THE st ate gov er nme nt aim s to boost re gional tourism in Gippslandwith aninvestment of $30 million that will expand recreational use in 1.8 million hectares of state forest.
The Pr emier,J acinta Allan, announced the investment during avisit to the Latrobe Valley. She was accompanied by the Minister for the Envir onment, Steve Dimopoulos and the Member for EasternVictoria, TomMcIntosh.
The investment will take place in both Gippsland and North East Victoria. The expanded use of state forest is designed to replace the native forest industry, which was closed by thegover nment resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs.
"Ourfor ests remain open to every single Victorian and visitor alike -toenjoy hunting, fishing, camping, bushwalking and all the benefits of the bush," the Premier said.
Alsoannouncedwas afurther investment intoamenitiesfor outdoor recr eationtotaling to $14.2 million,inkey spots that include Chenes Bridge in Heyfield.
"Victorians love the bush. We love the bush. It's part of who we are. We love to getout with families, to go camping, dropping aline in ariver somewhere, taking aquiet moment to go fishing," Allan continued, but the bigger focus of the press conference was of the staffing this would bring.
"We'reputting moreboots on the
ground",was the wording used to announce afurther $7.2 million was being put towards employing and training park rangers
Minister Dimopoulos toldthe Gippsland Farmer he was looking forwardtoDEECA getting more staf fto"get on the tools, so to speak", as these areparks not managed by Parks Victoria.
On the numbersand location of rangers, the Minister said: "It's roughly ar ound 16 additional rangers,and it will be around pr edominantlythe Gippsland area, thegreat outdoors Task Force area.
"We'llhave moreinformation to say about wherethey're stationed, howthey travel around, and can Ijust say that's just on top of the base we already have. Not to assume we don't have any resources out there.
"Wehave abunch of resources out through Gippsland, but this is an uplift, and it will include Walhalla", he went on to say, ensuring to mentionone of the local forested areas that suffered moreseverely from illegal dumping and other undesirable behaviour last holiday season, which can be prevented with the onboarding of morepark rangers.
Anew Illegal Dumping Taskforce has also been established to protect the environment and preserve the amenity of naturalareas McIntoshjoined the conversation to detail the actual management of the land beingopened up for outdoor adventurers, with the Continued -Page4
Aidan
Dry weather warning for healthofsheep
Alison DESMOND
Project Leader Best Wool/BestL amb
DROUGHT over winter may have compromised the condition of sheep and reduced their resistance to inter nal parasites.
Short pasturesand prolonged grazing close to the ground can increase the risk of wormlarvae uptake.
Although pastur egrowth in spring typically lowers susceptibility, it remains essential to stay vigilant -particularly at andafter weaning when young animals are most vulnerable.
Worm infection costs the Australian sheep industry an estimated $436 million per year in lost production. Sheep infected with worms exhibit signs such as weight loss, poor wool growth, scouring, and in severecases, anaemia or death. The cost of wor minfections can be substantial, with lossesingrowth,wool, and survival, along with treatment expenses.
Weaners arethe most vulnerable group of animals,astheyhave the highest susceptibility to internal parasites. Their natural immunity,whichprotectsthem against wor ms, doesn’tdevelop until about 12-18 months of age. Stressors associated with the weaning process can also compromise immunity.
Conducting regular Worm eggcounts (WE Cs) pr ovid es t he best c han ce of detecting awormburdenand targeting appropriate treatments. AWEC shows the number of wormeggs in asample of faeces and indicates the size of an internal wormburden.
Regular monitoring through wormtests is crucial.Thesetests help determine when sheep exceed the WEC threshold, indicating the need for treatment.
Active monitoring also guides decisions on when not to drench, preventing
unnecessarychemical use,savingthe cost of treatment and reducingthe risk of drench resistance. The WEC at which you should drenchvaries basedonthe wormspecies and class of stock.
Consult your private vet or refer to the Wormboss Drench Decision Guide once you have received your WEC results to decide whether adrench is required.
WEC kits can be provided by your veterinarian or laboratory and will include collection,storage,postageordropoff instructions. For amob WEC, 20-30 samplesoffresh (war m) faecesshould be collected. Someanimal health labs can per for malarvalcultureto identify the type of worms present so you can treat your flock with the most effective drench.
Toptips and tricks for effective drenching
Test for wor ms -essential to be regularly conducting with regular WECs. Alist of ParaBoss WEC
Quality Assured and approved labs is available on wor mboss.com.au
Use an ef fective product. The drench should kill 95 per cent or more of the wor ms, contain at least two active ingredients and be used at the recommended dose rate.
Calculate the dose rate based on the heaviest animals in the mob. If thereisasignificant weight range, split the mob. to avoid over or underdosing.
Move sheep onto aclean paddock immediately after drenching, to maximise the benefits.
Conduct asecond WEC in 10-14 days after drenching, to check that the treatment has been ef fective.
Continue to monitor your mobs for increases in WEC and treat as mobs reach thresholds. Careful monitoring
can prevent avoidable adverse events and keep your stock thriving.
Know the relative susceptibility of the dif ferent classes of livestock on your far mand the types of wor ms you nor mally see (a larval culturewill deter mine this).
Worm management is not aset and forget process. It’s vital to be regularly monitoring flock health,WEC levels, and the ef fectiveness of management strategies.Bepreparedtoadjust the approach based on seasonal conditions, wormburdens, and sheep performance. Flexibility and responsiveness arekey to successful wormcontrol strategies.
Vi sit Agri cul tu re Vi cto ria Fee din g Live st ock We bs it e: Wo rm s- mon it or,
WE wish to express our apologies for the compact layout of this month's edition of the Gippsland Farmer
We had intended to bring you a48-page publication filled with the latest agriculturalnewsthat you need and engaging rural stories that you enjoy reading.
Unfortunately, pages had to be reduced due to ar ecent policy change that Australia Post has introduced. Under thispolicy,Australia Postisunable to deliver unaddressed mail weighing more than 100 grams from November 3, 2025 until January 5, 2026, their peak time delivery period. The aim is to help them better manage letter and parcel deliveries during this time.
We wer en ot made awar eo ft his issu eu nti ll ate Oct obe r. Th et eam at our loc al busi ness centr ew as also not awar eo ft his policy change.
measure and manage for information on WECs, and short videos on the impact of worms and management strategies.
Australia Post said monthlyagricultural newspapers reporting on rural news and distributed free directly to farmers arenot exempt from the policy.
Having spoken to anAustraliaPost representative, Iwas extremely disappointed at AP's lack of understandingatour position. Iwas left feeling that Australia Post didn't understand the importance of providing essential information to our farmers.
Additional articles will be featured on our website gippslandfarmer.com.au, which can be accessed free. Residual stories will be published in our December edition. Thanks for your continued support. Barb Seymour General Manager Latrobe Valley Express and Gippsland Farmer
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Prepareyourself for fireseason
Katrina BRANDON
LOCKED and loaded, statefireservices areready to gofor thenext fireseason.
Lastmonth,atapre-season briefing at Morwell’s Country FireAuthority(CFA) District 27 Headquarters, emergency service agenciesgathered to discuss the possibilities for theupcoming season
“We'reheretoday with all our emergency service agencies and our local government authorities, and our emergency broadcasterstoget readyfor the higherrisk weather season,”Emergency Management Commissioner TimWiebusch toldthe Gippsland Far mer.
“Weknow across Victoria that we've seen 18 months of verydry conditions in most parts of the state, withthe exceptionof East Gippsland. And so today is about getting ready as agencies for what we might face for this comingseason,not just here in Gippsland, but right across the state.”
As we headinto the summer season, Mr Wiebusch said that they could see a mixtureofemergencies across Gippsland.
In Gippsland,Mr Wiebusch said that thereisapossibilityofincreased fireactivity in the South and West Gippslandareas.
“The emergencyservices have been working hardover the lastcouple of months getting ready for the fireseason that is ahead, and we're nowcalling on thecommunitytodothe same,” CFA’sAssistant Chief Fire Officer Brian Russelsaid.
“The conditions throughout Gippsland have beendry.South Gippsland,inparticular,has beenvery dry overthe winter period and into spring. As we head into spring,however, we're startingtosee some raincoming through Gippsland.
“That rain will do some benefitfor us, but it's not going to makeabig difference. We just need to be awareofthat. We'recalling on the community to get organised and get startedpreparingtheir properties, justas the fireservices have been doing over the last coupleofmonths.
