Thursday 29 January 2026

Eligibility for Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants and Concessional Loans

Has your farm been impacted by recent bushfires?

The Victorian Government has recently announced measures to support Victorian primary producers affected by the January 2026 bushfires.

You may be eligible for a recovery grant or a concessional loan to help with cleanup, restoration and rebuilding, including:

• engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises or equipment
• hiring and leasing equipment, or purchasing materials to clean a property, premises or equipment
• purchasing, hiring or leasing equipment or materials that are essential for immediately resuming operation of the primary production enterprise, including pumps and generators
• removing and disposing of debris, damaged goods and material, and injured or dead livestock
• Other activities as listed in the program guidelines.

A full list of eligible activities is included in the program guidelines.

When applying for a grant or loan, it’s important that you don’t self-assess and if you’re unsure of your eligibility, contact Rural Finance with any questions.

Applications are now open and will close at 4pm on 21 October 2026.

You can check your eligibility via Rural Finance www.ruralfinance.com.au or call them on 1800 260 425 with any questions.

Emergency Relief Drinking Water program

Communities in bushfire affected areas and who are not on reticulated (town) water may be eligible for a tank refill of up to 20,000 litres through the Emergency Relief Drinking Water program.

Your household may be eligible if you are not on reticulated (town) water and rely on tank water for domestic use, and your household tank has been impacted by fires.

Impacts may include that you’ve emptied your tank for fire-fighting purposes, or it may now contain ash or other contaminants.

On-farm bushfire recovery resources

Following a bushfire there is a lot to consider when it comes to caring for livestock and getting your farm back on track.

To assist in making decisions for your on-farm recovery, a range of practical technical information and advice is available on our website.

You can also speak to an Agriculture Recovery team member on 136 186 or by contacting recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Wellbeing counsellor support

Wellbeing counsellors work hand in hand with experienced financial counsellors to ensure that your mental health receives as much attention as your bottom line. 

Providing practical strategies and helping you to tailor them to your specific circumstances, across the north and south west. 

Wellbeing counsellors can visit you at your property or talk over the phone to assist with:  

✔ Managing stress  
✔ Building resilience for tough times  
✔ Balancing work and life with practical tools 
✔ Getting support for big decisions and life changes 

To speak to a Wellbeing Counsellor call 1300 735 578.

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

Farm Advisory Service – one-on-one consultations  

Farmers from across the state have access to two Farm Advisory Service one-on-one consultations with a technical specialist.   

Specialist consultants include agronomists, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, business advisors and farm planners, with expertise across dairy, beef, sheep and wool, horticulture and cropping.  

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

Look Over The Farm Gate applications open

In response to the bushfires and ongoing drought, Look Over the Farm Gate applications are now open.  

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for events and activities that support mental health and wellbeing. 

Managed by the National Centre for Farmer Health on behalf of the Victorian Government.  

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

For more information on bushfire support, visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/bushfires or call 136 186. 

Things to consider when stubble grazing your sheep

Cathy Bunter, district veterinary officer, Ballarat

With the grain harvest wrapping up across the region, sheep producers are considering the benefits of grazing their flocks on stubble. The nutritional value of the stubble depends on the amount of residual grain and green plant growth from sprouted grain and summer weeds.

In drier years, the stems and leaves can be quite nutritious as less energy and protein has ended up in the grain. Windy weather can also cause grain to drop to the ground.

When making this decision, it’s important to consider factors such as paddock size, stocking density, how much grain and green shoots remain and whether the sheep are maintaining their weight.

Managing and treating dams in fire affected areas

Farmers in fire affected areas are encouraged to monitor their dams and remove floating debris as soon as possible following heavy or prolonged rain. They should also consider installing sediment traps upstream of their bigger dams.

Following fires, many dams became unusable due to pollution from decomposing organic matter or after being filled with soil, sand, and gravel.

While little can be done in the short term to remove the heavier materials, quick action to remove floating materials can be highly effective in maintaining water quality. Typically, these floating materials consist of ash, charcoal, straw, grass, leaves, and manure. These materials can cause issues for the water supply if they aren’t quickly removed.

Consultation begins on new biosecurity strategy implementation plan

Victorians can have their say on implementing the state's Biosecurity Strategy through a new consultation that recently opened.

The Biosecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (the Plan) sets out what everyone can do to reduce the risks and impacts that pests and diseases have on what we value most.

