Just letting you all know about some important information on the upcoming International Grassland Congress (www.igc2103.com):

a)  Everyone is encouraged to register their interest in the IGC on the website now so that you can be entered into the database and notified when registrations open.
(http://igc2013.com/pages/registration.php)

AND

b)  Anyone interested in being considered for an oral presentation at the IGC should submit their abstract NOW – this closes on April 30, 2012 – so there is not much time left.
(http://igc2013.com/pages/abstract-information.php)

The Congress aims to present a program which is participative, innovative, stimulating, thought-provoking and enriching by offering networking and learning opportunities to new and experienced, Grassland scientists, Extension workers, Postgraduate students and some undergraduate students, Agri-business professionals, policy makers and leading livestock producers and farmers from all over the world.

As you would all appreciate, this will be the largest grassland conference ever held in southern Australia so mark it on the calendar.

Contact details and email form available here:
http://igc2013.com/pages/contact-us.php

Volume 27, Number 1, 2012 (pdf file 6600kb)

• Editorial – Carol Harris
• Get into the guts of worm control – Dr Stephen Love
• Changing frequencies of occurrence of two annual medics on soils of the grazing lands of central New South Wales – 50 years of observation – opportunities, threats & realities – John Brockwell and Elainne M.A. Leach
• Inspiring the next generation of agricultural scientists – Susanna Greig
• 2012 NSW Hay and Silage Feed Quality Awards – Guidelines/Entry Form
• Future investment in forage legumes: Let’s remind everyone how important it is? – Joe Bouton
• From the President’s Desk – Mick Duncan

You will be prompted to login when you access this document – please contact us if you have lost your login details (normally your surname and membership number).

The NSW Grassland Society and NSW DPI are organising Hay and Silage Feed Quality Awards in 2012 to recognise producers who are making the best quality hay and silage in NSW.

While it has been a difficult season in some areas there have been reports of excellent quality silage and hay being made across NSW. These awards aim to focus attention on feed quality and encourage all producers to better understand the importance of quality when they make and feed hay or silage.

Entries will open in April when producers can start sending samples to the NSW Feed Quality Service in Wagga Wagga. The awards will be presented at the NSW Grassland Association annual conference which is to be held in Wagga Wagga 24 to 26 July 2012.

Organisers hope all producers will take advantage of the discounts being offered by the Feed Quality Service to analyse hay and silage samples submitted as part of the awards program. To add further interest major sponsors Integrated Packaging, New Holland and Pioneer will provide $5000 worth of prizes for winners to be announced at the Grassland conference.

Entry forms will be available from the beginning of April from NSW DPI and NSW Grassland Society websites and officers, sponsors and from the NSW Feed Quality Service Wagga Wagga or click the link below to download the form directly:

2012 Feed Quality Awards Entry Form

Entries close 6th July 2012.

Please see the attached document in this link for further information.

An abstract or summary must be submitted by the 12th March with the completed paper required by 22nd April.

Further information is available from the Conference Organising Committee – contact  nathan.ferguson@dpi.nsw.gov.au

The target is to reduce the impacts of vertebrate pest animals and/or Weeds of National Significance to maintain or improve biodiversity and productivity outcomes in Australian Government priority areas, including on buffer zones and agricultural land.

Activities should focus on helping communities integrate action on all weeds and pests, including the identification of impediments and solutions to their effective control under different land uses to help protect biodiversity in priority areas. Their impact will be reduced more effectively through collaborative activities that control outlier infestations, strengthen containment lines and/or bring core infestations under management control, or eradicate where feasible, to reduce the risk of new infestations.

Investment scope

The Government is calling for invasive species applications that help communities to:

• implement long-term solutions to the effective control of Weeds of National Significance and animal pests that threaten priority biodiversity areas across different land uses, including on agricultural land
• control outlier infestations and/or strengthen containment lines of Weeds of National Significance where an adverse impact on biodiversity or other important environmental and/or productivity assets can be demonstrated
• address the impact of vertebrate pests and/or Weeds of National Significance on nationally threatened species and communities occurring in World Heritage areas and critical aquatic habitats (including buffer zones), noting that pests that have already received significant funding under previous rounds of Caring for our Country will not be a priority for funding in 2012/13 (camels, cane toads, rodents on off-shore islands excluding Lord Howe Island and foxes in Tasmania)
• contribute to the goals of relevant national strategies including Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030, the Australian Pest Animal Strategy and the Australian Weeds Strategy including subsidiary species level strategic plans for Weeds of National Significance
• specifically address the objectives and actions of the relevant Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 threat abatement plans and, where appropriate, any other relevant jurisdictional management plans
• use technically feasible, recognised, permitted and effective control methods for the area being managed
• comply with all relevant codes of practice and standard operating procedures for humane pest animal control including those available fromwww.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/vertebrate-pests/codes/humane-pest-animal-control.