Mr Wiebusch alsostatedthat theseason couldgothe other way.
“We've already seen some fires down here in recent weeks, or we could alsosee the increasedriskofheavy rainfall,” he said.
“The Bureauisforecasting for November and December that we could see aboveaverage rainfallfor parts of Gippsland. So that meansthe risk of riverine and flash flooding is also on the list. But as we come into the summer months, we know the risk of thunderstormasthma is also with us.”
Mr Russel and Wi ebus ch wer ea lso joinedbyDavid Nugent, Acting Director of Forest andFirePrograms from Forest Fir eM anag eme nt Vi cto ria (FFMV ); Cameron Rothnie,VICSES (VictorianState EmergencyServices);and Shane Mynard, FRV(Fire RescueVictoria)
Mr Nugentsaid that emergency services such as the FFMV have been working towardsbeing ready to managewhat is to come over the nextfew months
In preparation forthe season, he stated that FFMV hasaplanned burn program, designed to mitigate risks to communities. According to Mr Nugent, over the last 12 months, they've been abletodeliveraprogram that treatedover 109,000hectares. Thisyear, as the early parts of theseason progressed, they also treated another 600 hectares across thestate
Mr Nu gen tals owar ned camp ers to ensure their fires arecompletely putout
As part of their emergency planning, localsshould download the VicEmergency Apptostay informed about potential risks in their immediatevicinity.
According to VICSES, overthe past fiv years, units in Gippsland have responded to thousands of storm-related Requests Assistance (RFAs), with numbers climb steadily across key towns. The Warrag Unitalonehas responded to 3,044 RF followed closely by Morwell (2,778), Leo nga tha (1,9 71 ), an dM oe (1,2 33) These figuresreflectthe growingimp of severe weather acrossthe region,from flash flooding and fallentrees to property damageand power outages.
In the most re cen ts tor ms ea son (2024/25), Warragul recorded arecord 878 RFAs,while Morwell respondedto 692, and Moeto424. These numbersare not just statistics,theyrepresent real emergencies affecting homes, families, and communities across Gippsland.
Mor es to rm sa re puttingG ippsland communities at greater risk, which means it’simportant toprepare early and stay involved locally.
With above-averagerainfall for ecast acr oss eas ter nVic toria, the risk of dama gin gw in d s, fla sh fl ood ing ,a nd sev er et hun de rst or ms re main sh ig h VICSES encouragesresidents in towns like Warragul, Morwell, Moe, Leongatha, and Bairnsdaletovisit ses.vic.gov.aufor practical advice andsafety tips. For more informationonhow to
Preparing for the fireseason Shane Mynard FRV,Bryan Russell CFA, Tim Wiebusch Emergency Management Commissioner, Cameron Rothnie VICSES and David Nugent FFMVIC got together to talk aboutthe upcoming season. Photos: Katrina Brandon
Premier unlocks bush tourism boost
From Page 1 simplephraseof“It’s really hardtoappreciate whatyou can’t enjoy.”
“Conversations I’ve had, whether it’s local pubs, whether it’s supermarkets, theyreally want to get people in, Ithink asignificant part of this is the pest and weed management. We’renot talking to land caregroups, whether it’s far mers, whether it’s locals, they just want to they really appreciate this support”.
Another key initiative under the same umbrella is the $4 million Healthy Forests Pilot Program, which will initially focus on timber towns like Orbost and Noojee. The program aims to reimagine forest management by incorporating multiple community values,including tourism, recreation, and environmental conservation.
The Minister for Envir onment said Victoria’s new forest management trial will take amoreholistic approach, recognising the many different ways people value state forests beyond their ecological importance. The pilot program will incorporate arange of community priorities, including tourism, recreation, economic use, and Traditional Owner values, into asingle management
framework. This approach aims to ensure local communities see themselves reflected in how Victoria’spublic forests aremanaged in the future.
The gover nment plans to intr oduce a new Public Land Act to sit alongside and complement the NationalParks Act. The new Public Land Act will provide acontemporary framework for themanagement of public land, including state forests, while not changing any existing activities or restrict community access. This includes legislating
management purposes for the 3.2 million hectares of state forests to ensurethey are managed for multiple outcomes, including community recreation, and providing a modernplanning framework to support the development of Healthy Forest Plans
The initiative for ms part of abroader push by the stategovernment to encourage outdoor recreation and tourism across regional Victoria. Over the past month, the gover nment has made aseries of related announcements,including new hunting
opportunities, additional mountain bike trails in the Alpine region, and amulti-year agreement with Four Wheel Drive Victoria to help maintain off-road tracks.
The plan comes after community consultation, with over 20,000 Victorians providing input through recent inquiries and task forces.
Mr McIntosh emphasized the economic potential,notingthat improvedoutdoor facilities could significantly boost regional tourism and local businesses. The gover nment expects the plan will create new jobs, encourage outdoor recreation, and provide economic stimulus to Gippsland's communities.
The Gippsland Farmer prepared amultitude of questions for the Premier on arange of other topics important to the Latrobe Valley, such as the machete amnesty program and the ESVF levy, but werenot permitted time to raise these issues after both pressers were complete and the Premier departed.
Also while in town,Allan made stopsat Mirboo North Secondary Collegefor aschool visit, and Erica for the Healthy Forest Plans Pilot alongside Baw Baw ShireCouncil members. Local media werenot informed.
Minister for the Environment,Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, Premier JacintaAllen, BawBaw ShireMayor Councillor Danny Goss and Tom McIntosh MP gather yesterdayfor the Healthy Forest Plans Pilot in Noojee announcement
Photo: Baw Baw ShireCouncil
Apressing matter: The Premier and her companions packed much into her one dayinGippsland, covering several press conferences, aforest trip, and aschool visit all beforethe school pickup.
Locals in mind: Member for Eastern Victoria TomMcIntosh tells all on whatthe investments could mean for locals and the tourism industry
Protecting the environment: Steve Dimopoulos hadaveryhectic daywiththe Premier
Photos: Katrina Brandon
Oyster industry for lakes
ATHREE-YEAR aquaculturetrial to grow oysters in the Gippsland Lakes has so far produced very encouraging signs of creating an industry for Gippsland’s Aboriginal community and boost local tourism.
The Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, said the results from the first three years of the trial in the Gippsland Lakes to determine how wellSydney Rock Oysters(Saccostrea glomerata) growinthe lakessystem, wereexcellent.
The trial has been assessing the viability, growth rates, eating quality and food safety of Sydney Rock Oysters, which are native to Gippsland, at four sites around Flannagans and Rigbys Islands, west of Lakes Entrance. Oysters produced in the Gippsland Lakes trial so far aregrowing at similar rates to established oyster farms in the estuaries of southernNew South Wales at Merimbula and Pambula.
The $250,000 trial is part of the state gover nment’s $96 millionpackageto improve aquaculture,fishing, boating and piersand has beenboosted more recently by a$400,000 investment from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, on behalf of the Australian Government, to aid its expansion.
The trial is apartnership between the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA). GLaWAC and the VFAare expanding the trial month through the addition of 60,000 oysters that will find homes in two of the existing growing sites and three new ones nearby, all in water less than one metredeep.
The expansion willimprove understanding of the commercial viability of the project and oystergrowth under
higher stocking densities, typical of commercial operations.
An ati ve o yst er in d us tr yi nt he Gippsland Lakes would create jobs for Gunaikurnai, support regional tourism and supply fresh, local and sustainable seafood.
Victorian-grown Sydney Rock Oysters could be back on the menu for seafood lovers, whichwould be ahugewin for Victoria. Existing oyster aquaculture interstate is worth morethan $100 million, so if the trial is successful and per manent oyster far ming becomes established, it could lead to significant economic prosperity for Gippsland Lakes towns.
The Interim CEO of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Charee Smith, said the expansion was another step towardaself-determined futurefor Gunaikurnai people -grounded in Country, guided by culture, and driven by indigenous priorities. “But this isn’t just forus. If we get it right, it creates jobs, skills and opportunities that flow right across the region,” she said.
For mor ei nfo rm ation visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/oystertrial
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Carecrucial for soil health in paddocks
Kerri GOSCHNICK LAND Management Extension OFFICER
MAINTENANCE is the key to reducing soil and sediment movement in paddocks.
good understanding of catchmentsize and potential water volumesisnecessary to avoid failure.
While sprin gr ain is val uab le for pastures and replenishing farm dams, run offmay also carrysedimentinto livestock dams,particularlywhere there is exposed soil in heavily grazed paddocks.
