A new Victorian Control Area Order came into effect on 29 September 2023.The Control Area Order continues to require permits for:

• movement of bees, hives, queen bees
• used beekeeping equipment
• pollen for bee feeding
• or bee products (including honeycomb) from all other states and territories into Victoria.

The Victorian permit system allows the entry of bees, hives and apiary movements into Victoria to enable essential horticultural activities to continue. Visit the Ag Vic website for more information on this update.

Traceability Information & Resources

Agriculture Victoria has developed a suite of free resources for producers - to raise awareness and support them with decision-making about traceability systems.

• What is Traceability- find out what it is and how it can benefit your business
• Achieving export growth with systems and standards- Podcast - Peter Carter
• Get started on traceability in your business- https://youtu.be/_3JvbGr-Z9Q
• Join the Traceability Community

The Agriculture Victoria website has more information for your reference.

Free resources | Stay safe and operational this harvest season
 
As we prepare for a busy harvest season and the potential of a hot dry summer, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

We’re here to help you plan ahead with free resources on inducting new workers, fire preparedness and emergency procedures, seasonal worker safety, managing fatigue and more.

• New workers and not sure where to start? The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Making Our Farms Safer program offers farm visits, presentations and resources. The OHS Essentials program is another option for confidential and personalised safety support from an ag industry expert at a time that suits you. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get started.
• Employing workers from the Pacific Islands? Seasonal workers are vital for harvest but can face unique risks on farms, so Victoria’s Pacific Island community worked with us to create straightforward safety resources. The videos, posters, and guides can help with induction and training, and are available in five languages: Bislama, Fijian, Tongan Samoan & English
  View the resources and share the link to help keep seasonal workers safe. 

Planning for the fire season? Check out Agriculture Victoria’s fire preparedness toolkitto help you prepare for the fire season. Further tips on emergency communication and procedures are available on the WorkSafe website

Visit the Worksafe website to view upcoming events and online webinars that may be of interest to you.

A conference to connect women in agriculture from across the nation. A variety of speakers that will inform, influence, innovate, invest and include.

As we prepare for our 2023 national conference, we are excited to embark on a journey of empowerment, knowledge sharing, and community building. We are committed to delivering a program that is as formidable and diverse as the individuals it serves, with a strong focus on innovation, leadership, and the interconnectedness of our agricultural landscape.

Keep an eye out on our 2023 conference website www.awiaconference.com.au and socials for the full program and speakers.

The AWIA AGM will take place on Friday 24th November from 2 to 4pm.

Purchase your Conference tickets here

New grower resource on conducting maturity assessments, step-wise cooling and export best practices produced by AgVic researchers to help maximise shelf life and fruit quality is now available to download - 2023-Grower-harvest-maturity-stepswise-cooling-and-exporting-factsheet-booklet-1_small-compressed.pdf

The National Management Group (NMG) confirmed at its meeting on 19 September 2023 that eradication of Varroa destructor (varroa mite) is no longer feasible based on technical grounds, following advice from the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP), and has now entered a transition to management phase. The NMG acknowledged the significant and sustained efforts of the New South Wales (NSW) Government and impacted industries over the eradication response phase since June 2022 and the contribution of both government and industry representatives in guiding response activities.

Click here for more information