AGRICULTURE Victoria (AV) is ramping up preparations to ensure its staff are ready to respond to biosecurity threats after fragments of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever (ASF) were detected in pork products at a Melbourne retail outlet last week.

IN a world-first, Elders is establishing an automated wool handling business, with the official launch scheduled for July next year.

A RALLY has been organised by Western District farmers to be held at 11.30am tomorrow at the Colac Memorial Square in protest to the inadequate response by both the Federal and State Government to the threat posed by the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Indonesia.

THE biggest farming event on the south-west calendar is set to return this weekend in its usual format after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a two-year hiatus.

AFTER supporting more than 50 local projects in 2021, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program is back, offering grants of up to $5000 for projects across regional Australia.

OVER 500 sheep have been entered into the Hamilton and Western District Sheep Show for the 2022 Sheepvention Rural Expo to be held at the Hamilton Showgrounds on Sunday, July 31 – Tuesday, August 2, with entries recently closed.

Three tragedies from tractors

JAMES’ Uncle Clarence Nagorcka was killed in 1946 at Rainbow, Victoria, on his parents-in-law’s property when the tractor he was driving rolled over a bank in a creek bed.

Then in 1957, his good friend and neighbour Eric Lange was killed.

The third major incident involved James’ father, Percy, in 1973, when they were working together in the paddock.

LOCAL Year 9 students interested in pursuing a career in agriculture were given the chance to explore the industry at the Careers in Agriculture Taster Day held at the Rural Institute of Skills and Training (RIST) on Monday.

IT’S been woolly, woolly cold lately and what better way to warm up but to get into some woolly retail window dressing for the Shop Window Competition ahead of the 2022 Sheepvention Rural Expo.

THERE was a reduced yarding in Hamilton on Friday with 70 cattle penned which mostly consisted of cows.