Rural news
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Hay workshop this Thursday at Bairnsdale
For the next three months, the outlook from 12 global model forecasts is for likely wetter rainfall across Victoria for the next three months, with neutral to possible warmer temperatures. The Bureau of Meteorology has declared a La Niña watch status.
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A WORKSHOP to help farmers learn how make the best of their hay and silage will be held this Thursday. Hay and silage expert, Frank Mickan, will be on hand to talk about topics like speeding up the wilting and curing rate of silage and hay, future fodder, securing long-term round bale storage in the ground and quality versus quantity of long-term chopped silage. He will also speak on the yield data of 12 hay and silage varietal options. The hay and silage workshop will run from 7am to 11am this Thursday at the Gippsland Research Farm, 345 Bengworden Rd, Bairnsdale. Tickets are available on Eventbrite or by phoning Gippsland Agricultural Group general manager, Jen Smith, on 0409 436 133.
Wet weather settles in USEFUL rain for crops and pastures fell across the state in October, particularly in Gippsland, which continues to be wet, according to Agriculture Victoria’s Fast Break newsletter. Soil moisture held steady in some paddocks, where rainfall managed to slow soil moisture use. In terms of local soil moisture, Giffard pasture is showing 85 to 100 per cent soil moisture, while there is 100 per cent in Yarram ryegrass and Bairnsdale perennial and annual crops — about the same results for the 30 days prior to October 26. The Bureau of Meteorology has declared a La Niña watch status, on the basis of continuing cooler water temperatures in the central Pacific and a large volume of cooler-than-normal water at depth. Continuing stronger trade winds are needed to get this weather pattern over the line, but cloud patterns at the dateline and pressure patterns are indicative of a La Niña.
Most models predict a La Niña to form and run during summer, with summer La Niñas statistically having a wetter effect in the eastern parts of the state. This season’s erratic negative Indian Ocean Dipole is currently showing renewed enthusiasm, but leaving its run a bit late. West trade winds picked up to push warmer water towards Sumatra so that the Dipole Mode Index has once again gone back to a negative Indian Ocean Dipole. Some models predict the negative Indian Ocean Dipole to stay, but it’s likely to be weak. The Southern Annular Mode has been behaving itself, coming off the strong positive heights in late September to more normal levels. Currently slightly positive, models predict it to stay that way. Pressure patterns changed in October with a
New Rural Aid counsellor for Gld RURAL Aid has hired a new counsellor and community representative in Gippsland, based in Bairnsdale. Darren Devlin has a strong connection to the Gippsland bush, through his work as a Rural Aid counsellor and through his volunteer efforts, and has devoted 16 years to the Country Fire Authority. Mr Devlin enjoys helping others live a quality life. “I believe that we are all trying to be the best we can and live the best lives we can with the tools we have,” he said. “However, most of us have either been given the wrong tools or the tools we have been given are broken or in need of repair.” Rural Aid chief executive John Warlters said the organisation’s commitment to placing
Darren Devlin counsellors in rural Australia would save lives. “We know people who live regionally have poorer access to health professionals and are more likely to struggle with their mental health due to lack of appropriate and timely support,” he said. “Farmers and rural teenagers
www.ruralaid.org.au/counsellors
Now offering Real Estate Sales (rural/residential) and property management services
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Colleen Bye 0467 533 003
Phillip Fleming 0498 242 421
— The Fast Break, which details oceanic and atmospheric climate driver activity during the past month, summarises three-month model predictions for the Pacific and Indian Oceans, rainfall and temperature for Victoria. To subscribe to the newsletter, visit Agriculture Victoria’s website.
have more than double the rate of suicide compared to urban populations. Rural Aid is desperately trying to change that.” Rural Aid counsellors offer free, confidential support to farmers and their families. Rural Aid’s mental health and wellbeing team prefer to visit farmers on their properties. The counsellors are mental wellbeing specialists who counsel, teach and refer clients to higher levels of care. The charity is appointing 10 new counsellors across the country this year, committing $3.75 million during the next three years to help address the gaps in regional mental healthcare. For more information about Rural Aid’s counsellors, visit
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large trough appearing across the country, leading to more mild temperatures and greater chances for tropical moisture flow from the north. Pressure was also much lower, a measure of more fronts and low pressures passing by. Importantly, pressure at Darwin finally clocked back to lower, helping moisture transport to the south. The outlook from 12 global model forecasts is for likely wetter rainfall across Victoria for the next three months, with neutral to possible warmer temperatures.
Wayne McKay 0419 486 282
Steve Fallon 0427 352 231
Times-Spectator, Tuesday, 9 November, 2021 – Page 31
