• Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
• Agriculture jobs boost for regional Victoria
• Agriculture Victoria launches revamped website
• Farm safety officers keeping Victorians safer
• Report suspect Ehrlichiosis infections
• Why didn’t the vet give me antibiotics? – not all bugs need drugs
• Views sought on safely reuniting lost pets with owners
• Summerfruit industry webinars - Managing fruit quality for export
• Phone in on Tuesdays for north east farming advice
• Farm business planning – leasing land
• Free biosecurity course for Aussie beekeepers
• 2021 Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program – apply now
• 2021 Science and Planning Graduate Program
• Gorse Talk and the Virtual Demonstration Field Day
• Atlas of Living Australia train-the-trainer course
• GrazFert Program: nutrient planning for farmers – registrations now open
• Fox and wild dog bounty collection schedule
• Digital technology audits
• Gardiner Foundation Nuffield Scholarships
• Young Farmer Business Network
• Primary producers bushfire support programs
• Drought and dry seasons support services and information
• What's on – upcoming webinars

Face coverings mandatory across Victoria and new restrictions for some regional areas

From Sunday 2 August at 11:59 pm, a face covering will be mandatory whenever you leave home – and wherever you live.

From 11:59 pm on Thursday 30 July in the local government areas of Colac-Otway, Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains, and the Borough of Queenscliffe, you will no longer be able to visit people or have visitors at home.

For the most up to date information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and current restrictions, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Border travel restrictions

Restrictions on the movement of Victorians across our borders with South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW) are now in place.

The Victorian Premier, the Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW agreed to close the border between Victoria and NSW from 8 July 2020.

From midnight Wednesday 22 July, a border zone, defined along the Murray River, has been established.

Entry to NSW from Victoria will be restricted, and exemptions for NSW residents travelling from the Victorian side of the border zone will be limited.

Permits issued up until the commencement of the border zone expired at midnight 21 July. Individuals eligible under the new rules will need to apply for a new permit. This closure is being enforced by NSW Police.

There are also restrictions in place for Victorians travelling into South Australia . People from Victoria may not enter South Australia unless they are an Essential Traveller.

For more information about the NSW border restrictions and cross border management in that state, including entry permits, visit Service NSW website, or call their dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) information line on 13 77 88. No permit is required to enter Victoria from NSW.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries provides a coronavirus (COVID-19) concierge service to support primary producers to navigate the current restrictions.

This concierge service can be contacted directly at covidinfo@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

For more information about the South Australian border restrictions, visit the South Australian Government COVID-19 website, or call their dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) information line on 1800 253 787.

No permit or approval is required to enter Victoria from another state – however you will need to adhere to the restrictions and directions that are in place to slow the spread of coronavirus in Victoria.

For the most up to date information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and current restrictions in Victoria, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

People in Victoria can also call the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398.

Busines Support Fund – Expansion program

Businesses within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire that are affected by the return to Stay at Home restrictions may be eligible for a one-off, $5000 grant under the Business Support Fund – Expansion program.

Applications for the program close on 19 August 2020.

This program is in addition to the first round of the Business Support Fund, which closed on 1 June 2020.

Please read the information on this page as well as the Guidelines and FAQs carefully before applying.

Country Victorian communities will benefit from the creation of nearly 60 full time jobs over the next six months as part of the Agriculture Workforce Plan – supporting our farming community and keeping Victorians working.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes recently announced the further investment of over $3 million towards new jobs with Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) as well as the Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning (DELWP).

The Corangamite, North Central and North East CMAs will join five others already benefitting from the program.

New team members will undertake a range of work, including improving local land health through revegetation and fencing of important environmental areas such as waterways, weed control, soil sampling and water quality monitoring on private and adjacent public land.

This work addresses concerns raised by many farmers by helping to control rabbits, wild dogs and other pests and weeds that affect soil health and crop productivity and kill livestock.

New projects with DELWP will target critical action on pests.

Projects in Loddon Mallee and Grampians will support three teams to implement measures protecting public land and adjoining private land and farmland from invasive species such as weeds and rabbits.

