Important Information for RGA Members

Due to COVID - 19 RGA has deferred all upcoming face to face events, and will investigate alternative delivery options. 

Save the Date
RGA Branch Annual General Meetings 

Plans are underway for our Annual Branch AGM’s which will be a little different this year, due to Covid-19.  Be assured that the health and well-being of our members is foremost in our planning, details will be coming out soon.

The Branch AGM’s will include the election of Branch representatives and Central Executive Delegates as well as the definition of resolutions for discussion at the Annual RGA AGM, and nominations for Honorary Membership.

Have you thought about joining the Central Executive or one of your Policy Committees?

RGA members are encouraged to consider the nominating themselves or others for the Central Executive (CE) which meet 4 times a year or for one of our Policy Committees. 
The CE is a key link between the Members, particularly the Members that are growers of rice, and the Board.

Key roles of the Central Executive are:
• providing expert guidance on the development of industry policy; acting as a communications channel for comments and feedback from Members to the Board and to the Central Executive; 
• communicating to the Members our industry policy and RGA developments
• electing the President and Board members

The number of delegates from each branch is determined by the number of financial members within that branch.
 1-75 Voting Members will entitle a Branch to 1 delegate;
76-150 Voting Members will entitle a Branch to 2 delegates;
151-225 Voting Members will entitle a Branch to 3 delegates;
(The full list is in our constitution)

Vacancies exist on our Policy Committees for nominated, financial members.  Nominations must be received prior to the meetings. 
If you are interested, please talk to your Branch representatives, RGA staff or preferably, talk to the Policy Managers: Water – Rachel Kelly, Environmental Sustainability – Neil Bull, Productivity and Industry Affairs – Charleton Glenn

Dates and Times:

Monday 29th of June:   

• 12.00 - 12.30 pm  Coleambally Branch
• 6.00 -   6.30 pm   Deniliquin & Victoria Branch 

Tuesday 30th of June:   

• 12.00 - 12.30 pm  Wakool Branch 
•   6.00 -  6.30 pm   Berriquin Branch 

Wednesday 1st of July:

• 10.00 - 10.30 am Mirrool Branch 
• 12.00 - 12.30 pm  Yanco Branch 
•   6.00 -   6.30 pm   Hay Branch 

The RGA Branch AGM's will be conducted separately from the Stakeholder and Industry updates.

Harvesting and cartage rates for rice growers

Members, the RGA have summarised the harvest and cartage rates for the C20 Harvest HERE.

Managing Risk in Irrigation Forum Series

Rice Extension and Ricegrowers' Association invites you to our Managing Risk in Irrigation Forums. We hope to help turn the complex water debate into some simple take home messages. 
The interactive forums will be two one hour sessions with a half hour break in between.

Dates and times:

Tuesday 16th June: 7.00am – 9.30am
Wednesday 17th June: 12.00pm- 2.30pm
Thursday 18th June: 6.30pm – 9.00pm

Location: Anywhere! Attendees will be sent an invitation and instructions to attend a Zoom meeting Friday 12 June.

Topics:

- What water will be available in the future and at what price?
- How will a new equilibrium be reached in water use across different industries?
- What is the relationship between allocation price and entitlement value?
- What are the economics of different water products and how they can be used for risk management?

REGISTER HERE

Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial Survey

We’re proud of the fact that the Australian rice industry was the first Australian agricultural industry to initiate a regional biodiversity plan and greenhouse reduction strategy, outlining the future direction of rice growing in harmony with the environment. Our farmers have shown their on-going commitment to biodiversity outcomes through the Bitterns in Rice program and on farm vegetation management.  Now we have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the future Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification scheme by completing the survey below. The aim of this scheme is to see farmers rewarded for their contribution to habitat provision.  Please share your views by taking this important survey.The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling on all producers to put forward their views directly as the next phase of the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial is developed.

A short NFF video is available HERE requesting producers put their views forward.

NFF has launched the survey HERE to directly gauge the views of Australia’s farm land managers as the scheme is developed.

Consultation with hundreds of stakeholders has already occurred via online forums and webinars, and member can view the two hour recorded webinar HERE at any time. 

The Ricegrowers' Association is represented on the NFF Stakeholder Reference Committee which oversees the trial.  

For more information click HERE  or participate in the survey HERE.

Survey will close on Monday the 15th of June.

The Rice Life, a Rice Extension Production aimed at bringing together the Rice Community to engage with one another. 

The podcast hosted by Harriet & Charleton features interviews with key industry players from within the Rice Industry delivering the latest news so all parties can stay informed and connected. 

Short and snappy segments the podcast are perfect afternoon pick me up, between 20 – 50 minutes in length they make for great listening whilst travelling, sowing or doing house chores. 
Rice Extension invites you to sit back and enjoy their new Podcast, available now on Soundcloud and Itunes Podcast. 

The latest episode ‘Boosting the Bittern Yield’ features the intertwining world or rice, wildlife and the environment.  Charleton caught up with Ecologist Matt Herring who gave us an insight into the secret life of the Australasian Bittern and explains the Local Land Services ‘Bittern Friendly Rice Project’. Results to date for this project indicated that the density of Bitterns utilizing the Bittern Friendly rice – 3 -4 times great than the control sites. 

We also hear from Hayden Cudmore who grew Bittern Friendly Rice about how he found it and tips to other growers. He also participated in recent SunRice Grower Video’s if you’d like to learn more click here.

This episode wrapped up with Harriet chatting to Agronomist James Mann (Yenda Producers) gives an update on the winter season to date. 

Our podcast is an interactive platform in which we are here to deliver information that growers, advisors and industry supports want to hear. If you have an idea for topic, guest or a questions you’d like answered please reach out to the Rice Extension Team – e-mail [email protected] or follow their social media channel @riceextension on twitter and facebook. Instructions on how to listen are on the Rice Extension WEBSITE.