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The spotlight will be on dung beetles at an upcoming workshop aimed at helping farmers in the Tweed learn about the benefits of these vital insects.
The free workshop aims to educate producers about the advantages of dung beetles, the species found in the Tweed, and how best to manage these important insects.
Dung beetles, including both native and introduced species, play a critical role in livestock systems by recycling nutrients, reducing habitat for parasites, reducing the run-off of nutrients into waterways and improving soil productivity.
Council’s Program Leader – Sustainable Agriculture Eli Szandala said this workshop was the first of its kind in the Tweed for almost 5 years, providing a great educational opportunity for farmers.
“Dung beetles are common across the Tweed and at least 10 species have been identified locally,” Mr Szandala said.
“By understanding the species present in the local area and their life cycles, producers can make informed decisions on how to minimise impacts on these beneficial insects.
“The selection and timing of certain parasiticides and insecticides can have a big impact on dung beetles and compromise their ability to provide all these important environmental services.
“Even floods can disrupt their life cycles and prevent the recycling and reincorporation of dung into the soil for healthy and productive agriculture. In these situations, producers may even look at reintroducing certain species to boost numbers and make the most of these natural ecosystem engineers.”
The session will be delivered by experts from Ecoinsects, a business that specialises in dung beetle education, extension and rearing of dung beetles.
The workshop will be held at Stokers Siding - Dunbible Memorial Hall, 244 Stokers Road, on Thursday 16 March from 9 am to 2 pm and is being delivered as part of a larger project to build drought-resilient dairy and beef farms in the Tweed.
Bookings are essential and can be made online at tweed.nsw.gov.au/agriculture.
This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
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