E.LSM.1503 Grass Seed Awareness Workshops, Leadership Meetings and Program

Summary

The National Grass Seed Action Program extension and communication program aims to address the rising cost of grass seed contamination to the whole lamb supply chain. Grass seed infestation of lamb carcases continues to be a significant issue for the whole supply chain of the Australian prime lamb industry. A 2012 national survey (B.LSM.0042) of Australian sheep and lamb processors found grass seed contamination is one of the major issues facing processor businesses.
Grass seeds are costing processors through reduced daily throughput, increased labour costs, an unhappy and consequently less productive labour force, downgraded product, reduced meat yield and risk of market compensation claims. Similarly, producers forego a loss of production potential and income from seed infestation in lambs. Financial penalties of up to $1.50 per Kg Cwt have been passed back to producers
A company managed activity (CMA) was used for the support costs for running a series of 25 grass seed workshops during 2013. Support costs include venue hire, catering and printing. Another CMA was established to cover room hire and catering costs for Grass Seed leadership meetings for FY2015.  
A separate project, E.LSM.1503: National Grass Seed Leadership Program was established with five goals:Deliver a series of producer knowledge and skills development grass seed workshops with industry partners, nationally to 350 producers.Deliver analysed and collated monitoring and evaluation conducted at workshops.Make recommendations to MLA on integration of Winning Against Seeds materials into extension and communication opportunitiesDeliver a finalised producer feedback form that has been agreed to by the National Grass Seed Leadership GroupWork with the National Grass Seed Leadership Group to deliver integration of producer feedback into plant systems.
These activities align with The National Grass Seed Action Program. The goal of the program is to provide the lamb supply chain with knowledge, skills, resources and targeted information to reduce grass seed infestation incidence to less than 5% at processing facilities that actively engage in the program by 2015.