Agriculture Victoria will host a series of free interactive biosecurity and traceability workshops and webinars during August and September.
The workshops aim to provide farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to minimise the risk of pests and diseases impacting their farms.
Delivered in partnership with Dairy Australia’s Regional Development Programs, two-hour biosecurity planning workshops for dairy farmers will outline the current biosecurity risks and step participants through the process of developing a biosecurity plan for their business.
Dairy biosecurity planning sessions in the Goulburn Murray area will be held at:
- Numurkah, August 23, 10.30am to 12.30pm, Shamrock Hotel, 5-13 Melville St;
- Cohuna, August 24, 10.30am to 12.30pm, Cohuna Football Club, Cohuna Island Rd; and
- Kyabram, August 30, 10.30am to 12.30 pm, Kyabram Club, 82 Allan St, Kyabram.
To help all livestock owners understand their traceability obligations and responsibilities, a workshop that steps through the National Livestock Identification System will run at Wodonga on August 25 from 10am to 3pm, at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Wodonga.
During this free hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to use the NLIS database to record livestock movements, including property-to-property transfers.
Traceability and biosecurity requirements at agricultural shows, livestock events and rodeos will be covered at a webinar on August 31. Targeting show and event organisers, the webinar will cover NLIS requirements and how to complete a sighted transfer.
Agriculture Victoria emergency animal disease engagement co-ordinator Terry Batey said these, and a range of other events currently in development, were being delivered to ensure Victorian farmers had the information and skills they needed to safeguard their businesses and industries from exotic pests and diseases.
“We have a pipeline of activities and events coming to a location near you,” he said.
“Keep an eye on our website and be sure to register to secure a place.”
For details about coming activities, as well as information and resources about foot-and-mouth disease, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/fmd