'Biosecurity threats to Victoria such as H5N1 bird flu, red imported fire ants and varroa mite are dynamic. That means we must coordinate our efforts and approach to be constantly learning, flexible and responsive to emerging risks by working together,' said Biosecurity Victoria Acting Executive Director Sharyn Williams.

The Plan outlines key activities, roles and timelines to ensure delivery of actions aligns with the Biosecurity Strategy for Victoria.

Leadership and Mentoring Program now open

Applications are now open for Agriculture Victoria’s Rural Women's Network’s flagship 2025/26 Leadership and Mentoring Program, closing at 11:59 pm on 1 February 2026. The opening of this important Program marks a significant step in empowering female leaders across agriculture.

The initiative will address the underrepresentation of women in agricultural leadership roles by providing adaptive management tools and approaches, mentoring and case studies from industry leaders and subject matter experts, and peer engagement, all in a supportive environment.

Women working in agriculture often experience competing priorities and mental and physical overload. As such, the Program will run as two residential immersive sessions of three days each.

The immersive sessions will take participants away from their usual surroundings and distractions, allowing them to focus on reflecting, connecting, and gaining practical skills, as well as exploring their emotional and physical health and wellbeing, boundary setting and self-advocacy as an integral part of the Program.

Women living in regional and rural areas can also encounter financial barriers which prevent participation in leadership programs. That’s why all study and accommodation costs will be covered for successful participants to undertake the Program. We will also provide financial support for childcare and travel to those who require this.

Please share with your networks and encourage exceptional women working in agriculture to apply for the Program to support them in taking the next steps in their leadership journey.

All women living in Victoria and working across agriculture and the supply chain are encouraged to apply.

What's On

Details about these events and more can be found on our website.

Re-fencing and land classing workshop

When: Wednesday 4 February, 6 - 9 pm
Where: Streatham Hall, Campbell Street, Streatham 3351
Cost: free event - no need to register.

Agriculture Victoria is working with Victorian farmers and industry to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters, including fires, floods and storms.

Topics covered:

• Farm planning
• Land classing
• Mapping.

For more information, contact:

• Clem Sturmfels (Agriculture Victoria): 0429 018 879 or clem.sturmfels@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• Lyn Heenan (Landcare) lyn_heenan@bigpond.com

Farm Office Efficiencies Workshop - Horsham

When: Tuesday 10 February, 9 am - 3 pm
            (Wednesday 11 February session sold out)
Where: Horsham DEECA Centre 110 Natimuk Road, Horsham 3401
Cost: free

The workshop will look at strategies, tools and tips to increase office efficiency and how best to use your accounting software such as Xero. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to test the suggestions on their books or on the demo program.

Soil constraints and nutrition with Dr Cass Schefe

When: Wednesday 18 February, 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free

Unlock the full potential of your paddocks by understanding and managing soil constraints and fertility.

This webinar will equip farmers with practical strategies to improve soil health, boost crop performance, and make more informed input decisions, leading to optimised yields and improved emissions intensity.

Dr Cass Schefe is a highly qualified soil scientist and leading expert in farm emissions. Cass has been working with farmers across Australia to understand their emissions profile and implement practice change that boosts productivity while reducing emissions.

RSVP by Monday 16 February 2026.

Calculate your farm emissions workshop

When: Tuesday 24 February, 10 am - 2 pm
Where: Wimmera CMA Office, 24 Darlot Street Horsham, 3400
Cost: Free

Join this practical session designed to help you understand your farm’s emissions and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and sustainability.

Adam Buzza from Agriculture Victoria will lead this workshop, where you will have the opportunity to apply your own data into an emissions calculator, with guidance and support every step of the way.

Online Farm Business Resilience Program

When: Wednesday 25 February, 12 - 2:30 pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free

The online Farm Business Resilience Program is supporting farmers to build on their knowledge and skills, strengthening their farm business to better manage the risks associated with a variable climate.

Agriculture Victoria invites you to join other farm business owners and managers for this free online short course running over 6 weeks, covering 5 modules:

• Module 1: Identifying and managing risks, strategic planning and setting business goals (25 February)
• Module 2: Financial management, budgeting and profitable decision making (4 March)
• Module 3: Climate risk and natural resource management (11 March)
• Module 4: Managing people on farm, succession planning and farm safety (18 March)
• Module 5: Business planning (1 April)

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

Privacy | Disclaimer

This newsletter is distributed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe now.