In this edition

Latest news

• Summer weeds are flourishing in the south west
• Upcoming webinar: Climate change and the implications for water and Mallee horticulture

Events

• Upcoming south west Victoria drought support events program
• Upcoming technical events with Agriculture Victoria

Support

• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Rural Financial Counselling Service

Tools, tips and programs

• Regional Investment Corporation (RIC): webinar recording
• AgVic Talk Season 9: Adapting to the seasons
• Act on farm water planning
• Farm Fitness Checklist
• My Climate View
• Vic Hub: Drought and Innovation

Resources for tackling tough times

• Dry seasonal conditions technical information and decision-making support
• Farm Household Allowance
• Regional Investment Corporation
• National Centre for Farmer Health
• Managing the stress on the farm
• Health and personal wellbeing
• Farm Business Resilience Program

While summer rain is helpful for pasture and crop growth, it also promotes the growth of toxic weeds.

Heliotrope, also known as potato weed, is one of the toxic weeds germinating following recent and sporadic rain in the south west.

Agriculture Victoria Meat and Wool Livestock Industry Development Officer Dr Hannah Manning said these plants flourish in degraded pastures after summer rain so the conditions have been perfect for weed growth.

'Heliotrope contains a toxin known as pyrrolizidine alkaloid that damages livestock’s’ liver, which is also the same toxin that is found in Paterson’s curse,’ Dr Manning said.

The control of heliotrope involves using a combination of pasture management, grazing management, cultivation, and chemical control.

Consult your pasture agronomist for advice.

READ THE ARTICLE IN FULL HERE

LEARN MORE HERE

Climate change is a critical issue facing irrigated horticulture in the Victorian Mallee, with increasing temperatures and a water constrained environment posing major threats.

In recognising the critical importance of maintaining productive and sustainable horticultural industries, the Mallee CMA commissioned this study, with Agriculture Victoria providing project management.

The initial phases of this project looked at modelling the effect of a changing climate on the production of seven horticultural crops (almond, avocado, wine grapes, table grapes, dried vine fruit, citrus and pistachio).

The final phases considered project water requirements of these crops under future climate scenarios.

In this webinar (26 March) Jeremy Giddings will summarise the findings of both phases of the project and how the results could be used by industry and government.

REGISTER TODAY

LEARN MORE HERE

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Upcoming technical events with Agriculture Victoria

Agriculture Victoria regularly hosts and sponsors technical events. Events are delivered by both AgVic technical experts as well as external stakeholders.

To stay up to date with future events visit the Agriculture Victoria events page.

Webinar: Climate change and the implications for water and Mallee horticulture

• Online, 26 March

Better pasture management: manipulate or renovate?

• Beeac, 26 March

Myth busting the seasonal outlook with Dale Grey (in south west Victoria)

• Online, 27 March

Farm water planning workshop

• Fiskville, 27 March

Getting the dirt on carbon: identify and understand the problem

• Colac, 28 March

Drought feeding: nutrition basics in tough times with Dr Jillian Kelly at:

• Casterton, 1 April (AM)
• Hamilton, 1 April (PM)
• Penshurst, 2 April (AM)
• Mortlake, 2 April (PM)
• Beaufort, 3 April

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Taking care of yourself in tough times is as important as taking care of the farm.  Along with family and friends, there are wellbeing and mental health services available in the community to help you manage stress, including:​

• National Centre for Farmer Health
• Flying Doctor Wellbeing
• RFCS Victoria West wellbeing support ​

See below for a full list of mental health and wellbeing contacts.

Take time to take care of yourself.

Do you know the Rural Financial Counselling Service offers a free and independent service to farmers?​

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, they can help to assess your financial situation, identify options, negotiate with lenders/creditors and access available support programs. ​

To speak to a rural financial counsellor today call 1300 771 741.​

Find out more at rfcsnetwork.com.au

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Did you miss the recent 'RIC Ready' webinar?

A replay is now available where they answer your questions about the key eligibility requirements, benefits and features of RIC loans, plus how to apply.

The webinar recording features RIC Agri Lending Manager Mitch Adermann, David Stanton from Rural Business Support and Malcolm Rowe from RFCS Victoria West.

Watch the replay here.

The latest AgVic Talk season: Adapting to the seasons explores the resources, practices and tools available to help improve your farm business, prepare for dry seasonal conditions and our changing climate.