Hay bales or netting held together with steelposts or stakestocontrol sediment flow into dams can be agood starting point. Although the cost of hay and the hazardof steel posts should be considered. Coir logs areapotential alternative to hay bales.
Fibreglass postsand construction site hazard fencing (barrier mesh)are another,often safer option. Using 20 metres of barrier mesh and four fibreglass posts upstream of adam is both highly visible and relatively low cost, at around $85 per site.
Aim for meshopenings that are no smallerthan 100 mm square. Smaller openingswillblock up with debris too quickly and the fence will fail. It is also important to remove stakes or mesh once the risk of sedimentationhas reduced to avoid debris build up.
Building earthen banks to protect areas from sedimentationusually requires survey design, knowledge of soil type and risks, suitable equipment and expertisetosuccessfully construct. A
Roadand track maintenanceisalso important. Annual maintenance with aslight camber in the road surface to shed water to the side with the shortest distance possible willhelp to prevent wheel tracks from developing into drains and washing out the track surface.
Culverts and side drains should also be cleanedannually to preventblockages and water from being redirected to less suitable discharge areas.
Visit the AgricultureVictoria website for articles on soil retention and sediment movement on agricultural land following drought, fire, strong winds and rainfall events.
Grants of up to $5,000 areavailable for farmers to support investment in onfarmdrought management activities and be better prepared for futuredroughts.
Eligible activities include water infrastructureupgrades such as pipes, tanks, troughs and dams, stock containment areas, grain and fodder storage, water carting and pasturere-establishment. To apply, go to www.ruralfinance.com. au/grants/
Find moreinformation about available drought support at www.agriculture.vic. gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Snappy winfor St Paul’s Ella
YEAR 3student, Ella, from St Paul's Anglican Grammar School in Traralgon, has won first place in Sustainability Victoria’s Through Your Own Lens photography competition -a state-wide initiative to inspireclimate-ready thinking in schools participating in the ResourceSmart Schools program.
Ninetyentries were received from28 schools across the state with Ella’s image titled Water,winning the Lower Primary category.
Ella’s photograph highlights the vital role water plays in sustaining life and ecosystems. Her reflection impressed judges and captured the essence of this year’s theme,
Building aClimate-Ready Future.
The Through Your Own Lens competition invited students across Victoria to explore the themeBuilding aClimate-Ready Future through photography and written reflection. The initiativeencouragesyoung people to consider how communities, nature, and infrastructureare adapting to the potential impacts of climate change.
Judges praisedElla’s stating, “This is a thoughtful entry that highlights the importance of water for all living things and offers simple, practical actions to protect it. The reflection is clear and purposeful, and the circle of light blue in the sky is eye-catching
and contrasts well with the other colours.”
Students wererecognised across three categories: Lower Primary, Middle Years and Senior School.
Sustainability Victoria’s CEO Matt Genever congratulated Ellaand all entrants fortheir artistic visions of aclimate-ready future.
“This competition is apowerful reminder of the creativity and insight young people bring to the climate conversation," he said.
“Ella’s image and reflection show adeep understanding of the importanceofprotecting our natural resources. It’s inspiring to see students leading the way with astrong sense of carefor the world around them.”
Traralgon’s year 3student Ella won this year’s Through Your Own Lens competition. Photo: Ella
Winners willreceiveprizestosupport sustainability projects at their schools and an invitation to the 2026 ResourceSmart SchoolsAwards -Victoria’slargest celebration of sustainability in schools.
New Gippsland water bodies appointed to boards
Philip HOPKINS
THE state government has made anumber of new appointmentstoGippsland’s water bodies as part of astate overhaul.
The Minister for Water,Gayle Tierney, has appointed 135 boardmembers to Victoria’s 18 water corporations, nine catchment management authorities and the Birrarung Council, which oversees the Yarra River
The gover nment says the independent selectionpanel balanced continuity with fresh perspectives, aiming to ensurethat Victoria’s water entities areled by boards that reflect thediversity of thecommunities they serve.
Women areleading the way in the water sector,with morethan half of all water board directors, and morethan 60 per cent of boardchairs, nowwomen.Thereare also moreLGBTIQ+membersand people under 35 yearsofage.
Regional Victorians continue to make up morethan half of boardroles in the water sector,the aim being that local knowledge and community needs arefront and centre in decision-making, the government says.
The number of Aboriginal boardmembers in the water sector has increased to 29, more than doublethat from 2019. With this increased representation, 23 out of 29 water sector boards will have an Aboriginal boardmember
The appointeesjoin 109 existing board members in the water sector to oversee the delivery of critical water services and preservation of Victoria’s catchments and waterways. Victoria’s public water sector is central to supporting jobs, economic growth, and the environmentaspopulation continues to grow.
East Gippsl and Wa ter. Retur ning and continuing boardmembers: Therese Tierney (chair), Ian Gibson,KateYoung, Andrew Webster,Jamie Williamson and Steven Wright. New boardmembers: Mandi Davidson and Rochelle Wrigglesworth.
Gippsland Water. Returning and continuing boardmembers:Tom Mollenkopf(chair), Penny Hutchinson, KatrinaLai, Felix Ohle, Jenny Selway,Shara Teoand Katie Wyatt. New board members: SamMuir and Kellie O' Callaghan, who began their appointments on October 1.
Mr Muir is aWiradjuri man raised on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton. He brings
FORS ALE
experienceasacorporate af fairs specialist and community volunteer and has previously served as an Associate BoardMember at Goulbur nBroken Catchment Management Authority.
Ms O’Callaghan is along-servingcommunity leader with extensive experience in health, community services and governance. She is also aformer Mayor of Latrobe City Counciland has astrong focus on community engagement.
BoardChair TomMollenkopf AO said the new directors wouldbring valuableperspectives to the organisation, and also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing directors Jo Benvenuti and Chris Badger
“Jo played akey role in strengtheningour community engagement approach and was instrumental in shaping the industry-leading engagementundertaken during our Price Submission,” Mr Mollenkopf said.
“Chris is highly respected for his engineering and governance expertise. His ability to challenge our teams and encouragefresh thinking has been aguiding influence.
“Both Jo andChris leave lastinglegacies from theirtenures, and we thank them for their dedicated service.”
South GippslandWater Retur ning and continuing boardmembers: Nicola Hepenstall
(chair),Diana Nestorovska, Christopher Rose, Jennifer RyanNew boardmembers: Susan Lloyd, Ian Maxfield, Mark Nicholls,Leonie Valentine.
Westernport Water Returning and continuing boardmembers:Annabelle Roxon (chair),Leigh Berrell, Tanya Ha, Graham Hawke, Joanne Pearson, Kushal ShahNew boardmembers: Jane Headon, Briony Rogers.
Sou th ern Ru r al Wa ter Retur ning a nd continuin gb oar dm embers: Joanne Butterworth-Gray (chair), Michael Browne, Brendan Flynn, Michelle McCrum, Anthony Scarff,Kylie SteelNew boardmembers: Cath Jenkins, ClaireMiller,Andrew Smith. East Gippsland Catchment Management Author ity. Ret ur ning and con tinuin g board mem be rs:Stephen Angus (chair), Kate Commins, Jessica Knight, Merrilyn Wo odhou seN ew bo a rd membe rs: Alex Aeschlimann, Michelle Dowsett, Rob Hescock, Daniel Rodaughan. West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Returning and continuing board members: Belinda Nave (Chair), Susan Anderson, Shelley McGuiness, Nick Murray, Jenny O’Sullivan. New boardmembers: Nicole Griffin, RichardMcAllister,Glenys Watts.
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Rodeo Queen crowned
Katrina BRANDON
HATS and sashes have been cast in the 2025 Australian Rodeo Queen Quest (ARQQ), with Traralgon local, Grace “Gigi” Griffith, being crowned first runner-up.
Established in 1992, the ARQQ is the longest-running national rodeo queen competition in Australia. It exists to honour the sport of rodeo and elevate ambassadors who can represent rural values and Australian rodeo cultureboth nationally and internationally.
The winner is crownedMiss Rodeo Australia, gaining theopportunity to represent the country at events acrossAustralia and internationally, including in the United States.
Entrants arejudged across several areas, including horsemanship and riding ability, publicspeaking andmedia presentation, community engagement and charity work, rodeo knowledge and rural awareness, as well as personal presentation and leadership skills.
The quest spans several months of preparation, fundraising, event attendance and public appearances.
