Upper Hopkins Land Management Group Newsletter Welcome to the Spring 2019 edition of the UHLMG newsletter Spring 2019 Editor: Ayesha Burdett Inside this issue: Local Landcare Snippets Spring bird photos Bioindicators of high performing soils was the theme for a recent workshop hosted by Upper Hopkins LMG and the Glenelg Hopkins CMA. Many thanks to all who attended Bioindicators for high and contributed to the discussion. As your new Facilitator, I have just joined the Soil CRC performing soils Community of Practice for Building Technical Capacity for Improved Soil Management VVP Stewardship Program for southern Australia. This group will be meeting over the next two years to build skills and knowledge about soil health, so that each participant can become a resource of infor- Water reticulation mation about soil health for their local group. workshops A Climate for Change is the theme for the 22nd annual Wimmera Biodiversity Semi- Mount William Project nar to be held in Rupanyup on Thursday, 5th September. I’ll be attending to hear about projects that promote positive change in our environment. The speakers will discuss the East Grampians Rural changes that they are seeing through new and innovative techniques, a look at where we Pipeline Project have come from and how we move forward in our changing world. Climate emergency Upper Hopkins LMG Dinner and AGM is coming up soon (10 September). RSVP by Perennial Pasture Systems contacting me (Ayesha Burdett) or responding on Facebook. Howard Brandenburg and Ayesha Burdett will be speaking about their experiences as biologists in the USA and Serrated Tussock Australia. During the AGM, we will be electing new committee members—a great oppor- Farm wetlands tunity for anyone interested in contributing to the group and learning more about Land- care. Please contact me if you would like to know more. Grampians: Decarbonising Victoria Weeds & Rabbits: Don’t forget! UHLMG currently has a small amount of 50:50 funding available for gorse and rabbit projects—contact Celia Tucker on 5354 6277. The What is your 2040? UHLMG spray unit is available for members to use—contact Bruce McKay on 0417 512 Spring photo board 189. Water monitoring results Welcome to the Spring 2019 Upper Hopkins LMG newsletter, my first as the Upper Hop- kins LMG Facilitator. Many thanks to Una for all of the work that she has achieved with Diary Dates Landcare and for the invaluable advice and guidance that she has provided to me in the UHLMG AGM—Chalambar Golf last two months. I’m gradually getting to know everyone in the Upper Hopkins region – Club. 6pm 10 Sept it’s been great to visit many landholders and see their projects in the ground. I look forward to getting to PPS Annual General Meeting— know more Landcare members. Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre. 11 Sept (see page 6) Recently, we have started working on reviewing and SFS Women on Farms—Mininera. revising the website – it will have a fresh new look and 10 Sept (see page 7) updated content before the end of the year. We have Nuts and Bolts of Grazing Manage- also been discussing updating the way we distribute ment— Dunkeld Rec Reserve. 18 the newsletter and other news from Upper Hopkins Sept. Register online or contact Tess LMG. Please take a few minutes to contribute your McDougall at AgVic (03 5355 0530). thoughts by clicking on the link to this quick survey, CFA info session— removal of pine or emailing me directly. trees from the Top End of Town. I hope to see many of you on the 10th of September for Willaura Fire Station. 1pm, 19 Sept. dinner and discussions at the Annual General Meeting, Ararat Landcare Group—St An- or on the 18th of October for the end-of-year Gather- drews Church Hall, Ararat. Next meet- ing with the Maroona Mob. ing 7pm, Monday 7 Oct. Annual Gathering—Sidlaw, 963 Ayesha Andrews Lane, Maroona. 5.30pm 18 Oct. www.uhlmg.com.au www.facebook.com/UHLMG Please help us to cut costs and reduce our impact on the environment. Nominate to receive your next newsletter via email (with color photos) rather than on paper (black & white). Simply send an email to: [email protected] ` The Upper Hopkins Land Management Group is grateful to the Glenelg Hopkins CMA and the Victorian Government DELWP & DEDJTR for their support of group activities and the production of this newsletter. Spring Bird Page Clockwise from top left: A Spotted Harrier was spotted hunting over grass- land by Jack Tucker. Wayne Suffield has taken more wonderful photos of birds in our region: Purple-crowned Lorikeet at Petticoat Gully Road White-plumed Honeyeater at Petticoat Gully Road Long-billed Correllas and Raven at Warrayadin Road Spotted Pardalote at Dobie 2 Bioindicators for high performing soils By Richard Murphy, Land Health Coordinator, GHCMA “The Bioindicators Project