• Ag Vic contacting land owners near Meredith and Terang
• Avian influenza information pop ups
• Avoiding the full force of cold weather on cows
• Grants to help bring the agricultural show season to life
• Shifting gears for National Farm Safety Week
• Don’t fluke it, drench strategically
• Farmers invited to ‘Take a Wellbeing Break’
• Videos on choosing and costing out your feeds
• Tactics for dry times to help western Victorian dairy farmers
• Listen to the latest AgVic Talk episode on biosecurity basics
• Dry seasons and drought support
• Free financial counselling
• Fox and wild dog bounty
• In case you missed it
• What's on

Agriculture Victoria will be contacting property owners located near the avian influenza affected farms in the Meredith and Terang areas to check in. Residents in the area may be contacted via phone or text.

We will be asking if you have chickens or other livestock on the property, and about the health of the animals. Gathering this data helps us to plan our avian influenza response and lift the quarantine measures that are in place as soon as possible.

Be aware of scams. Agriculture Victoria will not ask for financial information or credit card details.

If you have any questions or want to report sick or dead birds, please contact the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.

For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu

Want to find out more about avian influenza in your area?

We'll be at the following locations:

Terang Co-Op Supa IGA, Terang

• Friday 19 July, 11 am – 1 pm
• Friday 26 July, 11 am – 1 pm

Bannockburn Central Shopping Centre,17 McPhillips Road, Bannockburn

• Saturday 20 July, 10am – 12 noon
• Thursday 25 July, 10am – 12 noon
• Saturday 27 July, 10am – 12 noon

If you live in the area and own birds – or just want some more info – stop by and have a chat with the team. To learn more, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianinfluenza

With a winter blast forecast for eastern Victoria, reducing the impacts of cold weather on cattle is essential to both animal production and welfare.

During cold weather, the energy requirements of a cow can increase by up to 20%, with lighter cows being more affected than those in adequate condition.

Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Nick Linden said the impact of cold weather, particularly when combined with wet and windy conditions and low pasture availability, can severely affect cows that are already low in body condition.

‘It is important to keep an eye on the forecast weather conditions and if possible, move cattle into sheltered paddocks or those with windbreaks. This will reduce the impacts of chill by keeping animals out of the wind and give a better return on supplementary feeding.

‘Poorer condition cows have a higher maintenance requirement through winter as they have to work harder to stay warm,’ Mr Linden said.

‘Separating the lighter condition cows will enable producers to better manage these in-need cows with a specific feed and supplement plan and reduce competition for feed.

‘Lighter cows will suffer more from cold stress than fatter cows - fat is an excellent source of insulation as well as being an important energy reserve.  We really need to look out for the lighter cows.’

Lighter cows can also result in weaker calves being born in the spring, poor joining rates for autumn calvers or cow mortality.

Mr Linden said hungry cows can be cold cows and cattle will eat more in cold weather to generate body heat. Roughages like hay are broken down by microbial action, and this process generates heat. In addition to roughage, it’s important to keep an eye on the protein and energy levels of the diet.

‘While consuming roughages will help the cattle to stay warm, it is important to ensure adequate protein in the diet to feed the rumen bacteria.

‘Without the rumen bacteria being well fed, cattle will struggle to consume the roughages needed to generate heat and stay productive.

‘Managing lighter condition cows separately, using sheltered areas of the farm, knowing the energy and protein of the supplements being fed and monitoring fat scores of stock through winter are all important ways to minimise the impacts of cold weather on your stock, especially for animals in lighter condition as a result of the late autumn break experienced in many parts of the state.’

For more information visit:

• Wintering Cattle? Tips to Keep Them Warm
• Preventing Cold Stress in Cattle: Importance of Adequate Herd Nutrition

Victorian agricultural and pastoral societies looking to improve their infrastructure or boost awareness and involvement in regional shows will get more support from the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence today announced the $300,000 Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program is open to applications ahead of the 2024/25 Show season.

The program aims to support Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in projects that help stimulate community involvement in activities that promote agriculture.

Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for infrastructure development and other business activities to celebrate Victoria’s agricultural communities, industry and produce.

The grants can be used to upgrade or establish new facilities, enhance public amenities, improve essential infrastructure, improve business management activities, biosecurity planning and promote reporting of livestock movements.

Previous projects funded under the program include new animal yards, fencing, shade covers and lighting or upgrades to shearing pavilions, luncheon halls, public amenities and viewing stands.

In previous rounds the Sale and District Agriculture Society received a grant of $10,000 to replace aged and damaged horse yards with 66 safer and more robust horse yards.

The project also included replacing existing weathered and unsafe wooden fence in the cattle show area with new durable treated pine and galvanised steel panels.

The Port Fairy Agricultural Show received a grant worth more than $7,000 to purchase portable picket fencing to provide safety for the show exhibits and families with small children eager to interact with the animals.

Applications close on 23 August. To learn more about the Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program or to apply today, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government is putting workplace safety for agriculture workers first this National Farm Safety Week, with funding to provide free access to educational resources, aimed at equipping young people with farm safety knowledge.

Acting Minister for Agriculture Steve Dimopoulos recently announced a $100,000 grant to the National Centre for Farmer Health to support the delivery of farm safety education in schools, teaching young people about the risks they are exposed to when visiting, living and working on farms.

Agriculture makes up two per cent of Victoria’s workforce while having 14% of workplace fatalities. In 2022/23 young people aged 15 to 19 comprised 6.3% of total workplace injuries and 13.3% of non-work related injuries on farms.

The ‘Shifting Gears’ teaching resource will provide educators with materials to facilitate meaningful discussions about farm safety within their classrooms. The resources have been funded through the Farming Safe and Well program and will be available for use from January 2025.

This initiative aligns with the theme of this year’s National Farm Safety Week, ‘In Safe Hands’, which emphasises the importance of keeping our farmers and their families safe.

Throughout farm safety week, Farmsafe Australia will share practical safety tips from farmers to increase the safety of everyday tasks and foster a more safety focused farming culture.

The Victorian Government’s investment in ‘Shifting Gears’ follows the $900,000 provided to the National Centre for Farmer Health in the Victorian Budget 2024/25 for the delivery of agriculture-focused health and medical services, research, and education which will lead to direct benefits for farmers and their communities.

For more resources to support safety, health and wellbeing on farms, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Dr Jeff Cave, Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer

Producers know there are chemicals available to treat internal parasites such as liver fluke, but a question worth considering is when to strategically use those chemicals.

Liver fluke is an internal parasite that lives in the bile ducts of cattle, sheep and goats and has a complex life cycle that requires a snail called Lymnea tomentosa to be involved. 

The snail can be identified by its characteristic cone shaped shell and the spirals of the shell which rotate in a clockwise direction. The snail occurs in swamps, drains, billabongs and irrigated pastures. 

Liver fluke can be treated using chemicals known as flukicides. Flukicides should be used strategically at specific times of year to minimise pasture contamination and to effectively kill the stage of fluke present in stock, but it should be noted that withholding periods apply.

The snail cannot survive frosty conditions so consideration should be given for giving flukicides following the first frosts.

It should be remembered that liver fluke control strategies vary by region and even property to property. 

Producers should talk to their veterinarian for specific recommendations. This will enable them to put in place an effective and economical fluke control plan for their property.

For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.

A series of wellbeing workshops targeting farming communities is being delivered as part of Agriculture Victoria’s Farm Business Resilience program, with the first to be held in Dimboola.

Agriculture Victoria Statewide Agriculture Recovery Manager Tess McDougall said the ‘Take a Wellbeing Break’ workshops are aiming to support social connection and collaboration in farming communities.

‘The workshops will provide occasions to support farmers, farming families and rural communities with mental health, wellbeing and self-care.’

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report conducted by the National Farmers Federation in 2023 found that burnout and exhaustion are commonly reported in the farming community, with almost three quarters of farmers experiencing burnout of some kind in the last five years.

