EMS Newsletter - January 2006 edition

An eNewsletter from the EMS Team - Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry

• EMS Program update
• Conference showcases EMS experiences
• BestFarms monitoring workshop a real success
• Pilot groups start audit in North Central Victoria
• Enviromeat hits Melbourne shelves in Australian first
• Seafood industry casts a net over its EMS stakeholders
• How green is my practice?
• Publications
• Upcoming events
• Feedback and contact 

EMS Program update

EMS pilots informing evaluation

With the EMS National Pilot Program heading into its last six months (the program finishes in June 2006), the final evaluation process has begun. The evaluation (to be written by URS) will include a review of approaches to EMS undertaken by the 16 pilots, and why and how they add value in the different industry and regional group contexts. Importantly, the evaluation will also consider the benefits and costs of EMS, and the potential of EMS as a management tool to deliver private and public benefits.

To support the evaluation process, pilot gatherings were held in Perth, King Island and Brisbane in late 2005. The gatherings were attended by pilot project managers and supported by URS and the Department. While discussions were wide-ranging, the focus was on sharing individual pilot project experiences and views on the challenges and opportunities for EMS more broadly.

The pilot groups were positive about the contribution EMS could make to more profitable and sustainable primary production. The pilot groups noted how EMS is a good educational and extension tool for farmers, helping them to improve their knowledge of sustainable farming practices and natural resource management. Others had found EMS useful as a framework to link environmental issues together on farm.

EMS Pathways participants hit their stride

The Pathways to Industry EMS Program projects, funded under Rounds One and Two (which commenced in June 2004 and January 2005 respectively), are very much focused on delivery of and training for industry pathways to EMS and/or environmental assurance. For instance, Dairy Australia's BizLINK trial in South Australia is nearing completion and the Australian Chicken Growers Council has held grower training workshops in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania. Projects funded under Round Three (which commenced in late 2005) are embarking and have been keen to learn the lessons of earlier Pathways and Pilot Program projects.

It is pleasing to see a high degree of collaboration and information sharing between the projects. The cotton and wool industries are investigating a number of issues together including the analysis of textile developments, comparing notes on European Union eco-labelling, and tracing bales through the supply chain. Also, the grains, red meat and wool industries met in Sydney in early November to discuss how best to work together as broadacre industries. Participants in the Pilots Program also attended the broadacre meeting to share their experiences and provided valuable insights.

The Pathways Program has been operating for eighteen months, with the mid-term report due later this month. The report (by Hassall & Associates) will assess the potential of EMS in agriculture, and the progress of the Pathways Program against outcomes. The development of the mid-term report has highlighted the need to have sound monitoring and evaluation plans in place for Pathways Program projects. To this end, Hassall & Associates held monitoring and evaluation workshops in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in late 2005 to assist project managers to soundly evaluate projects against their project and Pathways Program outcomes.

EMS Incentives Program helps producers

More primary producers are benefiting under the EMS Incentives Program (EMSIP) with the number of claims increasing as awareness, engagement and understanding of EMS increases across the country.

The Australian Government continues to work at raising the awareness of EMSIP so more primary producers can benefit from the assistance it can provide in addressing their on-farm environmental issues. To this end, the Centrelink website is being updated to provide an EMS plan template as well as examples of EMS plans.

EMSIP grantees have been able to tackle a range of activities on their properties that they have identified as having an environmental impact in their EMS. For example, installing a water wise wash down system to control effluent overflow into waterways, stabilising a retaining wall and installing silt traps to reduce erosion and sediment movement and replacing damaged tarred trays with plastic to reduce soil and water contamination.

For more information, email EMS or phone (02) 6272 4531.

Conference showcases EMS experiences

The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recently hosted the 4th National EMS in Agriculture Conference in Beechworth, Victoria, with the theme “Diversity and Innovation”. The three day conference was attended by 189 delegates from around Australia. Many agricultural industries were represented including livestock, grains, seafood, pork, rice, cotton, horticulture and viticulture. The conference received good media attention with the ABC's Radio National 'Country Hour' program broadcasting from the conference and the major rural press publicising the conference.

Several of the presented papers will feature in a special EMS issue of the Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. Conference evaluation has identified that the conference was most highly valued for networking opportunities, and the chance to hear how other groups and industries were approaching EMS. Another positive comment from participants was the value in hearing from farmers themselves, this will be a challenge for the organisers of the next conference - ensuring the program offers something for primary producers and attracts greater participation.

While there was agreement for another conference to be held in two years’ time, as yet no volunteers have come forward to host the next conference. So if you are willing to support this important event please contact Eloise Seymour, DPI Rutherglen on (02) 6030 4577.

BestFarms monitoring workshop a real success

By Jenny Gardner, BestFarms

BestFarms recently held a monitoring workshop for 25 landholders at Rylington Park Research and Training Institute, the BestFarms demonstration farm. The half-day workshop covered monitoring activities such as water quality, macroinvertebrate sampling, bird monitoring and compost trials.

