Shoalhaven Beef Producers Association moves

SBPA is now SCBPA - South Coast Beef Producers Association and has a new website and blog. Please come and visit us there for our latest events and news.

Animal health - the learning never ends - SBPA on-farm event tthis Friday at Palma

Join member and vet Doc Jenni Manna for an animal health discussion including:

• Fertility and calving including anatomy and calving problems
• common diseases and prevention
• selecting the right equipment for the right treatment 
• other animal health issues members wish to discuss

For more details and to book click here.  Members free, non-members $20 per person.

Mandatory certification for chemical use

Did you know that to use chemicals on-farm you require chemical use certification?
This includes all agricultural chemical users – eg 1080, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, pour ons, backliners, fumigants and others. Certificates last 5 years and must be renewed.

Courses are available on-line and also in the Shoalhaven area (eg Nowra) from time to time. Online courses appear to cost $145-$165. We are currently awaiting costs of local courses. If you have not done this training and would consider undertaking it with the SBPA, please contact us ASAP.

Change of date - August workshop

The August 2013 workshop has been moved to Friday 23rd August. Further information will be posted shortly.

Sensational strategic planners

Congratulations to all who participated in SBPA's strategic planning session last Friday. Many of you have commented on the outcomes achieved and the collegiate way in which the session was conducted. The management committee would also like to thank Jason Carson and Peter Pigott from the CMA for facilitating the workshop, and advisers Amanda Britton and John O'Connor for their valued contribution.

Next steps are:

1. Participants/members to submit their preference for an association vision.
2. Jason/Peter to collate and massage the strategic objectives and craft a vision for review
3. Each working party to prepare a project outline and accountabilities for taking their project forward.

We would also like to welcome new members who participated in the workshop.

Getting value out of Soil Tests

In the business world we say that you can't manage what you don't measure. Perhaps the farming equivalent is that you can't (or are less likely to) grow great soil if you don't know what's missing.

the most critical step to soil testing is the actual sampling process. This article Soil nutrient testing - how to get good results covers key aspects of soil testing from how to sample to how to interpret the results.
Soil testing is a critical farming activity but it doesn't come cheap. So make sure you get the best bang for your buck by doing it well.

Weeds spreading too fast on your farm?

We know fireweed spreads with (like) the wind, and this year in the Shoalhaven members have reported an increase in parrmatta grass and Giant Parramatta Grass (GPG). Apart from animals carrying the GPG seed, it can also be brought in with utility contractors (through easements), farm contractors and other visitors.

A farm biosecurity toolkit is available to help farmers identify actions they can take to reduce biosecurity risks. There's also an introductory video featuringTony Cootes of Mulloon Creef Farms and other farmers - it's worth the 5 minutes to watch.

WA Dept Agriculture & Food