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Thursday 20 March 2025
Drought support for south west farmers
Agriculture Victoria continues to support drought-affected farmers in south west Victoria with an ongoing program of events. Check out the events being delivered as part of the Drought Support Package. Stay up to date with what’s on at the calendar of events.
Bushfire recovery support
If your business or industry has been impacted by the 2024-25 bushfires in western Victoria, support is available to assist with your immediate and long-term recovery. Upcoming supports include:
Business Recovery Advisory Service – free business support for impacted businesses, via telephone, online or in-person for impacted businesses, to find the right strategies for long-term recovery.
Business Bushfire Recovery Grant Program – $5,000 grants to small businesses, including eligible primary producers, that have experienced significant disruptions and revenue losses due to the bushfires.
These programs are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the Western Victoria Bushfires which commenced in December 2024 (AGRN 1166).
Register your interest to receive updates on the 2024-25 Western Victoria Bushfire Recovery grants and other related supports as they become available.
Apply for an On-Farm Drought Infrastructure
Eligible drought-affected farmers in the south west can now apply for up to $5,000 in co-contribution grants to support establishing on-farm infrastructure such as:
- water infrastructure upgrades (pipes, tanks, troughs, dams)
- stock containment areas
- grain and fodder storage.
For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.
Caption: Paul and Jenny O'Sullivan with emissions specialist Alison Kelly inspect livestock at Malabar Farm
Pilot program helps farmers beef up carbon capture
Agriculture Victoria has partnered with South Gippsland farmers Jenny and Paul O’Sullivan of Malabar Farm near Walkerville to find profitable and sustainable ways to reduce emissions on their sheep and beef properties.
The O’Sullivans participated in the On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot, a program that helped nearly 250 farmers across the state understand and act on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The Pilot was launched in 2022 under the Victorian Government’s $20 million Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge that invested in flagship trials of leading research, and development of tools and services helping farmers to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and profitability.
Emissions Specialist Alison Kelly worked with the O’Sullivans to develop a customised on-farm emissions action plan to reduce their GHG and sequester and store carbon.
‘Reducing emissions through efficient production and carbon storage is top of mind for farmers in this pilot like the O’Sullivans who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation,’ Mrs Kelly said.
‘Determining the environmental impact of your farm’s production through a process called “Know Your Number” is now something that governments and the whole supply chain is increasingly demanding.’
As part of the program, Mrs Kelly worked with the O’Sullivans to determine their ‘number’, a net farm annual emissions footprint estimate, via an existing Greenhouse Gas Accounting Framework calculator for beef and sheep enterprises.
She said the O’Sullivans tailor made action plan helped them apply for a government grant to implement some of the opportunities from the plan such as:
- the establishment of a 1.7 km long and 10-metre-wide plantation, which will provide carbon sequestration, biodiversity and livestock shelter benefits.
- support to follow up on benchmark soil sampling to monitor changes in soil organic carbon levels across several paddocks and organic treatments using a blend of animal manure and chicken bedding litter.
As well as revegetation and land use improvements, the O’Sullivans continue to reduce their farm GHG emissions with a 7-kW solar power system for their workshop, fences and pumps. They are also screening their bulls for feed conversion efficiency and hopeto learn from feed additive research to see how they can apply benefits to their grazing operation to possibly further reduce emissions.
Get set for tussock treatment in the cooler months
Serrated tussock has infested over 250,000 hectares of land in Victoria and has caused great damage to agriculture and native grasslands. Now is a good time to inspect your property for Serrated tussock, with increased plant visibility due to less pasture competition and frost bleaching.
Most parts of Victoria have had a very dry 6 months, which has resulted in Serrated tussock standing out from overgrazed pastures. In frost-prone areas, the tussocks are bleached a golden yellow to white colour by frost during late autumn and winter.
The lack of pasture and change in Serrated tussock colour makes the plants easier to spot in a paddock, making now a good time to do a survey of your land.
The lack of rains and autumn break in some parts of Victoria has been detrimental to pasture cover and also good for the growth of Serrated tussock. Controlling Serrated tussock before the plant goes to seed is critical to prevent further spread, lost productivity and increased control requirements.
Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) is a long-lived perennial that can invade poor soils and survive fire, drought and frost. It reduces the productivity of pasture and can create a fire hazard. Its fibre content is so high that stock are unable to digest it.