BestFarms Facilitator, Jenny Gardner, organised the field day with the aim of highlighting the importance of monitoring the environmental changes and progress made through farm actions. “We need to measure initial conditions of our property before we can monitor the changes and improvements we are making over time. We also need to make sure that any changes we are making or sustainable actions we’re doing are working,” said Jenny.

During the workshop, participants walked through creekline bush areas spotting various bird species with local bird expert, Wayne Zadow. They also had the opportunity to test turbidity and water quality in creeks and monitor macroinvertebrates with Blackwood Waterwatch Coordinator, Cheryl Hamence.

The field day was considered a great success by participants and organiser Jenny Gardner. “I think part of our success was that we had farmers sharing experiences with each other rather than having formal presentations. It makes it much easier to relate to things and makes you realise what is possible to do on your own property.”

More workshops are being planned for early 2006. For information, please contact the BestFarms Team at the Blackwood Basin Group Office on (08) 9765 1555 or check out the BestFarms website at bestfarms.mysouthwest.com.au. The recent summer edition of the BestFarms newsletter can also be found on the website.

Pilot groups start audit in North Central Victoria

By Jim Moran, DPI Epsom

A group of farmers in targeted salinity areas in North Central Victoria recently completed their first environmental audit. The farmers are participating in an Australian Landcare Management System (ALMS) pilot project supported by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

In the lead up to auditing, the Victorian farmers spent two years documenting, developing and implementing an EMS for their properties.

Jim Moran of ALMS said “a key to the farmers being ready for auditing has been the use of “myEMS”, a web-based EMS development program that has been piloted by the EMS groups to assist with information recording and development.”

At present, there is no universal requirement for broadacre farms to implement an EMS, so the demand is low, but Jim Moran said “it’s coming and anything such as EMS that helps farmers learn about managing their business can only improve the way things are done. There will probably be no price premium for having an EMS, but the absence of one may become a barrier for access to markets”, Jim Moran said.

Next year more opportunities exist for farmers to get involved in EMS and to benefit from the experiences gained in these EMS pilot groups.

Please contact EMS Project Manager, Jim Moran, at DPI Epsom on (03) 5430 4479 for more information.

For information on ALMS, contact ALM Secretariat, PO Box 3746, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, ph (07) 3844 2370, or email syncons@ozemail.com.au

Enviromeat hits Melbourne shelves in Australian first

In what is believed to be an Australian first, Melbournians will now have the opportunity to identify and purchase meat that comes from farms accredited as having minimal impact on the environment, stress on animals, and what’s more, is guaranteed to be tender.

Initiated through the Gippsland EMS pilot and partly funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust, Enviromeat is being produced by 25 farmers in the Gippsland area, and is now available in three Melbourne butchers and fine food stores (Rendinas Butchery, Balwyn; Leo’s Fine Food and Wine, Heidelberg; and at Len’s Quality Meats, Malvern Central).

To receive Enviromeat accreditation, producers must firstly comply with the internationally recognised EMS - ISO 14001, an EMS that is externally audited on an annual basis and requires farmers to look at their environmental impacts and manage them for continual improvement. They must also pass the Meat Standards of Australia grading system, guaranteeing quality, tender meat for the customer.

Gippsland EMS Coordinator and beef producer, Jenny O’Sullivan, has been marketing beef for the past six years and is very excited about the launch of Enviromeat. “More and more people want assurance that production techniques are not impacting on their health, as shown with the increase in organic produce, but also the environment,” Ms O’Sullivan said. “As well as being part of their local Landcare group, farmers link in with what the Catchment Management Authorities are doing and ensure they are working towards the same natural resource management goals.”

Phillip Island beef producers and Victorian Landcare Award Winners, Bob and Anne Davie, are excited about the prospects of Enviromeat, and see EMS as an investment in their future. “We’re very passionate about Landcare farming, which led us to EMS. Since 1988 we’ve planted about 30,000 trees on our 440 acre property. We believe that customers have a right know how animals are treated, and to expect good quality meat,” said Anne.

For further information, contact Kate Fenby, Landcare Australia, on (03) 9662 9977 or kate@landcareaustralia.com.au.

Seafood industry casts a net over its EMS stakeholders

By Adam Knapp, Seafood Services Australia

Seafood Services Australia recently commissioned a survey of EMS stakeholders within the seafood industry to find out how best to consult and engage across the breadth of its industry to encourage EMS awareness and adoption. Rural Solutions SA and Corvel Marketing Management undertook the survey, seeking responses from industry members and associations, researchers, government representatives, service providers and nongovernment organisations with an interest in the seafood industry’s use of EMS.