has potential to help growers in western Victoria monitor soil biological function and modify Cropping regions in western Victoria have the largest yield management to improve biological function and yield,” Pauline potential gap in Australia. Addressing soil-based limitations to explained. “The interest of local farmers and the great potential plant performance could achieve an 80% improvement in to really improve productivity has encouraged us to make this productivity. Soil testing to determine macro-nutrient area one of the two target areas for the project.” availability to inform fertiliser decisions is an established industry best practice and is well understood and well serviced. UHLMG facilitator, Ayesha Burdett was very pleased with the number of farmers who had taken time out of their busy The biological functions of soil that underpin plant schedules to attend the event. ‘ performance are not routinely measured. Existing tests can be expensive and difficult to relate to management practice. Soil “We had a really great range of farmers and agronomists come biological functions –including nutrient (N & C) cycling, along,” said Ayesha. “The discussion was productive, and the disease suppression, and structural building and maintenance – farmers were interested in working with Pauline to become part underwrite soil performance and are central in soil monitoring of the project.” for performance improvements. Improved testing methods for This event was supported by Glenelg Hopkins CMA through soil biological function that reflect the regional climate and funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare soils are able to inform land management decisions to help Program. farmers build higher and sustainable plant performance systems. “There is increasing interest in utilising soil biological function in farming systems, but you cannot manage what you cannot In 2019, the Cooperative Research Centre for High measure,” said Richard Murphy, Land Health Coordinator with Performance Soils (Soil CRC) has supported a 3-year project to the Glenelg Hopkins CMA. “The tools developed through the identify indicators of biologically active soil and to use these to Bioindicators Project, will help farmers make more informed design practical tools that measure biological functions in a management decisions to build soil biological potential and target cropping area in western Victoria. crop yield.” On Monday, 22 July, the Upper Hopkins Land Management Group (UHLMG) hosted Soil CRC soil microbiologist, A/Prof Pauline Mele, at Maroona to discuss the proposed ‘Bioindicators for high performing soils’ project with cropping farmers. The event provided the Soil CRC with an opportunity to better understand what bioindicators growers are already using, and provided the 21 farm service providers and growers with information about the project and how they can become involved. Victorian Volcanic Plains Stewardship Program, Round 4 By Aggie Stevenson, Senior NRM Planner, Glenelg Alternate stock water Hopkins CMA Pest plant and animal control Glenelg Hopkins CMA is rolling out the fourth round of the Burning for biomass control Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) Stewardship Program. The Supplementary planting VVP is recognised by the Australian Government as one of 15 Landholders with grasslands and wetlands will also have the ‘biodiversity hotspots’ across Australia, and within it, the benefit of having a grassland ecologist conduct annual following Ecological Communities (ECs) have been listed as grassland and wetland monitoring, providing valuable critically endangered: information which will be used to inform future management Natural Temperate Grassland and Grassy Eucalypt decisions around grazing. Woodland of the VVP Expressions of interest close Friday 26 September 2019 Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlands (Freshwater) of the Temperate Lowland Plains and Grey Box Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-Eastern Australia Funding is offered to landholders with good and excellent quality native grasslands, grassy woodlands or seasonal herbaceous wetlands in the VVP bioregion that contain the ECs listed above. The VVP Stewardship Program will provide technical support to landholders, along with a site management plan, site set up costs and annual management payments for five years until June 2023. The funds will support landholders to manage their sites for biodiversity conservation as well as agricultural production. Seasonal herbaceous wetland, Branxholme. (Photo Ben Some examples of activities eligible for funding include: Zeeman) Fencing for better site management 3 Water reticulation workshops By Clem Sturmfels, Senior Soil Conservation Officer, the East Grampians pipeline has been completed.