Thursday 27 November 2025

🎉Happy holidays from Gippsland Ag News🎉

Thank you for your continued support and engagement throughout the year! We are taking a short break and will return on Thursday 29 January 2026.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season and if you have any questions in the meantime, please email tessa.butler@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Protecting your livestock from anthrax

As we head into the warmer months, it’s important to stay vigilant about the risk of anthrax to your livestock.

Once an animal has died from anthrax, the anthrax spores can leach into and survive in the soil for decades, waiting for the right set of environmental conditions to infect another animal.

‘Anthrax should be considered whenever there is any sudden death of livestock, particularly if blood is seen around the animal’s nose, mouth and anus.

‘At one time veterinarians had to carry a microscope and examine a smear of specially stained blood to rapidly diagnose anthrax.

‘This all changed with the development of pen-side ICT kits (immunochromatographic test), which provide a quick, safe and accurate means of diagnosing or excluding anthrax when investigating cases of sudden death of livestock.’

All private veterinarians who deal with livestock have free access to ICT kits and can investigate sudden deaths through subsidised disease investigations.

Dr Cave said there are several reasons why it is beneficial to know whether an animal has died from anthrax, including:

• Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can potentially infect humans.
• The best way of stopping further losses due to anthrax is through its early diagnosis and the subsidised vaccination of all at-risk livestock on the property.
• The carcass of an animal which has died of anthrax will remain a source of infection for future outbreaks if it isn’t disposed of correctly through incineration and the decontamination of its death site

If you suspect a case of anthrax, please contact your local veterinarian, or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer, or the Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Round 3 Request for Quotations now open for drought group-based events  

Join us in delivering the next phase of our drought technical decision-making group events program. 

We’re seeking applications from service providers across the state – agronomists, farm business planners and veterinarians to name a few – to deliver local group-based events in 2026. 

Applications are open until 11:59 pm on Sunday 21 December. 

Supporting Victorian growers to maintain market access

We are supporting growers moving tomato potato psyllid (TTP) host or carrier plants and plant products interstate to navigate new requirements set to be in place from 8 December 2025.

Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Dr Rosa Crnov, said new arrangements were in place for businesses to be certified under, following a new detection of tomato potato psyllid outside of the restricted Area in Melbourne’s northern suburbs in October.

‘We’re working with the horticulture industry to rapidly implement arrangements to minimise trade disruptions and maintain market access to other states.

‘Restrictions are expected to be in place from Monday 8 December and growers can move their plants and produce interstate if they have the right certifications in place and follow the necessary biosecurity practices.

‘You can contact us directly for tailored technical support for your business or visit the Agriculture Victoria website for more information,’ Dr Crnov said.

Fees for plant biosecurity services (application fees, audits, non-conformance reports) are waived until 30 June 2026 as part of the Victorian Government’s Drought Support Package.

Tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is a small insect that feeds on solanaceous hosts such as tomato, potato, eggplant, chilli and capsicum, and was detected in Victoria for the first time on 12 November 2024 on the Bellarine Peninsula.

A restricted area was established since the initial detection in November 2024 to contain the pest from spreading further into other areas of Victoria.

TPP can spread a serious plant disease known as ‘zebra chip’ in potatoes when it is infected with the Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) bacterium. CLso has not been detected in Victoria or anywhere in Australia.

Victorian tomato producers and backyard gardeners are encouraged to monitor their crops and to contact Agriculture Victoria if they suspect TPP might be present. Reports can be made:

• via the website at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/reportpestsonline
• by emailing plant.protection@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

For more information on TPP please visit Tomato potato psyllid.

Boosting support for farmers facing drought

The Victorian Government is increasing support for drought affected farmers and communities with more funding for technical one-on-one support, community events and wellbeing.    

This extension to key drought supports brings the Victorian Government's Drought Support Package to more than $146.5 million.   

For further details and more drought support visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.  