Farming is rewarding, but it can also be challenging, and no two stories or businesses are the same. We can all learn from each other and set a plan for success.

To listen to all available episodes of Season 9 visit Ag Vic Talk.

With below average rainfall leading to unusually low water levels in many farm dams, a timely reminder to continue monitoring water use, regularly check on-farm water supply levels and keep your farm water budget up to date as we head into the summer months.

Agriculture Victoria has information and tools available to help assess your stock water supply and calculate how long your water will last, including:

• DAMDEEP, a practical tool for measuring the depth of water you have in storage
• Farm Water Calculator
• Summer Water Calculator.

The Farm Fitness Checklist helps you to assess where your farm business is at and identify areas and opportunities for strengthening your business.

Subjects include people management, skills and training, business planning and financial performance, emergency management, infrastructure, water supply, natural resource management, risk management, succession planning, off-farm activities and more.

Download a copy of the Farm Fitness Checklist today and learn more about how the Farm Business Resilience Program can help you strengthen your farm fitness.

The My Climate View tool helps farmers understand the historical, seasonal and future climate at their location to help them make informed decisions for their farm business.

It provides farmers with historical data (1961-2021), seasonal forecasts (1-3 months) as well as future climate projections based on the 15 years before and after 2030, 2050 and 2070, for a given location.

Vic Hub – the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub – represents a comprehensive approach to enhancing economic, environmental and social resilience to drought in order to create innovative and profitable sectors, sustainable and functioning landscapes, and resourceful and adaptable communities.

The Victorian hub is led by the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus in association with Deakin University, La Trobe University, Federation University, and Agriculture Victoria.

Learn more about Vic Hub.

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Agriculture Victoria is working with Victorian farmers to deliver technical information and decision-making support to make informed decisions for managing dry seasonal conditions.

Topics include:

• drought planning
• assessing pasture 
• measuring feed on offer
• stock containment areas
• tools for making feed rations
• assessing livestock health
• monitoring and managing farm water supplies.

Farmers are encouraged to contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

For more information on dry seasonal conditions support visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

Farmers in financial hardship may be eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s Farm Household Allowance (FHA), a fortnightly payment available for up to four years in a specific 10-year period. 

More information on the Farm Household Allowance is available at Services Australia or by contacting the Farmer Assistance Hotline on 132 316.

A rural financial counsellor can help farmers to understand eligibility and apply for the FHA.

Farmers may be able to access low-interest loans through the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Investment Corporation (RIC).  A RIC loan is a partnership between the farm business, a commercial lender and the Regional Investment Corporation. Available loans include the Farm Investment Loan and the Drought Loan.

More information about low-interest RIC loans, the application process, eligibility, and terms and conditions are available from the Regional Investment Corporation by calling 1800 875 675, emailing info@ric.gov.au or visiting their website.

The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) is committed to supporting primary producers whose properties, livestock or crops were damaged or lost in the floods and storms. There are a number of resources available on the NCFH website to support farmer health, wellbeing and safety.

Managing stress on the farm

Click to read or download this Managing Stress on the Farm book from the National Centre for Farmer Health website. You can also request free hard copies from the website.

It is normal to have strong reactions following a distressing or frightening event and people can experience a range of physical, mental, emotional and behavioural reactions.

There are a number of support services available (listed below) to assist you and your family recover from the strong emotional or physical reactions you may be experiencing.

Are you concerned about your own mental health? Reach out to Lifeline for a safe place to talk on 13 11 14.

Other available support includes:

• Your doctor or local community health centre
• A counsellor or psychologist
• Parentline 13 22 89
• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
• Nurse-On-Call 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Australian Psychological Society Referral Service 1800 333 497.

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The Farm Business Resilience (FBR) Program is supporting farmers to develop knowledge and skills to improve their farm business and manage the impacts of a changing climate.

The program supports farmers to improve skills and management practices around 4 key areas:

• Business planning and risk management
• Farm finances and profitable decision making
• Managing people on farm, farm safety and wellbeing
• Climate adaptation and natural resource management including soil, water, crops and pastures.

The FBR Program has supported farmers in developing 913 farm business plans and engaged 2338 farmers in intensive training activities.

More information about the FBR program is available at agriculture.vic.gov.au/FBRP .

Information about upcoming FBR events is regularly posted on the Agriculture Victoria website.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund.

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