You may be aware that the NSW Government has approved changes to licences to reduce kangaroo numbers as part of a package of drought relief measures. Due to the shortage of feed and to maintain animal welfare standards and ecologically sustainable kangaroo populations, the NSW Government has provided new measures to reduce kangaroo numbers, or as it is worded on the Office of Environment and Heritage website, ‘Licences to harm kangaroos’.

Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, it is an offence to harm (including kill, injure or capture) a kangaroo or attempt to harm a kangaroo without a licence. To find out more information go to OEH website.

Changes effective from August 8 include: ecologically sustainable limits on the number of kangaroos that may be culled, based on property size; previous and current licence holders can apply for licences over the phone; more shooters may operate under each licence, and shooter details are provided to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) after culling operations, rather than with the licence application; remove the use of carcass tags and the ‘shoot and let lie’ licence condition to reduce biosecurity risks; and allow landholders and shooters to use carcasses for non-commercial purposes.

On an entirely different topic, The Bob Hawke Landcare Award celebrates an individual who has been involved in championing the Landcare ethic and inspiring others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group. The Award acknowledges the role that former Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, played in elevating Landcare from a grass-roots community initiative to a national movement with strong government support.

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded with a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management and Landcare. To be eligible for the award, nominees must be actively involved in Landcare or sustainable agriculture and be willing to promote the Landcare ethos. Nominations are now open and close on Thursday, August 23.

RaynerAg principal Alastair Rayner will be delivering a series workshops designed to better equip farmers to understand feeding costs versus likely market return. The workshops will focus on: planning a cash flow budget to readjust strategies based on Feeding or selling for the remainder of 2018; resource budget of feed and water based on requirements for stock; and resetting key trigger points for livestock.

Producers will be able to re-evaluate livestock demands. Contact Mel on 6846 4569 to RSVP or follow the link on our website. The workshop will be held at the Forbes Inn on Wednesday, August 21 between 12pm and 4pm. Until next week, happy Landcaring!