Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, electronic identification for sheep and goats and on-farm biosecurity will feature at this year’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) display at the Wagin Woolorama.
Display visitors will have the opportunity to get the latest on reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all agricultural sectors.
DPIRD program manager Mandy Curnow said the department was working, in collaboration with industry and stakeholder groups, to develop emissions reduction solutions for the WA agriculture sector.
“We will also share the latest results from research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock,” Ms Curnow said.
Visitors can chat with the department’s Low Carbon Futures team about getting started in carbon farming including funding and support available, and the emerging advanced bioenergy opportunities for agribusinesses.
Children can engage in interactive activities showing how small changes can be made to help rebalance the carbon cycle and take home a free eucalyptus tree carbon storage tape measure.
Sheep and goat owners will be able to pick up the latest information on electronic identification (eID).
DPIRD livestock identification and traceability manager Beth Green said with national agreement for sheep and goats to work towards mandatory eID from 1 January 2025, it was important WA producers started planning for the transition.
“We will host Q&A sessions at the DPIRD shed at 10am and 1:15pm on Friday and Saturday and visitors can enter a competition to win a handheld stick reader each day,” Ms Green said.
Local DPIRD veterinarians will be on-site to answer animal health and biosecurity questions, including about the exotic disease foot-and-mouth disease, and provide resources to support on-farm biosecurity. Free farm biosecurity signs are available for the first 300 visitors to take home.
Other biosecurity displays will highlight footrot risk reduction, managing declared pests such as dogs, feral pigs, foxes and rabbits, grains biosecurity, and skeleton weed management.
Producers can also learn about the changes to pain relief available for lamb marking, have a go at condition scoring sheep and pick up information about pasture assessment and feed budgeting. Online tools and resources will be on display, including the department’s Lambing Planner app and Flystrike Assist, plus Pastures from Space.
Officers will be onsite to promote the Australian Wool Innovation Woolhandling Schools, which provide shearing training opportunities for Aboriginal people.
Visitors will also be able to view a new online tool which brings together salinity research and on-farm information to help landholders to productively manage salt-affected lands.
Local landholders can also visit the ever-popular mapping display, update their property details and go into a draw to win an A0 aerial map of their farm.
The DPIRD shed is located at Site 626 Kitchener Street, Wagin Woolorama, Friday 10 & Saturday 11 March.
Media contacts:
Jodie Thomson/Megan Broad, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937/3137