No images? Click here The Look Over The Farm Gate program is now open![]() This program provides an opportunity to bring communities together to support farmers and their families under stress. Managed by the National Centre for Farmer Health on behalf of the Victorian Government, the program offers grants of up to $5,000 for community-led events that promote social connection and mental health awareness. Find out more at: https://farmerhealth.org.au/ To view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186. ![]() ![]() Roughage is essentialDr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer, Northern Region With the escalating price of hay and the availability of other feed supplements you may be asking ‘why feed roughage this winter?’ Roughage will be needed during winter for any of the following reasons:
Livestock need to eat more roughage in cold weather to give them energy for heat production. Roughage in their diet helps keep livestock warm since the fermentation and breakdown of cellulose creates heat energy. If they don’t have enough roughage, the weight will melt off as they mine body fat to create energy for warmth. Therefore, there are several compelling reasons why roughage may be needed this winter. Plus, if you can feed late in the afternoon it will provide your livestock ‘heat’ through the night. For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria animal health or extension staff, or in NSW your Local Land Services. Across the state any farmer can access technical information and advice to help manage the impacts of increasingly difficult seasonal conditions. These services will be delivered in partnership with a range of technical experts, including farm business advisors, livestock nutritionists, soil, water and pasture specialists and veterinarians. The program provides tailored advice through one-on-one consultations, webinars, workshops, field days, and online tools and information. Find more information on drought support at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186. ![]() Lesser loosestrife. Credit: Oliver Kerr Dry swamps and dams pose toxic weed risk to livestockPaul Beltz, Senior Veterinary Officer Safeguarding Victoria's agricultural sectorVictoria has a strong track record in containing H7N8 avian influenza to date, with no new cases since February 2025 – a major milestone in safeguarding our world-class poultry industry. Victoria’s agricultural industry is backed by a $36.7 million Victorian Budget 2025/26 investment which included $20 million to make sure the state is well prepared to respond to biosecurity threats and emergency diseases now and into the future, including avian influenza. Q Fever eStatement current register closing soonYou 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 systemFarmers 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 support and technical decision-making support below. ![]() Catch up on our webinar: Seasonal outlook myth bustingDid 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 farmersWest 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![]() Practical feed budgeting and animal nutrition workshopsJoin 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 - WoodsideWhen: Tuesday, 1 July, 1 to 4 pm |