Mrs McDougall said farmers have faced a series of challenging events over recent years with the current dry seasonal conditions in some regions just the latest one to confront them.

The workshops will be facilitated by Cynthia Mahoney, an experienced facilitator and coach with a background in Agricultural Science. She says the workshops are designed to be fun and practical.

‘They will bring farmers together to provide them with wellbeing tools and information, connect them and share ideas, and identify practical strategies they can immediately implement to positively impact their well-being.

‘People often associate wellbeing with the serious topic of mental health and expect another workshop full of the same stuff.

‘It is a weighty subject, and I have created something that is meant to be fun while also providing an opportunity for participants to talk about wellbeing in a serious way while they are doing it,’ said Ms Mahoney.

The first of the workshops will be held at Dimboola on Wednesday 7 August from 6 to 8 pm and is supported by Wimmera Women Connect, Birchip Cropping Group, Hindmarsh Shire and Wimmera Southern Mallee Development.

Register for the Dimboola workshop at Trybooking or visit the Agriculture Victoria events page.

Other workshops are being planned for Casterton on 29 August and Kyabram on 5 September with details to be made available on Trybooking and the Agriculture Victoria website.

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

When choosing the best feed to purchase for sheep or cattle, there are a few things to take into account – especially when feeding over winter.

What to feed

In this short video, Livestock Officer Nick Linden looks at the key considerations in choosing supplements for stock by calculating their requirements and the energy density of feed against its cost.

Watch it here. 

Costing out your feeds

Am I better off feeding grain or hay?  And what is the cost?
In this video, Livestock Officer Nick Linden looks at the calculations to use to make sure what you’re feeding to your animals is the most cost-effective option.

Watch it here. 

Western Victorian dairy farmers facing challenging dry conditions will receive assistance at a series of seminars in July and August. 

WestVic Dairy will host the Tactics for Dry Times seminars in Camperdown, Heywood, Colac, and Koroit.  

WestVic Dairy Regional Manager and Executive Officer, Linday Ferguson said the seminars will be an opportunity for farmers to better understand what the current operating conditions mean for their farm business and help in making important decisions.

'We are seeing that dairy farmers are under pressure. Tactics for Dry Times will give farmers practical advice and resources to help them assess what decisions they need to make to get through these tough dry conditions.

'The seminars are an opportunity for farmers to discuss management tactics with fellow farmers, and to receive advice from a range of experts,' said Ferguson.

Tactics for Dry Times will feature local farm business consultants, agronomists, vets, and rural financial counsellors who can provide expert advice.

The topics covered will include assessing your current business position and cash flow options; managing winter feeding and setting up for a successful spring; animal health issues to be on alert for in dry times to manage cow health, fertility and production; and the support available for personal health and wellbeing.

Tactics for Dry Times has been developed by WestVic Dairy and Agriculture Victoria in collaboration with the Industry Leadership Group in response to the dry seasonal conditions.

For more details and to register visit www.westvicdairy.com.au or call WestVic Dairy on (03) 5557 1000.

• Camperdown Tuesday 23 July 11 am - 1:30 pm
• Heywood Thursday 25 July 11 am - 1:30 pm
• Colac Monday 29 July 11 am - 1:30 pm
• Koroit Friday 2 August 11 am - 1:30 pm

Jacob Pearce has been in a decade-long battle with weeds, some of which pose a biosecurity risk. 

He now has the upper hand on his 260-acre property west of Melbourne. To share what he's learnt he joined us for this episode of Biosecurity Basics.

Listen via the AgVic website.

Have you updated your plan for the current seasonal conditions? Having a solid drought plan can help you with decision making in adverse conditions.

Check out the dry seasons and drought support on the Agriculture Victoria website today.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service provides a free and confidential financial counselling service to eligible farmers and small related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can help you to access available support, analyse your business situation, negotiate with lenders and develop strategies to improve your financial position.
To find your closest service visit rfcsnetwork.com.au or call 1300 771 741.

