The annual tree planting event has been moved to August 31.
New date for tree day
Greater Shepparton City Council’s National Tree Day planting has been rescheduled to Sunday, August 31, because of rain leading up to the original date on July 27.
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It will be held between 10am and noon at Chivalry Dve, Mooroopna, where attendees will be able to enjoy a day outdoors, connect with nature and treat themselves to a free barbecue.
Council staff and dedicated volunteers will be available throughout the morning to guide participants.
All necessary materials, including plants, stakes, guards, mats, gloves, and tools will be provided. There will also be native plant giveaways on the day.
Campaspe Shire Council is inviting residents and stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft functional design for a levee to protect Echuca East from future flooding.
The draft design outlines a levee stretching from the old Echuca-Moama bridge along Anstruther St to Hovell St, continuing along the existing substandard levee to Pakenham St, then east to Moama St and south to Snowden St. The alignment generally follows the forest side of the existing levee and is located about 10 metres from the rear boundaries of homes.
Feedback can be submitted until August 25 via: mail to PO Box 35, Echuca, 3564; in person at the Echuca Library; email to shire@campaspe.vic.gov.au (subject: Echuca East Levee Design); or online at https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au
Council will also host two community drop-in sessions at the Campaspe Shire Offices in Echuca on Tuesday, August 19 at 10am to 11am and at 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Backing the heart of agriculture
Victorian agricultural and pastoral societies can receive support to upgrade infrastructure and raise participation in regional shows.
Applications are open for this year’s Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program, which provide up to $10,000 to support infrastructure development and upgrades.
The grants can be used to upgrade or establish new facilities, enhance public amenities, improve essential infrastructure, improve business management activities, biosecurity planning and promote reporting of livestock movements.
In previous rounds, the Rochester Agricultural Society received a grant worth $8100 to purchase cattle fencing panels, and Wodonga Show Society upgraded its amenities block at the local showgrounds with a $9977 grant.
Applications for the latest round of grants close on September 12.
The average percentage of crop loss or waste per Australian horticultural farm dropped in 2023-24 and varied significantly depending on crop type.
The ABARES report, Crop loss/waste on Australian horticulture farms 2023-24, shows the average percentage of crop loss or waste was 20 per cent in this period, down from 25 per cent in 2022-23 when production was impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding.
ABARES executive director Jared Greenville said weather events posed the biggest threat to producers, causing horticultural crop loss and waste on 63 per cent of farms.
Only four per cent of farms cited labour shortages as the cause of crop loss or waste, a drop from seven per cent in 2022-23 and from 16 per cent in 2021-22.
The proportion recovered for alternative uses was 16 per cent, up from 10 per cent in 2022-23, led by almonds, macadamias and other nuts.
Of the remainder in 2023-24, much occurred pre-harvest, accounting for 58 per cent of total loss per farm, with 26 per cent lost during or after harvest.
Crop loss or waste was left on the ground by nearly half of farms (45 per cent), ploughed into the ground (24 per cent), and used for compost (16 per cent) or animal feed (11 per cent).
Varroa learning resources continue
More than 200 beekeepers took part in the final Varroa Mite Management Workshop hosted by the National Varroa Mite Management Program, bringing to a conclusion a comprehensive training program spanning 16 months.
There were 121 workshops with almost 8000 beekeepers, who are responsible for the management of more than half of the country’s registered hives.
Workshops covered issues including integrated pest management techniques, pest impacts, record-keeping and treatment options.
Beekeepers can continue to access the services of varroa development officers who can visit them and provide practical assistance on how to manage varroa.
They can also visit varroa.org.au/online-training to view the full range of free online learning resources available from the National Varroa Mite Management Program.
Photos from Rural Aid's 2024 Spirit of the Bush competition.
Rural Aid has launched the 6th annual Spirit of the Bush Photo Competition, inviting Australians to share striking images that capture the strength, resilience and beauty of life on the land.
Entrants can submit a high-resolution, landscape photograph via Instagram or Facebook by tagging @ruralaid in the image and using the hashtag #SOTB2025.
A panel of judges will select 10 winning images, each receiving a $250 prepaid Visa card. Entries close on August 31 and winners will be announced on September 15.
