The Gwydir Strategic Pest Management initiative that brings landholders and National Parks together in the management of feral pigs is well underway now. Despite the dry conditions there are still significant feral pig numbers out there, and they are still breeding, so we all need to remain vigilant in our control of these feral pests.
Monitoring cameras have been set up and a number of pigs have been fitted with ear tags and GPS collars. In the next few months we will be collecting data to get a better idea of the population density and their movements. Water, shelter and food are the three key drivers which influence how far pigs move and where they move to.
Critical to managing feral pigs is to use all control mechanisms. The LLS have a Winter Feral Pig Control Program running until the end of August, producers who are working with their neighbours trapping or baiting are encouraged to contract the LLS on 1300 795 299 to source grain for trapping and baiting.

Soil Health Workshop is to be held in Moree from 10:30am on Thursday 29th August 2019 at the Town and Country Club. The workshop is aiming to improving knowledge on microbes, rotations, visual assessments and all things soil health. It will include a daytime discussion and theory session, followed by a visit to a soil pit and dinner to finish the day.
Presenters and panel representatives include Oliver Knox, Mike Stone, Brendan Warnock, Guna Nachimuthu, David Freebairn and Pathologist Duy Le.

Criticism of the NSW Government’s socio-economic assessment included in part of the public release of the Murray to Broken Hill pipeline Business Case[1] outlining the decision to build a pipeline for an alternate water supply for Broken Hill (finished earlier this year) is trying to lay blaim on northern irrigators without justification once more.
Zara Lowien said “It seems there is no shortage of drought-deniers that claim we are either not in drought or that we’ve never had a critical water supply issue before” she said.
“They simply miss the fact that when it doesn’t rain, our rivers don’t flow and there’s no water for anyone.” she said.

Current water availability in the Gwydir Valley has been updated following the July Resource Assessment.  The region remains in Stage 3 for Drought Management with Copeton Dam steady at 9%.  Current resources are secured for essential supplies, with limited carryover remaining (2,000ML for irrigators and 35,000ML for environment), although with loss accounts in deficit by 39,000ML, WaterNSW will work with water users to ensure coordination of releases or to utilise any natural inflows, if they occur.  This means that delivery of water allocation is not on demand and unlikely to provide for water deliveries west of the township of Moree.

IAL are running a two day Meter Validation and Installation course in Moree on the 25th & 26th of September 2019. The course covers the new Australian Standards for control of rural water meter installation and validation, an explanation of the pattern approval process for meter manufacturers and what installers need to know when validating installations, site preparation, component installation, site reinstatement and commissioning and the field assessment of meter installations.
At completion of the course participants will have three units of competency towards certification for Meter Validation and Installation;
NWPIRR014  Install meters for rural water supplies,
NWPIRR022  Maintain meters for rural water supplies and
ACHWHS301 Contribute to work health and safety processes.

The LLS are supporting a series of workshops designed to increase understanding of risks and opportunities in your farm business, identify gaps and improve the financial basis and natural assets or check the direction of your farm business. There will also be information on accessing funding for on-ground works or training.
A session will be held at Garah on Wednesday 21st August, for more information or to register contact Keith Walker on 0428 432 784 or keith.w.walker@lls.nsw.gov.au