Thursday 15 October 2026

International Day of Rural Women

On International Day of Rural Women, we’re celebrating the women driving change across rural and regional Victoria and encouraging applications for the 2027 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

Could you be Victoria’s next AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner?

Through the Rural Women’s Network we work in partnership with AgriFutures Australia to support the Award in Victoria and help develop and celebrate women leading change across our rural and regional communities.

Earlier this year, Victorian veterinarian Dr Becky Dickinson was named the 2026 Victorian winner for her work supporting early-career veterinarians entering rural practice. Through Veterinary Support Services, Becky is helping build the skills, confidence and long-term retention of vets working in rural communities.

The Victorian winner receives a $15,000 grant to help grow the impact of their project, business or program, along with professional development opportunities and access to a national alumni network.

If you’re a Victorian woman with an established initiative making a difference in agriculture, rural industries or regional communities, now is the time to apply.

Applications close Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Locust response - current situation

Community reports play a vital part in building up a picture of locust activity across the north west. 

If you have seen locusts, please report it via the online form: agriculture.vic.gov.au/reportlocusts 

Or if you can’t report online, then call 136 186 

Let us know: 

• location 
• date of sighting 
• how big the locusts are 
• if the locusts are flying 
• vegetation condition 
• your contact details, (to help us get in touch if we need further information.) 

Thank you to everyone who has already provided reports. The information is combined with data from our  field teams and the Australian Plague Locust Commission to build a picture of locust activity.  

A map of locust activity and information about locust management is available at agriculture.vic.gov.au/locusts 

H5 bird flu

H5 bird flu is present in wild birds in Victoria.

Every report helps us to understand where the H5 bird flu is in our state and monitor the spread.

Avoid. Record. Report. is a simple way you can help.

If you see sick or dead birds or wildlife:

• avoid direct contact
• record the exact location and what you observed
• report it online

We know people care deeply about wildlife and want to help when they see an animal in distress.

Injured wildlife may still need rescue and care. However, if a bird or wildlife appears sick or is found dead, avoid contact and report it so trained responders can assess the situation.

Your report could help detect disease early and support our wildlife.

Plan now for the fire season

Rural Assistance Commissioner, Peter Tuohey

With the outlook for an increased fire risk across parts of Victoria, farmers should be planning now for the upcoming season – and there is lots of information available to assist them.

Seasonal conditions to date have supported average to above average crop and pasture growth increasing vegetation on farmland across large areas of the state.

As we know, bushfire risk depends on many factors including weather and climate, fuel amount and availability, vegetation types, recent fire, and disturbance history.

With this in mind, farmers and rural landholders should be working now to manage the risk of bushfire on their properties.

It’s important to review your fire preparedness plan on an annual basis and again during periods of high fire risk.

Preparing your property ahead of the fire season, and having a good farm fire plan, can minimise impacts and enable a faster recovery.

Agriculture Victoria’s Fire Preparedness Toolkit provides a practical guide to reviewing your preparedness planning.

The toolkit contains checklists and templates to help you prepare.

It can help you map critical assets, water sources, assembly/evacuation points and stock refuge areas, as well as potential stock disposal sites in the event of fire.

Ensuring your Property Identification Codes (PICs) are up to date, is another thing you can do to help.

A recent farm fire preparedness webinar discussed the practical steps to take to protect your livestock, property, and farm business ahead of the fire season and heard insights from farmers who had been affected by the January fires. If you missed it view it online.

The toolkit is available on the Bushfires webpage and can be used in conjunction with resources from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and your local council.

You can also request a hard copy of the toolkit by emailing recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Biosecurity plans now essential for LPA accreditation

Richard Smith, Agriculture Victoria Dairy Industry Development Officer

Recent changes to the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program mean producers seeking accreditation or reaccreditation must now upload or create an On-farm Biosecurity Management Plan for each property linked to their LPA account.

A biosecurity management plan is a practical way to show how you are preventing pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants from entering your property and from spreading around or leaving your property.

This plan helps define your responsibilities, outlines the disease protocols for your property and ensures property information and biosecurity measures are quickly accessible when needed.

To assist in developing a plan several organisations have developed online templates ranging from industry specific to more general.

Depending on the template or tool you use, remember to tailor and adapt it to your individual situation and your specific biosecurity risks.

Producers should contact their industry peak body as they are often the best resource for accessing biosecurity planning information.

