Important Information for RGA Members

Due to COVID - 19 RGA is offering alternative delivery options. 

Thanks to all members who attended the RGA Branch Annual General Meetings which were conducted on-line this year due to COVID-19 constraints.

Attendance numbers were less than the Face-To-Face numbers from last year, but better than anticipated for the first time using this new technology. Importantly, a quorum was achieved for all meetings.

The Industry Updates were conducted on separate days - 2 shorter meetings instead of one long session. There were 3 Industry update sessions, scheduled morning, evening and midday so that members could choose a time to suit. 

 Thanks to those members who responded to our request for feedback via a survey.  The results were very  supportive of using this medium again. Whilst it does not replace the preferred option of Face-To-Face, it provides convenience and is our only option until the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. We'll be using your feedback along with the lessons learned to help future session run smoothly.  We look forward to seeing more members participate in the future.

If you would like to provide further feedback you can contact us at [email protected] or call Belinda on 0488 0711 65, or you can go to the survey which is still open. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RGA-Br-AGM-late 

Our thanks go to the presenters at the Industry Updates:

• Rob Massina - (whose Update was deemed to be the most valuable  segment from the survey)
• Rachel Kelly - Water Policy - (Water Policy Book HERE)
• Neil Bull - Environment Sustainability
• John Culleton - Rice Marketing Board Chair
• Antony Vagg - R&D Panel Chair (R&D Presentation HERE)
• Laurie Arthur - SunRice Chair
• Our partners H2OX and Telstra (H2OX Presentation HERE)

GRDC Update - Southern & Central NSW

Time and Date: 23rd July 9.00am - 10.30am.
Topics: This GRDC online update will include:
•    Dale Grey (Agriculture Victoria) - Model forecast for spring & how this might effect catchment inflows
•    Tony Napier (NSW DPI) - With a good start to the season, what management practices can we use to set up crops for high yields
•    Ehsan Tavakkoli (NSW DPI) - Soil amelioration - magnitude of crop productivity improvements on hostile subsoils
To register click HERE.

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

Australian Rural Leadership Program

Applications close 14th August 2020
The ARLP employs an adaptive learning approach and is developed within a curriculum framework that focuses on individual and collective behavioural changes central to development of leadership behaviour. The ARLP combines the very latest leadership andragogy from across the globe with an informed understanding of the unique complexities facing regional Australia. For more information about the 18 month program click HERE. 

Bob Hawke Landcare Award

Nominations close 31 August 2020.
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare. The award recipient will be required to submit a project proposal outlining out how they plan to spend the $50,000. To be eligible for the award, nominees must be actively involved in Landcare, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. For more information click HERE. 

Nuffield Scholarships 

Applications close 11th September 2020.
The Rice Industry has been long term supports of the Nuffield Scholarships with a number industry members from the Rice Industry being involved over the years. Applications for the 2021 Nuffield scholarships are now open! With more than 20 scholarships available and $30,000 bursary on offer, now is the perfect time to be a change maker. For more information or to apply www.nuffield.com.au

John Hanrahan Scholarship 

Applications close 30 September 2020.
The Scholarship, is open to first year Agriculture or Agribusiness degree or diploma students, who will be entering their second year of studies in 2021. Applicants must be studying full-time and be an Australian permanent resident or citizen. Students aged between 18 and 30 from the Riverine Plains region of north eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of NSW are eligible to apply. For more information click HERE. 

Uncle Toby’s Scholarship 

Applications close 30 September 2020.
Local agriculture tertiary students working towards a degree or diploma in agriculture or agribusiness are invited to apply for the inaugural UNCLE TOBYS Scholarship, which is being administered by farming system group, Riverine Plains Inc, through the Riverine Plains Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship recognises and encourages agricultural excellence in the Riverine Plains region by supporting a local second year student in their studies. For more information click HERE. 

REGISTER HERE

Alternative Uses for Australian Rice Straw 

The Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG), in collaboration with the Moulamein Cropping Group and Rice Extension have just completed a case study booklet for managing rice stubble outlining alternative management options to burning.

The publication was developed as a result of a project from 2017-19 that trialled and demonstrated stubble incorporation on local rice farms to determine whether commercially available implements and amendments were a viable management alternative for rice stubble. The booklet includes case studies on incorporation using different implements and amendments such as fertiliser and microbial inoculants.

WMLIG hope that both the demonstration and extension material will encourage farmers to consider alternative management options by providing more access to information about the pros and cons of different options available to them.

The booklet can be downloaded by clicking HERE.

On-farm financial Risk Management Project – National Survey

The NFF are working on a significant project which will identify insights and tools that help farmers better manage risk. The project is being run in partnership with NSW Government, it’s aimed at improving the financial risk management options available to Australian Farmers to assist them manage drought, natural disasters and a range of other risks. The project is multi-commodity and national focus. 

The NFF is seeking feedback from farmers as it’s important in shaping a key building block for the future of the agricultural industry in Australia. To fill out the survey click here.

The Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition 

The RGA is a member of The Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition (RRRCC), which is a group of like-minded organisations who have come together to end the data drought and to champion better communications services for consumers and small businesses living in rural, remote or regional areas. To see the July edition of the RRRCC Newsletter click here. 

The Fast Break: Seasonal climate risk information for Southern NSW 

Sea surface temperature anomalies. Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies along the Equatorial Pacific are cooler in the east, but unchanged in the centre this month and still at normal temperatures. For more information click HERE.

GRDC Update - Feathertop Rhodes grass 

Time and date: 20th August 9.00am - 10.30am 
Topics: This online GRDC update for growers and advisers in Central and Southern NSW will include:
•    Managing feathertop Rhodes grass - the northern experience - Richard Daniel (NGA)
•    Feathertop Rhodes grass management research in southern NSW - Hanwen Wu (NSW DPI)  
•    Discussion - Led by Mark Congreve (ICAN) 
To register click HERE. 

The RGA is delighted that Claire Miller,  our former RGA Policy Manager, is the new interim CEO for NSW Irrigators Council (NSWIC).
Congratulations Claire! We're so pleased that you, and your knowledge and insights, stay in our water space.

Read more about the NSWIC top 5 policy matters for June  (which align so closely with the RGA’s)

1. Water Sharing Plans (which are set to commence 1 July)
2. Water Resource Plans (which are due to be submitted for accreditation)
3. Drought of Record Bill threatens General Security reliability 
4. Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment Mechanism stalls posing risk of buybacks 
5. Reduced Groundwater Allocations (expected for 1 July)

The MDB Ministerial Council Communique, SDL Projects and more are HERE.

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, in the tractor or doing house chores. 
Rice Extension invites you to sit back and enjoy their new Podcast, available now on Soundcloud and Itunes Podcast.