It is likely that applications under this target will also link to outcomes under other targets, including Ramsar wetlands, coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, World Heritage areas and/or sustainable farm practices targets.

At a local level Community Action Grants are also available to help communities manage threats from invasive species. For more information see how we invest. 

Volume 26, Number 4, 2011 (pdf file 1900kb)

• Editorial – Carol Harris
• Successful spring pasture updates (+ Photos on page 10)
• Farming the grass curve – a new approach to matching feed supply and animal demand – Greg Lodge
• New Perennial Ryegrass Endophytes
• Pasture Real Estate – Belinda Hackney
• Pasture Nutrition Basics – Mick Duncan
• Landscape position determines productivity – Tony Cox
• From the President’s Desk – Mick Duncan

Members will be prompted to log in when accessing this document – please contact us if you do not know your login details.

The Grassland Society of NSW wishes all its members a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

This study program is the fruit of more than 30 years’ combined experience within the University’s Precision Agriculture Research Group, Australia’s largest group working on the development and application of precision agriculture technologies in a variety of industries – including broadacre cropping, horticulture, viticulture, and livestock systems.

Students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience with current and emerging precision agriculture technologies like EM38 soil sensors, GNSS survey equipment, ground-based optical plant canopy sensors, airborne optical sensors, livestock tracking technologies, the ‘Pastures from Space’ program, and both farm-specific and generic geographical information systems.

This industry-informed course involves the completion of four semester-long units. The two core units, “Precision Agriculture” and “Introduction to Geographical Information Systems”, cover  global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and their application; handling spatial data and the practical use of geographic information systems (GIS); the application of remote sensing to agricultural landscapes; soil, vegetation and yield variability and the sensors used to measure it; livestock tracking and pasture management systems; the economics of precision agriculture; and issues associated with the adoption of new technologies.

The Grad Cert Precision Ag course is available for study both on and off campus, and can be completed part-time over one or two years. The Grad Cert Precision Ag course is open to graduates who hold a bachelor degree; or non-graduates that can demonstrate adequate qualifications and/or industry relevant experience.

To apply or get more information:    une.edu.au/precisionag

Contact Dr Mark Trotter (mtrotter@une.edu.au) or Prof David Lamb (dlamb@une.edu.au)

ALSO Keep abreast of the latest developments in PA R&D with the Precision Agriculture Research Group Facebook page: www.facebook.com/precision.agriculture

Click here to download the Dung Beetle Roadshow Flyer

Coming soon to a location near you – please RSVP to your local Landcare office or email dungbeetles@gblc.org.au

• Monday 28th November

8.30am – 12.30pm (QLD time) Liston,  “Aloomba Lavender” Mt Lindesay Road

1.30pm – 5.30pm Tenterfield,  Steinbrook Hall, Steinbrook

• Tuesday 29th November

8.30am – 12.30pm Gum Flat,  “Table Top” Strattons Lane, Delungra

1.30pm – 5.30pm Gineroi,  “Windi” Warialda Road

• Wednesday 30th November

8.30am – 12.30pm Wallangra,  “Corio” Yetman Road

1.30pm – 5.30pm Dundee,  “Cairnbrook” Rangers Valley

• Thursday 1st December

8.30am – 12.30pm Wellingrove - Wellingrove Hall

1.30pm – 5.30pm Pinkett-  Pinkett Hall

• Friday 2nd December

8.30am – 12.30pm Woolbrook,  “The Tops” Woolbrook

1.30pm – 5.30pm Wollomombi,   “Chandler” Wollomombi

• Saturday 3rd December

10.00am – 2.00pm Mummulgum,  5950 Bruxner Highway

• Editorial – Carol Harris
• Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) Program Update – Susanna Greig
• Hay and Silage Awards show top quality in a diffi cult year – Neil Griffiths
• Leucaena – a legume with potential for Northern inland NSW – Suzanne Boschma, Lester McCormick and Carol Harris
• Membership Survey – what did you say? – Carol Harris
• From the President’s Desk – Mick Duncan

Click on the Cover Image to view the contents of the full proceedings. Click on the individual paper title to download.

NOTE: you will need to use your membership number to login for access to these documents – please contact us if you are unsure of your login details. As usual, do not enter your details until prompted – a login box will pop up when you attempt to access a document stored in the “members only” area of this website.