Local Land Services – securing the future of ag

Local Land Services offer a wide range of agricultural services, workshops and programs that can help producers and landholders increase on-farm productivity and sustainability.

With specialist staff stationed across NSW, these services are tailored to your local region and can cover anything from low stress stock handling to pasture demonstrations and soil health workshops. 

Local Land Services is proud to offer these first-rate services and are committed to delivering the best support possible for landholders to help them deal with the current conditions as well as planning and preparing for emerging challenges.

To achieve that goal, Local Land Services have just launched a five-year Agricultural Services Framework 2021-2026 that will guide and shape the delivery of services and collaborate with industry so that landholders continue to receive quality advice for years to come. 

If you would like to read the framework, head to www.lls.nsw.gov.au/frameworks.

The framework identifies priority areas of agricultural services to focus on over the next five years, which include supporting sustainable productivity, enhancing natural assets, and assisting landholders to manage climate variability. 

Local Land Services Agriculture and Plant Biosecurity State Director James Hutchinson-Smith said having the framework in place will ensure that producers receive the best quality advice and service into the future.

“At Local Land Services, we are fortunate to have highly skilled and experienced agricultural services staff that can help producers across NSW implement new strategies and practices that can increase productivity and sustainability,” Mr Hutchinson-Smith said.

“Like all organisations we have defined resources, but by implementing this framework we can continue investing in local programs and training staff so the services we offer continue to address the biggest issues affecting landholders, communities and industry.”

Mr Hutchinson-Smith said the framework also outlines the important role Local Land Services plays in assisting producers manage the risks associated with climate variability and significant climatic and market business disruptor events.

“We know climate variability is increasing and with it, so do the frequency and severity of major disruptor events such as drought, fire, and flood.”

Local Land Services Agriculture and Plant Biosecurity State Director James Hutchinson-Smith

“These climatic and market disruptor events negatively impact agricultural productivity and increase the risk of significant degradation to on-farm natural assets.

“Helping producers to manage the risks associated with major disruptors can significantly decrease the impact these events have on natural assets, the wellbeing of people and communities, recovery time and productivity.”

Agricultural work is just one of the many services on offer at Local Land Services to provide practical, on the ground support for farmers and rural landholders through good times and bad.

“We also have our team of district veterinarians who can investigate health issues in your livestock, biosecurity officers who can help you control pest animals and weeds, and staff specialising in everything from land management to environmental conservation.”

Local Land Service rates return in 2022

Local Land Service rates will return in 2022 after being waived for the three years as part of the NSW Government’s $4 billion drought support package.

“While landholders have not paid rates during this time, the drought support funding meant we were still able to deliver our full suite of services during this crucial time,” said Local Land Services CEOn David Witherdin.

“In 2022, our rates will be reintroduced so we can continue to fund our wide range of services and keep working with and supporting landholders to be profitable and sustainable into the future. 

“By paying Local Land Services rates, landholders can use all our services and are able to access our wide range of highly skilled and experienced staff.”

“We expect rate notices to be arriving in mailboxes in January, but between now and then, we are asking our customers to make sure their details are up to date and to reach out if they have any queries or questions about the rating process.”

We have also created a dedicated ‘Rates Hub’ online so landholders can learn more about the services their rates contribute to, pay their rates and update their contact details all in the one place.

To find out more about the Local Land Services rating process and the services on offer in your region, visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/rates or call 1300 795 307.