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Small Landholder Information Service (SLIS)
HOT off the press!!!
Tips for purchasing small rural landholdings
A 10-point checklist takes the prospective purchaser through a series of questions to assist them in their decision. This checklist provides the names of organisations where further information can be obtained.
Fresh Food Link.....
are you connected?
Fresh Food Link (FFL) is our latest initiative. Since the launch in October 2010 by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman, the small landholder team has successfully held 3 FFL workshops. Themes of the workshops were based around business planning and marketing.
Various useful publications for Small Landholders:
Most of these publications are PDF files, you will need a PDF reading application such as Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.
Welcome to the Small Landholder Information Service Events Calendar. We are updating this calendar as new events are confirmed and encourage you to visit to keep up to date on what training and information events are being developed to meet your needs.
We also welcome your ideas on new events and potential event partners.
No Events listed in the next 180 days.
Join SLIS:
Should you have any further queries regarding the Small Landholder Information Service, please contact the team directly.
Email: small_landholder@agric.wa.gov.au
Yolandee Jones
SLIS Manager
Email: yolandee.jones@agric.wa.gov.au
Phone: 08 9733 7703
Fax: 08 9733 2377Heidi Blackburn
Development Officer
Email: heidi.blackburn@agric.wa.gov.au
Phone: 08 9733 7713
Fax: 08 9733 2377Jodie Bowling
Development Officer
Email: jodie.bowling@agric.wa.gov.au
Phone: 08 9780 6213
Fax: 08 9780 6136
Australian Farmers' Market Association - www.farmersmarkets.org.au
Is a useful website to promote farmers' markets. For smaller producers who are starting out and trying to find an avenue for selling your produce, farmers markets are a great place to showcase your product, do market research on what is in demand and what products you might be able to produce. The website also has a useful links page which can provide useful connections to people involved in your chosen industry, industry training or information.
Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) - www.wool.com
AWI provides wool producers a wide variety of information, products, tools and training opportunities to assist with getting the most out of their livestock. Some of the useful tools which are provided free online are making more from sheep, tutorials on how to do parasitic worm egg counts, advice for treating lice and much more. AWI also has links to WormBoss which offers news and information updates on effective worm management.
Bureau of Meteorology Western Australia - www.bom.gov.au/wa
For information about weather warnings, weather observations, forecasts and climate visit the Bureau of Meterology website. The website has access to a large number of up to date weather stations, to find out the climate or weather forecast in your area click on your area.
Cityfood Growers - www.cityfoodgrowers.com.au
You will need to subscribe to the website to gain full access to the gardening tools. Cityfood Growers offers a wide range of tools which would be useful for anyone starting out in horticulture. It provides you with the ability to customise the climate conditions to suit your area, search for detail plant information, information on organic gardening questions and biodynamic information.
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) - www.dec.wa.gov.au
The Department of Environment and Conservation takes over from the former Conservation and Land Management (CALM) you can still find information on nature-based recreation and tourism, forest management, sustainability, environmental education, pullution prevention, management and protection. If you want to clear land you will need to contact DEC to get information about clearing permits. On the website you can also find a useful tool called florabase to assist you with identifying native species for your area and their distribution.
Department of Fisheries - www.fish.wa.gov.au
The Department of Fisheries, Western Australia is responsible for the sustainable development of the state's fisheries. This department is involved in licence regulation and information relating to recreational and commercial fishing. They are also responsible for pearling and fresh water aquaculture. If you are interested in starting an aquaculture enterprise contact the Department of Fisheries for more information on resources required for aquaculture, species in production and other information relating to the industry.
Department of Water (DoW) - www.water.wa.gov.au
The department is involved in the measurement and allocation of the state's water resources. It sets the rules for the extraction of water, management of waterways and for water service providers. These roles are supported by legislation.
Farmsafe WA Alliance - www.farmsafewa.org
For information relating to farm safety and child safety on the farm or for courses and services available visits the Farmsafe WA website. The website also provides useful tools for people to conduct their own safety needs analysis.
Fire and Emergency Service Authority (FESA) - www.fesa.wa.gov.au
The Fire and Emergency Service Authority is funded through the Emergency Service Levy (ESL) and mainly operates through volunteer support. FESA has a range of useful information products on topics relating to natural disaster preparedness and other rescue operations. For information and advice on storm preparedness or planning for summer visit the website or phone 1300 657 209. For emergency assistance during a storm you can phone 132 500.
