Ararat and St Arnaud district landholders are being urged to start planning for their farm water needs during summer and autumn and can be supported by attending one of three information sessions being held at Paradise, Elmhurst and Moyston later this month.
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) farm services officer Clem Sturmfels said water levels in many Ararat and St Arnaud district dams were much lower than normal for this time of year.
“We will need good rain over the next few weeks to avoid dams going dry. And while late spring falls are not impossible it is important to plan for other scenarios as well,” he said.
Mr Sturmfels said good early growth of crops and pastures combined with gentle rainfall during spring had resulted in little or no runoff.
“It is important that landholders start planning now for the possibility of a long, hot and dry summer. Landholders need to assess water levels in their dams and put plans in place to ensure stock can be maintained in a fit and healthy condition.
“Make your decisions early and stick with them. It is better to offload a few stock now than to spend a heap of time and money carting water.
“Landholders could also consider setting up a stock containment area rather than overgrazing paddocks with remaining water supplies. Overgrazing can result in a significant cost to landholders through the loss of organic matter, soil, and nutrients due to wind and water erosion.”
The workshops will cover a range of topics including animal nutrition, water supply and stock containment areas.
The first of these workshops will be run by North Central Catchment Management Authority at the Paradise hall on Friday, October 17.
The workshop starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm with lunch provided. Contact Lindsay Ezard on 0427 952 553 for more information.
Two more workshops will be run by DEPI in collaboration with the Wimmera Catchment
Management Authority on Tuesday, October 28.
The first of these workshops is at the Elmhurst Mechanics Institute hall starting with breakfast at 8am and finishing around 11am.
The second workshop is at the Moyston Recreation Reserve pavilion from 4pm and finishing around 7pm. A barbeque dinner will be provided at the Moyston workshop.
Contact Clem Sturmfels on 5355 0535 for more information regarding the Elmhurst or Moyston workshops.