Two additional teams will help manage wild dog populations and their impact on livestock, including activities like baiting and trapping.

The new wild dog controllers will be supported with training and supervision to ensure their health and safety while implementing best practice wild dog management.

To find out more about the $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/agworkforceplan.

Agriculture Victoria’s redeveloped flagship website is now live.

The new website is home to 2500 pages of content, spanning livestock, grain and crop industries, farm management, animal welfare, climate and biosecurity.

The new design and structure of the website is based on user research, so information is easier for website visitors to find what they’re looking for, with improved responsiveness and accessibility.

Agriculture Victoria’s website is a crucial resource for agriculture industries.

In the past year, the old website attracted 1.6 million visitors from Australia with 4.5 million page views.

The redevelopment process took about 15 months, from user-research through delivery of the new website including the design, build, content editing and migration.

About 1600 pages of content were edited to ensure currency and relevance, taking more than 3000 hours from the content team of four people.

The Agriculture Victoria website is where Victorians can apply for a Property Identification Code, order NLIS tags, apply for a source number through the Pet Exchange Register, and register as a beekeeper.

It also provides Victorians with useful advice on moving livestock, plants and plant products, state prohibited weeds, chemical use, pest animals and insects, animal welfare codes of practice, legislation and regulation, and notifiable diseases in animals.

In addition, it has information on Agriculture Victoria’s key programs, services and initiatives, including drought, dry seasons, bushfire recovery and emergency support, grants available, and networks to get involved in.

Check out the new Agriculture Victoria website by visiting agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government is backing a new initiative to reduce the number of people injured and killed on farms.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes recently announced the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) will receive a $3 million Making our Farms Safer grant to employ two farm safety officers and deliver new resources.

Serving farmers across Victoria, the farm safety officers will provide information and advice on improving farm safety, via on-farm safety walks designed to help farmers identify risks and the changes they can make to improve the safety of their farms.

The VFF will also use the funds to develop an online platform with a range of farm safety resources for Victoria’s farmers that help them to adopt better farm safety and health practices.

On average there are around two serious injuries on Victorian farms every day and in the past five months six people have died while working on a farm.

Those at risk of injury or death on Victorian farms are not just farmers, but also farm families, employees, suppliers and contractors. To address this, there is a need to change the culture and mindset of people in agriculture to prioritise safety.

The Government recognises that changing attitudes and improving the sector’s focus on safe farming practices needs to be driven by industry to be best suited for industry, with the VFF helping to lead this change.

Other initiatives the Government is implementing to change these attitudes include funding for Kidsafe Victoria and the National Centre for Farmer Health to run campaigns aimed at school students, and the establishment of the Farm Safety Council to advise on how to reduce farm injuries and deaths.

The Making our Farms Safer grant is part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program addressing skills and safety issues in the agriculture sector.

Victorian vets should be aware cases of the disease Ehrlichiosis were recently confirmed in dogs in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

This is the first time an Ehrlichiosis infection has been confirmed in Australia in dogs that weren’t imported. The disease is caused by bacteria that are only transmitted through bites from infected ticks.

Be aware of the symptoms of the disease the disease and report if you suspect infection.

Ehrlichiosis is a nationally notifiable disease.

For suspected cases call the national Emergency Animal Disease Watch hotline on 1800 675 888 or report through the Notify Now smartphone app. More information at https://www.outbreak.gov.au/current-responses-to-outbreaks/ehrlichiosis-dogs

Berwyn Squire, Goat Health Veterinary Officer

Would you expect the pharmacist to hand over antibiotics to you without you having seen a doctor first? Well, it is a similar situation with veterinarians.

One reason is to do with the dispensing and drug laws, as veterinarians are required to have a bone fide client relationship before they can prescribe, authorise and dispense or supply Schedule 4 (prescription-only) medicines to animal owners.

This means your veterinarian must have been on your property, have an understanding of your farming system and have seen your animals within a certain time period.

