Livestock producers in NSW are invited to apply for long term grazing access to select Travelling Stock Reserves (TSR). Tender submissions are now open for Long Term Grazing Permits, which are valid for up to five years from July 2025. Permits are al­located via a robust tender process led by Local Land Services. Submissions close at 11:59pm on Sunday 30 March 2025.

Program Lead TSR, Sam Hand, said strategic grazing played an essential role in effective TSR management. “Long Term Grazing Permits allow producers to make long-term business decisions and access TSR for extra fodder to support healthy live­stock, particularly during times of drought, feed shortages and other emergencies.

Applicants are required to inspect the TSR before making a submission, to ensure it is fit for their intended grazing usage.

In NSW, there are more than 6,500 TSR on Crown land, covering an area of around two million hectares. Local Land Services manages about 30 per cent of the state’s TSR network, which is approximately 578,000 hectares.

All submissions must be lodged online at https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/primary-industries-nsw/travelling-stock-reserves/tsr-permits/long-term-grazing. Applicants can call on 1300 795 299 or visit the website for more information.

Dam experts from WaterNSW will visit Beargamil and Lake En­deavour dams on 12 March, partnering with Parkes Shire Council to enhance the safety of local dam infrastructure.

The visit to the two dams is part of a WaterNSW partnership with local councils under the NSW Government’s Town Water Risk Reduction Program (TWRRP) which is an initiative of the NSW De­partment of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

The TWRRP brings the strengths of major entities in the water sector, like WaterNSW, to local councils, to help improve water security, quality and reliability.

WaterNSW Executive Manager Strategy and Performance, Fio­na Smith, said “One of those niche but critically important functions are the five-yearly risk reviews required under the Dams Safety Act 2015 to protect local communities and dam infrastructure.

“One of the big lessons learned from the most recent drought is the water sector must collaborate more closely to build expertise and provide better access to niche skills outside normal local gov­ernment functions,”“WaterNSW is a national leader in the water sector, operating most of the large dams in NSW, which is why our experts are well placed to help councils and local water utilities identify risks and improvements to dam safety and water quality.

“The site visits to Beargamil and Lake Endeavour dams is the first step in our partnership with Parkes Shire Council.

“We are delighted to have our team working alongside Council officers to advise on their next risk review of these important local dams, and to advise on other potential compliance improvement measures,” Fiona said.

David Littleproud speaking at National Farmer Rally in Canberra.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s $2.3 million advertising cam­paign on the phase out of live sheep exports has been exposed as a sham, with ads be­ing targeted on the East Coast as well as Western Australia.

Senate Estimates has revealed most of the ads have been viewed in Greens and Labor areas in Victoria and New South Wales, rather than areas that are actually impacted.

“Labor’s ads for assistance are being aimed at inner-city seats, instead of helping our WA live sheep farmers to get the infor­mation they need,” Mr Littleproud said.

“It is obvious Labor is using the ads in Melbourne and Sydney seats to appease the animal activists and prove that it is fulfill­ing its election commitment to phase out live sheep exports.

“In the final days before the election is called, Labor knows it needs Greens prefer­ences and is clearly now using this money as the start of its election campaign. These ads are a waste of taxpayers’ money and another insult to our live sheep export trade.”

Labor’s live sheep export phase out Face­book ad, with over one million impressions, had 46 per cent of views in New South Wales, 19 per cent in Victoria and just 16 per cent in WA.

“Labor has turned its back on the farm­ing industry and has treated our live sheep farmers with contempt.

“A future Coalition Government will rein­state the live sheep export trade. If elected, my first role as Agriculture Minister will be to travel to the Middle East, to build those important relationships and ensure the live sheep export trade in Australia remains.”

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is launch­ing a new Social Media Academy to create the next batch of influential red meat am­bassadors to connect everyday Australians with the vital work of our producers. MLA is calling for producers to sign up to the So­cial Media Academy.

MLA’s Managing Director Michael Crow­ley said the program will help metropolitan Australians see how their favourite red meat is produced on-farm.

“MLA’s Social Media Academy will assist producers show best practice in caring for livestock and the environment so custom­ers can continue to feel good about eating red meat. We’ll be doing this on social me­dia where Australians are engaged in re­ceiving and sharing information.”

Social Media Academy participants will attend workshops at TikTok’s head office and walk away with the skills they need to build a community and following, as well as insights into boosting positive community perceptions about Australian red meat pro­duction.

The first cohort of participants will be trained by TikTok in Sydney on 23 April 2025 and learn how to create best practice content. They will also connect with other Australian agriculture content creators.

Selection criteria available at www.mla.com.au/mla-social-media-academy

The state’s peak farm body has welcomed a new government initiative to address acute shortages of vets across rural NSW.

Under the NSW Government’s Welcome Experience program, vets, vet nurses, vet technicians and their families are now eligible to receive assistance with sourc­ing housing, childcare and other services when moving to rural NSW.

NSW Farmers’ Member Dr Robyn Alders AO said news of the initiative had been warmly welcomed by farming communities across the state, as they continued to grap­ple with critical workforce shortages.

“Farmers know that healthy animals are productive animals and they need to have access to vets if they are to successfully protect animal health on-farm.”

“If we want to build a sustainable veteri­nary workforce here in rural NSW, then we need a range of solutions that address the complex challenges that have caused this shortage in the first place,” Dr Alders said.

“Globally, governments are supporting a range of initiatives to ensure the availability of appropriate, affordable veterinary ser­vices to livestock producers, and it’s critical our government does the same.”

A $20,000 prize is up for grabs for Australian Soil Health Experts.

Landcare Australia has opened nomina­tions for the 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award.

Back for the third successive round, the prestigious General Jeffery Soil Health Award recognises the work of people who care for soil health and who are educating or inspiring others.

Previous award winners and notable fig­ures in the world of soil health and science, Dr Oliver Knox and Emerita Professor Dr Lynnette Abbot have confirmed they will be part of the specialist advisory panel to se­lect the winner of the 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award.

The 2022 winner, leading soil health champion, educator and researcher, of ‘Soil your Undies’ fame, Dr Oliver Knox said “We all have a responsibility to our soils and our soil health and the more we all do, the more likely we are to see a fan­tastic future for Australia’s soils.”

The two previous award winners have teamed up to encourage nominations for the influential General Jeffrey Soil Health Award.

When asked what he was hoping to see from the next round of nominations, Dr Knox said “Passion, drive and impact. Soil is full of surprises, so I’m hoping to learn from all of the nominations and expect to feel disappointed there can be only one winner. It’s exciting and all that is needed now is for some nominations, so that are you waiting for? Nominate your soil’s guru.”

Leading soil scientist Emerita Professor Lynette Abbott and winner of the inaugural prize in 2020, is encouraging soil science experts across Australia to nominate col­leagues for the prestigious national award.

“It is a very valuable process for high­lighting the contributions that others are making to soil health in their various ways.

There are many approaches.”

To find out more about nominations you can visit https://landcareaustralia.org.au/soilhealthaward/