Real risks of prohibited pig feed

Prohibited pig feed (formerly known as swill) is the act of feeding food scraps or food waste that contains meat, or which has been in contact with meat to pigs.The feeding of prohibited pig feed to pigs is banned in Australia, as it has been shown to cause outbreaks of serious animal diseases overseas.

‘Pigs are recognised as ‘high risk’ animals playing a potential role in the establishment of a number of exotic diseases that could devastate the agricultural sector and impact on human health.

‘The principal risk is through the feeding of prohibited substances that could contain exotic viruses.’

The exotic diseases most likely to be introduced into Australia through prohibited feeding are foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and either classical or African swine fever (ASF).

As a timely reminder, at the Echuca Magistrates Court recently, a local farmer pleaded guilty to a single offence under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 for allowing his pigs to have access to prohibited pig feed.

Agriculture Victoria officers attended the property to conduct a prohibited pig feeding audit and observed a sow and piglets contained in a pen with a cow carcass. Lab testing of the carcass detected beef and traces of pork.

The court heard the farmer has since sold all his pigs on the property, removed pigs from his Property Identification Code (PIC) and had his pig tattoo brand disbanded.

Magistrate Mithen, in sentencing, acknowledged Prosecution Services submissions about the biosecurity risks associated with prohibited pig feeding, and the impact on the wider community.

He also considered defence submissions about the farmer’s good standing in the farming community, which were supported by character references.

For more information about prohibited pig feeding please see our website. To make a specific complaint in regard to livestock welfare or traceability breaches, contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Duties and fees relief package

The duties and fees relief package is helping to reduce the cost of doing business for drought affected primary producers.  

• Payment of livestock duties for the sale of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs paused until 30 September 2026.
• Primary producers won’t have to pay the standard processing fees when ordering NLIS tags (for orders placed from 1 October 2025 to 30 June 2026).
• Other livestock related fees and services for 2025–26 stay at the same rate as 2024–25. 

For further drought support visit our website or call 136 186. 

Vet Talk – Get smart in your summer drenching program

Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer

After a year of grazing on shorter-than-usual pastures, many sheep across Victoria are facing higher-than-normal worm burdens. But with summer’s hot and dry conditions around the corner, producers have a timely opportunity to tackle the issue head-on. 

It’s time to consider strategic summer drenching, a targeted approach involving effective treatments at the start and end of the season. The goal is to take advantage of the natural destruction of worm larvae on pastures caused by the heat and desiccation of summer. 

However, not all sheep may require treatment. Pre-drench faecal egg counts (FECs) will help determine which parts of the flock actually need drenching. This deliberate step helps avoid unnecessary costs and ensures treatments are justified. 

Drenching is only effective when done correctly. Using the wrong chemicals or misusing them can reduce their effectiveness and contribute to the development of resistance. 

Post-drench FECs are also advisable, to assess how well the treatment worked and to detect any signs of drench resistance, a growing concern in Victoria, particularly with white and clear drenches. 

To maximise results, producers should move treated sheep to low-risk pastures. Ideal options include paddocks that have been previously grazed by cattle, cut for hay or silage, or used by older wethers. 

Ewes around the time of lambing and recently weaned lambs are especially vulnerable to worm infestations. Without an effective drenching program, reinfestation can occur in as little as 3 weeks. 

For more advice, contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria animal health staff. 

Grant programs now open through the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)

As part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, two grant programs are now open through the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). These grants offer funding for community-led projects that bring people together, build local capability and support wellbeing — practical initiatives that can strengthen communities now and into the future. 

What’s available? 

Small Network Grants are open to eligible groups across rural and remote Australia. Grants of up to $50,000 can support: 

• community events 
• learning and training activities 
• small infrastructure upgrades 
• initiatives that build local capability. 

Social Outcome Grants are open for organisations in one of the 50 approved Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP) regions. Grants of up to $100,000 are available for projects that: 

• strengthen community networks 
• host events that bring people together  
• run workshops or training 
• upgrade small-scale infrastructure 
• support leadership and personal development. 

