This year is jam packed with events. We have a huge couple of days lined up for those of you in the Douglas Daly and Katherine regions with field days in April, as well as some new faces around the department.

I recently spent some time working in the Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR) animal welfare response centre for Tropical Cyclone Trevor. They had volunteers and assistance from the NT Cattlemen’s Association, private veterinarians, Roper Gulf Regional Council, East Arnhem Regional Council, and Animal Management in Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities. There was a lot of hard work put in behind the scenes that many people aren’t aware of. A lot of people gave up their weekend to support the teams that went out to communities to check and feed animals in the evacuated regions. It was great to see everyone banding together to help out.

Cheers

Ed

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have proposed reforms to the Water Regulation in a Directions Paper.

In the Top End, most rural residents and growers access groundwater via a bore. In fact, in the Northern Territory (NT) 90 per cent of the fresh water supply comes from groundwater, compared to 22 per cent worldwide.

The outlook for April to June 2019 indicates that:

• Average to Drier conditions are expected across most of the NT.
• Warmer than average days and nights are likely for almost all of the NT.

Northern Territory has been declared banana freckle free, with the proof of freedom from the disease declared on 1 February.

This huge success has been achieved due to industry, government and the community working together, along with other states and territories.

Zoe Malone has been announced as the winner of this year’s Agrifutures NT Rural Women’s Award, for her passion about the role volunteers play in creating strong and vibrant communities.

Territory Natural Resource Management (TNRM) has partnered with RegenAG’s erosion mitigation expert Craig Sponholtz of Watershed Artisans to deliver a three-day intensive natural process erosion control course.

There are a number of new staff across the department. Introducing Joy Sherlock, Samantha Cullen, Maxine Piggott and Simone Andrews.

Scientists in the Northern Territory have made a significant advance towards understanding the cause of resin canal discolouration (RCD) in mangoes. RCD had stumped scientists and growers for decades, who until now had not had any clues about its cause.

Browsing ants (Lepisiota frauenfeldi) are an exotic invasive species, ideally suited to Australian conditions. Browsing ants are considered to be a significant threat to our environment and economy. They form super-colonies, which reach very large numbers.

Fusarium wilt of cucumber is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cucumerinum. It has been present in Australia for decades, but the first case in the Northern Territory was discovered in 2017.

The March edition of Animal Health News, including livestock disease investigations is now available.

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Regional Livestock Bisoecurity Officer 08 8999 2034
Livestock Biosecurity Officer 08 8999 2030

Katherine

Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer 08 8973 9767
Livestock Biosecurity Officer 08 8973 9765

Tennant Creek

Principal Livestock Biosecurity Officer 08 8962 4458
Livestock Biosecurity Officer 08 8962 4492

Alice Springs

Senior Field Veterinary Officer 08 8951 8181
Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer 08 8951 8125

Department of Primary Industry and Resources

www.nt.gov.au