FECPAK ON THE ROAD...

SFCL officer, Katrina Zemke, who provides fecal egg counting services for livestock producers using FECPAK, headed to Chittering Landcare last week to train staff in this AI technology. The FECPAK machine is an AI tool designed for achieving greater efficiency when worm egg counting in livestock (WEC). Chittering livestock producers will have the opportunity to have free FECPAK testing this autumn, helping them to make more informed parasite control decisions on their farms, saving money, time and soil biodiversity including the dung beetle.

Autumn drenching is a critical time for managing parasite burdens but with the break of season approaching, our deep tunnelling winter active dung beetles are nearing full development, in readiness for emergence when soaking rains signal season change. It's important to use drenches low in toxicity to dung beetles during this time to ensure their survival and, critically, their ability to reproduce.  Here’s the math…no dung beetles equal a lot of flies, lots of dung beetles’ equal sanity and a much more pleasant time working out in the paddock for all.  A reference table of drench chemicals accompanies this post to assist farmers make more ‘dung-beetle friendly’ products next time you visit your local Ag store.  AND…if they don’t have it, ask them to get it in.  It’s farmers that will make the difference.

In Mid-May, SFCL in collaboration with parasite management specialist ‘Emily Stretch’ will again host a practical parasite control workshop for livestock producers. The workshop will focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the use of FECPAK to support evidence-based livestock health decisions. Further details will be shared on our Facebook page and this blog, links follow.

https://www.facebook.com/southernforestscommunitylandcare  

or contact Katrina at katrina.zemke@warrencc.org.au