Why these grants matter 

Connected communities are stronger. No matter where we are in the drought cycle, there are always things we can do to support each other and build social cohesion. These grants can help fund activities that: 

• keep people connected and boost morale 
• share knowledge and skills 
• create safe, welcoming spaces. 

Apply now 

Applications close 11 December 2025. 

• Learn more about the Future Drought Fund Small Network Grants 
• Learn more about the Future Drought Fund Social Outcome Grants

Listen while you work

Hear farmers across Victoria chat about the agriculture sector, like using Ag Tech on-farm and improving farm safety from the paddock to the kitchen table.  

Farmers share their inspiring stories of managing the dynamic nature of farming, in droughts or recovering from fires and floods.   

Next time you’re out in the back paddock, driving the tractor, straining a fence, or harvesting a crop, put on a podcast that’s all about you.  

For further drought support visit our website or call 136 186. 

Mental health and wellbeing

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 and resources available in the community to help you manage stress, including:​  

• National Centre for Farmer Health: farmerhealth.org.au/support-hub  

• Flying Doctor Wellbeing: www.flyingdoctor.org.au/vic/what-we-do/wellbeing/ ​  

• Rural Financial Counselling Service wellbeing support: rfcsnetwork.com.au ​  

• Lifeline: call 131 144 ​  

• Beyond Blue: call 1300 224 636 ​  

• Rural Aid: call 1300 327 624  

For further drought support visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.  

• The science behind hay fires
• Empowering young farmers to grow their futures
• What to consider when siting stock containment areas
• Creating new tourism opportunities in Gippsland
• Irrigation efficiency incentives for Gippsland farmers
• What can you do about an evaporating dam

Webinar – Taking stock of feed quality

Variable seasonal conditions impact quality and quantity of available pasture, silage, hay and grain. Now is the time to look at what ‘fuel’ – metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) – is available to manage livestock productivity through the season ahead. 

Join Dr Jill Kelly to explore the fundamentals of ruminant nutrition to drive performance of the rumen to support good productivity. Also hear from Julian Carroll and Ed Weatherly who use in-paddock weighing for cattle and sheep that assists understanding feed and animal performance. 

When: 2 December 
Where: Online 
Time: 12:30 –1:30 pm 

There are a limited number of free feed tests available to Victorian farmers attending, so register early! 

For more information, contact Greg Ferrier on 0438 738 634 or greg.ferrier@agriculture.vic.gov.au. 

Webinar – Taking stock of feed quality 

Variable seasonal conditions impact quality and quantity of available pasture, silage, hay and grain. Now is the time to look at what ‘fuel’ – metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) – is available to manage livestock productivity through the season ahead. 

Join Dr Jill Kelly to explore the fundamentals of ruminant nutrition to drive performance of the rumen to support good productivity. Also hear from Julian Carroll and Ed Weatherly who use in-paddock weighing for cattle and sheep that assists understanding feed and animal performance. 

When: 2 December 
Where: Online 
Time: 12:30 –1:30 pm 

There are a limited number of free feed tests available to Victorian farmers attending, so register early! 

For more information, contact Greg Ferrier on 0438 738 634 or greg.ferrier@agriculture.vic.gov.au. 

Feed, fodder and forecasts event

Feed and fodder management are at the heart of productive and resilient livestock systems. Feed, Fodder and Forecasts brings together researchers, producers, and agtech innovators to explore how data and climate forecasting can improve feed planning and drought preparedness.

This event highlights the latest developments in seasonal forecasting, pasture growth modelling, and digital feed management tools. Participants will learn how these technologies support decision-making – helping producers manage feed supply, optimize storage, and reduce waste during variable seasons

When: 19 January 2026
Where: East Gippsland 
Time: 4 –7 pm  

For a full list of Agriculture Victoria events, please see the Events page.

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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