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Thursday 19 June 2025
Drought Support
Don’t sacrifice your perennial pastures
With good rain across most of Victoria, farmers may be looking to return stock to paddocks following months of containment feeding.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock and Land Management Extension Officer Neil James said returning stock too early may result in damage or death of deep-rooted perennials such as phalaris, cocksfoot and fescue.
WorkSafe Safety alert
Farm machinery is the leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries on farms.
In-line silage wrappers have many hazards and risks.
There are many contributing factors and recommended ways to control risks, for more information click the button.
Control Area lifted after successful response to bird flu outbreak
The H7 avian influenza response in Victoria has come to an end. The outbreak, which began in February, affected four commercial poultry properties.
There have been no new cases of H7N8 high pathogenicity bird flu since 24 February 2025.
Support for farmers impacted by kangaroos
More support has been announced to help farmers whose agricultural property is impacted by kangaroos.
Farmers will soon be able to apply for rebates to engage professional shooters to control kangaroos under an approved Authority to Control Wildlife (ACTW).
Find out more or apply for an ATCW online, visit Wildlife management and control authorisations | vic.gov.au
To register an interest to be notified when the program is open email: drought.support@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Gippsland business grows with forestry fund backing
The Victorian Government is helping a Gippsland business step into its next chapter – launching a new agricultural irrigation plumbing business through the support of the Forestry Transition Fund.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced a $130,000 investment into DL Jackson Contracting Australia to expand their agricultural services to design and build specialty irrigation and pumping systems and provide technical support and repairs.
Southern Rural Water seeking EOI from Latrobe Valley farmers about additional water allocations
Southern Rural Water is seeking expressions of interest from Latrobe Valley farmers about additional water allocations from Blue Rock Dam.
Minister for Water, Gayle Tierney, recently announced 16 gigalitres (GL) of water previously set aside for power generation will be allocated and shared equally to supply agriculture, Traditional Owners and the environment. The decision was made through the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water.
This means 5.3 GL will be available to support operations, expansion or drought-proofing for irrigators in the Latrobe region.
The allocation will open up more water for production, providing opportunities for innovation, expansion or future-proofing of operations. This will lead to economic improvements and the creation of more employment.
How to express your interest?
Expressions of interest can be made by completing this form and returning it by 30 July 2025.
Q Fever eStatement current register closing soon
You may want to make sure that you have your Q Fever eStatement before the current register closes. You can download your eStatement up until 30 June 2025.
How to get your Q Fever eStatement - visit Q Fever Register Login - Australian Q Fever Register, then follow the steps.
If you have problems logging in, call 1300 733 837.
Alternatively, people may have received their statement when immunised from the following email address: register@mg.qfever.org
Adding your record to the Australian Immunisation Register.
Once you have downloaded or received an email of your eStatement, you can take your eStatement to a medical professional like a doctor or practice nurse, who can then load this information to the Australian Immunisation Register on your behalf.
The Australian Immunisation Register will hold this information so you can access it in the future.
Quick quiz to help evaluate your farm water system
Farmers can use a simple online quiz to evaluate the effectiveness of their farm water supply system – which is available on our website.
Agriculture Victoria Climate Change Service Development Officer Heather Field said the short quiz could help farmers develop a farm water improvement plan for their property.
‘There are 14 questions to help farmers assess their current farm water system,’ Ms Field said.
The quiz is designed to help you assess whether your farm water system is easy to maintain, performs well and is suitable for climate challenges such as warmer, drier climatic conditions, fire risk and other natural disasters such as storm events.
At the end of the quiz, you will receive a score and summary report based on your responses.
‘The quiz is best suited for livestock enterprises that have dams and a reticulated farm water supply system.’
Go to https://go.vic.gov.au/4l4PKDJ and visit the Goals Catalogue to access the quiz. Sign in to our Learning Management System to complete the quiz.
Find more information on drought and dry seasons support and technical decision-making support below.
Catch up on our webinar: Seasonal outlook myth busting
Did you miss our recent webinar? Click below to watch.
Hear Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey discuss the timing of the autumn break, if summer is really dry - does it have any bearing on the autumn break, why is it so hard to accurately predict the autumn break, current forecasts and what tools are available to help with planning.
Popular irrigation incentive program set to benefit even more Gippsland farmers
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Agriculture Victoria are pleased to open a new round of farm plan incentives, and for the first time, farmers in Warragul, Thorpdale, Noojee and Perry Bridge and across the entire Lake Wellington Catchment are eligible to apply.
Up to $10,000 per farm is available through the Lake Wellington Irrigation Efficiency Incentive Program to help with the cost of a professionally designed irrigation plan.
What's On
Field Day: Future proofing your farm!
Join us for a day of presentations from national specialists to help ensure the long-term sustainability of your farm.
When: Wednesday 25 June, 10:30 am – 2 pm
Where: Foster (exact location provided on registration).
Topics covered will include:
- related climatic past and future trends
- farm biosecurity
- energy options
- dry seasonal conditions options for farmers
- improvements to housing and feeding infrastructure.
Guest speakers:
- Dale Grey – Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Agriculture Victoria
- Donna Woerz - Consultant, Debenham Australia
- Scott McDonald – Specialist, Intensification, Agriculture Victoria
- Dr. Shareen Labib - Gippsland Region Public Health Unit
- Graeme Anderson – Climate specialist, Agriculture Victoria.
This field day will also provide the opportunity for all participants to interact with national experts and specialists on:
- back up energy options
- measuring your water
- feed pad and effluent management integration project
- trees on farms.
Practical feed budgeting and animal nutrition workshops
Join Agriculture Victoria and livestock nutritionist Jess Revell from Rumenate Livestock, at an interactive workshop focusing on animal nutrition and developing or refining your own feed budget during the current seasonal conditions.
Workshop 1 - Woodside
When: Tuesday, July 1, 1 to 4 pm
Where: Woodside Recreation Reserve,
20 South Gippsland Highway, Woodside.
Light dinner provided.
Workshop 2 - Benambra
When: Wednesday July 2, 11 am to 3 pm
Where: Benambra Recreation Reserve,
32 Tip Road, Benambra.
Lunch provided.
Workshop topics:
- practical session for you to develop a ration for your livestock
- evaluating your current feed supplies
- evaluating feed in paddocks
- using feed test.
Talking trees: Landcare Victoria webinar
When: Thursday 3 July, 5:30 - 7 pm
Join Landcare Victoria's next webinar to learn more about how trees can benefit your farm while being used to generate additional revenue through agroforestry, carbon farming, or biodiversity markets.
Keep up to date with GippsDairy's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Gippsland Agricultural Group's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Food & Fibre Gippsland's events on their website.
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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