Ms Griffith, 29, is one of nine young women selected nationally to compete in theRodeo Queen Quest, andone of just two entrants from Victoria.
While not originally from the Traralgon area, Ms Griffith grew up in the High Countryand has apassion for rural and regional life.
Alongside her passion for the country, Ms Griffith raised $2000 for Rural Aid to help families doing it tough across regional areas through her involvement with the quest, and an additional $7000 to empower and support young rural women.
“Rural Aid provides vital support to farmingfamilies, and to contribute $2,000 with the backing of my community means agreat deal,” Ms Griffith said.
Last month, from October 6to12, the competition was held on the Gold Coast, whereeight national finalists werejudged
on their horsemanship, public speaking, charity work, and community involvement.
As first runner-up, Ms Griffith will travel to rodeos across thecountrytoopenevents on horseback and performgrand entries, proudly representing the National Rodeo Council of Australia alongside the 2025 queen, Mateja Martinovic. In her new role, she will also act as aspokesperson for rodeo and Australia’s incredible country community.
“What an honour it is to be crowned first runner-up Rodeo Queen of Australia,” Ms Griffith said.
“I am so proud of my fellow entrants and the authentic love and support we’ve all shown one another,and for how far we’ve all come.This experiencehas been nothing short of extraordinary, from the genuine sisterhood and camaraderie shared with this remarkable group of women, to the incredible new opportunities I’veembraced, including trying archery on horseback.”
Ms Griffith said she feels particularly honoured by the achievement, as she has only recently reconnected to both the rural community and horse riding after several years away.
“My goal throughout this journey was to encourageothers who might be returning to the sport or community as Ihave -orthose considering joiningfor the first time -to take the leap,” she said. “It’s never too late to reconnect with your roots or discover a love for country life.”
In August, one of Ms Griffith’s many quest adventures included afundraiser night at the Maffco Brewery and Taphouse, which welcomed morethan 250 people.
Supported by local businesses and individuals, Ms Griffithsaidthe experience has reaffirmed her deep ties to her rural roots.
“I can’t wait to join the rodeo circuit next year and take part in grand entries across the countryalongside our 2025 queen, Mateja,” she said.
“It is an absoluteprivilege to wearthis crown, and Iwill endeavour to honour the role with pride and integrity.”
Ms Griffith also expressed heartfelt gratitude for those who’ve supported her journey.
“A heartfelt thank you to my beautiful familyand partner for flying up to the Gold Coast to be by my side for final judging and presentations, and for your unwavering support throughout this adventure,” she said.
“A major thank you to my sponsors also, and everyone who has backed my journey. Thereare too many to mention, but Iwould not be herewithout each and every one of you.”
“It’sabout more than atitle and crown, too,”MsGriffith added.
“It’s about celebrating the heart of rural Australia and the people who make it what it is, and Iambeyondhonoured to have the opportunity to do that.”
Traralgon’s ownGrace Griffith hasraised $2,000 for Rural Aid through her involvement in the 2025 Australian Rodeo Queen Quest Photo: Ana Car
Retirement living after the farm
Traf District Newswentbehind the gates at EncoreRetirement Village to asksome of the residents how they find livinginsucha community.
They have kindly allowed GippslandFarmer to sharewhattheyfound
Les
Les and Janet wereamong the first to move into Encoreand Les is its most senior resident.
“My wife Janet and Ilivedout on afarmafew miles out of Thorpdale,and at that timewe werehaving worries.
Peoplewerecoming in and raiding shedsand all that We didn’tfeel really safe, so we decided to move.
Ithink this was one of our betterdecisions to
come down hereand Ican always remember the first nightweslept here.
We woke up and we said to one another, ‘well, that was good’.
We feel safe.”
“We’reina gated area, although our houseat the timewas sitting on its own because it was one ofthe firstbuilt
And as it’s grown, as the community’sgrown,
I’ve felt that it’s verymuch like Thorpdale when Iwas akid and grew up and married.
Agoodsenseofcommunity
Youknow everybody in the village.
Everybody doesn’tmingle, but amajority do.”
“One thing thatalways tickles me is that you can be sitting out in yourgarage and people come walking along.
They don’twalk on footpaths.
They walk straight up the middle of the road
And if acar comesalong,it’sgot to stop and talk to them
It’s just like the olddays.I enjoy it.
Ienjoy it immensely
Ifindone of my betterdecisionsinmylife was comingdown hereinmyold age.”
Russ
Russ is aretired farmer and moved to Encore with his wife Marge.
Although officially retired, Russ spends alot of time helping outonthe familyfarm.
“Well, we’ve now been livinginEncorefor six years,and Icouldn’t think of anywherebetter to be,particularlyatour age
The community,the residents and the management areterrific, particularly when you’renot feeling well, which is not uncommon at ourage.
They’re always theretoassist.
Without being too intrusive, we certainly haven’t foundthat.
They’ll helpwhen required.
Ienjoy getting out away from the village, participatinginmyson’s farming activities whenever he might give me somethingtodo.
And my wife, sheisnot so well andshe’s quite happy, very happy,ina secureenvironment.”
“That’sabig thing, Ithink,the security of the village, whereyou’reliving withagroup of people, like-minded as in age and welfare.
And yeah,wecouldn’tbemorethan happy in hereand we arepleasedwecamein.”
Mick
Mick and his wife moved into Encore acouple of years agotoenjoy thefreedomtotravel in retirement.
“I can’ttellyou what all retirement villages are like, Ican only youonlytellyou what it’s like in this, butI reckon they’reall different.
So after afairly lengthy decision making
process we came into this retirement village on thebasis of the qualityofthe resources hereinterms of the homes etc.
The size of them andthe freedomofthemin terms of them being,ifyou like, areal home.
We were needing to relocatefromthe big familyhome, with five bedroomsbut now no children, so we wereliterallydownsizing and the big toss up was, do we stayinthe town wherewewere, or move.”
“But in effectitis asense of belonging to a communityand what you make it, rather than what the community itselfis, and Ithink that’s important.
So if someone’sconsidering living in a retirement village, Ireckon look at alot of them because theywon’tall suit you.
Don’tlook at one andsay it doesn’tsuit, or that it does suit, stillcheck it outagainst others because they’reall different, that’swhat I found.”
Asbestos Awareness
Wasyour farmhouse built before1990
Do youknowwhereasbestos is hiding on your property?
Did youknowthat approximately1/3 of all homes in Australia contain asbestos products?
Older farmbuildings, built before1990, including farmhouses, barns, silos, pens and sheds arehighlylikelyto contain asbestos construction materials.
Asbestos cement pipes were also commonlyused as field drains on farmlands.
Whereitcould be hiding
FLOOR
Take alookatthe floorcoverings in each room.
Asbestos containing floor coverings or underlay’sweremorecommonly (but not exclusively) locatedinwet areas of thehousehold (Bathrooms, Kitchensthe Laundryetc)
WALLS
Once painted,it’seasy to be tricked into thinking that everything is the same product. Youmust rememberthat asbestos cementproducts weremoulded into allsorts of shapes.
OVENS AND CHIMNEYS
AC Sheetwas also commonly used to seal offa chimney Agoodexampleofthisiswhen
has been sealed offto houseanoven. Theremay be acement sheet used to capoff the holeonly, or there may be afullsurround installed.
HEATERS
AC Sheet wasa great material to be utilised around heat because of its fireresistant properties
Thecover straps if present maybe asbestoscement andthe patches, light bases and vent coversmay all be formedfrommouldedasbestos cement.
FLUES
Be awarethat there arestill afew asbestos ‘flues’ in usealso Over3000 products wereused in residential, commercial, agricultural andindustrial settings and are knowntohavecontainedasbestos.
ACV/GARDS recommendsanaudit of where asbestos maybeinyour property and toconsider removal by aqualifiedregisteredremovalist
Asbestos awarenessevent
On Friday28th Novemberat11am
theAsbestos and Silica Awareness DayEvent will be heldatGippsland Heritage Park in Moe
The event raisesawarenessof asbestos and silica and its effects on sufferers,their families, the community andthe environment. Several speakersofinterestwill provide valuable information and resources.
The YesICan Choir andRichard Harris Bagpiper will be partofthe eventalongwithanecumenical serviceconducted by Rev’d Gradwell Fredericks to remember those whoare suffering andthose who have succumbed to asbestos and silica disease.
Families willbeabletolay flowers and paytribute to their loved ones. Therewillbea community BBQ at the conclusionofthe event preparedand cooked bythe Moe Lions Club.
