Drone Induction Course for those in Natural Resource Management
Rangelands NRM Western Australia together with The Institute for Drone Technology have recently built an on-line training course aimed at using drone technology for natural resource management. The course is designed for first time users and will ensure that people new to using drones will know the rules and regulations and how to safely operate a drone within a natural resource management environment. While this program does not include training in practical flying or methods to gather data, it does include documents that can be tailored to your organisation with an overarching drone policy, safety management procedures and safe work methods. Further information is available from the Rangelands NRM website.
An update from the Quality Graze Trial
The NT Rural Review recently included an update on Quality Graze, a grazing strategies trial being run on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade’s (DITT) Old Man Plains Research Station (OMP), located just to the south-west of Alice Springs. After 10 years of operation, Quality Graze is now providing ground-breaking information on the strategies that offer the most potential in the unique Central Australian environment. Read more here.
Pioneering Aboriginal Pastoral Academy shows success
The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recently announced that the first participants of the Aboriginal Pastoral Academy pilot program were nearing the completion of their training. The program was developed in response to industry requests to provide a supported career path for young Aboriginal people and a skilled, entry-level cohort to add to the pastoral industry workforce. More information about the program is available here.
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Virtual Reality helps students develop livestock handling skills
A virtual reality (VR) program is helping students at the University of Adelaide develop livestock handling skills and confidence, without setting foot in a cattle yard. The program is a world first and is designed to make courses that involve live animals safer for both the students and the animals. Using special headsets or mobile devices, the three-dimensional VR environment generated by computers or cameras can be explored – in the cattle handling experience, students the cattle between yards using the animal handling techniques they have learnt in class. Read more at ABC Rural News.
What’s happening in the SA Arid Lands
The current issue of the South Australian Arid Lands Landscape Board’s publication Across the Outback includes a number of interesting articles across a wide variety of topics. This issue includes articles on regenerative grazing at Buckleboo Station in the Gawler Ranges, soil conservation works to protect Algebuckina Waterhole, how native grasses have responded to rain in the north-east of the state and an update on World Heritage Listing for the Flinders Ranges.
How do you interact with your employees?
Sheep Central believes that employers and managers can make a difference in the way they interact with employees by saying five simple things in dealings with staff. Read more here to find out how to build trust, inspire, heighten employee engagement and foster a strong working relationship built on respect.
Similarly, all managers make mistakes. Find out here about some of the top management mistakes and how to avoid them.
2021 National Landcare Conference
This year’s Conference will be held in Sydney from 4-6 August, and will be a hybrid event with both in-person and on-line delegate options. There will be four session streams including Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, Community Partnerships in Action and Landcare Impact. More information, including how to register as a free on-line delegate, is available from the National Landcare Conference website.
2023 International Grassland Congress
The XXV International Grassland Congress will be held May 14-19, 2023 in Covington, Kentucky, USA. The Congress will gather forage and grassland scientists, students, extension, industry, and producers from around the world to share their research results and their experiences.
The Congress venue is on the Ohio River at the junction of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Mid-congress tours will highlight grasslands and livestock production in these three central states and pre-congress tours will include sub-tropical grasslands of Florida and southeastern states, native prairie grasslands of the central United States, western U.S. grasslands and seed production areas, and the east coast including Washington D.C.
The First Announcement contains early details about the Congress themes and paper submissions. Additional information can be found on the Congress website – http://internationalgrasslands.org/igc-2023