1Contact your local office today – or visit www.lhpa.org.au

Plan to eradicate OJD The Western LHPA has signed off on its ovine Johnes Disease (OJD) Exclusion Area Operational Plan following the hugely positive response by ratepayers to the OJD Exclusion Area (EA) survey.

The plan’s purpose is to prevent the entry of OJD into the Western division and to manage any outbreaks that may occur with a view to eradication.

Our strategies in the plan are:

1. Discourage the entry of OJD through infected sheep into the EA. 2. Monitor movements and disease status of sheep being moved into the EA. 3. Manage any outbreak of disease that might occur within the EA so that the disease is eradicated. 4. Utilise abattoir monitoring of sheep for OJD to ensure that no disease has been introduced and that prevalence of infected flocks in the area is below 0.8%. 5. Promote the concept of biosecurity to sheep producers within the Western division to ensure understanding of EA responsibilities and benefits of compliance with these responsibilities. 6. Create a sense of community responsibility in maintaining the EA status for the benefit of all sheep producers within the EA. To achieve this, ratepayers’ responsibilities are to:

� only introduce sheep into the EA that have an ABC score of four or greater. � always ask for a Sheep Health Statement (SHS) before you buy or agist

sheep, and only proceed if the sheep have a score of four or more ABC points. � send a copy of the SHS to the LHPA within seven days of sheep moving

onto your property from outside the EA.Let us all do our part to keep OJD out of the Western Division!

ContentsPlan to eradicate OJD 1

Your LHPA and pest control 2

Advice about NLIS 3

OB testing 3

Moving stock interstate 4

Understand your rates notice 4

FEBRUARY 2012

Western landholder newsletter

Please note: We can expect the National SHS to change in early 2012 due to the Sheepmeat Council and WoolProducers Australia revised national OJD program. However, using the SHS you currently have is better than not using one at all.

Balranald (district main office)82 Market St, BALRANAD NSW 2715Ph 03 5020 1691

Broken HillAdelaide Rd, BROKEN HILL NSW 2880 Ph 08 8087 3378

Hillston 180 High St, HILLSTON NSW 2675 Ph 02 6967 2828

TibooburraBriscoe St, TIBOOBURRA NSW 2880 Ph 08 8091 3306

Wentworth1 Silver City Hway, WENTWORTH NSW 2648 Ph 03 50267 3064

Wilcannia43 Woore St, WILCANNIA NSW 2836 Ph 08 8091 5070

Email admin.western@lhpa.org.au

Contacting Us

28 - 29 March: Balranald 30 - 31 May: Hillston 25 - 26 July: Wilcannia 26 - 27 September: Tibooburra 27 - 28 November: Broken Hill

Ratepayers are welcome to attend these open meetings. Contact your local office for more details.

Western LHPA board 2012 meetings

Map courtesy of NSW DPI

2 Contact your local office today – or visit www.lhpa.org.au

The good seasons we have been experiencing bring out the vermin we could do without, and the West-ern LHPA rangers have been busy with numerous programs assisting landholders keep these pests under control.

The Western LHPA district falls under three Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) and so we attempt to source funding from these groups to assist landholders with the destruction of pests.

� At present we have funding available for pest control in the Hillston area. Pig traps are also available.

� Fox funding is still available in the Balranald/Wentworth/Broken Hill area with LMD CMA.

� We have just secured major funding in the Wilcannia/Tibooburra/Broken Hill area through Western CMA for fox, pig and wild dog control. Pig traps are also available in these areas.Following is a summary of pest activity over the last 12 months from our LHPA rangers:

Locust 2011 was a busy year with LHPA rangers following up locust reports and issuing chemical across the whole of the Western LHPA.

The northern part of the district had some isolated high density patches. The LHPA recognises the difficulty in controlling locusts on large grazing properties, but control is important. We urge all landholders to take action to stop the problem escalating and

slow the next generation of locust.

Mice As the locust situation eased many areas saw large numbers of mice building up and causing problems for many landholders.

LHPA staff prepared bulk bait for the cropping areas in the southern end of the district, while staff in the northern end prepared baits to control mice around sheds and dwellings.

LHPA staff are trained to prepare baits and provide advice for mice control options we can prepare and supply bait at cost price to rateable landholders.

