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| SA Drought E-News, 9th August 2007 |
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| EC declaration for North West Rangelands |
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The Federal Government has announced pastoralists in the North West Rangelands will now be able to access full Exceptional Circumstances (EC) assistance for up to two years.
Agriculture-dependent small businesses that derive 70 per cent of their income from EC declared areas are also eligible to apply for assistance.
Most regions within South Australia are EC declared.
The Central and Eastern Mt Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island were assessed by the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) in July and a decision regarding EC is pending.
NRAC will be assessing the Lower South East this week - the last region to be assessed.
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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| More rain needed |
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South Australian farmers are looking to the skies for good rains over the coming weeks to keep their season on track.
According to the latest PIRSA Crop and Pasture report, prepared by Rural Solutions SA, the season looks promising but is at a critical stage.
Report author Peter Fulwood said good rainfall is needed over the coming weeks to maintain strong growth into spring.
He said while SA’s crop production was looking optimistic in most districts, crops on much of Western Eyre Peninsula, parts of Eastern Eyre Peninsula and the Upper North were still in urgent need of rain to boost soil moisture.
The report highlights that if conditions remain favourable for farmers, crop production is expected to be 20 per cent above the five-year average at around 6.98 million tonnes. Last year, SA’s farmers reaped in a final harvest of 2.93 million tonnes.
The report also said pasture growth had picked up in most districts after slowing markedly in June, with good lambing percentages being reported in a number of districts.
Full Crop and Pasture Report: www.pir.sa.gov.au/cropreport.
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| Lifting Riverland spirits |
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Women in Horticulture have received funding for three free community barbecue events under the State Government’s Drought Response Community Grants. The free ‘Lifting Riverland Spirits’ events are not just for irrigators and farmers but open to all.
The first is to be held at the Loxton Football Club on Sunday 12 August and involves light entertainment, a BBQ and information sharing from noon until 3 pm.
The second will be held on Sunday 26 August at the Renmark Rovers Football Club from noon until 3 pm.
For the latest listing of River Murray Drought Events including seminars, field days and workshops for irrigators:
www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/44058/drought_events_calendar.pdf.
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| Planning for recovery |
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There has been positive feedback in response to the 21 ‘Planning for Recovery’ sessions held around the State.
These workshops 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 assessed to be eligible for the Interest Rate Subsidy component of Exceptional Circumstances support.
Attendance at a half-day Planning for Recovery workshop is an essential step in accessing the program and can assist with business planning and support in planning for recovery.
To date, more than 230 businesses have attended a session with another six planned.
Future workshops are currently scheduled for:
| Kimba |
1.30 pm Thursday 16 August, Kimba Hotel |
| Bordertown |
1.30pm Wednesday 22 August, Bordertown Footy Club |
| Karoonda |
9 am Thursday 23 August, Karoonda Hotel |
| 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 workshop 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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| Support for dairy farmers |
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Dairy and beef producers can receive free advice on feeding herds this winter as part of one-on-one sessions, being offered by feed.FIBRE.future, a program funded through Dairy Australia.
Experienced consultants are holding the sessions to help farmers affected by unprecedented feed shortages.
Sessions take into account differences between farms with a confidential discussion giving each farmer the opportunity to assess their current position, review feasible feeding options and strategies, and develop and implement action plans.
The 90-minute sessions are held in a small, local meeting room. All dairy and beef farmers are eligible at no cost. Further information is available at the Dairy Australia website www.dairyaustralia.com.au or by calling your Regional Drought Coordinator: Kirstie Murphy on 8536 3958 or 0408 088 624.
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| On the look out for Flying Foxes |
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South East residents are being asked to report any sightings of the threatened Grey-headed Flying Fox, sometimes referred to as the fruit bat, after the species was spotted in the area.
Flying foxes usually range in eastern Victoria, eastern New South Wales and Queensland, with the first sighting in the South East in 1998.
It is believed the drought has lead to the flying foxes searching for food further afield, with the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) receiving sighting reports from Mount Gambier, Kongorong, Rendelsham and Woods Well on the Coorong.
Any information about the flying foxes distribution, movements and food preferences is welcomed. Telephone DEH on 8735 1177.
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| Succession planning workshops |
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PIRSA and Country Health SA are presenting free workshops on succession planning for sustaining families and farms.
The next session will run from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm, and will be held at:
Booleroo Centre Bowling Club Thursday 16 August
Numbers are limited. Register by contacting Rural Health Team, Yvette Atze. Telephone 8667 2458. E-mail atze.yvette@saugov.sa.gov.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.
Feedback is always welcome, email Drought News.
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