A bona fide veterinarian-client relationship exists where each of the following occurs:

• The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making judgments regarding the health and welfare of the animal/s and the need for treatment, with the owner’s agreement.
• The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal/s to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of their medical condition. This means that the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal/s by virtue of a clinical examination, or by medically appropriate and timely visits to where the animal/s are kept.
• The veterinarian is available, or has arranged for adequate emergency coverage, for follow-up evaluation in the event of an adverse reaction or failure of the treatment regimen.

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global threat and you can do your part by following your veterinarian’s advice and by only using and sourcing antibiotics prescribed by them.

The use of veterinary chemicals is constantly being reviewed due to concerns that resistant bacteria  “superbugs” are developing through over/misuse of antibiotics – this may be one reason why your veterinarian prescribes the exact dose rather than the bottle.

Unlike human antibiotics which come in convenient-sized packages with enough for a standard course, veterinary medicines, especially with livestock, are provided in bulk as there can be a wide variance in dose, depending on the animal’s weight.

It is important to develop a working relationship with your veterinarian. They are a vital part of your community, and most times when you need them it is at short notice, after hours or in an emergency.

Take the opportunity when you are getting your dog/cat vaccinated or picking up worming tablets for them, to talk to your veterinarian about your livestock, explain what your main issues are and ask how they can help and what services they can provide.

You may not think your veterinarian sees many livestock, especially if they are city based, but they have professional networks where they can discuss cases and ask for advice.

For more information on how to prevent antibiotic resistant infections talk to your local veterinarian, visit https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/livestock-health-and-welfare/antibiotic-resistant-infections or contact Agriculture Victoria Animal Health staff on 136 186.

The proposed reforms aim to reduce stress on animals and their owners, and reduce regulatory, administrative and resource burdens on councils, vet clinics and registered animal shelters. Community safety, privacy and the welfare of the animals will need to be carefully considered and protected.

Some of the problems associated with lost and roaming pets can include the animal’s welfare, the welfare of other animals and wildlife, nuisance, property damage and human safety.

Additionally, if ownership data linked to an animal’s microchip is not current, a vet may inadvertently contact and provide the pet to a previous owner.

This can compromise public safety through people on family violence orders attempting to locate others through pet microchip data or registration details.

An Issues Paper and survey questions for is now available online. Victorians are encouraged to have their say on the Reuniting Lost Pets review at: engage.vic.gov.au.

Victoria had approximately 663,000 dogs and 221,000 cats registered with its 79 councils in 2019.

Four webinars on 'Managing fruit quality for export' are to be held 19 ad 26 August and 2 and 9 September.

These online webinar events will be run as ZOOM meetings. You will need access to a computer and the internet.

All webinars will be recorded and made available at http://www.hin.com.au/networks/profitable-stonefruit-research


WEBINAR SERIES DETAILS

Wednesday 19 August

Stone fruit cultivar performance during cool storage and predicting quality during export John Lopresti, Researcher, Agriculture Victoria

• TIME: 3 – 4 pm (VIC, NSW, QLD), 2.30 pm (SA), 1 pm (WA).
• Please register via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pv_UurKeS6KSYbNCvy3h0g

Wednesday 26 August

Using real-time data loggers and dashboards Glenn Hale, Researcher, Agriculture Victoria

• TIME: 3 – 4 pm (VIC, NSW, QLD), 2.30 pm (SA), 1 pm (WA)
• Please register via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d3YrVXiwSwiUol8SVpjo8g

Wednesday 2 September

Delayed cooling after harvest reduces storage disorders in white nectarine and peach John Lopresti, Researcher, Agriculture Victoria

• TIME: 3 – 4 pm (VIC, NSW, QLD), 2.30 pm (SA), 1 pm (WA)
• Please register via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i0avv4_eTxyJpYqAnLVHGQ

Wednesday 9 September

Are the fruit on your trees really ready to pick? Christine Frisina, Researcher, Agriculture Victoria

• TIME: 3 – 4 pm (VIC, NSW, QLD), 2.30 pm (SA), 1 pm (WA)
• Please register via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0PKfceYeSsy6SbV5N8SF6Q

A new weekly phone hook-up, The Corner Post, gives farmers in the North East the opportunity to discuss local farm management issues and agricultural recovery with technical specialists.

