in Tough Seasons Webinar”? Watch the recording of Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock as she discusses the benefits and strategies of early weaning for sheep in South Australia. With extensive experience in ruminant nutrition and production, Deb provides valuable insights to help producers optimize flock health and productivity.
Watch the full video here. |
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Wild dog control in Victoria under review The Victorian Government is currently undertaking a review of the dingo unprotection order in eastern Victoria, with a decision on its future to be handed down by 1 October 2024.
If the dingo unprotection order is not renewed for eastern Victoria, there will be substantial changes to the way producers can manage wild dogs in the region. The order has already ended in northwest Victoria and producers are feeling the impacts, with little options to prevent wild dogs from attacking their livestock.
For more information, click here. |
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Events in Ag To help coordinate community events without overlaps, we have introduced an events calendar on our website where livestock-related events can be submitted for approval and listing. This will serve as your central resource for industry events in South Australia. Submit an event here or view upcoming events here. |
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Leading Agribusiness Law Firm Livestock SA is pleased to announce that Mellor Olsson Lawyers has been named a Leading Agribusiness Law Firm in South Australia by the Doyles Guide for 2024. This recognition underscores their commitment to rural and regional communities. As part of our partnership, Livestock SA members receive a 10% discount on wills and estate administration and a free initial 20 minute telephone consultation on any legal issue. Mellor Olsson offers a wide range of legal services, including employment law, biosecurity, animal welfare, land dealings, livestock transactions, commercial contracts, partnership disputes, wills, estates, succession planning, family law, and property transactions. With offices in Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Clare Valley, and The Barossa Valley, they are well-equipped to serve all of South Australia. For more information, visit www.molawyers.com.au or contact Mellor Olsson at 08 8414 3400 or [email protected]. |
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Subscribe to eID updates Subscribe to the eID sheep and farmed goats newsletter to receive updates on eID news, events and available resources. Click here. |
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Outback Roads Consultative Forum A new forum has been established to develop strategies for improving roads in Outback SA.
The South Australian Outback Roads Consultative Forum combines the collaborative efforts of the Outback Communities Authority, SA Infrastructure and Transport, Livestock SA, the Pastoral Board, SA Chamber of Mining and Energy, Regional Development Australia Far North, Flinders Ranges and Outback SA Tourism, the transport industry, and community and Aboriginal representatives.
Its purpose is to identify and prioritise critical road issues, assist in developing policies and strategies for Outback SA's road network, and make recommendations on resource allocation and investment.
The Forum will meet quarterly, and a communiqué covering key details and outcomes will be distributed to outback communities and stakeholders after each meeting. To subscribe to the communiqué or provide feedback or input into the forum, please email [email protected].
To learn more and review the outcomes of the first meeting, please visit the Authority’s website. |
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Have your say on proposed changes to commercial kangaroo harvesting Public consultation is now open for the draft South Australian Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan 2025–2029. The plan aims to balance commercial harvesting with kangaroo conservation, detailing species, locations, and quotas. Proposed changes include prioritising conservation during emergencies, flexible surveying, and expanding harvest areas. Members are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback via the YourSAy platform by 15 September 2024.
For more details, visit YourSAy. |
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Small Business Energy Grants The South Australian Government's 2024-2025 State Budget includes $20 million for the second round of the Economic Recovery Fund, offering grants of $2,500 to $50,000 for energy efficiency improvements. These Small Business Energy Grants will open in August 2024 for small businesses and not-for-profits using less than 160MWh of electricity annually. Register interest and join the Small Business Sustainability Support Program for more information and assistance. |
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