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Wild dog tactics ‘a template’ for feral cat and foxes NEWLY-APPOINTED national feral cat and fox management coordinator Gillian Basnett says wild dog management is a template for feral cat and fox control. Strategies proven under the National Wild Dog Action Plan are set to help work undertaken by Ms Basnett, who said the standard operational procedures and best practice guidelines established by the plan would be used as a model. “The National Wild Dog Action Plan will be really useful as a template for landscape scale, crosstenure, coordinated, collaborative, community driven feral predator management,” she said. “Key learnings of what has worked and what hasn’t will help with planning and engagement particularly for fox control.” The new coordinator joins a network of national vertebrate pest coordinators covering wild dogs, deer and feral pigs. “As national coordinators with a focus on individual species, we can provide specific information on our pest species that is relevant to landholders, groups, projects, planning and legislation,” Ms Basnett said.
Gillian Basnett
“This is important but we also recognise in most, if not all, landscapes there are multiple threats and pests, often interacting and needing to be managed together to have the desired outcome. “By having the four coordinators, who work closely together, we can be both targeted in our approach and provide best practice management information, and access to a wider range of networks and partnerships across multiple species.” Ms Basnett will initially focus on seven priority bushfire-affected regions, including east Gippsland, as well as priority threatened species. The coordinator will reach out to landholders
Spring pasture mgmt webinar this Thursday
and Landcare groups to facilitate community led approaches that mitigate the effect of feral cats and foxes in their local areas. Ms Basnett will also serve on the National Feral Cat Taskforce, connecting local action to national action, and build on feral cat work already being undertaken. “We all watched in horror as huge bushfires burnt through large areas of Australia in the summer of 2019-20,” she said. “It has been estimated three billion native animals were killed or displaced during these fires. “As areas start to regenerate, our wildlife has a chance to recover. “But cats and foxes will significantly hamper this recovery through increased predation of wildlife sheltering in small areas of unburnt vegetation and more efficient hunting in recovering, but exposed habitats. “In order to protect the surviving wildlife and help with recovery, it is vital we manage introduced predators effectively and coordinate efforts across the landscape, and I look forward to working with others to help make this happen.”
AGRICULTURE Victoria will host a webinar for Gippsland producers to provide tips on spring pasture management and suggestions to help prepare for autumn this Thursday. Topics covered in the webinar include tips for managing native pastures through spring and summer; spring management reminder for improved pastures; preparing for autumn sowing; ensuring pasture density into summer; determining how much fodder can be cut; and maintaining paddock fertility post fodder removal. Agriculture Victoria’s Fiona Baker (a livestock extension officer) and Dr Meredith Mitchell (a senior research scientist) will present the webinar, to be held Thursday from 7.30pm until 8.30pm. Those who wish to view the webinar should register prior to the event via EventBrite. Those who would like to submit questions or photos for discussion should phone Janice Dowe on 0437 282 315 or email janice.dowe@ agriculture.vic.gov.au
Grants to make farm infrastructure COVID-safe AGRICULTURE and food supply chain businesses in rural and regional Victoria will be able to recover faster with the assistance of a new state government program. The new $5.2 million Agriculture Resilience and Recovery Program provides grants of between $10,000 and $300,000 to support on-farm infrastructure, business upgrades and new facilities to enable businesses to adapt their operations to COVIDSafe settings. The program provides three types of business support: • Business resilience and recovery, to support businesses to adapt their operations to maintain production and manage risks; • Place-based worker support, to support the development of COVIDSafe worker
accommodation; and • Training and education, to provide support for farm and food processing workers to access information and services and ensure businesses are providing COVID Safe work practices. The grants will provide support for businesses as they prepare for peak seasons such as spring shearing, grains harvest and meat processing, and horticulture’s picking and packing season. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the support should help agriculture and food supply chain businesses manage the challenges created by the pandemic and fast-track recovery. “We’re supporting industry to create long-term solutions to workforce challenges – this new program will help local businesses to adapt and thrive into the future,” she said.
The program is part of the government’s $84 million support package to assist industry to address workforce challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. The Agriculture Workforce Plan has awarded more than 380 grants to assist businesses create COVIDSafe workplaces, provide worker induction and training, and create additional accommodation and transport facilities. Businesses have been supported to build COVIDSafe lunchrooms, kitchens, washrooms and other worker amenities, make modifications to processing, packaging and manufacturing lines, create automated entry points, build partitions for workspaces and install temperature checking facilities. For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.
Spring into action against weeds Agriculture Victoria is urging farmers to undertake weed control measures early in the growing season.
produce, such as hay, on clothing and other equipment,” she said. “Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, all landholders have a responsibility to prevent the growth and spread of declared
noxious weeds, such as ragwort, blackberry and thistles, on their property, to ensure they don’t adversely affect agricultural production and the environment,” Ms Alsop said. Agriculture Victoria education and
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engagement officer Jenny Bell is working with Gippsland biosecurity officers to advise landholders about the control of invasive weeds. “Weed control has the benefit of improving a property’s productivity and the biodiversity of the landscape,” Ms Bell said. “The best results are gained when landholders work together to treat their weeds at the same time, particularly ragwort, as a way of minimising seed set and the risk of spread across neighbouring properties,” Ms Bell said. Agriculture Victoria continues to deliver weed projects in Gippsland, with property visits and inspections being conducted when permitted under COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. More information about weed identification and control measures can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website or by phoning the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
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AS the spring weather begins to warm Gippsland, invasive weeds such as ragwort, blackberry and thistles will begin to set seed and spread further. Agriculture Victoria’s acting leading biosecurity officer, Elizabeth Alsop, said now was the time to begin weed control programs. “Undertaking weed control early in the growing season is strongly recommended and is proven to be a more efficient and cost-effective long term approach to weed control,” Ms Alsop said. “Ragwort is a particular menace in some parts of Gippsland and sets hundreds of seeds in each flower head, which can remain viable in the soil for many years. “Weed control measures for ragwort include the application of a registered herbicide, cultivation of the soil, or physical removal. “Seeds spread by wind, water, animals, farm implements, agricultural
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Times-Spectator, Tuesday, 12 October, 2021 – Page 21