Seeds are spread by the wind, machinery and also by water and animals. The seed remains viable in the soil for an average of seven years and can dominate if there is no competition from other pasture species.
The good news? There are many options available for the treatment and removal of Serrated tussock.
If done regularly and before the infestations are large, it is possible to lessen the impact on our property. Depending on the size of the infestation plants can be removed manually using a hoe or spade, or spot sprayed using a registered herbicide.
Small seedlings recently germinated will appear bright green until they are bleached by frost and will be erect and stand out from the other grasses in a pasture.
The Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) has a host of information on treatment options and case studies, including videos and information sheets that can be posted or emailed to landowners.
'We are asking landowners to conduct assessments of their properties before spring, when the grass starts to flower.
'Serrated tussock flowerheads develop a distinctive purple colour as the seeds ripen in late spring and early summer. During winter you will be able to see the plants easily when they are bleached a lighter colour,' said VSTWP Community Engagement Officer, Ivan Carter.
The VSTWP has developed an online video and information sheets to help landowners identify the noxious weed, which can be viewed online.
'Serrated tussock is a costly weed to have on your property, especially when it becomes established,' Mr Carter said.
'It is best to check your property for new infestations and treat plants every season before seeding,' he said.
'A mature Serrated tussock plant can produce thousands of seeds in a season, blowing up to 20 kilometres from the parent plant.'
In case you missed it 📰
Media releases
Safeguarding livestock from pests and disease
Webinars
On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot update
Password: Climate
What's On
Details about these events and more can be found our website.
Calm the Farm – Casterton
Are you interested in reducing the risks to mental health in your farm workplace by improving work systems, or doing things a bit differently?
- An interactive and engaging 2-hour workshop that explores ways of reducing work-related stress.
- Connect with other local farmers as you focus on practical solutions to improve job satisfaction and effectiveness for you and your team.
- Continue the conversation over a meal – on us.
Date: Wednesday 26 March, 5 - 7 pm
Location: The Albion Hotel, 25 Henty Street, Casterton.
South west farmers and service providers are invited to a webinar to bust some myths about seasonal outlooks and autumn forecasts.
Latest climate webinar
Implications of climate change on production and water requirements of various horticultural crops in the Victorian Mallee.
Join our upcoming webinar to hear the findings of a recent study into the implications of climate change on production and water requirement of various horticultural crops in the Victorian Mallee.
Climate change is a significant issue facing irrigated horticulture in the Victorian Mallee, with increasing temperatures and a water constrained environment.
Mallee Regional Irrigation Manager Jeremy Giddings will summarise the key findings and how the results could be used by industry and government.
When: Wednesday 26 March – 12 pm.
The webinar will be recorded and will be available to everyone who registers.
Better pasture management: Manipulate or renovate?
The Colac BetterBeef group invite producers to a free pasture improvement workshop with Lisa Warn from Lisa Warn Ag Consulting. The practical session will help you assess the current state of your pastures to decide what action to take to optimise pasture growth, quality and sustainability.
Lisa is an agricultural consultant and researcher with a long history of working in grazing industries. She is well known for her research in evaluating grazing systems and pasture persistence, as well as identifying soil constraints to pasture growth.
The workshop will help you:
- Assess pasture performance
- Decide where to get the best return on investment - Manipulate or Renovate?
- Use grazing management to improve productivity and persistence of pastures and reduce weeds.
- Plan cost effective fertiliser programs.
- Reduce use of herbicides and need for re-sowing.
When: Wednesday 26 March, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm
Location: Beeac Community Hall, 55 Lang Street Beeac
If you have any questions, please contact workshop coordinator Hannah Manning , 0419 315 468 or at hannah.manning@agriculture.vic. gov.au
Great South Coast Skilled Migration Roadshow
When: Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 March
Where: multiple locations across the south west
Tackle staff shortages, access global talent, and secure critical skills for your business.
Getting the dirt on carbon: Colac
When: Friday 28 March, 10 am - 3 pm
Where: COPACC, 95-97 Gellibrand St, Colac
This workshop series builds farmer capacity to apply practice change to reduce CO2 and/or CO2e emissions in the Colac Otway Shire.
Participants will witness practice change in their own community and landscape, through peer learning and sharing. Experts in their respective fields will present at three workshops.
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 the National Relay Service on 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au
All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
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