NSW DPI offers wealth of information at Henty Field Days

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) site at Henty Machinery Field Days on 20 to 22 September will offer a wealth of information covering everything from native fish to making silage and managing salinity.

Last year more than 5000 people visited the NSW DPI shed located near the agronomy plots at site ZA and even more are expected this year as more information is on offer.

NSW DPI Lifestock Officer Beef Cattle Steve Exton said there would be a two or three-pronged beef cattle presence with information available on the National Livestock Identification Scheme, ‘High Quality Beef’ - results from a local major Cooperative Research Centre project and details on ‘Cattle Handling’ - a new course available from DPI.

A highlight of this year’s display will be TopFodder Silage. NSW DPI Project Officer Helen Burn said it was the first time TopFodder Silage had been put on show in southern NSW. TopFodder Silage is jointly funded by DPI and Dairy Australia.

NSW DPI Narrandera fisheries will have a live display of fish species such as the Murray cod, trout cod and silver perch.

Narrandera Fisheries Centre Site Manager Les Rava said trout cod and silver perch were on the threatened species list, and could not be taken from the river systems, though silver perch may be taken from lakes and dams, as these areas have stocked fish.

“Trout cod have a total fishing ban on them. Narrandera DPI has been breeding trout cod since the mid eighties and a restocking program has been and still is on going.

“It will be a good chance for the public to identify the difference between the trout cod and the Murray cod as some people are still unaware of the actual differences in the markings of these two species,” he said.

“We will also be promoting our Visitor’s Centre at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre, which has a 62-seat theatre, a live aquarium and a hatchery facility.”

As part of the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) ‘Best Management Practices for Dryland Farming Systems’ project, a landholder survey is being conducted across the mid and lower Murrumbidgee Catchment.

DPI Project Officer Vivienne Davis said mailed distribution of these surveys was set to take place on 19 September, with those who return completed surveys by the 17 October eligible to be in the draw to win one of two Akubra hats.

Ms Davis said surveys could also be filled out with personal assistance at the Henty Machinery Field Days, at either the Landcare Field Day site or DPI site. If filled out on site participants will take home a bag of field day “goodies” including native plants.

“The aim of the survey is to get a snapshot of the way dryland farming and/or grazing operations are being managed in the mid and lower catchment,” Ms Davis said.

“The survey results will be used to better target research, funding and on-ground works to assist in improved management of natural resources; and gauge changes in cropping and grazing practices across the catchment over time by comparing data from later years to the 2005 benchmark.”

At the field days, NSW DPI and the Murrumbidgee CMA will also be promoting a perennial pasture project. The project aims to improve farm profitability, reduce the amount of salt reaching the Murrumbidgee River, improve soil health and reduce groundwater recharge by increasing the amount of perennial plants in the landscape.

Training and funding are available under this project to private landholders located in eight specified catchments who meet certain criteria such as having a minimum property size of 80 hectares.

To be eligible for the funding, participants also need to have undertaken or be willing to undertake a LANDSCAN™ or PROGRAZE™ course.

Up to $2500 is available per property for on-ground works including sowing perennial pastures in recharge zones, sowing saline pastures, sowing pasture demonstrations and better management of existing perennial pastures.

NSW DPI and Murrumbidgee CMA will be promoting the new Healthy Soils Healthy Landscapes project at Henty.

DPI Project Officer Sean Roberts said this project offered land-holders the opportunity to improve their management by helping them learn how to interpret soil tests, match production to soils, improve productivity by understanding the influence of soils, correlate  farming activity with soil and land capability and recognise soil health problems. Expressions of interest will be taken at the site.

The NSW DPI shed will also host livestock specialists from Young who will discuss Merino bloodline performance.

MEDIA CONTACT: SARAH CHESTER on (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669.