In this webinar, NSW DPI Researcher Dr Suzanne Boschma discusses all that you need to know about tropical grasses, from how to establish them, what sort of feeding they need, how much feed they can grow, planting legumes in amongst the grasses and more. 
A very practical and thorough account of the topic. 

PRIMEFACT - Tropical Perennial Grasses for North West NSW
PRIMEFACT - Sowing rates for tropical perennial grasses
PRIMEFACT - Grazing Management of Tropical Perennial Grasses
PRIMEFACT - Planning ahead for establishing tropical perennial grasses

In this ninth #BackToBusiness webinar, we heard from AgriPartner Consulting Principal, and sheep farmer Hamish Dickson, who discussed practical ways to take and use short term opportunities in driving your business forward as you undertake rebuild following disaster. Hamish discussed feed/sell/agist options, along with small tweaks to your program, feed budgeting, cost benefit of feeding for production, and other strategies including hanging onto young stock for longer as a marketing strategy to make effective use of feed. 

Resources for feeding livestock

In this webinar, we collaborated with Local Land Services who had recently completed a project regarding water testing during the drought. We heard from Michael Glazier from the DPI analytical laboratory, who discussed water quality parameters for livestock, testing protocols, and limitations. We were also joined by Emily Stearman, LLS District Veterinarian, who was able to share experiences from the livestock production and animal health perspective. 

Interpreting water quality tests
Water requirements for sheep and cattle
Water quality for livestock

In this eight instalment in the #BackToBusiness webinar series, we heard from NSW DPI Technical Specialist, Sheep Breeding, Luke Stephen, who discussed strategies to drive your breeding herd or flock forward to get your business back on track in recovery. Luke discussed the importance of the females in your herd/flock, as well as the opportunities that exist in selection of superior sires to drive productivity in your business. 

Buying replacement ewes - NSW DPI primefact
Buying sheep - general biosecurity duty

In this webinar, we were joined by Director of Cousins Merino Services Director, Michelle Cousins, who discussed the critical role scanning plays in maintaining a productive ewe base, particularly as many producers are rebuilding their flocks. Michelle discussed the practicalities, as well as the upside to scanning in flocks. A very practical and informative webinar - a must for any sheep producer, irrespective of whether you scan or not! 

This is the seventh webinar in the Back To Business webinar series. Nathan Ferguson of Graminus Consulting Pty Ltd discussed the key steps to drive feed base in recovery following disaster. 
Nathan discusses the impacts of different heat fires, as well as all elements that are common in the pasture recovery phase. Also discussed are steps to rejuvenating pastures in a low risk economical fashion. 
Essential viewing for anyone looking to drive feed base an grazing forward in rebuild.  

Rejuvenating perennial pastures
Tropical - perennial pastures sowing guide
Temperate - perennial pasture establishment guide
Pasture recovery after fires

In this fifth instalment of the #BackToBusiness webinar series, we heard from Central West Local Land Services District Veterinarian, Dr Jillian Kelly, who discussed what to be on the look out for in terms of ensuring that your livestock are helping drive your business recovery. Jillian discussed different facets of management that are essential to ensure that unnecessary losses and lowered productivity don't erode your recovery. 
Essential to recovery is biosecurity - and avoiding costly issues through forward planning and understanding how the various facets of good biosecurity can assist your business. 

In this webinar, the sixth of the #BackToBusiness series, we heard from Alastair Rayner who discussed important practical tips regarding livestock nutrition during rebuild - and how to ensure that your livestock are receiving adequate nutrition for their requirements. Alastair discussed the key components of successful livestock feeding, along with the processes to compile a useful feed budget to ensure that the different classes of livestock in your operation are fed to their production needs.  

Webinar handout - helpful tools and resources for feeding livestock

This webinar featured Dr Belinda Hackney, who discussed how annual pasture legumes can play a role in mixed farming situations. These legumes, with hard seeds can provide valuable break crop functions, grazing opportunities, as well as fix valuable Nitrogen for subsequent crops. Belinda presented a practical webinar and discussed varieties, sowing times, along with comparisons between different species and suitability to different soil types. f

Herbicide options for legumes paper

In this webinar, we were joined by two highly experienced operators when it comes to wild dog control. Dave Worsley, Wild Dog Coordinator in the New England, and Greg Misfud, National Coordinator of Wild Dog Control. If wild dogs are a problem for you - either currently a problem or an emerging problem, then this webinar recording will answer any questions that you have on the topic. Dave and Greg gave a very informative and practical overview on how to control this destructive pest animal species. 

This is the fourth instalment in the Back To Business Webinar series, we were joined by Agricultural Consultant with Holmes Sackett, Hilary Beech, who discussed the various aspects for those undertaking infrastructure investment for a rebuild phase to consider. Issues discussed included prioritisation of investment, how to determine if your investment is going to give you a good return on investment (ROI), investing in profit generating, and efficiency optimising activities or infrastructure. Hilary also discusses strategies for temporary measures for shelter, water infrastructure investment, and illustrated a case study where laneway construction vs satellite yards were investigated. 

In this webinar Dr Matt Playford, Dawbuts presented an amended version of the very popular and practical face to face workshop RAMping Up Repro. Matt discusses all facets of successful ram preparation, and why optimum preparation is paramount. 

