Rural

AS sowing time fast approaches, Victorian grain growers are planning their paddock preparation options – in particular those with heavy stubble loads following on from large crops.

AUTUMN is a critical time for farmers as they anticipate the break, with many understandably looking for more accurate seasonal forecasting at precisely the time the world’s climate drivers are in transition.

THERE were nearly 5000 cattle yarded at Mortlake on Thursday, taking the month’s total store cattle to just short of 7000 head - overall it was another very good quality yarding of cattle presented.

Agents last week drew for similar numbers to that of a fortnight before with 235 yarded, which consisted of 101 cows, 125 trade and 9 bulls.

RECORDS tumbled for the second year running at Yarram Park Hereford stud's on-property bull sale last Monday.

 THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling for urgent action from the Federal Government to strengthen Australia’s fuel security in response to global volatility and uncertainty.

MANY people share the overflow of fruit and vegetables from their garden with neighbours in jams or sauces during autumn but the risk of spreading Queensland fruit fly (QFF) is an issue people shouldn’t ignore.

MOSSWOOD Wildlife sanctuary owner and koala carer, Tracey Wilson of Koroit, has contributed to the release of the new draft Victorian Koala Management Strategy concerning Victoria’s koala population.

NUMBERS almost halved back to 5850 lambs at Hamilton last week.

VICTORIA’S most important beehives need to be strong and healthy to play their part as our first line of defence against exotic bee pests and diseases.

WITH the recent Australian record of 59,487 sheep tags scanned on sheep sold in one day last December at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange, it may be of interest to many local graziers to learn that the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) concept has a significant potential technological augmentation on the horizon.

THERE have been further detections of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) across the state, with cases now confirmed at six piggeries in Victoria.