FARMERS will get tips on how to make the most out of a tough dry season and avoid rural thefts at a Pasture Update in Stawell on Wednesday April 1.
The Perennial Pasture Systems farmer group and the Grassland Society of Southern Australia are partnering to host the MLA Pasture Update at the Stawell Town Hall.
The event starts at 4pm and consultant Lisa Miller will present details of the new MLA Feedbase Adoption Projects, which are based on producer's calls for pastures that persist and perform, healthy soils, less weeds and more feed, and more sub-clover.
Steve Cotton from Dynamic Ag will follow with a topical presentation on the dry season and what was learned and what can be done next time.
This will be a follow up to an informative session by Mr Cotton at a joint Perennial Pasture Systems/Agriculture Victoria dry season workshop last November.
The presentation will include management tips to help producers deal with the tough seasonal conditions.
Simon Grant from the Victoria Police; Stock Theft & Rural Crime Unit will also discuss rural crime and the police response to such issues.
Acting Senior Sergeant Grant, of Ararat, will emphasis the importance of identifying and reporting rural crime and outline some preventative measures farmers can take.
After a dinner break, Perennial Pasture Systems member Charlie de Fegely will facilitate a panel session on fertilizer strategies after a dry year.
A top line of panelists will answer questions relating to this year's fertilizer plans and other issues of soil fertility.
The panelists are: Andrew Speirs, Meridian Ag; Lisa Miller, SFS; and Shane Dellavedova, Dellavedova Fertiliser Services.
Perennial Pasture Systems project manager Rob Shea said the pasture update would benefit all landholders.
"It has been a tough year so the aim is to help producers finish off the dry season successfully," he said.
The Pasture Update will be at the Stawell Entertainment Centre and the cost is $25 per person which includes a break and dinner.
For further details contact Rob Shea on 0438 521 357.
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