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| SA Drought E-News, 23rd August 2007 |
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| EC announcements for Kangaroo Island and Mount Lofty Ranges |
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For the first time ever full Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought assistance has been extended to Kangaroo Island primary producers.
Drought-affected farmers in the region can now apply for income support as well as interest rate subsidies of up to $100,000 a year until 31 March 2009.
Most regions within South Australia are EC declared, however, the Federal Government has decided not to provide EC assistance to producers in the Central and Eastern Mt Lofty Ranges region following advice from the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC), which visited the region July.
Staff from Primary Industries and Resources SA will meet with community representatives in the region to ensure producers experiencing hardship are aware of other State and Federal Government assistance programmes available to them.
Information about EC assistance and general support is available through the Drought Hotline 180 2020 or the website www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp.
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| New counsellors for drought affected regions |
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People experiencing hardship because of the drought will now have better access to personal and family support with the recruitment of six new rural community counsellors.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister, Gail Gago, announced a recruitment program for six new positions around the State, including the Flinders and Far North, Lower North and Yorke Peninsula, as well as three positions for the Riverland and Lower Lakes districts.
These new counsellors will join two previously appointed in February who are now based in Booleroo Centre and Bordertown - bringing the total new positions announced this year to eight.
The new counsellors will offer a mobile service and their work will be all about getting out and meeting the people in the district to ensure that services are available to those that need them.
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| Confinement feeding through the drought |
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Farmers in the South East and Kangaroo Island who confined their sheep for the first time because of drought say their paddocks have been saved from erosion.
That’s one of the key findings from a survey Rural Solutions SA (RSSA) is currently undertaking to see how farmers’ fared in confining their sheep as a recommended drought management strategy.
While the survey is still continuing, results look promising with farmers recording only 1.2 percent of deaths.
The 31 farmers surveyed so far say the other benefits received from confining their sheep for an average of 17 weeks included:
- retaining their breeding stock
- saving time feeding or checking sheep
- paddock feed recovered quicker when it rained
- good conception rates
- easier to supply water
- reduced wastage of grain feed.
Farmers in the area who containment fed their sheep are encouraged to contact the PIRSA Keith office on 8755 3166 to participate in the short survey.
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| New tool to help growers fight salinity |
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Drought-affected farmers who have reduced their water use in irrigation are experiencing an unwelcome reward for their efforts: salinity problems. A simple tool however is helping citrus and grape growers deal with the problem.
Developed by SARDI scientist Dr Tapas Biswas, the simple, portable and easy-to-use soil water extractor is helping growers measure the salinity of water anywhere on their property and adjust their irrigation management to avoid the build-up of salts.
The device, marketed under the brand name “SoluSAMPLER” by Adelaide based SENTEK Sensor Technologies (www.Sentek.com.au), draws moisture from the surrounding soil and stores it in a specially deigned ceramic cup. Growers can then easily measure the sample using a salinity metre and flush salts through the plant’s roots before they are toxic.
The extractor is also an excellent tool for monitoring the movement of nitrogen through the soil profile. Soil water samples collected periodically after a fertiliser event can be analysed for nitrogen and phosphorus content.
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| Cash incentives for rural apprenticeships |
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Farmers now have greater support in continuing to offer training and employment opportunities in EC declared regions.
The Australian Government is providing cash incentives to primary producers who hold an EC Drought Area Certificate to continue to offer skill development and apprenticeships in drought declared areas.
The exceptional circumstances drought declared incentive provides $1,500 on commencement and $1,500 on completion of a Certificate II Rural, Agriculture and Horticulture Australian Apprenticeships.
For more information on the full range of support available when employing an apprentice or trainee visit: www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/employer/incentives.asp.
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| Succession planning |
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The Grains Research and Development Corporation has created a free handbook to help farming businesses work through succession planning.
A Guide to Succession: Sustaining families and farms includes a set of guiding principles and a range of case studies.
More information: Call Ground Cover Direct on 1800 110 044.
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| Planning ahead for recovery |
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Farmers who are in receipt of EC Interest Rate Subsidies are being encouraged to look ahead and start making plans for recovery through the drought.
Attendance at a half-day Planning for Recovery session is an essential first step in this process and can assist with business planning and support.
These sessions are an integral part of the Planning for Recovery Program, designed to provide extra support to the recovery phase for those affected by drought and in receipt of the Interest Rate Subsidy component of Exceptional Circumstances support.
To date, more than 230 businesses have attended a session.
Future sessions are currently scheduled for:
| Waikerie |
9 am Tuesday 28 August, Waikerie Club |
| Jamestown |
9 am Wednesday 29 August, Jamestown Railway Hotel |
| Quorn |
1.30pm Wednesday 29 August, Quorn Austral Hotel |
Detailed information and guidelines on the program and session dates are available via the Service SA website www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp. Guidelines are also sent to all approved interest rate subsidy recipients.
For more information: Brenton Growden or Neil Ackland.
Telephone 8688 3400.
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| Lifting Riverland spirits |
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Women in Horticulture have held the first of three ‘Lifting Riverland Spirits’ events in Loxton on Sunday with help from a State Government community support grant.
The free family barbecue get togethers aim to bring together irrigators, farmers and other community members to raise spirits, talk about support available and to let people know everyone is facing the drought together.
A second event will be held on Sunday 26 August at the Renmark Rovers Football Club from noon until 3 pm and a third at Waikerie Football Club from noon until 3pm on Sunday, 9 September.
For the latest listing of River Murray Drought Events including seminars, field days and workshops for irrigators visit:
www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/44058/drought_events_calendar.pdf.
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| Community support through drought |
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The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal is inviting communities from drought-affected areas to apply for grants of up to $5000 to run small local projects.
Priority will be given to communities with fewer than 10,000 people that wish to run projects in areas such as community support, community infrastructure, resettlement of immigrants in rural areas or retaining young people in rural and regional areas.
Applications close on 30 September.
More information: Call 1800 070 120 or visit www.frrr.org.au.
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Drought E-News is a regular newsletter updating the State Government’s drought response. If you’ve been forwarded this E-News and you would like to subscribe, click on the link below, complete the details and you will receive drought E-News in the future.
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