The Dirt — Tasmanian Farming News February 2025
Welcome to the February 2025 edition of our monthly newsletter, The Dirt. Get the latest Tasmanian farming news from our community and beyond!
CEO UPDATE
Welcome to the last month of Summer for 2025! There has been a lot of mountain biking, swimming in waterholes in gorges, walking, laughing and hanging out with friends over this holiday period. I feel very grateful and my cup is most definitely full.
In between these times, we have been busy planning the year ahead for Sprout.
We have an upcoming meeting with the Shadow Primary Industries Minister, Janie Finlay (14th Feb) and waiting to schedule a meeting with the current Minister Jane Howlett.
As always, get in touch if there are topics you would like us to discuss on your behalf.
Meat processing access for small-scale producers continues to be a challenge, not only here in Tassie, but right across the country, with abattoirs ceasing their service kills provision (or at least making it very untenable for small producers to access) in WA, VIC and NSW. AFSA is doing a great job at bringing that national discussion to the fore and we are thrilled they are also shining a light on the issues here in Tasmania to show that it truly is a nation wide, Australian food system issue. We are continuing our meat project and will be presenting this to the Department in March. In tandem we are supporting producers to present their ideas to Government ministers about what solutions they are keen to see as enablers for their sustainability and growth.
After seeing the report released in VIC on Securing the Food supply for the state, we reached out to the Chair of this Committee, VIC MP Juliana Addison to share our thoughts and experience here in Tassie. Particularly in relation to the reports Recommendation #26.
It is always great to come together with people who are keen to view the food system issues we face in a new, creative and open way, and I can tell you I was so impressed with their questions. Juliana brought with her 3 other members of the Committee and they were all keen to discuss things like:
- Agricultural land being transitioned to lifestyle (therefore not producing primary produce any more) as an issue for VIC.
- What ways they could support succession planning for farmers (we had discussions about aging in place, and the sharing of experience and knowledge).
- What changes needed to be looked at to enable young generation of new and aspiring farmers to gain access to land, knowledge and support. How can they provide appropriate financial mechanisms for this to work.
Asking all the right questions!!! It was a great conversation and I feel the more we are able to come together to work on the hard discussions both in Tassie and other states, the more we will see the results we want to see!
And to top off our Government advocacy work, we have a meeting with the Tasmanian advisor to the Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins on 18th February!!
Later this year we will be at Agfest for our second year! Woop Woop!! Be sure to come and say hello if you are attending.
That’s it from me and my rambling.
We are really hitting the ground running this year and setting a cracking pace on our advocacy work, as I can feel the fire in my belly and I can also feel we have the platform, so I am going to use it.
Until next time!
Jen
Food safety standards for Leafy veg, melons and berries – update from us
I understand from quite a few of our vegetable producers that there is a level of concern around the upcoming changes to the PPP Horticultural standards for Leafy Veg/Melons/Berries/Micro Greens. Proposal P1052
Our last discussion with Dept NRE was on January 17th, where they assured me that producers will not have their trade restricted post the 12th Feb, yet they want to remind everyone that regardless of the Chapter 4 standards not being adopted yet into Tasmanian legislation, all producers still need to adhere to the current Primary Produce Safety Act and Food Safety Act.
They are currently drafting the regulations that will then be used for consultation.
We have been strongly advocating for scale appropriate regulations to be developed, and will continue to do this with specific attention on things like:
- Scale appropriate fees based on the size of the business
- Reasonable assessment of risk and therefore aligned requirements based on lower levels of risk to human health.
- We understand that there are generally no or very few incidents here in Tasmania of issues with food borne illness occurring due to food produced and sold by smaller scale producers.
- That we want to enable the production of food for our local food security and genuine community and environmental health, and to do this, we don’t want to put unnecessary barriers in the way of smaller scale businesses being able to be financially viable.
If you’ve already completed our survey already for veg/berry producers, thank you.
If not, please share your thoughts here for us to take to the table with the Product Integrity Team at Biosecurity Tasmania in the coming month.
Tasmania’s food relief to food resilience plan
The Tasmanian State Government is undertaking to develop a new Food Relief to Food Resilience Strategy, and as part of this Sprout has been asked to contribute to the consultation process for key stakeholders. We are so pleased this plan is getting a review and that there is wide consultation with the community, as we feel strongly that the last plan didn’t hit the mark, so there are many opportunities for improvement in this space.
Get in touch with us if you have any thoughts or ideas you want us to include or take to the table. Our meeting is on 20th February.
