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Thursday 12 March 2026
Bushfire recovery
Following a bushfire there is a lot to consider when it comes to caring for livestock and getting your farm back on track.
To assist in making decisions for your on-farm recovery, a range of practical technical information and advice is available on our website.
You can also speak to an Agriculture Recovery team member on 136 186 or by contacting recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Community events near you
We’ll be at several farm recovery events over the next couple of weeks to support farmers impacted by recent fires across the state.
Our staff will be on hand to talk through your recovery, including feeding livestock, looking after soils and managing farm water.
- Ruffy hub, 18 March, TBA
- Euroa hub, 19 March, 11 am – 2 pm
For support, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bushfires or email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants and Concessional Loans
Has your farm been impacted by recent bushfires?
You may be eligible for a recovery grant or a concessional loan to help with cleanup, restoration and rebuilding. A full list of eligible activities is included in the program guidelines.
Applications are open and will close at 4 pm on 21 October 2026.
Check your eligibility via Rural Finance www.ruralfinance.com.au or call them on 1800 260 425 with any questions.
If you need help working through what support you can get or how to apply, the Rural Financial Counselling Service is available at:
- Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria North East for farmers and small farm businesses.
- RFCS Victoria West | Home (Mildura and north western).
Victorian fox bounty resumes
The Victorian Fox Bounty resumes this week.
The bounty is currently funded to 30 June 2026 and reward payments remain at the increased rate of $14 per fox scalp.
To streamline the application process and ensure prompt electronic payment, participants are encouraged to create an online bounty account. Please note that cheque payments are no longer accepted.
The 2026 collection schedule across the state can be viewed on our website.
Please note: The Bendigo Collection centre has moved to a new location for 2026.
Conditions are ideal for flystrike
Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer
With the current weather conditions, sheep producers should be aware conditions are ideal for flystrike.
Flystrike is a condition that costs the Australian sheep industry approximately $320 million annually, because of lost production, treatment costs and deaths.
Reducing the risk of flystrike has great benefits to the health and wellbeing of sheep – as well as their productivity. The major fly responsible for flystrike in sheep in the green blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, which is believed to be the cause of 90% of flystrike cases.
Lucilia cuprina begins to become active when temperatures are above 15 °C and is most active when temperatures are between 26 °C and 36 °C and conditions are calm.
Each female fly can have up to 300 viable offspring and with a 21-day life cycle when conditions are optimal, fly numbers can increase rapidly. The fly is attracted to odour and moisture, so the risk of flystrike increases when there is regular consistent rainfall that keeps the sheep’s skin moist.
Sheep most susceptible to flystrike are those with breech wrinkles, long wool, dags, urine stain, fleece rot, dermatitis and/or wounds. Sheep that have been previously flystruck have a higher likelihood of being restruck.
The prevention of flystrike requires an integrated plan and includes the following:
- Selection of sheep and marking of lambs to produce a flock with low susceptibility to flystrike
- Shearing and crutching timed before the peak flystrike risk period
- Correct use of preventative chemicals timed to give protection during the peak flystrike risk period
- Worm control and dietary management to help reduce the prevalence of dags
- Selection of open, windy, dry paddocks
- Removal of infective material and carcasses that may attract flies.
As conditions become more conducive to flystrike, sheep should be monitored more regularly for flystrike.
If a flystruck sheep is found, the affected area should be clipped close to the skin and dressed to prevent reinfection, and the sheep should be moved to a hospital paddock to reduce the risk of infecting the rest of the flock. Any maggots should be collected and killed to help reduce the build-up of fly populations.
For further advice contact your local veterinarian, rural merchandise reseller or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.
Victoria cracks down further on aquatic pests
Caption: Picture of a NZ green lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus
To protect Victoria’s aquatic environment and industries, Agriculture Victoria has strengthened aquatic pest rules by declaring 14 new high‑risk species.
The declaration of these additional noxious aquatic species means people must not bring, keep, sell, transport or release these live species in Victoria’s protected waters.
The newly declared noxious aquatic species are:
Scientific name and common name
- Hemigrapsus takanoi Asian brush-clawed shore crab
- Hemigrapsus sanguineus Asian shore crab
- Charybdis japonica Asian paddle crab
- Eriocheir sinensis Chinese mitten crab
- Rhithropanopeus harrisii Harris’ mud crab
- Mytella strigata Charru mussel
- Perna canaliculus New Zealand green-lipped mussel
- Perna perna Brown mussel
- Perna viridis Asian green mussel
- Didemnum vexillum Carpet sea squirt
- Didemnum perlucidum White sea squirt
- Corbicula fluminea (freshwater) Freshwater golden clam
- Dreissena polymorpha (freshwater) Zebra mussel
- Didymosphenia geminata (freshwater) Didymo
For more information and identification guides, visit Marine pests or call the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186, Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm.
WorkSafe Vehicle Safety
Wearing your seatbelt and helmet means you can be there for your family.
Victorian Food Safety Standards - have you registered?
