Media Release: Farmers urged to attend free information evening at the Glen Innes RSL this month
GLENRAC’s hugely popular Farmer Update information evening is back for another year, with a jam-packed line-up of speakers from across the agriculture sector gathering to discuss farm finance, drought resilience, safety and compliance.
Dr Lewis Khan from the University of New England will talk about an exciting new project collaboration with GLENRAC that attendees can be involved with. The Reckoning with Climate Resilience project aims to better equip farmers in the region to manage future drought conditions by measuring productivity, ground cover, soil organic matter, weed reduction, erosion and rainfall runoff.
‘GLENRAC will put together five groups of landholders who will work together with a project officer to explore how to best manage pasture and livestock systems for climatic resilience,’ said Dr Kahn.
‘Once we have established a process for how these groups work, it’s then possible that the process could be rolled out across the country. Each group would work independently, but they could be all linked together to share regional successes and failures.’
Craig Turner from the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) will discuss the latest range of RIC loans available to farmers, including updated eligibility criteria for the AgBiz Drought Loan and how to apply for the AgriStarter Loan, a lending of up $2 million to assist first-time farmers or support farm succession arrangements.
Jennifer Rotili from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will give insight into the obligations of farmers in complying with the Chain of Responsibility – a law that ensures everyone is working with heavy vehicles safely. These rules apply to all operations involving heavy vehicles in the farm business, including loading trucks on-farm, speed, fatigue, rest and directing drivers to operate outside of business hours.
Jodi Toole from Safe Work NSW will discuss the common cause of injuries on-farm and tips for managing risk. Attendees with an ABN may also be eligible for the Safe Work NSW rebates which include Quad Bike Rebates up to $2000, $500 towards the cost of a drone and up to $1000 on workplace safety items including hygiene products, access ramps, guard rails and sunshade.
Ripley Atkinson from Meat and Livestock Australia will give a red meat market update, and Ian Trow from Local Land Services will talk about managing native vegetation on rural properties, including clearing for fence lines or farm infrastructure.
Wednesday 20th July 2022, Glen Innes and District Services Club, 5-8pm (Trade displays open from 5pm, supper 6pm and speakers from 6:30pm).
FREE. Please RSVP by Monday 18 July 2022 to katie.shaw@glenrac.org.au or call 02 6732 3443