The Guyra Landcare Network delivered an outstanding Seasonal Update on the 23rd of October, bringing together landholders and local industry representatives alike for an informative afternoon.
Perry Newman, Northern Tablelands Local Land Services (NT LLS) Biosecurity Officer, discussed feral animal management, stressing that an integrated approach is often best to manage feral animals.
“Often working with your neighbours to coordinate management events is more effective,” said Perry.
There are currently free-to-access management tools such as baits, training and traps through LLS.
Perry said, “You don’t need lots of baits, you just need to know where to put them, and this is something we teach in our training courses.”
Perry also encouraged landholders to create a baiting program ahead of vulnerable management times such as calving or lambing.
Talking livestock health, Dr. Leisa Brown of Guyra District Veterinary Services warned of brucellosis affecting humans and dogs, and the risks of exposure from feral animals such as pigs.
“Do not feed your dog’s feral pig meat,” she cautioned, also noting the risk of urine splash as a pathway for contraction.
She explained that grass tetany can be diagnosed from fluid from the eye of affected animals to check magnesium and calcium levels and using 5-in-1 vaccine as a top-up for grass tetany protection throughout the year, especially during lush pasture growth periods, and 7-in-1 for treating a broader range of clostridial diseases.
“Get some tests done for worm burden prior to drenching animals as this often reduces costs and reduces the risk of drench resistance,” she added.
She also suggested watering cattle yards to mitigate the risk of pink eye in high-risk times.
Natalie Mendes, Pasture Systems Researcher with NSW DPI, shared valuable insights on temperate pasture species and grazing management.
She highlighted the importance of maintaining pasture management through good grazing practices, balancing rest and recovery periods, and matching stocking rates to available feed.
Natalie also discussed pasture composition and species selection for the New England region, encouraging landholders to monitor their pastures regularly to identify opportunities for improvement in productivity and resilience.
Marijke Hartman, NT LLS Sustainable Agriculture Officer, spoke about pasture dieback, which is present in a large part of Queensland and making its way into NSW, with the most recent confirmed site near Legume.
It affects tropical pasture species, needing heat and moisture, and often occurs in areas with high biomass.
Early signs are leaf discolouration—often yellow or purple depending on the species—eventually resulting in full grass death.
Mealy bugs that bury during winter and re-emerge in the warmth are present where pasture dieback occurs.
They are a different species to common garden mealy bugs you often see in your tomatoes.
Research is still being conducted on Pasture Dieback to identify why it occurs but if you suspect you may have it, please contact your Local Land Services office.
Guyra landholder Bill Perrottet shared his experience managing Chilean Needle grass.
He noted that stopping seed set is recommended to reduce its spread but that the species presents challenges due to seeds being present in the base of the plant.
He said using brassica crops along with selective herbicides allowed for a “semi-productive” crop, although this would need financial analysis for each enterprise.
If kept in a vegetative phase, the grass can provide useful feed for animals at certain times of the year but becomes unpalatable after the seed head develops.
The afternoon rounded off with a panel discussion where our guest speakers were joined by local landholder Richard Post, the Southern Queensland Northern NSW drought hub representative from Armidale, Jaimi-lee Edwards and Meat and Livestock Australia’s Jessira Saunders.
Jaimi-Lee spoke with attendees about how the Hub is assisting large areas of NSW and Queensland with drought preparedness and recovery, the benefits of using Ag360 as a tool for management decisions and provided an update on what landholders are asking for on ground in the New England region.
Richard spoke about bench marking and having the right tools in place to for decision making when seasons shift suddenly.
Jessira gave an update on Livestock Protection Insurance and how sheep EID is progressing, which promoted a group discussion about rangeland goats and the process of applying to be a producer.
The event was a great opportunity for local landholders to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from experts and peers, reinforcing the strong network of support that exists across the region.
A big thank you to Elders Guyra, Nutrien Guyra, Grazag and Guyra Rural Services for sponsoring the day and to Southern New England Landcare for their help in organizing and supporting the day.