To help growers comply with the new food safety standards for berries, leafy vegetables, and melons, Agriculture Victoria has created a step-by-step Food Safety Registration Guide.
Under the Food (Primary Production and Processing) Regulations 2025 registration with Agriculture Victoria is a legal requirement for all Victorian leafy vegetable, berry, and melon businesses.
If you have any questions, please contact food.safety@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Drought Support
Wellbeing counsellors
Wellbeing counsellors work hand in hand with experienced financial counsellors to ensure that your mental health receives as much attention as your bottom line.
Providing practical strategies and helping you to tailor them to your specific circumstances, across the north and south west.
Wellbeing counsellors can visit you at your property or talk over the phone to assist with:
✔ managing stress
✔ building resilience for tough times
✔ balancing work and life with practical tools
✔ getting support for big decisions and life changes.
To speak to a Wellbeing Counsellor call 1300 771 741.
Find out more at Rural Financial Counselling Network.
For further drought support visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Drought Farm Advisory Service
Farmers from across the state have access to 2 Farm 1-on-1 consultations with a technical specialist.
Specialist consultants include agronomists, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, business advisors and farm planners, with expertise across dairy, beef, sheep and wool, horticulture and cropping.
For further drought support visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
What can I use a Farm Drought Support Grant for?
Use a Farm Drought Support Grant to make on-farm infrastructure upgrades and improvements such as grain feeders, troughs, pasture restoration, stock containment areas, and more.
$5,000 as a co-contribution grant is available state wide.
In case you missed it...
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan review submissions close 1 May. Go to 2026 Basin Plan Review: Have Your Say - MDBA to lodge yours.
- Protect your dam with a burnt netting
- Livestock tag prices lowest in Australia
- $10,000 fine for Numurkah sheep farm manager’s cruelty
Save the date
When: 23–24 June
Where: The Goods Shed, Ballarat
After last year’s successful roadshow, the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conferences return to The Goods Shed on 23 and 24 June.
There’ll be two full days of insights, innovations and practical take home messages for sheep and cattle producers across Victoria – and a combined industry dinner at the end of day 1.
Pop it in your diary now for June.
Stay tuned for more updates.
What's On
Multispecies pastures tutorial series with Jade Killoran
When: Commencing Monday 16 March , 4–5 pm
Where: Online
In this series of 4 online tutorials, multispecies pasture specialist Jade Killoran will discuss the establishment and management of your multispecies pastures.
Each tutorial will focus on a topic essential for the success of your multispecies pasture:
Monday 16 March - Seeds
Friday 20 March - Paddock Preparation
Monday 23 March - Grazing Management
Thursday 26 March – Monitoring Tools
Ask questions and workshop your paddock plans for an autumn multispecies pasture following the tutorial.
Join all 4 sessions or just the sessions relevant to your needs.
Decisions that drive success – Proven techniques for effective on-farm decision-making
When: Tuesday 17 March, 9 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Greater Shepparton Business Centre, 70 New Dookie Rd, Shepparton
Success depends on sound decision-making. This is especially so in times of crisis and change.
This ION Group workshop provides a proven and practical approach to managing competing priorities so you can make better decisions, rebuild your resilience and capacity and adapt your business to recover from drought and other challenges.
Introduction to Lean and drought support planning
When: Tuesday 17 March, 3–4:30 pm
Where: Online
Access Lean management tools and business planning resources in this free webinar for Victorian growers managing drought and seeking practical support.
Setting up heifers for reproductive success
When: Tuesday 17 March, 9:30 am to 3 pm
Where: 134 Moscrops Road, Bullioh
Establish a growth path for your heifers to set up for reproductive success.
Join Leah Tyrell and Chris Mirams for a hands-on workshop focused on establishing a target growth path for your heifers based on the mature weight of your cows.
Managing water price variability
When: Friday 20 March, 10 am – 2 pm
Where: North East Catchment Management Authority, 1/104 Hovell Street, Wodonga
Join RMCG for this upcoming workshop to gain some insights into the water market for the Murray river system – specifically Zone 6 – the Murray and Mitta rivers. Topics will include a broad overview of the wider system, pricing outlook and importantly – what you can do to help manage your water risk.
Farm for the future - Millewa
When: Monday 23 March, 2–5 pm
Where: Millewa Community Complex (Johansen Reserve), Sturt Highway, Cullulleraine
Mallee soils often face nutrition and constraint issues that can limit productivity and influence how carbon is stored and emissions are managed. Soil scientist Dr Cassie Schefe will lead this practical workshop delivered by Mallee CMA.
Bring some soil test results from your farm to discuss:
- Common constraints in Mallee soils
- How soil condition influences your farm's carbon number, and
- Practical insights to help future-proof your business and profitability.
Topics that will be covered at the workshop:
- Interpreting soil test results
- Improving soil health and nutrition
- Soil carbon and fertility
- Key emission levers, and
- Activities suited to your soil.
Afternoon tea will be provided.
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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