Information and Articles

Livestock owners in South Australia are being urged to prepare for the threat of bushfires as the weather heats up.

A spray contracting company operating in south west Victoria, its director and five employees are thousands of dollars worse off after pleading guilty to charges of using a herbicide spray inappropriately.

Aerial pictures taken by Department of Primary Industries (DPI) showed extensive damage caused when the contractors ignored instructions on the labels and sprayed a long lasting herbicide on a wet day at Mirranatwa, north of Hamilton.

DPI prosecutors told the court the contractors, hired by the company, had sprayed several properties when the ground was saturated.

This is one of the most common questions I get asked by clients who are either looking to set up a new farm or deciding which bull to use this season. It is a tricky one to answer and one that can incite a riot due to the amount of passion breeders often have for their chosen breed.

Livestock producers interested in how guardian animals can be an effective strategy in wild dog control are urged to particulate in a series of informative webinars in December.

Three Guardian Animal webinars will be held on 12 December (Maremmas), 14 December (Donkeys) and 16 December (Alpacas). The webinars are an initiative of Leading Sheep and delivered by Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) officers.

Presentations include:

Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions of small and hobby farmer's who want to start farming olives.

What are the best varieties?
This is just about the hardest question of the lot. There are literally hundreds of different species of olive tree out there ... or more precisely, hundreds of varieties of Oliva europa, the European Olive.

Many West Australian's (WA), including many small landholders, are taking up alpaca breeding as a serious enterprise. People are drawn to the animal's versatility and the low impact they have on the natural environment.

To access this information article click here.

^{Source: The Noteworthy series has been developed by the WA Small Landholder Information Service and the Kondinin Group.}  

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Biosecurity Officer Kate Cunnew said the landowner was ordered to pay a $2000 fine for failing to treat the serrated tussock within the time frame specified on the notice.