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Thursday 23 October 2025
Drought support available now
Farmers can access financial assistance and support today to help manage during drought.
Our website provides information on available support, including financial counselling, mental health and wellbeing services, and links to other organisations that can help.
You’ll also find practical tools, resources and information to help you plan and manage your feed, water and livestock needs.
Household Financial Relief Payments
Household Financial Relief Payments - much-needed cash flow during the tough times.
Drought-affected farmers, farming families, farm workers and farming contractors in Victoria’s south west are eligible to apply for payments of up to $1,000 to help with urgent household expenses.
Provided by The Country Women's Association of Victoria.
To apply for a payment, visit cwaofvic.org.au
Ag Vic Talk podcasts
Hear farmers across Victoria chat about the agriculture sector, like using Ag Tech on-farm and improving farm safety from the paddock to the kitchen table.
Farmers share their inspiring stories of managing the dynamic nature of farming, in droughts or recovering from fires and floods. Plus, much more.
Next time you’re out in the back paddock, driving the tractor, straining a fence, or harvesting a crop, put on a podcast that’s all about you.
Listen to AgVic Talk: https://go.vic.gov.au/3ElogqQ
Farm Drought Support Grants
Apply today for a Farm Drought Support Grant to support drought management activities including:
- Stock Containment Areas (SCA)
- Reticulated water systems
- Irrigation system upgrades
- Grain and fodder storage
- Internal re-fencing
- Feed system upgrades
- Pasture/crop restoration
- Water carting for livestock and essential business activities.
For program guidelines, a list of eligible drought management activities and to apply visit Rural Finance.
On-farm kangaroo control rebate program
Farmers impacted by kangaroos competing for pasture and crops can apply for the On-Farm Kangaroo Control Rebate program.
The program provides rebates for eligible farmers statewide who hold an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) to hire authorised professional harvesters who have accreditation from the Game Management Authority.
Eligible farmers across the state can access up to 3 rebates of $450 each (ex-GST) with a 25% co-contribution to help control kangaroos.
Consider distance when transporting livestock for processing
In Australia, livestock often travel many kilometres, in some cases even thousands of kilometres interstate for processing.
This long-distance travel often occurs where producers have long standing contracts that need to be fulfilled or species specific or specialised requirements that can only be met at a particular abattoir.
Agriculture Victoria District Veterinary Officer Cathy Bunter said where transport journeys are projected to be long it’s important to have animals well prepared for the journey in terms of their nutrition, hydration and heat management.
‘It is also essential for producers to introduce their livestock to water troughs prior so they can recognise and be able to drink from troughs both during and at the end of the journey,’ Dr Bunter said.
‘Shorter transport journeys for livestock have many benefits apart from the obvious lower transport costs.’
Dr Bunter said shorter transport distances reduce the risks of injury, disease and death. There is a substantial increase in livestock welfare incidents in stock travelling greater than 400km or undergoing journeys longer than 30 hours.
‘Producers and transporters are reminded the Land Transport Standards are nationally agreed mandatory animal welfare standards and guidelines developed cooperatively by the livestock industries and government.’
Anyone who is preparing livestock for transport or transporting livestock must follow these standards which can be found at Land Transport – Australian Animal Welfare
Dr Bunter said other motivations for shorter transport distances include better meat quality, because less stress means the meat is tenderer and consumer satisfaction is increased. The producer also benefits from heavier carcass results.
‘Regardless of the distance travelled, having animals better prepared to take the journey results in better animal welfare outcomes. This is especially important where livestock are still recovering from the prolonged impacts of drought.’
Is hay the best option for your crop this season?
The following tools can help farmers to make confident, data-driven decisions in the field.
Berries Australia drought support webinar
If you missed the Berries Australia Victorian drought support webinar, you can now watch the recording.
This practical session connects Victorian berry growers with the services, grants, and tools available to manage drought challenges.
Hear from experts at Agriculture Victoria, NexSolutions, Berries Australia Berry Industry Partner Netafim Australia & New Zealand, and Agribusiness Yarra Valley as they cover:
- drought support grants and financial assistance
- farm water management and budgeting tools
- advisory and counselling services for growers
- environmental stewardship planning.
Got chooks? Sign up for Poultry Post
Got chooks? Stay in the loop with Poultry Post.
