The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) is reminding livestock producers and indus­try stakeholders that mandatory electronic identification (eID) is set to take effect from 1 January 2025.

The following key requirements will be starting 1 January 2025: 1. Mandatory use of eID devices such as tags for all sheep and goats born from 1 January 2025, prior to leaving the property of birth. 2. For prop­erty-to-property movements, any sheep or goats with an eID device must be scanned, and the entire movement uploaded to the NLIS database. 3. Saleyards and goat de­pots need to scan eIDs and record individu­al livestock sheep and goat movements on the NLIS database.

NSW DPIRD Director of Sheep and Goat Traceability, Kiowa Fenner, highlighted the importance of the new requirements in strengthening the integrity of the state’s live­stock traceability system.

“The introduction of mandatory eID for sheep and goats represents a significant step forward in biosecurity and livestock management for the NSW sheep and goat industry,” Ms. Fenner said.

“If you move or sell lambs or kids born next year, they will need an eID device be­fore departure.”

The NSW Government has put in place a staggered implementation of eID to assist understanding and awareness. To this end, all sheep and goat movements will not be required until 1 January 2027.

These changes will improve the traceabil­ity of animals across the supply chain, help­ing us respond more effectively to disease outbreaks and ensuring the continued com­petitiveness of our agricultural industries.

The implementation is on track, with pro­cessors already having commenced scan­ning eIDs and uploading eID data to the NLIS database from 30 June 2024.

For more information on sheep and goat eID requirements visit the NSW DPIRD website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/bfs/your-role-in-biosecurity/primary-producers/nlis/eID

Regional Australia will receive its fair share of the Coalition’s $5 billion home building plan, with a target of 30 per cent of the fund­ing to be invested in regional, rural and re­mote Australia.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud announced that a future Coalition Govern­ment would set an ambitious target of 30 per cent of the $5 billion Housing Infrastruc­ture Programme for investing in the regions, benefiting areas such as the Central West.

David said “The Coalition will invest in shovel-ready infrastructure through our new Housing Infrastructure Programme.

“An elected Coalition Government will commit $5 billion to get these projects mov­ing, unlocking up to 500,000 homes across Australia and we want a fair share of that funding in regional Australia.”

A Coalition Government will also free up more than 100,000 homes by: Reduc­ing migration numbers, compared to Labor who has brought in more than one million migrants in their first two years in office, put­ting a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes, working with the building and con­struction industry and bringing in people on skilled visas to support local tradies, tack­ling union corruption that has contributed to driving up the costs of building by 30 per cent, freezing further changes to the Nation­al Construction Code to ease red tape and compliance burdens for builders.

The Nationals’ candidate for Calare Sam Farraway said if elected, he would work with council to speed up projects in the Central West.

“The Coalition’s policy is a game-changer for young people in the Central West who are struggling to break into the housing mar­ket,” Mr Farraway said.

Landcare Australia has opened nomina­tions for the 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award.

Back for the third successive round, the prestigious General Jeffery Soil Health Award recognises the work of people who care for soil health and who are educating or inspiring others.

Previous award winners and notable fig­ures in the world of soil health and science, Dr Oliver Knox and Emerita Professor Dr Lynnette Abbot have confirmed they will be part of the specialist advisory panel to se­lect the winner of the 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award.

The 2022 winner, leading soil health champion, educator and researcher, of ‘Soil your Undies’ fame, Dr Oliver Knox said “We all have a responsibility to our soils and our soil health and the more we all do, the more likely we are to see a fan­tastic future for Australia’s soils.”

The two previous award winners have teamed up to encourage nominations for the influential General Jeffrey Soil Health Award.

When asked what he was hoping to see from the next round of nominations, Dr Knox said “Passion, drive and impact. Soil is full of surprises, so I’m hoping to learn from all of the nominations and expect to feel disappointed there can be only one winner. It’s exciting and all that is needed now is for some nominations, so that are you waiting for? Nominate your soil’s guru.”

Leading soil scientist Emerita Professor Lynette Abbott and winner of the inaugural prize in 2020, is encouraging soil science experts across Australia to nominate col­leagues for the prestigious national award.

“It is a very valuable process for high­lighting the contributions that others are making to soil health in their various ways.

There are many approaches.”

To find out more about nominations you can visit https://landcareaustralia.org.au/soilhealthaward/