Forfurther informationplease contact Vicki Hamilton on mobile 0407 274173
EVER Yyear Victorian grain crops face seasonal risks in spring. With the market for hay quite strong and the grain market looking weaker than other years, farmers might choose to cut their cropsfor hay instead of harvesting them.
To helpworkout the most profitable option, AgricultureVictoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist,Dale Boyd, is encouraging growerstotake advantage of somehelpful online calculators. "Growers arefacing elevated seasonalrisks this year due to below average growingseason rainfall," Mr Boyd said.
"Our calculators will help farmers check how well their crops aredoing for grain andweigh up whether it’s better to use
them for fodder to optimise outcomes in a challenging season."
The Dry Matter Calculator helps farmers work out how much dry mattertheir crops may yield in tonnes per hectaresothey can decide the best time to cut hay. The Hay versus Grain Calculator compares the gross margin of both hay and grain in dollars per hectare, offering apictureofpotential profitability.
The CropYieldCalculator helps farmers quickly estimatecereal crop yieldin the field using arulerand smartphone. It’s apractical tool for assessing paddock performance, forecastinggrain quality, and planning harvest logistics.
Together,these tools can help far mers
to make confident, data-driven decisions in the field.
To use these calculators,visit the following links:
For information on available drought support visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Boosting soil health
Rachael CAMPBELL
AgricultureVictoria Ballarat
NOW that paddocksare being cut for silage, dairy effluent can be applied to areas with some green leaf still present. This can be done after cutting to promote valuable pasture regrowth for an extra grazing and to replace lost nutrients.
Dairy effluent contains many important nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. An effluent test is the best way todeter mine the mostappropriate application rate for your farmasnutrient levels vary widely between farms.
Total potassium applied per application should be no morethan 60 kg potassium per hectareand no morethan 120 kg potassium per hectareper year.Nitrogen application should be no morethan 60-80 kg nitrogenper hectareper application Heavier applicationsincrease the risk of problemssuchasnitrate poisoning, mineral imbalances and lossestothe environment.
If achemical analysis isn’t available, a ruleofthumbisto applyliquid effluent at a rate of 1 megalitre per 4 ha to areas where there is no likelihood of runoff from the property. Target paddocks that are known to have lower nutrient levels.
Remember to restrict cattlegrazing for at least 21daysafter the application of ef fluent as this withholding period will overcomepalatabilityorfouling issues, reduce the risk of pathogens and allow the plants time to respond to the nutrients.
Sludge will also need to be removed from your first pond every so often, depending on how the pond was designed. This can be applied to paddocks about to be cultivated for acroporsprayed thinly on pastureat similar times to the effluent.
Application rate should be based on an
effluent test, however if this is not available aguide for applying sludge to pastureisa rate of 1megalitreper 12 ha. Vacuum tankers and other specialised equipment, often used by contractors, can be useful for this purpose.Withholdingperiods tend to be longer for sludge applications than liquid effluent, and these paddocks shouldn’t be grazed until the grass has grown through the sludge layer
Over the longer term, continue to conduct regular soil testing whereeffluent is being applied to monitor nutrient levels and soil health.
For mor ei nfor mation about using dairy effluent effectively, contact Rachael Campbell on rachael.campbell@agriculture.vic.gov.au
For information on available drought supportvisitagriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Optimising use of paddocks this silage season
Michele JOLLIFFE AgricultureVictoria, Hamilton
CAPITALISING on the spring surplus will be critical on farms this year.
While some things are out of our control, focusing on keyfactors will helpensure thatyou get thebest possible return.
Five key factors for silage this season are:
Only lock up pasturethat is surplus to requirements. Making silage can be an expensive exercise, so it only makes sense when pasturegrowth exceeds animal requirements. In areasonable year on most far ms, this generally occurs in early to mid-September
Use nitrogen (N) to increase dry matter yield but cut pasture within six weeks of application. Once cutting is delayed beyond six weeks, the quality of the silage declines morerapidly than if no nitrogen is applied and this can result in large quantities of lowquality silage which is unsuitable to feed cows in the early stage of lactation. By using rates of nitrogen up to 50 kg N/ha, responses of 18 kg DM/ha for every kg Napplied, six weeks after application can be produced.
Be pr epar ed to cut pastur e when the ryegrass component of the swar di sj ust re aching early ear emergence. Ideally, the plan is to cut pastur ew hen the ryegrass component of the swar di sa t early ear emergence. Due to the
seasonal conditions this year,i t is mor el ikely that paddocks will be cut at ar ange of times, for example, when it is still vegetive or later than early ear emergence. As ar esult, it will be critical to ensur et hat the forage hits dry matter targets quickly, so it doesn’t lose quality.
Use tedders to increase the drying rate of cut material and so reduce the wilting period. It has been shown that the use of tedders has abeneficial ef fect on both final silage metabolisable energy and crude protein. The length of the wilting period will be dictated by the type of silage to be made and weather conditions. Given reasonable drying conditions material should be ready for pit silage within 48 hours and for bale silage within 72 hours.
Ensile material quickly and seal well.
It’s important to ensure thatthe material being ensiled is tightly packed into either apit or the bale and that it is sealedpromptly. Theidealdry matterof pasture for pit silage is 30 per cent ,any lower and effluent may be aproblem, and any higher compaction may be difficult. The drymatter percentage of bale silageshould be about 45-50 per cent. At this dry matter areasonable fermentation should occur,and it reduces the chance of spoilage.
For moreinformation about drought support visit www.agriculture.vic.gov. au/drought or call 136 186
Your One Stop Shop for Animal Health
BROWNWIGG has been proudly servicing the needs of the local community for many years.
By paying close attention to all of their customers’ needs and meeting these requirements with avast product range, their professional, courteous staffhave developed a“Can Do” attitude that is second to none.
No matter what you or your business requires, the BrownWigg team will find you the right product or service for the job, saving you valuable time and money beforethe job even begins.
The BrownWigg team also possess ample expert product knowledge and problem solving ability to customise solutions to meet your most exacting requirements.
This ability to efficiently tailor product and service solutions has transformed BrownWigg into areal “One Stop Shop”, providing atrue value adding and cost effective extension to the local business community.
BrownWigg Warragul is excited to introduce their new Abbey Lifestyle HealthcareCentre, because keeping your animals healthy should be simple.
Designed to make looking after your farmanimals easier,smarter and a whole lot moreengaging, they have created aspace whereyou can explore, learnand get expert advice, all in one spot.
Just select aproduct that you would like moreinformation about, scan the QR code with your phone and everything you need to know will be right therein the palm of your hand.
Thereisnothing worse than getting home and finding out the product you purchased is not suitable.
Now you can compareproduct information, find out the best way to use it, make sureyou aregiving the right dosage and much more, right there instorebeforeyou leave.
BrownWigg Gippsland, first to open, last to close.
• Fertilisers
• Seed
• Agricultural Chemicals
• General Merchandise
• Power Equipment
• Lubricants
• Animal Health
• Fencing
• Stock feed and pet feed
Drop in and speak to one of our friendly Team Members at the following locations:
5152 1313
5664 0265
WITH far mers chasing moreefficiency across the farm,every product has to work harder
Omnia’s humates aremade in Gippsland using leonardite, recognised as some of the purest in the world.
That purity allows them to produce K-Humate-26, one of the most concentrated humic solutions available.
Humates help bring tired soils back to life.
They stimulate microbial activity, improve nutrient availability, and support better soil structure.
That means stronger root systems and better access to minerals already in the ground.
Pairing humates with Rhizovator takes things further Rhizovator feeds biology and drives root growth.
In trials, root tips increased by 40 percent and root length by 13 percent.
That kind of development means better nutrient access and stronger pasture establishment.
Omnia also offers Bacstim, afive-strain bacillus blend in sporeform.
It works with humates to energise soil microbes and unlock nutrients for plant roots.
Together,these products support ahealthier soil ecosystem and more resilient pasture.
Fertiliser losses from leaching, tie-up and volatility areareal hit to the bottom line.
Humates that work harder for your pasture
FertiCoat helps protect that investment.
Applied to granular fertilisers, it keeps nutrients in the root zone wherethey’re needed, improving uptake and growth. To find out which humate solution suits your pasturebest, talk to your local Omnia agronomist or visit omnia.com.au.