Information and biosecurity templates are available from:

• Agriculture Victoria: Farm biosecurity planning and templates ·
• Animal Health Australia: Property biosecurity management planning
• Integrity Systems – Livestock Production Assurance: Biosecurity plans can be completed through the LPA Learning module or by using the template at On-Farm Biosecurity Management

A biosecurity management plan should be a living document, that is reviewed and updated regularly, aligning with any changes to your property, management practices, land purchase or if a disease, pest, or weed outbreak occurs on your property.

Very Fast Break

The Very Fast Break seasonal climate update video clip for October is now available. 

We love to receive your feedback. If you have comments, questions or feedback, please contact Dale Grey at the.break@agriculture.vic.gov.au 

Drought support

As we move into the warmer months, support is still available for farmers across Victoria.   

Manage current conditions, access practical advice and plan ahead with more confidence with:   

• Rural Financial Counselling Service Wellbeing Counsellors - free, confidential wellbeing support alongside its usual financial and business counselling support.  

• Drought support events – workshops and events across the state supporting farmers in drought and recovery.   

To view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or phone 136 186.      

Bushfire recovery

Farmers impacted by the January 2026 bushfires: applications for financial support close Wednesday 21 October. 

• Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants of up to $75,000 to assist with clean-up and reinstating enterprises.  

• Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 for those who have experienced major asset damage or loss of income.  

Applications can be made at ruralfinance.com.au/grants  

What's On

Chemical use training for commercial beekeepers

When: 16 and 17 October, 9 am – 5 pm  
Where: Melbourne Polytechnic, Fairfield campus  

Do you own 20 or more registered beehives? Using chemicals to manage Varroa mite? Become accredited in safe chemical use through Melbourne Polytechnic.  

As part of this training program, you may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $200 for the cost of this course.   

For more information, email biosecurityservicescentre@agriculture.vic.gov.au 

PDS Updates Webinar: Focus on weighty weaners

When: Thursday 22 October, 12 noon
Where: online

Are your weaners reaching their growth potential?

Join Meat & Livestock Australia's next PDS Updates webinar to hear the latest findings from the Focus on Weighty Weaners project, which is helping East Gippsland beef producers improve post-weaning growth rates.

Learn how nutrition, feed quality, internal parasites and trace element deficiencies can influence performance, and hear practical strategies being used to achieve growth rates of more than 1kg/head/day.

Topics include:

• Year 1 benchmarking results from seven demonstration sites
• The link between nutrition and weaner growth
• Impacts of parasites and trace element deficiencies
• Producer experiences and key learnings
• Practical actions for your own enterprise

Speakers: Chelsea Hair (Herd Solutions), Jaz Maher and Amy Rogers (Producers)

Your legacy, their future: Success with succession planning

When: Thursday 29 October 9:30 am – 3 pm
Where: Longwood Community Centre, 2A Down Street, Longwood

Planning for the future of your farm business? Join us in Longwood for a free practical workshop designed to help farming families navigate succession planning with confidence.

Presented by Dr Kate Burke, the workshop will explore how effective succession planning can help:

• Protect your family legacy
• Maintain a viable business
• Grow and transfer wealth
• Strengthen family relationships across generations

Participants will develop a succession timeline and identify practical goals to support a successful transition.

☕ Morning tea and lunch provided

Places are limited and registration is essential.

Save the date - Wimmera Pulse Field Day

When: Wednesday 28 October from 8:30 am
Where: 75 Hemphills Road, Minyip

Gain practical insights into current research and how it can be used in on-farm decision making.  

Topics will include: 

• Pulse agronomy 
• Pulse breeding 
• Nutrition management 
• Nitrogen fixation research.

The morning will conclude with a BBQ lunch and an opportunity to network with fellow agronomists, researchers and industry representatives. 

This event is free however registrations are essential for catering purposes.  

Stock Sense - Gisborne fencing workshop

When: Friday 20 November,  9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Gisborne

Learn how to install practical new fencing and build confidence using the right tools, materials and techniques.

The workshop will also cover how to inspect, maintain and repair existing fences to extend their working life.

Participants will gain hands-on experience and practical tips that can be applied on their own properties.

Stock Sense will lead a discussion on the importance of biosecurity and best-practice measures to help protect your farm.

Exact location will be sent out closer to the date.

GRDC 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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