Victoria’s bounty collections continue.

Please continue to check our website for the latest information, collection centres and dates. CLICK HERE

For any assistance, please speak to our bounty collection staff on collection days or call our Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Partnering with community to manage pests and weeds

Efforts to support long-term management of rabbits, blackberries, serrated tussock and gorse across Victoria have been bolstered with support from the Victorian Government to four community pest management groups.

Read the full media release here.

New term for Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council

New members have been appointed to the second term of the Victorian Agriculture Climate Change Council to help the Victorian agriculture sector prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.

Read the full media relase 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.

Land management, sacrifice paddocks and stock containment areas – Dry season winter webinar series

Agriculture Victoria is running a series of lunchtime webinars to help farmers manage the dry conditions. The sessions will run for about an hour, with a chance to answer some questions at the end. This is the final session in the webinar series.

• When: Wednesday, 24 July, 12.30 – 1.30 pm
• Register HERE

Join Agriculture Victoria’s Clem Sturmfels for a session about land management, sacrifice paddocks and stock containment areas.

Webinars will be recorded.

When: 30 July - 31 July, 9 am – 2.30 pm both days

Where: 12 Kelso Street, Coldstream

Price: Free

Register here.

Are you a young farmer in the horticulture sector that’s looking to upskill? Agriculture Victoria is running a horticulture business bootcamp that aims to support the next generation of growers, business owners and managers to improve their skills and management practices.

The bootcamp will be delivered by Agriculture Victoria and ION Group, covering the following topics:

Day 1: Farm business performance and profitable decision making
Day 2: Risk, resilience and adapting to change

Online session: Natural resource management

A free one-on-one session with a consultant is offered to participants that attend both the workshop and online session!

The two day workshop will run 30 and 31 July, followed by an online session 5 August.

Save the date!

When: Wednesday July 31 and Thursday August 1, 8:30 am - 5 pm.

Where: 2574 Sunraysia Hwy, Speed.

Find out more here.

Save the date!

When: Sunday 4 and Monday 5 August, 8 am to 5 pm.

Where: Hamilton Showgrounds.

Buy tickets here.

Join Agriculture Victoria and Specialist Research and Extension Officer Lisa Miller of Southern Farming Systems for a free workshop.

At this workshop Lisa will discuss:

• How to promote growth this spring such as the use of gibberellic acid and urea and the economics of their use
• Grazing management to promote growth and assist pasture recovery.
• Opportunities for fodder conservation and summer crops.

Lisa comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience in pasture agronomy and research experience. The workshop is sure to help set you up for more feed in spring.

Date: Wednesday 7 August

Time: Light lunch from 12 - 1pm. Workshop from 1 - 3 pm

Where: Colac Bowling Club, 4 Armstrong Street, Colac 3250

Light refreshments will be provided, please note dietary needs at registration.

To register please visit TryBooking.

Workshop numbers are limited so you must register to attend.

For more information please contact Hannah Manning, Livestock Industry Development Officer on 0400 532 595 or hannah.manning@agriculture.vic.gov.au

When: 17 - 18 September, 8:30 am – 3 pm on day one, 9 am – 3 pm on day two

Where: Skipton Golf and Bowls Club, 26 Rokewood–Skipton Rd, Skipton.

Register here.

Kate is an independent farm consultant who has a PhD and extensive experience in crop agronomy and dryland agriculture. Her expertise is sought by large corporate enterprises but she most enjoys working with farmers that have a commitment to improvement. Using an evidence-based approach, Kate will guide you towards 'excellent farming'.

Topics include:

• Key profit drivers and high-level benchmarks
• Income vs cost of production and impact of rotation
• Calculating basic financial benchmarks
• Understanding your personal appetite for risk
• Understanding your production potential to assess variation in profit
• Managing climate variability and farm financial performance
• Scenario planning for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and beyond

Participants who complete the 2-day course and business plans will be eligible for a free, 45–90 minute one-on-one planning review with Kate Burke.

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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