Global Hemp Summit Australia comes to Gippsland
THE 4th Global Hemp Summit Australia will be held at Lardner Park, Victoria, from December 10th to 12th, 2025, marking amajor milestone in the national development of the industrial hemp sector
This event is entirely devoted to industrial hemp, acropgrown for fibre, seed, and hurdthat is devoid of any psychoactive elements.
The Summit brings together farmers, processors, builders, manufacturers, researchers, and policymakers from across Australia and abroad.
Its focus is clear: to showcase hemp as acornerstone of sustainable agriculture, low-carbon construction, and rural economic renewal.
According to Darren Christie, hemp farmer and organiser of the Summit, “This is not just atalk-fest, it’s about showing real plants in real soil.
People can see for themselves how the plant is grown”.
AHands-On Field Day for Farmers
THE event begins on Wednesday, December 10th, with aField Day sponsored by the Committee for Gippsland. This day will be of special interest to farmers, featuring adedicated five
hectarehemp plot established at Lardner Park as part of athree-year program of planting and harvesting industrial hemp crops at the venue.
Entry to the Field Day is free of charge, giving growers and landholders the opportunity to see hemp in the ground, examine its growth stages, and discuss cultivation practices with agronomists and experienced producers.
The variety being planted has been specially bred for fibreproduction, the key ingredient used in hempcrete, a natural building material for houses and pre-cast construction blocks.
Akey benefit is that hemp takes 90-120 days from planting to harvesting.
Expo and Conference: Innovation and Industry Leadership
THE Expo and Conference will take place on Thursday 11th and Friday 12th December,featuring presentations and panel sessions with leading figures from every part of the hemp value chain.
Speakers include hemp farmers, processors, manufacturers, builders, and architects, each sharing practical insights and case studies from their own experience.
This is aunique half-daydedicated to the foundations of the hemp industry—the seed, the soil, andthe plant.Meetseedbreeders, agronomists, soilscientists, farmers, andleadingadvocatesinhemp agricultureand experts in carbon measurement and creating carbon additionality by cover cropping with hemp.Located at the conference venue, we will be meeting in thecropfor the rare opportunity to explorea living display of ahempfibre crop
The Field Day is followed by an intensive two-day Conferenceand Exhibition.
This is event is supportedbymajor government bodies,associations, and hemp-related Corporations.
Come together with changemakersusinghemptoreshape our built environment
Walk through live demonstration crops on-site.
Explorelow-carbon materials transforming modern construction
Discover carbon negative building practices.
Hear from recognisedexperts in hemp architecture, building, and sustainability
Connect with hemp industrypioneersand innovators
These sessions will highlight how hemp can deliver profitable farming systems, create regional jobs, and help achieve Australia’s net-zerocarbon targets.
Interactive panel discussions and one-on-one meetings will allow delegates to directly connect with experts, exchange knowledge, and explorenew partnerships.
The Expo will featuremajor companies supplying hemp-based materials, machinery, and building products, as well as organisations offering technical support for those looking to enter or expand within the hemp sector
Attendees will be able to meet the people already driving Australia’s fastgrowing hemp construction and carbon markets.
Carbon Farming and Climate Solutions
HEMP is recognised for its exceptional ability to sequester carbon dioxide during growth (absorbing around 22 tonnes of CO2 per hectare) and for storing that carbon long-terminmaterials such as hempcrete walls, bio-based panels, and insulation.
Hemp is not just alow-emission crop, it’s acarbon sink, offering measurable and verifiable climate benefits.
Many hemp growers arenow collaborating with major Australian companies seeking to offset their own carbon emissions through high-integrity, nature-based solutions.
By including hemp within acrop rotation, farmers can also improve soil health, reduce their own carbon footprint, and produce net-zerooreven carbon-negative products for downstream supply chains.
Gippsland at the Forefront
FOR Gippsland farmers, builders, and regional businesses, the Global Hemp Summit Australia represents arareopportunity to engage directly with national and international leaders in sustainable agricultureand construction.
Over the three days, participants will gain practical knowledge, make industry connections, and explorehow hemp can add value to local farming systems and manufacturing sectors.
The Global Hemp Summit Australia places Gippsland firmly on the map as ahub for green innovation and regional resilience.
For moreinformation and registrations, visit www.globalhempsummit.au.
HEMP FIELD DAY AND BUILDING
THE pressureismounting.
Between fluctuating milk prices and the ever -rising cost of electricity, dairy farmers areconstantly searching for ways to lock in profitability.
The threat of ablackout, which can cripple amilking operation, only adds to the stress.
But anew partnership between Redei and Surge Energy offers asolution tailored specifically for Gippsland’s dairy community: Microgrid-Energy-as-aService (MEaaS).
This innovative Microgrid-as-a-Service (MaaS) model is asmarter way to cut costs, secureyour energy supply, and future-proof your farm.
It delivers acomplete, customised microgrid for your property including solar panels, battery storage, and smart controls.
The biggest benefit is what you don’t have to pay: the entiresystem is financed, installed, owned, and maintained by Redei and Surge Energy.
This is agame-changer compared to traditional power agreements.
Unlike astandardPPA (Power Purchase Agreement) or abank loan for solar,you pay no upfront capital and
take on none of the performance risk.
APPA typically only covers solar generation and leaves you exposed to grid and operational risks.
The Redei and Surge MaaS, however, includes built-in battery backup, ensuring your dairy shed and processing operations keep the milk flowing during any grid outage.
Yousimply pay asingle, predictable, fixed rate for the total energy service, removing the risk of unpredictable, fluctuating power bills for the long term.
This approach immediately frees up your precious farmcapital to spend on feed, herdmanagement, and growth— not on power infrastructure.
It’s time to take control of your farm’s energy future.
Surge Energy is currently offering a free, no-obligation energy assessment to show you exactly how much your dairy can save and how quickly you can achieve energy security.
Don’t let power costs be abarrier to your farm’s success.
Contact Surge Energy today to book your free assessment: Phone: 0448 223 136 (Daniel Jung) or email: info@surgeenergy.io
Smart water systems Keep theMilk Flowing: How ‘Microgridas-a-Service’ Can Future-Proof Your Dairy
NEXLINE Irrigation and Plumbing is a locally owned and operated company which has now been successfully operating for 18 months, servicing local Gippsland farmers with all their irrigation and water solution needs.
Nexline specialises in irrigation and plumbing systems, flood wash systems, HDPE butt welding, poly fabrication and earthworks, pump installations and repairs and designing efficient water systems.
Using their corevalues of integrity, innovation, accountability, honesty, respect, adaptability, excellence and knowledge, they have built areliable team which continuously work towards their main goal; working together with their clients to design, manufactureand maintain efficient and smart water systems tailored to meet all requirements.
With in-house capabilities to butt weld and fabricate complex designed HDPE fittings and bends up to 630mm, this makes Nexline one of the rarepoly fabricators in Gippsland.
Nexline’s equipment allows them to design, manufactureand install pipework systems on alarger scale, while also being capable to manufactureand install smaller intricate jobs.
Nexline also has the ability to complete poly tank repairs, pump installation and pump repairs.
Nexline prides themselves on being the team to call and rely on to know that your job will be done quickly, correctly and is going to last.
For afriendly face and some of the best advice in the industry, they would love to hear from you.
BeDroned Drone Services
BEDroned is alocally owned and operated drone service that can offer the following services:
Drone Spraying
AERIAL Spraying was traditionally performed by light aircraft or helicopters.
Advanced technology drones like
BeDroned’s DJI AgrasT50 have revolutionised pesticide, herbicide and fertiliser application.
Benefits of drone applications include:
•Cost effectiveness
•Precise dispersal
•Reduced drift
•Easy access to difficult terrain
•Fully CASA and AusChem certified flight crew
Aerial Spreading
SEED and fertiliser can be applied using the Agras T40 spreading hopper
The T40 is capable of dispersing up to 1.5 tonnes per hour
Payload is dispersed evenly and can exceed the crop efficiency of ground spreading seed such as canola.
Drone spreading has no impact on soil, unlike heavy machinery, and is ideal for over seeding of crops and in accessing specifically targeted areas.
FarmMapping
SEE your farm as you have never seen it before
The BeDroned Agras T40 together with the Mavic multispectral drone can provide 3D mapping, multispectral analysis of crops and near infrared mapping. NVDI multispectrum can provide information for targeted fertiliser application saving time and money.
FarmPhotography/ Video
USE drone photography to evaluate assets, check infrastructurefor damage after storms, check crops or weed infestations or monitor trouble spots.
Crop p Mappping g
reseeding application saving money.
