The Ladies in Livestock program - launched by the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services in September, 2016 - is continuing to flourish.
Four groups are now operating in the Guyra, Inverell,Tenterfield and Walcha regions.
Ladies in Livestock was an initiative of the Sustainable Agriculture team at the Northern Tablelands LLS who saw a need to provide hands-on, practical skills to help women with on-farm decision-making.
Georgie Oakes, a LLS pastures agronomist based at Inverell and organiser of Ladies in Livestock, said interest and participation in the program was running high with more than 200 women involved across the New England region.
“It’s been heaps of fun and so well received. It’s very exciting for us (LLS),” she said.
Topics for each group are tailored to the majority interest and production of that region.
They provide technical insight into practical issues and problems such as bull and ram selection, making sense of soil tests, pasture management, weed identification, condition scoring of livestock, winter feeding options and biosecurity management.
“All (women) are welcome but the aim of the project is to target women making on-farm decisions. It’s all about capacity building and technical knowledge,” Ms Oakes said.
A group of ladies have also been on a supply chain visit to Rangers Valley Feedlot near Glen Innes, John Dee abattoir at Warwick, Qld, and Top Cut Foods in the Brisbane area.
Kirsty White, “Bald Blair”, Guyra, said the supply chain tour had been “brilliant” and was the first time a women-only group had visited the three leading livestock and meat businesses.
She is a member of Guyra’s Ladies in Livestock and despite her own strong rural background having grown up on a farm near Kingstown and now playing a key role in the Bald Blair Angus business, she had gained valuable new knowledge.
Time-poor farm women appreciated getting away for a day while furthering their professional development.
Funding for the program is being provided by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program with Meat and Livestock Australia also now involved.
Women interested in joining a group can contact Georgie Oakes on 0429 310 264.