Facilitated by Peter Smith from Sapphire Irrigation Consulting, the workshops are for farmers who are designing and installing new CPLM systems or aiming to optimise the performance and management of an existing system.
Topics covered include:
- Key design considerations for an efficient CPLM system with uniform application.
- The financial considerations of purchasing and operating a CPLM.
- Planning considerations when installing a CPLM.
- The key measures and indicators of CPLM system performance.
- Technology options including variable application rate, end guns and sprinkler packs.
- Irrigation scheduling and operation for improved agronomy.
- Energy efficiency considerations.
The Kerang workshop will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 25 and 26, from 8.30am to 4pm each day, at Agriculture Victoria, 26 Wellington St, Kerang. To register, contact Adam Taylor on 0439 412 366 by June 19.
The Numurkah workshop will be held on Thursday and Friday, June 27 and 28, from 8.30am to 4pm each day, at the Shamrock Hotel, Numurkah. To register, contact Chris Pollard on 0473 085 873 by June 19.
Adaptive farm course for grain growers
Farmers in northern Victoria can prepare their business for the future with a two-day farm business course with agronomist Kate Burke.
Agriculture Victoria grains services regional manager Felicity Pritchard said Dr Burke’s ‘Adaptive Skills for Your Farming Future’ course was suitable for grain and mixed farmers, including multi-generational family farms who wish to develop a climate adaptive plan to suit their business goals and seasonal challenges.
“Dr Burke has extensive experience in crop agronomy and dryland agriculture and her practical farm finance workshops are well-received and popular,” Ms Pritchard said.
Course topics include:
- Key profit drivers and high-level benchmarks.
- Income versus cost of production and impact of rotation.
- Calculating basic financial benchmarks.
- Understanding personal appetite for risk.
- Understanding production potential to assess variation in profit.
- Managing climate variability and farm financial performance.
- Scenario planning for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and beyond.
The course will be held on Monday and Tuesday, July 15 and 16, at the Colbinabbin Hotel in Colbinabbin.
For more information and to register, go to: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/events or https://www.trybooking.com/
‘Late break’ change to Ballarat event
Agriculture Victoria and its conference partners have adjusted the program for the Ballarat-based BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conferences on June 19 and 20 in response to seasonal challenges farmers are now facing.
Agriculture Victoria technical specialist Lyndon Kubeil said staff and consultants will be available throughout the conferences to assist farmers with feed budgeting.
“We are keen to help farmers manage this drier season by supporting them to calculate feed requirements of their various classes of stock and work out how to forward-plan a feeding program,” Mr Kubeil said.
“This is a great opportunity to work through a customised feed budget for your farm. Bring along your livestock information and feed on-hand inventory to discuss with experts from 8.30am on Wednesday before the conference starts, and throughout both days.”
The BestWool/BestLamb conference will also feature a panel session led by Dr Jason Trompf, founder of the ‘Lambs Alive’ program. Joining him on the panel will be:
- Dr Jane Gaussen, The Livestock Vet, discussing sheep health concerns for pregnant and lambing ewes such as hypocalcaemia and pregnancy toxaemia.
- Tim Leeming from Paradoo Prime presenting strategies for feeding lambing ewes, wet/drying ewes at lamb marking and early weaning.
- Rob Inglis from Elders talking about the pros and cons of feeding maize to livestock.
Agriculture Victoria BetterBeef leader Darren Hickey said renowned veterinarian Dr Jillian Kelly’s presentation will offer producers a better understanding of rumen function, and how to ensure stock achieve maintenance and growth targets.
“This event presents a great opportunity to network with other farmers and industry experts and be across topical information relevant to producer needs,” Mr Hickey said.
For more information, go to: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-and-resources/event-listing/save-the-date-bestwool,-bestlamb-and-betterbeef-conference-and-dinner
Book tickets at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1211584
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