RAMping Up Repro Ram Checklist
Sheep Condition Score Card
Sheep Selection Tools
AWI Woolgrower Services Menu

In this third webinar in the BACK TO BUSINESS webinar series, we were joined by Alastair Rayner, of RaynerAg, who discussed the pathways forward in getting back to business following disaster. Alastair discussed ways to compare enterprises, if restocking, and tips for evaluating possible productivity and profit moving forward. With a focus on using user friendly tools to help with analysis, topics discussed were understanding the impact that feedbase has on possible production, using gross margin analysis, managing variable costs, using sensitivity analysis to evaluate risk, SMART goals, and some insight into what successful grazing businesses do to maximise profits this webinar presents much useful information in helping you get BACK TO BUSINESS. 

Back to Business webinar series flier
Back to Business Consultancy Flier

In this webinar, we collaborated with Central Tablelands LLS, who engaged Doug Alcock to present some climate risk modelling scenarios for the Central Tablelands. Doug first demonstrated how the models work, and what they predicted, and then discussed possible strategies for managing climate risk into the future, and where producers could be looking to manage climate risk, and build resilience into their grazing businesses. 

This webinar, the second in the Back To Business webinar series, we spoke to Ted O'Kane, a Rural Resilience worker with NSW DPI discusses various facets of assistance that are available to businesses affected by fire, drought, storms and disasters. 

Natural Disaster Assistance Guide for Primary Producers
Back To Business Webinar Flier
MLA Back To Business Consultancy Flier

We were joined by Dr Jason Trompf who outlined strategies for flock rebuilding - including joining management, scanning, lambing management feeding and other tips that will assist in getting the best flock reproductive performance possible. With many flocks running lower numbers of ewes, having reduced numbers during drought - managing those ewes for performance will be critical to build up flock numbers. 

The first BACK TO BUSINESS webinar recording is now available online. 
In this webinar, Alastair Rayner discussed strategies to keep yourself and your business moving forward in the early stages of recovery from disaster.  

Back To Business Consultancy Flier
Back To Business Webinar Flier

The Sheep Connect Producer Advisory Panel is seeking Expressions of Interest from sheep producers to join some upcoming vacancies on the SCNSW Producer Advisory Panel. With a staged succession process underway, there will be a number of vacancies that become available to join the Panel. 

Expression of Interest Form

Hear a producer perspective on their experience of containment feeding breeding ewes and the transition from containment to pasture following rain. Rob Kelly, from Guyra discusses his experience. Excellent information if you are currently waiting for pasture growth ahead of releasing sheep from containment.

AWI Publication - releasing sheep from containment areas

In this webinar we were joined by AWEX registrar Fiona Raleigh, who discussed the best way to class fire affected wool clips. 

AWI has reproduced with permission some valuable information regarding caring for livestock following bushfires. Whilst caring for livestock and other animals before and after a bushfire is essential, personal safety should be considered as a first priority on all occasions. Be sure to get your Bushfire Survival Plan up to date and to hand. 

GD3624_BTB_81_Dec_2019_one_page_onfarm_Bushfire_i.pdf

This webinar held on 13th September 2019, covered all aspects of managing livestock water during drought. Covering topics such as:

• conducting a water audit, 
• livestock water requirements, 
• water quality, 
• managing limited water supply, 
• water cartage and more. 

Delivered by Alastair Rayner, this webinar provides practical information to assist in managing the precious resource during times of drought. 

awi-stock-water.pdf

Delivered in March 2019, by Geoff Duddy, this webinar discusses all the need to know information that relates to feeding sheep in a containment area. Full of practical information, and tips to ensure that your sheep thrive, and you are conducting the exercise in a way that will assist you maintain your sheep in tip top order, and minimise avoidable issues that may arise. 

In this webinar, held in April 2019, Megan Rogers discusses the essential points of using the AWI feed budget tables to work our what your sheep feeding requirements are. By preparing and using a feed budget, you are able to accurately provide your sheep with the correct amount of feed to meet their daily requirements. Feed budgets also allow you to plan ahead, to ensure that you have sufficient feed on hand to meet the requirements of your sheep for a planned period of time. 

In this webinar, held in September 2017, District Veterinarian, Dr Jillian Kelly discusses some of the more prevalent animal health considerations to be on the look out for when grazing failed crops. 

In this webinar, held in September 2018, and presented by John Piltz of NSW DPI, we hear about all the must do points as well as what to avoid in terms of salvaging crops that are not going to make it through to harvest. 
This webinar will be well accompanied by our webinar on animal health considerations for failing crops, along with the webinar on understanding feed test results, and feed budgeting. 

In this webinar, Geoff summarises some key points for confinement feeding, as well as answers questions submitted by attendees. Covering items such as trough vs self feeders, feeding interval, mob size, a wide range of issues covered. 

In this webinar, we are joined by Brett Littler and Megan Rogers who discuss key points relating to early weaning. Also included is a brief presentation with key points for early weaning lambs - be sure to obtain SPECIFIC ADVICE FOR YOUR OWN SITUATION - before undertaking early weaning. 

Early_weaning_-_presentation.pdf

Alastair Rayner of RaynerAg discusses the importance of and how to ensure you are making sound decisions regarding your livestock during drought. The webinar covers basics of feeding, and importantly, Alastair points out where he sees under or over estimations, and wastage in feeding taking place. 
During the webinar, Alastair discusses where he sees opportunities to do things well, and the importance of writing down plans, and reviewing them regularly. 
For people who are feeding scrub (or considering it) there is a very useful component on scrub feeding. 

In this webinar,  we were joined by the Bureau of Meterorolgy's Alister Hawksford, Leader of Beef, Sheep and Ag Insurance. Alister discussed the current seasonal outlook, as well as how to utilise the BOM's tools that can be customised to your farm, helping you make decisions at the local level using the latest information. There are some excellent tools available to use that can give you forecasts to your actual location!