Agriculture Victoria is boosting its efforts to improve biosecurity and traceability on Victorian farms through a series of workshops and webinars being delivered across the state.
Running across August and September Agriculture Victoria is hosting free interactive biosecurity and traceability workshops, alongside webinars, that will provide farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to minimise the risk of pests and diseases impacting their farms.
Kicking off from next week, a series of biosecurity planning workshops for livestock producers and the dairy industry will be held at 17 different locations.
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.
For beef, sheep and goat producers, a similar workshop is being delivered at 6 different locations. Participants will hear about the biosecurity risks and leave with their own on-farm biosecurity plan in their hand.
The ability to trace animals when an emergency animal disease is critical to reducing the impacts to Victoria's agriculture sector. To help all livestock owners understand their traceability obligations and responsibilities a series of workshops that steps through the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) will run at Wodonga, Hamilton and Ellinbank.
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 31 August. Targeting show and event organisers, the webinar will cover NLIS requirements and how to complete a sighted transfer.
Agriculture Victoria emergency animal disease engagement coordinator Terry Batey said these, and a range of other events currently in development, were being delivered to ensure Victorian farmers are empowered with the information and skills they need 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 the Agriculture Victoria website.