Gallagher - www.gallagher.com.au
Gallagher has a wide range of information products, tools and contacts that can assist you with planning, installing and maintaining your fence. They also produce other products which can assist in handling and managing livestock.
Kondinin - www.farmingahead.com.au
The Kondinin Group provides a wide variety of research, news and information products to assist landholders with managing their property more effectively and efficiently. They also produce a monthly magazine with the latest information and research, if you would like to access all areas you will need to subscribe.
Landmark - www.landmark.com.au
Landmark provides a wide range of agricultural services, advice and supplies. With stores located across Australia you can call in and get one on one advice on financial services, insurance, farm services, merchandise, fertiliser, livestock and real estate.
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) - www.mla.com.au
MLA provides research, development and marketing services to the Australian red meat industry. There is information on markets, stocking rates, food safety, events, publications and useful calculators on the website.
National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) - www.nasaa.com.au
For people who are interested in finding out more information on how to become a certified organic producer, NASAA has useful resources, templates and forms, information and publications. NASAA also runs events on a wide variety of topics to assist producers with sustainable outputs. There is a useful links page which provides information on a variety of organisations which is useful for organic organisations.
Organic Growers Association of WA (OGAWA) - www.ogawa.org.au
The website has some useful general information on growing organics and certification process. There is also a useful link to commercial members which provides links to retail outlets, producers and input suppliers. OGAWA also has a number of active regional meetings running which provide people with the opportunity to learn new skills or improve their existing ones.
Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) - www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
For information on workshops and advice on how to start, manage and build your business speak with the staff at the Small Business Development Corporation. Information on a wide variety of topics which you can find out about include; marketing, planning and structures, employing people, exporting and importing, growing a business, money, tax and legal.
Small Farm Magazine and Bookshop - www.smallfarms.net
If you are looking for books relating to agricultural production the Small Farms Magazine and Bookshop have a wide range of publications relating to conventional farming, livestock, organics, horticulture, farm management and much more. The Small Farms magazine comes out monthly with seasonal information and advice, along with useful information on property management and what is happening around the place for small landholders.
South West Catchments Council (SWCC) - www.swcatchmentscouncil.com
Provides information, advice, events and funding relating to Natural Resource Management (NRM) in six sub-regions across the south west of Western Australia. If your property is in the Peel-Harvey, Geograph, Cape to Cape, Blackwood, Leschenault or Warren subregion you maybe able to access funding or support.
Speedrite - www.speedrite.com
Speedrite has useful information relating to planning, installing and maintaining an electric fence. They have a variety of products on the market for permanent fences or temporary setups.
Urban Farming Oz - www.urbanfarmingoz.com.au
Urban farming Oz is an interesting website which enables people to learn new skills for improving their vegetable and fruit production. There is also a link to garden planning tools, which is useful in planning, although it is focused on the urban backyard, it still provides useful information and tips which could be applied on a broader scale.
VegetablesWA - www.vegetableswa.com.au
VegetablesWA has a variety of useful information relating to irrigation, good practice production, nutrition, research and development relating to vegetable production. They also produce a useful journal called WA Growers.
Fresh Food Link.....are you connected?
Fresh Food Link is a new DAFWA initiative all about connecting smaller producers more directly with markets, processors, value-adders and consumers. It will enable WA small landholders and businesses to capitalise on the increasing demand in the market place for quality local WA produce - both fresh and value-added.
We recognise that many smaller growers and businesses often lack the time, resources and networks to explore many of the opportunities that exist, so the department is lending a helping hand. Our role is to build a register of supply and demand, find potential matches and help make connections.
For the growers, Fresh Food Link comprises a register of small producers, what you are growing, quantity, when, where and who has the capacity to grow something extra.
For businesses, the Fresh Food Link register will collate interested farmers markets, wholesalers, retailers, processors and value-adders. Information will include: what type of products are being sought, volumes, when, where and any specific requirements.
Whilst we encourage registration with Fresh Food Link, it is important that any member must meet local content, safety and quality criteria. As with Buy West Eat Best, products must be 'grown, farmed or fished' in WA; or processed foods must have ingredients with the same criteria and the goods must have been transformed and/or processed in WA.
Consumers can find out what Fresh Food Link products are available and where to purchase them.
The Small Landholder Information Service (SLIS) will co-ordinate Fresh Food Link and we welcome your registration. The more suppliers and businesses that join, the better Fresh Food Link will become.
If you think Fresh Food Link may be for you, please complete your details below, then click "submit". One of our SLIS team will contact you personally within the next week to confirm and complete the registration process.