As the Victorian State election will be held on Saturday 26 November 2022, the Victorian Government has assumed a caretaker role from 6.00 pm on 1 November 2022.

During the caretaker period, content will only be added to this e-newsletter in accordance with the caretaker conventions.

• Flood information
• Increased risk of Japanese encephalitis
• Has your horticultural property been impacted by flood waters?
• Financial support for flood-affected farmers
• Practical tips: what to do after a flood
• Are you taking care of yourself?
• Rural Financial Counselling Service
• Managing mastitis in wet, muddy conditions
• Livestock Biosecurity Grants Fund Program
• Free biosecurity learning modules for farmers
• 2023 Victorian and Tasmanian Crop Sowing Guide
• What's on?

Flooding and heavy rainfall have increased the risk of a range of mosquito-borne diseases in Victoria, including Japanese encephalitis (JE).

JE can cause illness in susceptible animal species including horses and pigs.

In pigs, the most common clinical signs are mummified and stillborn or weak piglets while horses usually show no signs of illness but can present with fever, jaundice, lethargy, neurological signs and anorexia.

For mosquito control advice visit the Farm Biosecurity website.

For more information about protecting yourself from JE, please follow the Victorian Department of Health or visit Better Health.

Please call 1800 226 226 to report flood loss and damage or for urgent animal welfare needs.

For more information visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Further information is available on the Horticultural Industry Network website ‘Recovering from Extreme Events’.

Additional resources for flood-impacted growers are available at the Food Authority Fresh Produce Safety Centre.

A support package is available for flood-affected farmers:

• Primary Producer Recovery Grants: Up to $75,000 grants to cover the cost of recovery  and get businesses up and running again. Note: This replaces the $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up, Relief Grants announced on 19 October. Producers that have received a Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up Relief Grant of $10,000 can now apply for up to a further $65,000 under the Primary Producer Recovery Grant, bringing the total to $75,000.
• Rural Landholder Grants: Up to $25,000 grants to cover the costs of disaster impacts for small-scale producers.
• Primary Producer Concessional Loans: Up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, or to cover the short-term business expenses.
• Primary Producer Transport Subsidies: Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.

To apply for support or for more information, visit the Rural Finance website. 

We are urging flood-affected farmers to report their losses and damages by calling 1800 226 226.  

Remember, if you have urgent animal welfare needs call the VicEmergency Hotline (operating 24/7) on 1800 226 226.

Go to our website for a range of practical flood recovery information for farmers, and helpful information on what to do immediately after a flood, including the following: Managing animals in wet conditions and floods resource directory. 

Recent webinar recordings:

• Flood recovery: Feed budgeting - with Fiona Baker, AgVic. Passcode: Livestock
• Flood recovery: Animal health – with Dr Rachel Gibney, AgVic. Passcode: Livestock
• Cash flow budgeting – with Carmen Quade, AgriFocused. Passcode: CASHFLOW

During an emergency, people tend to exist in a survival state to get through the incident, using up considerable emotional reserves. 

If you’ve been working hard for long periods, missing meals and sleep, take some time to take care of yourself.

Recognise the signs of stress and reach out for support if you need it.

For a comprehensive list of health support agencies, CLICK HERE

Richard Smith, Dairy Industry Development Officer

With the muddy conditions from the floods and the ongoing wet conditions, producers need to be aware of an increased risk of mastitis in their cows.

Agriculture Victoria Dairy Industry Development Officer Richard Smith said cows standing in wet paddocks and moving through muddy and damaged laneways have an increased risk of mastitis.

“There are a number of simple things farmers can do to manage the risk of mastitis developing in their cows, including maintaining good hand hygiene when milking and ensuring teats are clean before and after milking.”

Mr Smith said adopting the following simple practices will assist farmers in managing the risk of mastitis developing and spreading in the current conditions:

Wash and dry all teats before cups go on.

• Use a low-pressure, high-volume water supply combined with manual cleaning
• Ensure milkers wear gloves
• Dry with paper towels.

Strip cows every day to detect, treat and isolate clinical cases.

• Make daily quarter stripping a routine
• Always wear gloves and avoid getting milk on your hands
• Check clinical cases at next milking.

Cover all surfaces of all four teats with teat disinfectant. Healthier skin is easier to keep clean.

• Try and keep teats clean for at least an hour after the cows leave the milking shed
• Keep the area immediately outside the dairy exit as clean as possible
• Have feed available when cows leave the shed. This could be on a feed pad. Ensure this area can be scraped to reduce mud and manure build up.

Talk to your milk quality adviser, veterinarian or dairy factory field officer to adapt these steps to your farm situation.

More information on managing and treating mastitis is available on the Dairy Australia website.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) has an experienced team ready to assist primary producers and small rural businesses in recovery planning.

Additional funding has been made available for these services as a result of the floods, and the significant impact on the agricultural sector.

Financial counsellors can help develop financial forecasts and business plans required for lenders or investors, plus connect with support agencies and services.

RFCS provides free financial counselling to farmers and small related businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can also assist with filling in forms and grant applications.

For more information or to book an appointment find your nearest  RFCS HERE

There’s still time to apply for our Livestock Biosecurity Funds Grant Program.

Victoria’s Livestock Compensation Committees are seeking projects that boost biosecurity for the cattle, sheep and goat, swine and honey bee industries.

Applications close Friday 23 December.

Discover more HERE

Farmers across Victoria will benefit from a series of free online learning modules, helping them protect their animals from diseases and biosecurity threats.

Available through Agriculture Victoria’s website, the three learning modules have been released: foot and mouth disease awareness, lumpy skin disease awareness and Come clean, stay clean, go clean – when visiting farms.

Each module should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

For further information about the online learning modules CLICK HERE

The 2023 Victorian and Tasmanian Crop Sowing Guide is now available for download from GRDC's website to help growers decide the best crop variety for their situation.

Every year, in conjunction with Agriculture Victoria, GRDC develops this guide providing information on current varieties of the major winter cereal and pulse crops for Victorian growers.

The guide is available for download HERE.

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.

Do you want to find more practical ways to reduce your electricity costs? We are hosting an online forum to explore practical measures for increasing energy productivity and reducing your electricity bill.

When: Wednesday 14 December

Time: 11.30 am

Where: Online

Energy expert David Coote will be presenting on energy saving opportunities and best use of solar and batteries and much more.

Please register here or contact Kelly Wickham for information on 0456 772 641 or kelly.wickham@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Register for these free webinars on the Sheep Connect website

Webinar: Feet concerns for the wet season ahead

When: Thursday 1 December

Where: Online via GoTo

Time: 1 – 2 pm

Webinar: Are your bugs bogging you down?

When: Thursday 8 December

Where: Online via GoTo

Time: 1 – 2 pm

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