The Corner Post sessions will run for about 30 minutes on Tuesday nights from 7.30 pm, and will be held via phone hook-ups, making it easy and accessible for farmers across the region.

Dates and issues covered include:

• 4 August: Soil fertility and pasture production with Ian Gamble, Greg Bekker, Land Management Officers, Agriculture Victoria
• 11 August:  Beef market outlook with Simon Quilty, Market Analyst, Global Agri Trends
• 18 August: Business and financial planning with Jim Moll, Rural Financial Counsellor, Agbiz Assist
• 25 August: Season outlook with Graeme Anderson, Specialist, Climate Capability, Agriculture Victoria

When and how:

Tuesdays, 7.30 – 8 pm (or longer, depending on discussions)
Call (02) 9037 0069 Use PIN code 166 131 8057. Followed by ## to join.

For more information, contact Agriculture Recovery Manager Kylie Macreadie at kylie.macreadie@agriculture.vic.gov.au or call 0428 975 728.

Adriana Robaina, Farm Business Economist, Agriculture Victoria

Handing over land for someone else to manage can be a worry for some property owners.

All that work you put into land management and development, including fencing, can lead to concerns about how well your asset will be looked after.

Risks also exist for the lessee. While everyone involved in the leasing arrangement might start with the best of intentions, circumstances can change and unplanned events can occur, suddenly resulting in assumptions and expectations that differ.

An On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant is available to support property owners to develop a lease agreement, including the cost of lawyers, accountants or other advisors.

These professional services can assist with a legal lease agreement that protects the interests of both parties, including facilitating discussions that achieve a clear understanding of how issues will be resolved and who is responsible for what.
Items to consider include:

• The term of the lease
• Who is responsible for repairs or maintenance and how this will be organised?
• What type of repairs will be considered urgent and how they will be dealt with in a timely manner?
• Requirements for minimal fertiliser or lime applications, and how this will be demonstrated
• Any pasture resowing, how often and who will be responsible for this
• Limits on stocking rates
• Any restrictions on sub-letting or agistment.

Each party needs to seek advice and confirmation about legal obligations, what insurance they might need and any other issues that may raise doubts. For example, is roadside grazing of livestock permitted?

Then of course there’s the big question of negotiating the cost of the lease, and how any cost sharing might influence the final price.

Other questions include does the lease include an option to buy the land at the end? And what happens if the land is sold during the term of the lease?

The On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant has increased from $5,000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services while still enabling them to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.

Eligible farm businesses can now apply for:

• Up to $5000 for business decision-making activities (with no co-contribution required)
• Up to $5000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required).

Eligible business decision-making activities are those that will help farmers make decisions about how to manage drought conditions, reposition the farm business, improve on-farm practices or make a significant farm business change.

Apply soon to avoid missing out, this grant will close on 28 August 2020.

For more information about the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant and to apply, contact Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au.

For more information about available drought support visit
agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

“This is a great step towards improving bee biosecurity standards across Australia which will help ensure the industry’s sustainability into the future.”

Plant Health Australia (PHA) CEO Sarah Corcoran said the course has also been refreshed to ensure it remains current and relevant.

“The course was updated by the PHA training team with advice and input from AHBIC, state bee biosecurity officers and other industry representatives,” said Sarah .

The course, which takes about 90 minutes to complete, covers:

• checking your hives for pests and diseases
• identifying exotic and established pests and diseases of honey bees
• taking action after finding a serious pest or disease in your hives
• minimising the impact of pests and diseases on your hives.

On successful completion of the course you receive a certificate which demonstrates compliance with the Australian Honey Bee Biosecurity Code of Practice.