Each of the groups surveyed had a slightly different take on how best to engage their stakeholders:

• Industry thought face-to-face meetings worked best. Skilled facilitators with industry knowledge were needed to explain benefits of EMS one-on-one with fishers. Survey results showed there was a basic knowledge of EMS but insufficient understanding of the benefits.
  
• Industry associations thought understanding of EMS could be improved and suggested the promotion of a complete EMS, as well as platforms such as templates and tools. Fresh promotional ideas were also recommended.
  
• Researchers said understanding could be increased through personal communication (via networking among peers, colleagues, workshops).
  
• Government representatives discussed a range of preferred methods of communication, but the majority favoured personal communication on EMS.
  
• Non-government organisations preferred face-to-face communication and workshops, saying that effective engagement included developing trust, hands-on guidance, delivering results, taking a local approach and integrating with industry associations.
  
• Industry service providers thought their knowledge of EMS which was gained through meetings, literature and SSA was adequate, but that marketing of EMS should be tailored to individual stakeholder groups. 

To increase understanding of EMS, the consultants noted the following points: specific resource materials should be available, duplication by government agencies should be reduced, and efforts should be made to use consistent terminology.

For more information, see the website www.seafoodservices.com.au or contact Adam Knapp of Seafood Services Australia on (07) 3633 6777.

How green is my practice?

By Russell Pattinson, Australian Wool Innovation

Under round three of the Pathways to Industry EMS Program, the red meat, grains and wool industries were all successful in receiving funding for their projects. Since many Australian broadacre farmers often produce all three of these products (and most at least two), the three industries have agreed to work jointly in the development of a broadacre “Environmental Assurance Program” (EA). The aim is to ensure that broadacre farmers who become involved in this program can avoid duplicating their effort and the confusion of possibly quite different approaches being developed.

The degree of cooperation and consistency of approach thus far bodes well for a joint approach to EA across these industries in Australia. Recently, a Broadacre Industry Forum was held in Sydney to examine opportunities to align the general approach to EMS with implementation plans. Subsequent meetings of project managers have further refined these plans.

For more information, contact Russell Pattinson on (03) 5429 1868.

Publications

New release: Environmental Management in Agriculture worksheet series 1-8

The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment has released a series of 8 worksheets on environmental management in agriculture designed for farmers to assess the quality of native habitat. The worksheets include tools for identifying appropriate biodiversity standards and catchment targets within agricultural systems, and for monitoring management practices.

The series was first launched in a CD ROM attachment to Environmental Management in Agriculture: Native Biodiversity Resource Kit which is available online at www.dse.vic.gov.au. Hard copies can be ordered for farmers or industry groups undertaking environmental management on their farms. Please contact Andrew Straker at (03) 5336 6716 (or email andrew.straker@dse.vic.gov.au) for inquiries.

Legal booklets are popular in Victoria

A series of six booklets entitled Environmental Requirements for Victorian Farmers was launched during 2005 and has become a very popular component of the VFF EMS project’s farmer training in Victoria. Written in clear, concise, everyday language, they cover management guidelines for water, soil, biodiversity, chemicals, waste, weeds and pests, including legal responsibilities and guidelines as well as codes of practice.

The booklets were produced by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and are available at www. dpi.vic.gov.au/science/ems. Hard copies can be obtained from Eloise Seymour (Eloise.Seymour@dpi.vic. gov.au) or Greg Smith (gsmith@vff.org.au)

Upcoming Events

Veg Futures 2006: The Conference in the Field
19 - 23 March 2006 in Albury-Wodonga

The role of vegetation in productive landscapes: from regional planning to practice.

This is a conference for anyone who is interested in the ‘big questions’ about native vegetation including tree planters, bush managers, regional planners, botanists and seed collectors, teachers and trainers, sustainable farmers and graziers. Whatever type of native vegetation you are interested in, from grasslands to rainforests, from woodlands to rangelands, we encourage you to be part of this exciting conference.

For details, look up the web at www.greeningaustralia.org.au and click on the Veg Futures 2006 logo. You can also contact Haydn Burgess on (02) 6281 8585 (or email: hburgess@greeningaustralia.org.au).

2006 Dairy Science Symposium

The 2006 Dairy Science Symposium hosted by the National Dairy Alliance will be held in Mt Gambier, SA on 13 and 14 Feb 2006. The Science Symposium will be a great couple of days for the science community – with a special farmer focus, including the presentation of the Young Scientist Awards, on the second day.

The Dairy Innovators’ Forum, which is convened by the Australian Dairy Conference board, follows immediately after the Dairy Science Symposium on 15 and 16 Feb 2006. With a theme of “Freeing the Minds” and a program focus on innovation in equity and management, this forum is sure to capture the imagination.

For conference enquiries, contact 1800 177 636 or email esther@estherprice.com.au.

Next edition of EMSNews

EMSNews will be issued quarterly with next editions scheduled for April, July and October.

Feedback and Contact

www.daff.gov.au/ems

GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601