Gender Reveals/ Ash Dispersal
PUT big drones to novel use by spreading biodegradable coloured powder for gender reveals or add some wildflower seeds to send offaloved one’s ashes to a favourite spot.
BeDroned can fly almost anywherethat they can get the landowner’s permission, provided the weather is favourable.
Pricing
distance as well as the area to be covered.
In most cases they send their mapping drone out to gain afull appraisal of the terrain first.
High resolution photographs aretaken every second which arestitched together using softwareintheir office.
This detailed photography is used to generate the flight paths for the T40 and T50 agricultural drones.
Save On Chemicals
THE Mavic 3 multispectral drone features a 20MP RGB camera for regular photography plus a multispectral camera with four 5MP lenses, collecting data in the Green, Red, Red Edge, and Near Infrared
These images provide crop analysis information for targeted fertiliser or
IF we ask “how much to fix my car” the a answer would be “ddepends what’s s wrong with it!”
So too drone costing depends on what work you want done
BeDroned quotes are based on water application rates, complexity of terrain, number and type of obstacles, number of relocations of the drone marshalling point, chemicals required, travel
THE map created for the T40 and T50 can ensurethat chemical is only applied where it is needed, reducing the amount of chemical applied and saving money
In automated flight the drone turns on its pumps only when prescribed by the map
contact@bedroned.com.au like us on facebook/ beDRONED2023
Providing protection and comfortfor cattle
DAIRYShelters Australia is helping the Australian dairy farming community to protect their farms and their cows while boosting productivity.
Since their introduction in Australia in 2015, morethan 50 clear -roofed, deep littered dairy shelters have been built in Victoria, South Australia, southernNew South Wales and Tasmania, including several new structures in Gippsland.
The shelters arewell suited to the Gippsland region, helping farmers to protect their pastures and better manage wet winters, whilst optional vents and shade systems can be incorporated to provide shade and air movement in summer
They provide natural light and ventilation while providing protection from harsh weather conditions.
Loch dairy farmer Ian Hooker introduced the shelters to make things easier and less messy on his farm.
“I hate mess and Ihate hay being walked into the ground out in the paddock,” Ian said.
The shelter was erected last year and Ian says it has been better for cow health and saved on feed during atough year
“They’renot consuming as much as they normally would because they’renot cold and not walking as much.”
At Foster,Kevin Jones says his fivespan, clear -roofed, deep littered shelter from Dairy Shelters Australia helps reduce mud problems.
“Land is expensive so we wanted to make surewhat we have is more efficient and we wanted to ease the burden of the wet winters,” Kevin said. By providing acomfortable environment, the shelters help to reduce stress on cattle, leading to increased milk production and improved herdhealth. They also allow for better management of pasturerotation, reducing pressure on paddocks and leading to higher yields.
Ayear of soaring possibilities
OVER the past year,Worker Bee Drones explored the many ways technology is transforming fields and farms.
One theme has consistently emerged as agame-changer: the rise of the agricultural drone.
No longer afuturistic novelty, drones have become apractical, powerful tool addressing some of the most persistent challenges.
From soaking wet paddocks to the intense demands of calving season, this technology is helping farmers work smarter,not just harder.
The journey often begins with precision application.
Traditional methods of spraying and spreading can be wasteful, leading to chemical runoffand uneven crop growth.
It has been seen that large spray drones arerevolutionising this process.
Equipped with RTK-GPS and advanced sensors, they can target specific areas needing herbicide or fertiliser, dramatically reducing input costs and environmental impact.
This precision is invaluable for pasture management.
Instead of blanket-spraying an entire field, drones can use multispectral imaging to identify patches of nutrient deficiencies.
This targeted approach not only saves on chemicals but also promotes uniform pasturegrowth, which directly translates to healthier livestock and better forage yields.
By taking heavy machinery out of the equation, drones help prevent soil compaction—a hidden yield-killer that compromises soil structureand root growth for years to come.
Perhaps one of the most immediate benefits for this region is the drone’s ability to operate when traditional equipment cannot.
Farmers know the frustration of awet season turning prime paddocks into a muddy mess.
While tractors sit bogged, drones take to the air,applying fertiliser or even sowing seeds without leaving asingle tyretrack.
This allows farmers to hit critical seasonal windows, locking nutrients into damp soil or establishing summer crops without waiting for the ground to dry out—a crucial advantage in this increasingly unpredictable climate.
The value of drones extends far beyond crop and pasturemanagement.
During the demanding calving season,
this technology becomes aguardian for animal welfare.
Drones equipped with thermal sensors can swiftly locate hidden or stranded calves in dense vegetation or after dark, reducing risky searches for farmers.
They also enable remote health monitoring, detecting temperaturevariations in heifers that can indicate dystocia or infection, allowing for early intervention that saves lives and reduces vet costs.
For daily herdmanagement, drones provide anon-invasive way to conduct headcounts, check fencing over vast areas, and monitor for signs of lameness or injury, all without disturbing the animals.
This not only improves overall herd welfarebut also frees up invaluable time and labour
Underpinning all these applications is the power of data.
Moderndrones aremorethan just flying sprayers or cameras; they are sophisticated data collection platforms.
They provide the data to generate detailed contour maps, accurate farm plans, and crop health analyses using NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) and other indices.
This information is the bedrock of true precision agriculture, empowering farmers to make informed decisions on irrigation, drainage, and soil management.
It’s the difference between guessing and knowing, ensuring that every decision on the farmisbacked by hardevidence.
In Gippsland and Bass Coast, where terrain, weather,and market pressures create aunique set of challenges, embracing innovation is key to aprofitable and sustainable future.
Over the past year Worker Bee Drones have shown that drone technology is not aone-size-fits-all solution, but aflexible toolkit.
Whether it’s acompact model for scouting, aheavy-lift Agras for spreading fertiliser,orathermal-equipped drone for calving season, thereisasolution for every farmand every budget.
Worker Bee Drones is your local partner in this agricultural evolution. They’ve seen firsthand how this technology can save time, reduce costs, improve yields, and safeguardthe region’s most valuable assets— livestock and land.
The question is no longer if drones have aplace in modernfarming, but how soon they can start working for you.
The futureoffarming is looking up.
Clockinginto the internal rhythm of Aussie wheat to increase crop resilience
ARE you an early birdoranight owl?
The tendency to rise early or sleep late is determined by our circadian clock, which is abiological timekeeper that makes sureour bodies areadjusted to the time of day.
When our circadian rhythm is out of sync, we can feel tired and out of sorts. This is because our circadian clocks influence almost every aspect of our physiology.
Our circadian clocks also change over our lifetimes, as our internal rhythm accelerates as we age.
But it’s not only humans that have a circadian clock.
Plants also need to be able to tell the time so they can adjust their internal biology with the environment.
Just as thereisvariation in human circadian rhythms, thereissimilar diversity in internal rhythms among plants.
Because of this, some plants respond differently to others when thereare changes in the environment.
And like humans, aproperly functioning circadian clock is crucial to plant and crop health.
Circadian clocks of wheat can provide a glimpse into the plant’s nutrient content and life cycle, with new research that could improve agricultural production and crop resilience in achanging climate.
Astudy led by the University of Melbourne found that just like humans, circadian rhythms of Australian wheat differ between varieties and speed up with age, with potentially wide-ranging impacts on the regulation of biological processes.
By testing whether the internal rhythm of wheat may affect aspects of crop health and production, the researchers anticipate the findings can contribute to an emerging scientific concept called chronoculture.
Chronocultureaims to exploit an understanding of biological rhythms in plants to improve agricultural production.
It could include optimising the timing of fertiliser or pesticide applications, 24-hour monitoring and automation, new breeding strategies, or simply choosing the right crop variety for the local or seasonal conditions.
Akey part of the study was to measurethe timing of leaf senescence in Australian wheat plants, which is anatural ageing process that takes nutrients out of leaves and redistributes them into the developing grains.
University of Melbourne Associate Professor Mike Haydon, from the School of Biosciences, said that astrong relationship between wheat circadian rhythms, senescence timing, and grain nutrient content was discovered.
“From this, we propose that by measuring the circadian rhythms in wheat varieties we can estimate the rate of the plant life cycle,” Associate Professor Haydon said.
“Our findings tell us that small changes to the internal rhythms of wheat plants can have consequences for grain quality.”
Interestingly, the researchers found evidence that the ‘biological timekeepers’ within some wheat plants might not be optimally suited to their growing environment.
