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Latest News & EVENTS
GRADSTAR 2024 OPEN
We are excited to announce registrations for our next GradSTAR cohort are now open!
Invest in your rising ag stars by signing them up for GradSTAR in 2024. GradSTAR covers:
- Extension & inspiring practice change,
- Project design, monitoring & evaluation,
- Communication, personality styles & learning styles
- Facilitating groups
Delivered in a series of monthly, online, half-day workshops and one face-to-face event GradSTAR is a unique opportunity to apply learnings to a project of choice and enjoy the benefits of collective mindpower to problem solve and innovate. Participants will come away with a network of cross-industry connections, fresh ideas and new approaches.
Keep in mind GradSTAR is not just for Grads! It’s perfect for early career professionals who want to brush up on a few skills and set themselves up for success.
Places are limited – register your interest.
KATHERINE SITE VISITS
In October, Callen travelled up to Katherine, NT for some regional presentations and meetings as part of a national program he is coordinating. Cal enjoyed the chance to catch up with some former colleagues from his time working in the Territory and hear about recent developments in NT agriculture. He also managed to catch a few quick snaps of Katherine Gorge.
GROWING BEEF FROM DAIRY
We were privileged to visited three dairies producing dairy beef during a visit to Tasmania in November as part of the Growing Beef from Dairy Project we are working on with Meat & Livestock Australia and Dairy Australia.
The project is bringing together a suite of materials to help dairy and beef producers understand how to identify a target market and breed, feed and manage surplus dairy calves to meet market needs.
Each of the producers are part of a dairy beef group coordinated by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA). The project team extends their thanks to Lesley Irvine from TIA and all of the farmers we visited.
SPOTLIGHT ON LEGUME POTENTIAL AT FIELD DAYS
11 October 2023
Warrumbungle region farmers have been learning how to improve legumes in pasture systems through a series of field days run by AgSTAR Projects in conjunction with UNE Agriculture.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund the events are part of UNE’s Overcoming the Knowledge Gaps project, building drought resilience by increasing the use of legumes in pasture systems.
UNE Associate Professor David McNeill said the program intended to help producers overcome common constraints experienced with legumes by discussing appropriate species selection, soil type, climate and management practices.
“Legumes can take nitrogen from the atmosphere and donate it to the surrounding soil and microbes,” A/Prof McNeill said.
“Some deep-rooted legumes can also access nutrients that may be beyond the reach of shallower-rooted grasses and accumulate these nutrients in their above-ground biomass.”
AgSTAR Projects Agronomist Callen Thompson organised the field days and said he had a strong response from local farmers.
“The first field day was an introduction to legume establishment and management in tropical pastures at Sam and Megan Clifton’s place near Purlewaugh,” Callen said.
“Our two-day, legumes masterclass followed on and went into more depth on soil characteristics, legume selection and fertiliser use,” he said.
