UMAG Telemetry Project

One of three fully automated weather stations recently installed in the Towong Shire.

Last year UMAG and Towong Shire Council secured funding from NLP to establish a shire-wide telemetry system to collect environmental data for presentation and access on the UMAG website.

This was a one year project which finishes in June of this year. All of the equipment has been purchased and some of it has been installed. Frank Connell is developing the website and this too is well under way. It is anticipated that the system will be operational in June.

Twelve radio base stations have been established across the region. Each of these can connect to up to 38 individual field stations within about 5km radius. All of this data is dumped onto our website so users only need an internet connection to log on to www.umag.org.au.

Included in the scheme are three fully automated weather stations (Towong, Mitta Valley, Talgarno), an electric fence monitor (for wild dog control), a wind and solar power monitor, a milk vat temperature monitor, a frost alarm monitor and a large number of soil moisture and soil temperature monitors.

It is important to note that the system has been designed to allow for future expansion by installing further base stations as required and developing or expanding on the applications already in use.

Once the system is operational we are planning a field day to launch the system and a number of opportunities for training and demonstration.

Tallangatta Expo

UMAG members Wally Woods, Georges Creek, Tom Paton, Mitta Valley, Bernadette Thomas, UMAG Project Manager, John Star, Cudgewa.

UMAG had a strong presence at the Tallangatta Farm and Water Expo and attracted numerous people to our display and even signed up a few new members!

The interest in our group is growing across the region, especially due to our focus on technology and irrigation which was well presented on the day. Many people enquired about the use of soil moisture monitors and ways to access the equipment.

Farmer in Focus

Stewart and daughter Libby assessing grass seed germination.

This month's farmer in focus is Stewart Sutherland of Tooma.

Stewart has been involved in primary production all his life and now heads up the family business of Tooma Station as well as owning and running Upper Murray Seeds with his wife Kate.

Stewart has been a member of the Upper Murray Agribusiness Group since its inception and currently holds the position of secretary. Very involved in all the UMAG projects, Stewart is participating in the Sustainability at the Source project hosting one of the improved fertilizer efficiency demonstrations. These demonstrations have the main aim of using regular testing both soil and foliar to accurately determine the nutrient levels in crops.

Field days and workshops are planned for later in the year for anyone interested in improved efficiencies in crop nutrition. Dates and locations will advertised on the UMAG website and in local papers.

Upper Murray Agribusiness Group Youth Scholarship 2008

Upper Murray Agribusiness Youth Scholarship has been announced again with Year 10 students from Tallangatta Secondary College and Corryong College urged to apply.

This is an innovative and successful scholarship aimed directly at young people interested in a career in any field relating to Agriculture and includes the traditional sciences as well as technology, engineering and environment.

Both schools were highly complimentary of UMAG for developing the program and last year's winners received a laptop computer and participated in a number of UMAG events and functions.

NLP Applications

UMAG has a long association with the National Landcare Program, largely through Sustainability at the Source and the Telemetry project.

During the early part of 2008 UMAG staff prepared funding applications to NLP for three projects. These are entitled; Break the Cycle — New Crop Rotations for Seed Producers in the Upper Murray (3 years, $197,800), Grazing the Hills — Improved pasture management systems for the Upper Murray (3 years, $377,800) and Sustainability at the Source — Branching Out (1 year, $126,500). Each of these projects is partnered with Towong Shire Council.

UMAG has a very good history in managing projects and this will hopefully work in our favour. Funding from large projects is very useful in providing a focus for the group and the resources which allow the group to function on a day to day basis. Announcements from NLP are expected early July.