Completing an approved pest and disease management course is a requirement of the Code for all beekeepers with 50 or more hives and this course is one way to meet that requirement.

Beekeepers can also speak to their local Bee Biosecurity Officer about alternative options .

The Biosecurity for Beekeepers course is delivered by PHA through funding from state and territory governments and AHBIC.

The original development of the course was funded by AgriFutures Australia.

For information on how to register for the course visit beeaware.org.au/training

Please direct enquires to media@phau.com.au

Do you want to improve your leadership skills?

The Victorian Rural Women’s Network (the Network) offers funded places for eligible Victorian-based rural women on highly regarded leadership and mentoring programs.

Funded places are available to Victorian-based rural women who are connected to agriculture or the agriculture supply chain.

• The Observership Program (six funded places in 2021)
• Regional Leadership (four funded places in 2021)
• Leadership Victoria (four funded places in 2021).

More information about the program and the application process is available online at the Victorian Rural Women’s Network.

Applications for the 2021 Science and Planning Graduate Program are now open.

The development program is open to recent graduates with science-based qualifications including, environmental science, agricultural science, natural resource management and planning.

A unique learning opportunity for graduates, the two-year training program allows for rotating placements across regional and metro Victoria. Mixing field and policy work, research and community engagement, the program has supported more than 250 participants over the last 20 years.

Visit the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions website for more information: djpr.vic.gov.au/about-us/careers/employment-programs/science-graduate-program

The latest edition of the Victorian Gorse Taskforce’s newsletter, Gorse Talk is now available online.

You can catch up with all the taskforce’s news in their July edition here.

Featuring an article about a Virtual Demonstration Field Day, the taskforce has produced a series of five videos for landholders.

Topics include gorse and the farm, gorse and fire, gorse and the science, gorse and feral animal, and gorse and property values.

The videos can be viewed on the VGT website

The much anticipated Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and BioCollect training will now be delivered via a series of free webinars.

When:                Second week of August to third week of September 2020
Format:              Four on-line webinars. There will be several options to attend all modules
Facilitators:       Peter Brenton and Matilda Stevenson from the CSIRO.

The training is being provided in an interactive train-the-trainer format and is not being offered to everyone in the first instance. The expectation is for people trained in these sessions to deliver training and user support within their local communities.

Selection criteria

Preference will be given according to the following criteria:

a) Occupy a volunteer or professional role which would enable them to deliver training to community members

b) Have the capacity to deliver training and provide support to community members within areas of Victoria affected by serrated tussock or gorse

c) Have at least a basic to moderate experience in computers and web-based applications.

Course Outline

Module Duration Date and time

1 – Preparation and Overview  2 hr 00 min TBA
2 – Creating Projects and Surveys 2 hr 45 min TBA
3 – Sites, Data and Membership 2 hr 45 min TBA
4 – Everything else 2 hr 45 min TBA

Application form

If you would like to take part please follow the link to complete the application https://forms.gle/oCvHQC5e6SZuxfPCA

Further opportunities

Once the initial train-the-trainer course is complete, participants can apply for a $500 grant to assist in delivering an on-ground training workshop in their community.

About Atlas of Living Australia and BioCollect

The Atlas of Living Australia is Australia’s national biodiversity database and  is the largest mapping database of invasive species in Australia. BioCollect is a field data collection tool in which users can freely set up and collect data for their own projects, as well as enabling data to be easily copied into the ALA and be made accessible to others who need to use it.

This project is coordinated by the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) with support from the Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT).

GrazFert is a farm nutrient management program that enables livestock farmers to make better fertiliser decisions.

This program is available to farmers in the Boorhaman, Springhurst, Rutherglen, Chiltern and Indigo Valley districts.

It provides an opportunity for farmers to access independent support and advice to optimise their soil management with information on interpreting soil tests, minimising nutrient losses, reducing soil acidity and maximising the economic returns from fertiliser and lime inputs.

What’s involved?