Foxes Foxes are active throughout the whole Western LHPA area. Throughout 2011, our rangers arranged baits for a number of landholders and tried to encourage others to take part. Group baiting is always the most effective option to control fox populations and it is our priority to assist these groups. However we will continue to try to fill individual needs as required.

We try to encourage two baitings per year. Most people bait prior to lambing, but a second baiting in spring will clean up young cubs that are out finding new territory. Night observations show that there are plenty of foxes around at this time.

Rabbits Rabbit numbers are building in the southern part of the Western LHPA. Over 40 tonnes of poisoned carrots prepared and supplied in 2011.

Baiting has been undertaken by a

large number of landholders but this needs to be ongoing to get a positive result. Calicivirus is available through the LHPA and rangers can arrange testing from samples taken from local rabbit populations to determine if the release of the virus is going to be effective.

Pigs Pig numbers are building across the district and the LHPA has some portable traps available for loan. Rangers can supply poison baits for pig control and can also provide advice on the pesticide control order requirements for baiting with 1080 poison.

We have experimented with fermented grain and vegetable scraps for the baiting of pig traps instead of the traditional type of baits and have had great success, even where natu-ral feed is plentiful. Grain left soaking in water will naturally ferment over a couple of days and will entice pigs into traps. Wild dogs and DingosWild dog numbers have been higher than normal over the last two years. We ask that people report dog activity to their local LHPA so that we can share this information with the Wild Dog Destruction Board (WDDB). We welcome all reports even if it is a single animal that has already been destroyed.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has a wild dog researcher working in Broken Hill who is going to run trapping courses throughout the western division in

Your LHPA: working hard with you to control pests

continued on back page

Hellos and goodbyesIn 2011 we said hello to Joe Dowling, who took up the ranger position for Balranald/Wentworth – Joe is stationed in Wentworth.

We also sadly said goodbye to Janette Gaston, customer service officer in the Balranald office – Janette and her family are heading to live in Swan Hill and we wish them all the best and thank Janette for all she has done for us in her three years with Western LHPA.

Your Western LHPA staff From left to right: (back) Chris Howse, Kate Ivanova, Janette Gaston, John Hiscox, Tim Wall (front), Kevin Smith, Joe Dowling, Johno Mclean, Ann Duryea (crouching).

3Contact your local office today – or visit www.lhpa.org.au

Ratepayers urged to take ALPA advice on NLISThe Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association (ALPA) has strong advice for their members regarding the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), and Western LHPA ratepayers are also urged to take note of the following changes also:

Cattle: All NLIS tagging exemptions for cattle finished on 1st January 2012.

This includes WA and Northern Territory cattle going to slaughter or to live export that previously were exempt from property of birth.

All cattle must be NLIS tagged prior to leaving property of birth. There are no exemptions.

All on-property auction sales (including stud) are to be treated as a saleyard sale and the transfer of NLIS tags must be done by the agent as the saleyard operator.

AuctionsPlus sales are to be treated as a private sale Property to Property (P2P) and the transfer of NLIS tags must be done by the buyer.

Sheep, lamb and goats: There is no tolerance for missing tags. All sheep must be tagged.

Agents who sell sheep without the details of PIC numbers of non-vendor bred mobs on the NVD also stand the chance of prosecution along with the

vendor.

All sheep must be NLIS tagged prior to leaving property of birth. There are no exemptions.

All on-property auction sales (including stud) are to be treated as a saleyard sale and the NLIS Mob Based Movement (MBM) must be done by the agent as a saleyard operator.

AuctionsPlus sales are to be treated as a private sale P2P and the transfer of MBM must be done by the buyer. NO TAG, NO DETAILS, NO SALE.

Please contact your local LHPA office for any questions or concerns regarding the NLIS.

Food for thought from MLA surveysMeat and Livestock Australia (MLA) recently published an interesting report from the findings of two surveys they commissioned regarding farm biosecurity attitudes and practices.

Key findings concluded that the Sheep Health Statement (SHS) is considered to be one of the main biosecurity tools in the industry, and could be made even more effective by mandatory enforcement in non-mandatory jurisdictions and with improved education.