“Some wheat varieties might experience what we can effectively think of as chronic jetlag for plants, which as you can imagine would have negative consequences on crop health and production,” Associate Professor Haydon said.
The circadian clock of plants does not just control senescence and flowering.
It is also involved in stress responses, photosynthesis and metabolism.
Dr Christopher Buckley, Research Fellow from the School of Biosciences at the University of Melbourne, said thereare many potential applications of chronoculture, particularly as the climate changes.
“Rising global temperatures will make some of the world’s arable regions unsuitable for agriculture, while other regions may, in turn, become more suitable for growth.
In both cases, environmental characteristics arechanging which is when chronoculturecan be helpful,” Dr Buckley said.
“In Australia, the current range of agricultural suitability is predicted to move southwards to cooler climates.
However,the day lengths of more southerly regions areshorter in the winter and longer in the summer,and as aresult current crop cultivars might be poorly adapted.”
“Increasing scientific knowledge of how the circadian clock functions in plants could help breeders to morequickly produce cultivars that arebetter adapted to be grown at different latitudes.”
By undertaking this research, the team hope to not only build better scientific knowledge of wheat plants but also sow the seeds for moreresilient and productive crops in an uncertain climatic future.
The researchers arenow surveying a larger set of wheat cultivars for circadian rhythms and agricultural traits to identify the most important genes underlying this variation.
“From these diverse plants, we hope to find new sources of variation in the circadian clock that could be used by breeders to develop crops that areable to maintain their yield in the face of climate change,” Associate Professor Haydon said.
This article was originally published on Pursuit. To read the original article, visit: go.unimelb.edu.au/96n2
Above: Delayed leafflourescence can be imaged in wheatleaves.
Below: Comparison of amatureand a senescent wheatplant
Dairy Farmers lives simply improved by HYDROSMARTWATER
WHEN you’rerunning adairy, water is everything.
It feeds your pastures, runs the dairy shed, and keeps the herdgoing.
Trouble is, in plenty of parts of Australia, that water’s not always friendly.
Salty bores, hardriver water,and crusty build-up in hot water systems can turninto adaily grind.
That’s why some farmers have turned to Hydrosmart water conditioners. The results they report arestraightforward: fewer blockages, cleaner troughs, healthier stock, and gear that keeps on running without the constant fight against scale.
Greenerpaddocks, easier irrigation
IN South Australia’s Upper South East, Danny and Allan Chaplin werebattling salty borewater that made their cows and calves scour and left them constantly clearing blocked lines.
Once Hydrosmart was installed, they saw stock holding condition on the same lucerne feed that previously caused problems.
Just as importantly, the water lines that once clogged several times ayear with mineral shale have stayed clear Irrigation and stock water now flow without the old headaches.
Cleaner gear in the dairy
IN Victoria, Benn at Gormandale had long struggled with borewater loaded with calcium and iron.
His pumps and plate cooler needed to be stripped down and scraped clean several times ayear,and an oily film built up in his troughs.
With Hydrosmart fitted on the stock
water line and beforethe plate cooler,the system improved dramatically.
The lines cleared, the surface film disappeared, and the cooler and pump have run on without the constant cycle of breakdown and maintenance.
Happier cows at the trough
THE change carried through to the herd.
Benn noticed cattle beginning to stop at the troughs on their way out of the dairy, something they never did before.
With clearer,fresher water and troughs that stayed easier to clean, intake improved.
On the Chaplin’s farm, calves stayed hydrated on lucerne and borewater that previously caused scours.
The stock simply did better once the water quality improved.
No moving parts, no chemicals
WHAT ties these stories together is the simplicity.
Thereare no chemicals to add, no salt to dose, and no moving parts to wear out.
It’s aone-time installation that keeps minerals from sticking wherethey cause trouble.
For busy dairy farms, that means less time lost to scrubbing troughs or stripping down gear,and moretime spent on cows and pasture.
Hydrosmart doesn’t replace good herd and paddock management, but it takes one of the biggest daily frustrations— hardwater—and makes it easier to live with.
Paul Pearce, Matt Steele and Jai Pearce
Photo supplied
AUSSIE SALUTES THE FARMERS
Australian farmers shouldbecongratulated by therest of thepopulationwith 2025beinga much lauded $100 B production year for agricultural produce It isn’tpoliticians who did it, nor the bureaucrats, forthatmatter or even the journalists.
The real credit goes to themen and womenwho have to dealwith the vagaries of weather changes,including floods,droughtsand possible coming bushfires
Dairyfarmersare aclassic example.
Early mornings, dealing withlarge animals, and all thework that goes with the joyand challenge of being leaders in the milk processing chain
“It’s notjustearly mornings, it’s to do with everything from worminglivestock to cleaningthe bales.
Even in amodernstainless-steel dairy, cleanlinessisthe number onepriority,”
saidAussie’sChief EngineerJohn Hales.
Australian Pump have comeupwith tremendous Australian designed products that all started with ideasfrom users
“Ourslogan is, ‘Wedesign andbuild machines as if we’regoingtouse them ourselves’,” said Hales.
AUSSIES HOT WASH SPECIALS
Australian Pump work with the best most advanced steam cleanersand hotwash designers in the world
Their machines range from single phase hotwash that do 80°C andcan provide real cleaningcapability
They protectlivestockfrominfection.
At theother endofthe scale,their big 4000 PSIsteam cleaner,the Aussie Admiral 400,can run at up to 130°C steam, andis capableofproviding enoughflow and pressuretoclean any dairy easily andsafely
“Wedesign themachinestobeefficient because we knoweveryminuteofa farmer’s time is valuable. It’slikefertiliser,” said Hales
“You don’t want to waste adrop.
Well,you don’twant to wasteaminute either!” he said
The company even developedaHonda engine drive steamcleaner thatdoes 4,000 PSI pressureand delivers up to 130°C steam
Themachinecan beute or truck mounted, witha water tank, making it aself-sufficient andportable cleaning machine.
Thecompany callsitthe Aussie Heatwaveand it’sbeena huge success, not onlywithdairies but also earthmoving contractors, mines andquarriesand even Municipal Councils.
“It’sa slick piece of engineering and comes with adiesel firedboiler with a high pressurepumpand Honda electric startengineaspartofthe package
The machinecomes in aheavy-duty stainless-steel frame and offersinfinitely variable temperature control, as well as bothhigh and low-pressure capabilities.”
BIGCROPS …BIG PUMPS
Aussie’snew BrigadeBossseries of high pressurepumpsinclude arange of twin impeller unitsthathavereal capabilities forcropprotection.
Aussie’s new3”x 3” high volume,high pressureMrTtwinimpeller product line is available witha Honda electric start
petrol engine or,Yanmar diesel drive. It sets new standards in performance.
TheQPT305SLT/GX390E twin impeller pump with electricstart produces an astonishing200 lpmat80metreshead. That’s quite an extraordinaryperformance, considering farmers allknow thatit’show much water you can throw at afirefast as wellasthe pressure that cansavea crop or forthatmatter,even aheader.
In its diesel configuration,itisconsidered by manyfarmers to be safer thana petrol engine duringharvest, it also has the samepump configuration, in astainless steel framepowered by10hpYanmar electric start diesel engine.
Again, the pump’sperformance is
amazing with 150 lpm at 80 metreshead Withthe right hose kit and nozzle arrangement, crop protectioncan be much more effective
It provides loads of valuable information, includingdetails of household protection as well as livestock and crop protection, with pumps designed for extraordinary performance.
That’sa symbol of their focus being on the farmers whohavetoprotect their crops and move water to wherethey needitina drought
Thepumps areversatile andare unique in that they come with afiveyearpump end warranty.
Theyonly use the best first worldengines from Honda,Yanmar and Kubota” said AussiePumps Chief Engineer, John Hales.
FERTPUMPS TOO!
Aussie Dealersare experts in helping farmers selectthe right Aussie pump for the job.
Aussie’sSmart pumps come in 2” and 3” configurationsand aremanufactured from 30 percent glass filledpolyester
Fastenersare 316stainless steel witha choiceofelastomersthatinclude Buna N, EPDMorViton
Aussie’sSmartPump SelectionGuide is available from localdealers to make sure the combination of pump configuration, elastomers or impellersize aresuitable for thechemicalbeing handled.
Both SmartPump Selection Guideand Bushfire Survival Guides areabsolutely FREEand available from your local Aussie pumps dealerorvisit aussiepumps com.au
Aussie’sBushfireSurvival Guide available from your local Aussie Pumps dealer
