Pathogens, parasites and pesky pests- New and emerging biosecurity threats in a changing climate.

​You are invited along to this exciting field day on biosecurity in a changing climate and its impacts on agriculture in Southern Gippsland.  

Field day topics include:

• Biosecurity planning, farm hygiene, current and future pathogens and parasites
• New and emerging pest plants as a biosecurity threat
• Integrated pest management in a changing climate, a horticulture enterprise case study 
• Good and bad soil biology and what to expect in a changing climate
• Liver Fluke and the ‘on farm’ warning signs

Date:    Wednesday October 23rd, 2019
Time:    10am for registration, finish time at 2.30pm. 
            Morning tea and lunch provided.       
            Look out for the Landcare event signs.

Venue:   Morning session-    Kernot Community Hall.  
            Google maps link-   https://goo.gl/maps/iCJxGwtqkWHpjjq66 

             Afternoon session- Property of local dairy farmer,  Andy Thomas.
            Google maps link-   https://goo.gl/maps/oHVr4Dui9Sgt95B18

RSVP is essential! To register please visit:

https://biosecuritychangingclimate.eventbrite.com.au

​For details, call the Bass Coast Landcare Network Office on 5678 2335. 

Welcome to Wattlebank Park Farm.  Landowners Nadine and Clive Verboon initially managed a dairy enterprise on their property.  After an extreme flood event they decided to diversify to ensure their business became more resilient into the future.  
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Welcome to Bimbadeen, an innovative Philip Island property on a diversification journey.  Landowner Bob Davie is also trialling cropping methods aimed to increase Bimbadeens soil carbon.  ​

The Phillip Island Community Orchard horticulture demonstration project is experiencing a second coming, thanks to some further funding support from Westernport Water, the Phillip Island Landcare Group and the Bass Coast Landcare Network.
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Originally established in 2014, the project continues to demonstrate how to set up and develop an intensive market garden in a peri urban setting. The Phillip Island Community Orchard site has the luxury of a consistent water source, thanks to Westernport Water providing ongoing access to Class A recycled water.  This obviously increases the viability of the demonstration and also allows Westernport Water to promote the Class A recycled Water product to the community.

​It took a drought and some deep reflection to turn farmer and author Charles Massy from a conventional farmer to one of the leading thinkers in regenerative agriculture today. 

Strzelecki Heritage Apples are a family run niche nursery business in the Strzelecki hills that grows over 400 varieties of apples including cider apples as well as numerous varieties of pears and plums. ​

South Gippsland Fresh Produce are a new local enterprise based in picturesque Glen Forbes, owned by Peter McDonnell and Angelika Christensen. Peter and Angelika have worked tirelessly to set up this new innovative operation which includes picking your own strawberries, growing hydroponic vegetables and herbs, raising free range pigs, a paddock to plate restaurant and a primary produce store.
You are welcome to come along to our farm visit to learn about their multi-faceted agricultural business, on Friday the 25th of January 2019, 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

Please register to join in this great event at https://sthgippslandfreshproduce.eventbrite.com.au

If you would like more information please contact Joel Geoghegan on joel.geoghegan@basscoastlandcare.org.au or call 5678 2335

​Based on the six-day FarmPlan21 course, the course has been condensed to a three-day course. It provides an opportunity for landholders to develop a property plan based on ecological and economic factors.

​Recently over 20 landowners and landcare support staff from West Gippsland participated in a 9 week Master Tree Growers program. The program proved to be an amazing opportunity for all participants to increase their knowledge, engage with other like-minded people and develop ideas and actions for their own properties.