It is important to note that the surveys were conducted nationally and SHSs are not mandatory in WA, Victoria and Tasmania - the same jurisdictions with medium to high prevalence of OJD.

In the first survey, 870 sheep producers with over 100 sheep were interviewed on current sheep health management practices, with a focus on producer biosecurity attitudes and practices, and use of the national Sheep Health Statement (SHS). The second was a survey of 300 livestock agents currently working with sheep producers nationally.

The full report, entitled “Farm Biosecurity Attitudes and Practices: Factors influencing the sheep industry” can be found online at www.mla.com.au/Research-and-development/Final-report-details?projectid=15130.

The Western LHPA conducts ovine Brucellosis (OB) testing in its district for landholders who wish to ensure they have a clean flock.

People are encouraged to buy rams from accredited studs and some will follow up with testing after a joining to ensure that there are no OB positive rams among the mob. It is important to do regular surveillance if you wish to keep the mob clean. There are strong links to OB and poor lambing results.

LHPA rangers conduct testing as a service to rateable landholders and you are only charged for the consumables and lab fees for testing.

Rangers get assistance from NSW

DPI vets on occasion.

Due to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) obligations we require some assistance from the landholder with unloading and loading the crush and handling the rams. It is ideal if the property can supply at least two people at the time of testing.

We require woolly rams to be less than five weeks off shears at the time of initial testing. If further tests are required then it may require an area on the neck to be shorn so we can take samples safely and efficiently preventing needle stick injuries. This also alleviates stress on the animal as the vein is more easily located.

Ovine brucellosis testing in rams

Landholders taking blood from a ram at Klondyke Station.

4 Contact your local office today – or visit www.lhpa.org.au

from page 2

2012. He has extensive experience in dog trapping and has also been involved with trials of new poisons for dog and fox control. His advice is that the current problem will escalate quickly if people don’t undertake control now.

What can you do and what can we do?Landholders have a responsibility to control pests on their land under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1988. There are declarations by the Minister for Primary Industries and pest control orders are current for the destruction of wild dogs, pigs, rabbits and locust. LHPA rangers can provide information on this if required. In short this requires landholders to continually suppress and destroy declared pests using lawful methods.

LHPA rangers can assist with bait preparation and advice on control options. Rangers conduct pest inspections in the course of their duties.

Rangers have a regulatory role but work primarily in an advisory capacity to help people meet their obligations. LHPAs try to secure funding grants to help with pest eradication but we need your help and observations to present a clear picture of the pest situation and the scale of funding required.

Please contact your local LHPA ranger for advice and assistance with your pest problems.

Requirements for interstate movementsThe Qld Department of Primary Industries require a certificate of health/waybill for the entry of all stock into Queensland.

Cattle are exempt from branding if they are going straight to slaughter but must still have a National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) device. If the cattle are going to sale they must have NLIS devices attached and also be branded.

The certificate of health/waybill is available from your nearest LHPA office. Please contact your local ranger at least 36 hours before any movement of stock. Severe penalties apply for knowingly entering false or misleading information on a Waybill.

All other states require the National Vendor Declaration and Animal Health Statement for movement of all stock.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR RATES NOTICE

The meat industry levy is collected for the NSW Food Authority. LHPAs do not retain these funds.

The base charge is a uniform charge within an authority, similar to a ‘flag fall’ in a taxi.

The general rate consists of a base charge and an amount payable on the notional carrying capacity of your property*. This funds pest animal programs, TSR management and local administration and service delivery.

The animal health rate consists of a base charge and an amount payable on your notional carrying capacity*. This funds locally delivered livestock health programs and is payable if you told us on your annual land and stock return that you had at least 50 stock units on your property OR if you did not return your land and stock form by the due date.

The pest insect special purpose rate is collected for NSW DPI to cover the cost of plague locust control campaigns. LHPAs do not retain these funds. The pest insect rate includes a flat contribution per rate notice, plus a cents per stock units amount.

*The notional carrying capacity is an estimate, worked out by the local authority, of the number of stock a property would normally carry in an average year if used soley for livestock purposes and is based on stock units per hectare.

NOTE: The rates and charges amounts shown left are indicative only. Actual amounts will vary according to where you live.

The Stock Movement Permit is issued for routine movements of stock between two holdings occupied by the permit holder.