• Farm visit to collect two soil samples to assess a range of soil parameters including nutrients, pH and cation-exchange capacity
• Attendance at two local workshops focused on soil test interpretation and nutrient budgeting
• Preparation of a nutrient management plan by Agriculture Victoria staff.

To learn more about the GrazFert program, check out the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qr7N_UYTsw

Cost:

• $150 for each farm business (maximum of 12 farm businesses/program).

Dates:

• Soil sampling – commences late August
• Workshop 1: Soil test interpretation – October
• Workshop 2: Nutrient budgeting – December

Location:

• Local workshop venue to be confirmed.

Registrations:

Please register your interest by Friday 21 August by contacting Ian Gamble, Agriculture Victoria, Rutherglen on 0437 362 620 or email ian.gamble@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

This project is supported by North East CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare program and Agriculture Victoria.

Hunters are encouraged to refresh their knowledge of the terms and conditions of the bounty to ensure what they submit is acceptable.

Participants can submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and entire wild dog body parts for a $120 reward during scheduled collection times.

2020 Ovens collections (fox and wild dog)

Address: 5338 Great Alpine Rd, Ovens
Collection type: Fox and wild dog
Time: 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Dates:

• Tuesday, 18 August 
• Tuesday, 15 September 
• Tuesday, 13 October 
• Tuesday, 10 November 

2020 Mansfield collections (fox and wild dog)

Address: Depot, 128 Highett St, Mansfield
Collection type: Fox and wild dog
Time: 2pm – 4pm

Dates:

• Wednesday, 19 August 
• Wednesday, 16 September 
• Wednesday, 14 October 
• Wednesday, 11 November 

2020 Wodonga collections (fox and wild dog)

Address: 14 Moorefield Park Drive, Wodonga
Collection type: Fox and wild dog
Time: 9am – 11am

Dates:

• Tuesday, 18 August 
• Tuesday, 15 September 
• Tuesday, 13 October
• Tuesday, 13 October

For more information go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty

The bounty collection schedule is subject to change. Please check the Agriculture Victoria website for the latest information.

An opportunity exists to participate in an on-farm digital technology audit conducted by phone by Agriculture Victoria, to understand the technology you already have available on-farm and how you can improve its efficiency.

Participants will be asked to identify what type of internet connectivity they have, where they have access to WiFi and how they use technology on their farm.

Participants will have time to prepare for the audit and will receive a property map and report of results.

REGISTRATION

To register for the audit please book a time at https://bit.ly/2VbBXBK

Contact: If you need help registering or would like more information please contact Andy Clark at Agriculture Victoria on 0436 804 656 or andy.clark@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support call 136 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

This project is supported by the 2019–20 Drought Support Package.

Preference will be given to participants from Central and East Gippsland, the GMID and the Millewa region of North-West Victoria.

Applications are now open for the Nuffield Farming Scholarship for a Victorian dairy farmer.

The scholarship, sponsored by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation and Nuffield Australia, provides a chance for the successful applicant to travel and investigate their field of interest. It is open to applicants between the age of 28–45 years.

Further details on the program is available at on the Gardiner Foundation website. Applications close on 11 September.

Information on the full 2021 Nuffield Scholarship Program is available at https://www.nuffield.com.au/

Young Farmers of Victoria – this is your network to talk about farm business management with other like-minded young farmers through social media, articles, online and face to face forums.

Click here to join and learn more about the Young Farmer Business Network Facebook group.

Producers in fire-affected regions can access up to three free one-on-one Back to Business sessions with a local farm management consultant to help put their business back on track.

All red-meat producers, including sheep, cattle and goat, who have been affected by the recent bushfires are eligible to apply.

The Back to Business program in Victoria is being coordinated by Agriculture Victoria. For more information or to register, contact:

• Lyndon Kubeil on 0418 532 085 or at lyndon.kubeil@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• Jo Cameron on 0419 832 704 or at jo.cameron@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• MLA at backtobusiness@mla.com.au

Online registration is also available here.

For more info visit mla.com.au/bushfire-recovery.

The new $10,000 Small Business Bushfire Support Grants are open.

