COMPUTER mapping for more efficient land use is one of the themes of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ FarmPlan21 course in Shelford in October.
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Landowners in the area south-east of Ballarat have been invited to attend the six-session FarmPlan21 course, which starts on October 8 and will run every Wednesday until November 12.
As part of the cost of the course, those attending will receive a computer mapping program on a USB which includes an aerial image of their property, and a selection of digital mapping layers which can be put to good use for farm planning.
“We use a program called iFarm and (landholders) will have the use of a laptop for the course,” DEPI FarmPlan21 facilitator Heather Field said.
“There will be a strong focus on developing computer mapping skills, assessing land capability, farm water auditing, pasture management, biodiversity and native vegetation and risk management, with the course most applicable for property sizes of 40 hectares or more.
“When the farmer books in, we find out where their property is located so we can get the aerial imagery of their property and they can map on that throughout the course.
“In the morning there are generally some guest speakers from experts in the field, and then we tend to move into the mapping in the afternoon. By the end of the course, we have them using their own laptops.”
Ms Field said it combined traditional whole farm planning with the computer mapping aspect.
“Farmers usually know the fertility of the soils on their properties but mapping can be used to help protect those soils,” Ms Field said.
“We have contour layers which are important for measuring the slope and for where you might reticulate water.
There are native vegetation layers as well, which show what native vegetation used to grow there, which may give an idea of which tree species might be most suitable to various parts of the property.”
The course is supported by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and will be held at the Shelford Public Hall.
Sessions run from 9.30am to 3pm, with lunch and morning tea provided. Course cost is $150 per business.
To register, contact Heather Field at DEPI Ballarat on 0438 391 210.