You will also be able to have your say from a personal perspective in coming weeks, when they launch this part of the project consultation via engagetasmania.com.au
It’s time for our bi-annual farmer survey 2025!
I know, I know…everyone hates a survey. But do you know that our bi-annual survey of small-scale farmers has been a game changer for us as an organisation in so many ways? Here’s how:
- It helps us understand what your experiences are, as small-scale farmers, so we aren’t just making it up based on a few things we hear.
- We can start to understand trends across time.
- It arms us with data we can use to clearly show stakeholders and government what the current state of play is.
- Oh, and it also gives Jen a kick, who loves using her old pivot table skills on the survey data, but that’s just the cherry on the top really!!
Keep an eye out for this survey later in the year. We will need your help to share it widely.
Get in touch if there are any themes or particular questions you would like to propose we include for this year. Email us at info@sprout.org.au with the subject – Survey ideas
Tas Farmers and Sprout working together – Animal Welfare and Nutrition workshops
We are so thrilled to be working with TasFarmers on our first collaborative grant together.
After working on the Tasmanian Livestock Processing taskforce together, Jono Jones (TasFarmers) and I were really keen to see what we could do collectively to give farmers the opportunity to learn more about low stress stock handling as well as animal welfare and nutrition.
Together, we were successful in winning a Strategic Industry Partnership Program grant that will enable us to host two workshops (one at each end of the state) that will give you the opportunity to learn about low stress stock handling, animal nutrition, race design and more.
Calling any producers growing chillies!
Cameron Perry is the awesome Chef at Hamlet Cafe in Hobart. Cam got in touch to say he is in need of more chillies as they are in the throes of their preserving season!
If you have grown chillies this season, get in touch with Cam via cameron@hamlet.org.au and have a chat.
Grassroots Festival
12th, 13th and 14th February – Montumana, NW Tassie.
If you are planning to head to the NW for this Festival, come and find us on the 13th Feb at the Sprout stall, to say hi to Jen!
Get more info here if you need it.
Grant writing workshop
Business Tasmania are running a free online workshop on 27th Feb 1-2pm for those who are new to grant writing or for those who want to improve their skills.
Click here for more info.
NRM South Small Farm Planning is back!!
We are so thrilled to share with you that this very popular program is now back! We heard such great things about this from so many producers, as it will help you build connections with like minded peeps, arm you with some awesome knowledge and generally give you the confidence to know how to move forward with your land management on farm. Here is the info from the team at NRM South!
Small Farm Planning Program -Huon and Channel Autumn 2025
This popular program ran from 2012 to 2018 in the Huon Valley and was very well received. We are now re-instating the program for landowners each year from 2025 to 2028 and plan to expand it into other areas of southern Tasmania.
This year’s program will be held in the Huon and Channel region and is designed to assist you to develop a property management plan and to expand your knowledge of property management topics.
THE PROGRAM CONTENT WILL INCLUDE:
- Five workshops delivered by experts on a range of subjects from grazing to weed control
- A wealth of information on land management with experts on-hand to bounce ideas off
- A workbook and group session support to develop individual property management plans
- Personalised property maps/aerial photographs
- The opportunity to join existing networks
THIS PROGRAM CAN HELP YOU TO IDENTIFY:
- Your property’s assets, land capability and management requirements
- Your property vision and goals relating to lifestyle, family, environmental and financial aspirations
- Your key resources and risks
- Your key priorities and how you are going to implement them
For more information (course guidelines), please go to www.nrmsouth.org.au and visit the events section (up and coming events) on the home page.
To register your interest please complete the short expression of interest form – link below. Expressions of interest close at 5pm, February 18th, 2025.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CB8W7CB
Workforce Solutions Session
Dairy Tasmania and TasFarmers are hosting a workshop providing information on workforce solutions for farmers. Discussing visa programs, eligibility, migrant requirements and more.
Tasmanian Garlic & Tomato Festival 2025
Date: Sunday 9th March 2025
Time: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Quamby Estate, 1145 Westwood Road, Hagley 7292
Tasmanian Garlic & Tomato Festival is back for 2025 at a new venue!
Established in 2014, the Tomato & Garlic Festival celebrates local and seasonal produce, primarily tomatoes and garlic, and the culture of food, bringing together families and communities from the local region and beyond.
Held at Quamby Estate, Hagley, the festival includes cooking demonstrations, workshops, stalls, food, a children’s area, competitions, and more!
Tickets are on sale now – head to tgtf.org.au to purchase.
As ever, do get in touch if you have any questions or issues. We’re always here to help.
Thanks as always,
The Sprout Team.