• it's easy to apply
• you aren't required to upload any financial documents if you don't have them right now
• you can apply if your business was indirectly affected by the bushfires

The grant is available for small businesses and primary producers in East Gippsland, Towong, Alpine, Indigo, Wangaratta, Mansfield and Wellington shires who have experienced significant income loss as a result the 2019–20 bushfires.

Eligible activities include meeting standard business costs, seeking financial advice, adjusting the business to be viable in the changed local context following bushfire and improvements to make the business more resilient to future disasters.

The grants are available to eligible small businesses that have suffered a decline in revenue of 40 per cent or more in a relevant three-month period.

Businesses can apply for this grant in addition to other bushfire grants.

For more information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

Find out more at www.vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery-victoria

Concessional loans of up to $500,000 are available to support small business, primary producers and non-profit organisations impacted by the Victorian bushfires that began on 21 November 2019.

The loans are for restoring and/or replacing damaged assets and/or to meet working capital expenses.

They are available for eligible wine grape growers in Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Indigo, Mansfield, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga.

For further information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

Grants of up to $75,000 to assist primary producers directly affected by the 2019–2020 bushfire with recovery costs. Eligible activities include rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure, including fencing and trellises.

Wine grape growers who are located in eligible fire affected local government areas and have had crops affected by smoke taint may be able to claim for costs associated with the salvage, harvest and disposal of the smoke taint affected crops. Where no fire has occurred on the property, evidence of smoke impact, such as smoke taint testing results are required.

Available in eligible fire affected local government areas across Victoria. In the areas of Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Indigo, Mansfield, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga, and the alpine areas of Falls Creek, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Mount Stirling.

For further information contact Rural Finance 1800 260 425 or www.ruralfinance.com.au.

The Victorian Government’s Household Financial Relief Program delivered by the CWA and the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant  all close on 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

The CWA of Victoria’s Household Financial Relief program has been provided a funding boost by the Victorian Government for the provision of household financial relief

The program can provide up to $3000 to eligible farming families, farm workers and farm dependent contractors to reimburse them for household expenses like school costs, utilities, food and medical bills.

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

For more about the program and other available drought support visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

For anyone seeking a copy of the application form or requiring assistance to complete the application, please contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email the CWA on drought@cwaofvic.org.au

The maximum value of the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants has increased from $5,000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services whilst still enabling farmers to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.

Eligible farm businesses can now apply for:

• up to $5000 for business decision making activities (with no-contribution required)
• up to $5000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required).

There are three new eligible infrastructure investments under the resilience grants:

• technologies to improve mobile phone connectivity
• weed control (e.g. purchase of registered herbicide)
• soil moisture probes (as an explicit investment under soil moisture monitoring activities).

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended

For more information and to access the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants program, call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au.

Farmers are encouraged to apply early to ensure they do not miss out on funding.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

Want to know more about improving your digital literacy and connectivity? Need confidence to access technology to improve your on-farm decision making?

CONNECTIVITY WEBINARS

Join extensionAUS and Agriculture Victoria for a series of webinars which will provide a unique opportunity for you to address on-farm connectivity issues and help you to understand available digital technology - how to measure it and how to make it work as best as possible for you and your business.

WEBINAR DATES AND TIMES

Webinar 3 – Internet of Things (IoT)
Tuesday 4 August
1.30 – 2.30 pm
Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89327853496

Webinar 4 – Online networking to better communicate on-farm and service farm businesses
Tuesday 11 August
1.30 – 2.30 pm
Register or join at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84433966881

Contact: If you need help registering please contact
Gavin Beever, Cumbre Consultants on 0438 234 886 or gavin@cumbre.com.au

This project is supported by the 2019–20 Drought Support Package.

Preference will be given to participants from Central and East Gippsland, the GMID and the Millewa region of North-West Victoria.