Whether you keep one chicken or a whole flock, Poultry Post is your go-to newsletter for biosecurity tips, H5 bird flu updates, and expert advice to keep your birds safe.
Together, we can protect Australia’s poultry and wild bird populations.
Drive change: Be the next VGT Chair
The VGT is seeking a passionate and strategic leader to step into the role of Chair. This is a unique opportunity to guide the development of VGT’s new gorse strategy and help shape the future direction of community-led pest plant management across the state.
As Chair, you’ll work closely with landholders, community groups, and government partners to drive innovation, strengthen collaboration, and ensure gorse control efforts are effective and sustainable.
If you’re ready to make a lasting impact and lead the next chapter of VGT’s work, we encourage you to apply. Applications close 7 November 2025.
2024 Deer harvest report now available
The Game Management Authority has released the Estimates of the 2024 deer harvest in Victoria report.
Results show an estimated 167,600 deer were harvested in 2024. This is a 22% increase on the estimated 137,100 deer harvested in 2023 and an 83% increase on the long-term average (91,100).
Sambar deer were the most harvested species with an estimated harvest of 128,000 deer, of which 60% were female. Fallow deer were the second most harvested species, with an estimated harvest of 35,400 deer, of which 58% were female.
The number of licenced recreational deer hunters in 2024 was 52,098. The number of deer hunters in Victoria has remained relatively steady since 2023, when there were 52,321 licensed deer hunters.
Of the 52,098 licensed deer hunters, 50% actively hunted in 2024. On average, active deer hunters harvested an estimated 6.4 deer over 13.5 days.
The most popular hunting areas were around the towns of Mansfield, Bairnsdale, Omeo, Benalla and Eildon. The highest number of deer harvested were around the towns of Mansfield, Bairnsdale, Benalla, Yarram and Omeo.
Farm fire preparedness webinar
When: Monday 27 October, 7-8:15 pm
Join us for this webinar about farm fire preparedness.
Planning and preparing for the bushfire season includes identifying risks and undertaking tasks to prepare your farm well ahead of the season.
In this webinar, Agriculture Victoria’s Kylie Macreadie will discuss key preparedness activities, tools and templates to help you plan for the fire season.
RIC Webinar – Get ‘RIC Ready’ to apply for a low-cost farm business loan
When: Wednesday 29 October, 12-1 pm
Get ‘RIC Ready’ Webinar - an essential guide to help farm businesses, trusted advisers and interested stakeholders learn more about RIC loans. Join our free webinar to understand more about eligibility criteria before applying and what you need to know before you submit an application for an Australian Government low-cost loan delivered by RIC (Regional Investment Corporation).
Setting strategies for farm business success – Salisbury West
When: 30-31 October, 8:30 am - 3 pm
Where: Powlett Plains and District Community Centre, 1243 Wedderburn–Serpentine Road, Powlett Plains
This 2-day workshop led by Gavin Beever will examine aspects that help make an effective farm business strategy.
Agriculture Victoria’s Dale Grey will present on climate risk and natural resource management and Brendan Williams will lead a session on the latest in agricultural technology.
Carbon Farming Outreach Program webinar
When: Friday 7 November, 3-5 pm
Join Elise Bowen, a trusted expert in sheep production from Sheep Data Management, for a webinar focussing on practical implementation and use of eID data to boost farm productivity and reduce methane emissions.
A Victorian Carbon Farming Outreach Program event.
Bushfire Preparation Workshop
When: Saturday 8 November, 9:30 am - 1 pm
Where: Heritage Fruit Trees, Beaufort VIC (directions provided on booking)
Learn the measures that helped Heritage Fruit Trees defend their home and business during the February 2024 bushfire.
Practical tips on:
- Fire pumps and rooftop sprinklers
- Managing fuel loads
- Stay-or-go fire plans
- Preparing to support for firefighters
Bring a friend! Save $9.50 per person when booking in groups of 2+
Spaces are limited – book today! https://www.heritagefruittrees.com.au/bushfire.../
GRDC events
28 October, 7-8:30 pm, New Frontiers Grainstorming, online – Workshop 2
24-25 February, GRDC Grains Research Update – Bendigo
Visit grdc.com.au/events to learn more.
Birchip Cropping Group events
Visit www.bcg.org.au/events
Contacting Agriculture Victoria
Call 136 186 from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (except for mobiles and public telephones).
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service at 133 677 or visit the National Relay Service.
All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
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