Sheep producers across NSW and Victoria facing increasing cli­mate variability will benefit from a new $2 million project deliver­ing demonstration sites, workshops and case studies showcasing climate-smart flock management.

Led by Central West Farming Systems (CWFS), in partnership with Riverine Plains, Holbrook Landcare Network, Monaro Farm­ing Systems, Tablelands Farming Systems, Local Land Services, Birchip Cropping Group, and Agriculture Victoria, the initiative will engage more than 500 producers over the next three years.

The project will trial a range of precision livestock technologies including in-paddock livestock weighing and satellite-based pas­ture monitoring, which can provide producers with real-time in­sights into flock performance and feed availability.

Combined with strategic grazing and nutrition practices, these tools can support informed decisions on stocking rates and feed allocation, helping producers reduce methane emissions, improve soil health and water retention, enhance animal productivity, and build resilience in their businesses.

CWFS Executive Officer Diana Fear said the project is an im­portant opportunity to bring the latest innovations directly to farm­ing communities. “This project will establish demonstration sites across different farming systems, backed by workshops and ex­tension activities that give producers the confidence to trial and adopt climate-smart practices themselves.”

“Ultimately, we hope this project empowers producers to improve productivity and resilience while contributing to a low-emissions fu­ture for the sheep industry.”

The project runs from October 2025 to June 2028 and is funded from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.

Servos across rural communities are run­ning out of diesel. Farmers are rationing fuel. Truckies are walking off runs they’ve done for generations. And it’s spreading.

If this keeps going, the harvest stops. The trucks stop. The food chain breaks.

Keep the Sheep is stepping up and launching Fuel the Bush. A new campaign to force the Albanese Government to guar­antee fuel security for rural Australia. Ben Sutherland from Keep the Sheep said “It’s all connected. The same bureaucrats in Canberra who shut down live exports are the same ones leaving rural communities to run dry. The same people who don’t understand farming don’t understand why diesel matters.”

Keep the Sheep are calling on the Prime Minister to: Prioritise fuel supply for agricul­ture as a critical industry, Guarantee fuel deliveries to rural communities, Fast-track Australian refining so we’re not at the mer­cy of broken supply chains and Ensure fer­tiliser is sourced from additional avenues so Australian farmers can grow the food we need.

“We need to show Canberra that rural Australia is watching, and that we’ve got the numbers to back it up,” said Ben. Sign the petition at www.fuelthebush.com.au

KMWL Stock and Station Agents Jack Whitty and Lockie Miller.

Jack Whitty and Lockie Miller are both rep­resenting KMWL in the 2026 NSW Young Auctioneers Competition State & National Finals, taking place today, Thursday 2 April at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Nominations for competitors are open to all young aspiring auctioneers (25 years of age or under) employed full time by an Australian Livestock & Property Agents As­sociation (ALPA) member in the agency in­dustry. The NSW Selection School is con­ducted by ALPA every December to decide on the 10 NSW State Finalists to compete at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Jack Whitty and Lockie Miller each work as livestock agents for KMWL and both were chosen as 2026 finalists. Jack Whitty works in the Grenfell and Gooloogong area and Lockie Miller works in the Parkes area.

Jack’s dad Luke was a former winner of the competition and Jack said, “Win­ning would obviously be great, but the real value is in the experience. You’re refining your skills, receiving feedback, and learn­ing from some of the best in the business.”

“I’ve competed within the top 10 twice before, so I’ve got a feel for the pace—but every year is different. The biggest benefit is the exposure and the experience. You’re networking with industry experts and gain­ing some extremely beneficial contacts for marketing livestock on a weekly basis.”

Lockie was selected to represent Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon and Co. in last year’s prestigious 2025 ALPA NSW Young Auc­tioneer Competition.

Lockie started out doing work experience alongside his grandfather, Kevin Miller at KMWL when he was just 15, and started working fulltime at the age of 17.

Lockie said “I’ve been in the industry for five years now fulltime. My favorite part of the job is interacting with clients and doing auctioneering in the sale yards.”

You can catch all of the action on the livestream at www.theland.com.au.