Farmers and dairy communities

Learn how three farmers are bridging the rural-urban divide and building community on social media, plus practical tips and advice for getting the most out of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Featuring:

• Adam Jenkins, farmer and rural advocate
• Dianne Bowles, dairy farmer and co-founder of the 'Show some #dairylove' Facebook group
• Peter Vallance, Mallee cattle and cropping farmer with an international following on TikTok

Webinar details

• Date: Thursday 6 August
• Where: via ZOOM
• Time: 7.30 - 8.30 pm
• RSVP here: https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/events-calendar/event?sfid=7016F000002XgaiQAC

Steep hills and slopes provide a challenge to farmers in terms of access, rehabilitation, productivity and managing livestock access, particularly in wet seasons.

Agriculture Victoria invites you to join our panel of aerial land management specialists in a webinar to discuss the big issues in aerial agriculture, including how to rehabilitate, manage and improve productivity on steep hill country.

Presenters include agronomist Graham Martin, helicopter pilot Hugh Acton-Adams, drone operator Garth Short and beef producer Rob Bulle.

DATE AND TIME

Wednesday 12 August, 7 –  8 pm

REGISTRATION

Register online at:
https://aerial_agriculture.eventbrite.com.au

Details for joining the session (online or phone) will be provided via email after registering.

A recording of this event will be available afterwards.

For further information, contact Greg Ferrier, Agriculture Victoria on 0438 738 634 or greg.ferrier@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria’s beef and sheep networks’ winter/spring webinar series is on again with expert presenters helping farmers answer all the challenging questions to get them through the next few months.

Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Tess McDougall said this series is aimed at decision-making with a focus on managing pastures, conserving fodder and livestock health and nutrition.

“Producers can join the afternoon sessions via their phone and/or computer, tablet or smartphone.

“They are easy to join and provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues with our presenters,” she said.

“Each webinar will be recorded if you can’t attend, so please register to receive a copy of the recording via email.”

Webinar 1: Animal health and nutrition (13 August, 12.30 –1.30 pm)

• Learn more about animal nutrition, trace mineral deficiencies, winter/early spring feed budgeting and livestock health issues to watch out for.
• Presented by Dr Jeff Cave, District Veterinary Officer and Nick Linden, Sheep Industry Development Officer.
• Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841172010

Webinar 2: Fodder conservation (3 September, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

• This webinar will explore questions such as how much is conserving fodder really costing me? How much of my farm should I cut and how can I produce high quality hay and silage this spring?
• Presented by Michele Jolliffe, Dairy Extension Officer and Claire Waterman Farm Business Economist.
• Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841535096

Webinar 3: Spring pasture (17 September, 12.30 – 1.30 pm)

• Discussion will focus on what nutrients need to be replaced after fodder conservation, the importance of tillering and key grazing management practices for a successful spring.
• Presented by Fiona Baker, Beef Extension Officer.
• Register at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/113841709618

For further information or if you have trouble registering contact Tess McDougall 0409 841 492 or tess.mcdougall@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Grassland Society of Southern Australia is running its 61st Annual Conference - Growing with grasslands.

DATE: Wednesday evenings until 19 August

TIME: 7.30 – 9.30 pm AEST

We invite you to join us for the 61st Annual Conference – and our first ever virtual conference. It will take place online via ZOOM from 7.30 – 9.30 pm AEST every Wednesday evening for five weeks.

Find out more at www.grasslands.org.au

The Rural Press Club of Victoria has extended the entry deadline for its 2020 Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards, until next Friday 7 August.

This year's awards have increased prize money to recognise the best work across the state. Winners will be announced on Thursday 27 August.

This year has been challenging for regional journalists and photographers, with many publications reducing or stopping coverage.

To reflect the challenges this year has brought, RPCV award category winners will receive $500 and a trophy, while winners of the overall awards including Journalist of the Year, Photographer of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year will each receive $1,000 and a trophy.

The awards are open to all journalists, photographers and media outlets in Victoria and Tasmania. Journalists and photographers.

To enter the awards, you need to be a member of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. You can sign up for membership and enter the awards on the club’s new website ruralpressclubvictoria.com.au

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