Grassland Society of NSW

What should MLA’s investment priorities be for the feedbase over the next ten years, in southern Australia?  

MLA have commissioned a project to look at its feedbase investment strategy (the feedbase includes introduced and native pastures, fodder crops, dual purpose crops herbs and fodder shrubs) for the next 10 years.  As well as detailed discussions with all sectors of the industry, the opinions of a wide range of people associated with red meat production are being sought.

To have your say complete the short survey at the web address below, so that your views are considered.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DQTB5HB

For direct contact with the project team: email pastures@msanda.com.au

The Pasture Picker Tool is a powerful resource for selecting pasture species suitable for your local conditions. It is a comprehensive guide to pasture species for anyone with an interest in animal production and research. The selection criteria, which can be applied for pasture systems across Australia, have been chosen in partnership with industry and R&D representatives.

This selection tool is a unique package that delivers in one location the accumulated knowledge of pasture industry experts from both the public and private sector. It is a pasture selection tool that can be used by farmers, advisors and agribusiness to select pasture species for specific conditions across Australia

This Pasture Selection Tool gives you the ability to:

• Identify pasture species suitable for your climate, soils, production system and management
• Access up to date information on these species with information on use, adaptation, and management of the pasture species and currently available cultivars
• View images of the plants and their possible use

The Pasture Picker Tool is a collaborative project under the banner of Pastures Australia.

Pastures Australia is a Joint Venture for investment in the genetic improvement, management and adoption of pasture plants across Australia.

The partners are Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), the Grains Research & Development Corporation(GRDC), Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Dairy Australia (DA), and the Rural Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC).

The Orange Charles Sturt University Ag Club 2010 Rural Links Dinner will be held on Friday, 7th May at “Templers Mill Bar” from 6pm.

This is the second year that the dinner has been held and aims to bring students, lecturers and industry members together to create relationships and networks via Orange Charles Sturt University Ag Club.

Guest speaker will be Mick Keogh, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute who will speak on the topic of  ”The impact of Carbon Trading in Agriculture.”

A three course meal will also be provided at a cost of $50 per ticket.  The dinner is a great opportunity for students and industry to network and socialise.  Please RSVP by 30th April to the contacts listed on the Dinner Invitation.  Tickets may be purchased from the Charles Sturt University cashier or by using the attached form here – Ag Club Dinner.

Message for alumni of the Sydney University Agriculture faculty – an invitation to join the Centenary celebrations:

Happy Agriculture Centenary!

Join us throughout 2010 to celebrate 100 years of world-changing Agriculture!

There are events for alumni and friends across the decades including public lectures, cocktail / networking reception, lunches, Open Days, and research forums.

For many of you your university experiences were some of the best years of your life. You met so many people. Some remained friends for life.

Make the journey back to your alma mater, and take another look at where we are now, and where we came from.

100 Years. 100 Stories.

Alumni and friends – and of course your family – are invited to celebrate 100 years of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

Reconnect with your classmates and teachers, and rediscover your University.

Show your family what you did at university at Special Open Days (Camperdown, Narrabri and Camden).

Agriculture Centenary Weekend, 4-6 June 2010. Centenary Research Symposium, Friday, 4 June 2010 from 8.30am

Tap into some of Australia’s, and the world’s, brightest minds at one of the stand-out events of the Centenary.

Attend a one-day research symposium, featuring how agriculture has changed the world, a century of global research, a hot issue debate on feeding the world, and a poster display by postgraduate emerging researchers.

Internationally recognised key note speakers.

Opening address by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Michael Spence

Back to Agriculture Open Day, Saturday 5 June 2010, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

A family fun day in the University of Sydney Quadrangle! Meet up with classmates and teachers; share your news, and show the kids what you did at university!      Free BBQ lunch.

Centenary Gala Dinner, Saturday 5 June 2010, 7pm for pre-dinner drinks

Join us at this Gala Dinner in the Great Hall, and step back in time to celebrate our first 100 years.

Organize Your Own Reunion, Sunday 6 June 2010

Sunday is free for you to organize a class reunion. Make the Centenary Alumni Weekend extra special: hold a picnic, meet up on campus for lunch etc. It is our pleasure to assist you anytime of the year with class lists, invitations and publicity.

Please contact the Faculty Alumni Relations Officer at skaidy.gulbis@sydney.edu.au to find out how.

Feedback: After your reunion it would be great to hear how it went. Send us your photos and details, however don’t forget to check with your attendees to get their approval!

Write home: If you find “lost” alumni, please let us know so we can update University records.

Farm Facts 2009-10, published annually by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), is a compendium of useful and authoritative facts and figures on Australian agriculture, based on fully attributed data from independent sources.

It is designed as a fast reference to top-of-mind national and state-by-state facts about Australia’s farm sector, including a reference for drilling down to specific data on Australia’s leading agricultural commodities, covering: Beef, Cotton, Dairy, Dried Fruits, Grains, Rice, Sheep Meat, Sugar and Wool.

For more about the latest edition of Farm Facts, please see the National Farmers Federation website or click here to download the 2009/10 Farm Facts in pdf format.

The Grassland Society of NSW would like to wish all members a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.  If you’re travelling, please drive safely.  If you’re stuck at home with work committments, remember to take some time off to spend with family and friends.

Our best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.  Here’s hoping for a great season in 2009 – plenty of pasture, fat livestock and good prices.

(Image from Ank Studios)