Pictured is Bishop Barry Cunningham at the new Promise Faith Centre headquarters at Alectown.

Forty-eight years ago, Barry Cunnington, left his family farm near West Wyalong and ended up in ministry in Qld which estab­lished the Promise Faith Centre Churches International.

This month he returns to the Central West to establish the headquarters of this ministry at the former Vision Ministries, Mamre Farm, Alectown, now owned by Engedi Ministries Inc.

“I was born and raised in the Central West, between West Wyalong and Con­dobolin, and was the only son of a Method­ist farming family,” Barry said.

“My peers and my parents recognised early that I had a call of God on my life to be a missionary, planting churches and having orphanages and widows’ homes.”

Barry said, “In 2025, I began to explore the relocating of the ministry headquarters to the former location of Vision Ministries at Mamre Farm in Alectown, now owned by Engedi Ministries Inc. The result? As of February 2026, Engedi has leased their property and facilities to us, the Promise Faith Centre Churches International.”

Thus begins Bishop Barry’s new chapter of ministry outworking in various activities, including regional and international Gospel crusades, Daisy a Day ministry (restoring the lives of wandering believers, both men and women, husbands and wives), reviv­al, healing and prayer meetings, ministry training and beginning this October Long Weekend, an annual camp meeting mobi­lising Aussies for Christ.

Promise Faith Centre Churches Inter­national will have their official launch this Saturday, 14 March, starting at 12pm. All are welcome to attend this free event and lunch will be provided. For information or to RSVP, please contact Bishop Barry Cun­nington on 0412 511 115 or Leah Knowling on 0407 025 910.

Farmers spraying weeds this summer are reminded of the golden rules to prevent drift and avoid damage to neighbouring properties.

NSW Farmers’ Agricultural Science Committee Chair Justin Everitt said taking several key precautions remained essential when planning to spray.

“We’ve always got to monitor weather conditions closely when we’re spraying, and while we’re all on a time crunch, it’s important to stop spraying as soon as conditions change and are no longer suitable for spraying.

“Spraying as close to the target as possible and ensuring you’re using the appropriate spray nozzle also helps enormously in pre­venting spray drift.

“It never hurts as well to consult your agronomist on your spray mix and its impact, so you have all the information you need to spray safely this summer.”

Off-target spray drift can occur when agricultural chemicals or vapour become airborne and drift outside the intended area when sprayed. This can happen if chemicals are applied at the wrong time of day, or during the wrong weather conditions.

“We’ve seen significant damage to crops in the past as a result of off-target spray drift, so it’s critical we keep prevention top of mind this season,” Mr Everitt said.

“Our neighbours will thank us for it, and wouldn’t it be brilliant if 2026 was a stellar production year for us all.”

Safety and compliance during the busy harvest period is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsi­bilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to.

Agricultural machinery owners and opera­tors are invited to pick up a free “Moving Harvest Machinery” USB from all agricul­tural machinery retailers and rural supply stores in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires areas. The USBs will also be availa­ble at the Councils’ Administration Offices.

The ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USBs contain all the relevant notices for safely and legally moving agricultural machinery, combinations and trucks on the road, along with other useful information.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Coun­cils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the Councils develop and distribute the USBs each year to help farmers and contract harvesters have all the relevant information at their fingertips – and they are usually extremely popular.

“Safety and compliance during the busy harvest period is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to. Regu­lations do change and these USBs help to ensure that people have up to date infor­mation.

“The USB contains the relevant notices, operator guides and other useful informa­tion. The USB also contains a live “link’s” document, which provides the web address for the documents on the USB and other useful tools and information. It is advisable to regularly check the National Heavy Ve­hicle Regulator’s website (www.nhvr.gov.au) for updated notices and/or changes to operating conditions,” Ms Suitor said.

There are over 800 USBs available – so call into your local agricultural machinery retailer, rural supply store or the Parkes, Forbes or Lachlan Shire Council Adminis­tration Offices to collect yours before they are gone.

“This year we also have a limited num­ber of windscreen stickers to give away.

You can attach these to your machinery as a quick reference guide for travel require­ments such as pilots, lights and signage.”

Ms Suitor said.