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Thursday 7 August 2025
Helping families make ends meet through the drought
Mental health is a key focus for the Taskforce, and based on its feedback, they are backing a range of targeted mental health programs to support individuals and communities feeling the strain of the prolonged drought in the $144 Drought Support Package.
This includes the successful Look Over the Farm Gate program, which supports community-led events that promote social connection and mental health awareness through the National Centre for Farmer Health.
So far, more than 60 events have applied for funding through this program, and we are investing an additional $500,000 to continue to provide grants of up to $5,000 for more community events.
A $600,000 investment will also go towards the appointment of three Rural Financial Counselling Service wellbeing counsellors in Gippsland, the north east and north west Victoria to provide support for drought-affected farmers.
Other support programs available to farmers across Victoria include the Farm Drought Support Grants, with up to $5,000 to support investment in on-farm drought management activities.
To view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or phone 136 186.
One-on-one farm advisory service
All farmers, anywhere in Victoria, can register for a free consultation with a farm management specialist.
The advisory service offers a session of up to 3 hours (face-to-face or online) and a follow-up call, to help farmers take stock and develop a plan for managing drought conditions.
The advice is suited to your situation, from a consultant that you nominate from the registered panel.
Agronomists, livestock nutritionists, veterinarians, pasture and grazing specialists and farm business advisors, can support you with:
- feed and water budgeting
- farm safety and workload management
- farm business and financial management
- soil health and pasture re-establishment
- animal health and welfare, and more.
For more information about drought support: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Farm Drought Support Grants
The Victorian Government is providing practical support to farmers impacted by drought.
The Farm Drought Support Grants (formerly On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants) program is available to assist primary production businesses to implement on-farm infrastructure improvements and undertake essential business activities that improve drought.
Eligible farmers will receive up to $5,000 (ex-GST) as a co-contribution grant that will support activities including water infrastructure upgrades (such as pipes, tanks, troughs and dams), stock containment areas, and grain and fodder storage.
DAMDEEP tool wins first prize
A big congratulations to our own Greg Bekker who won first prize at Sheepvention Rural Expo’s Western Ag Inventions competition.
His winning invention – DAMDEEP – is a simple, safe and smart tool to help farmers measure dam depth with ease.
Made from a hand reel, float, fluoro beads and sinker, DAMDEEP has helped many farmers to take stock of their farm water supplies during the drought.
Used in conjunction with the summer water calculator, which can be found here, farmers can use DAMDEEP to determine how much water they have in their dams.
Farmers can get help with water planning by booking a one-on-one session with a specialist from our panel of farm advisors here.
Find more info about drought support: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Risk of red imported fire ant in imported fodder
Agriculture Victoria is urging farmers to be mindful of import requirements and to keep watch for red imported fire ants (RIFA) when sourcing fodder from interstate.
Agriculture Victoria acting Chief Plant Health Officer Stephen Dibley said RIFA, or Solenopsis invicta, is one of the worst invasive ant species in Australia.
A rough winter coat on young cattle could be telling
Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer, Northern Region
If your young cattle’s coats are looking a bit rough, it could be due to lice or ringworm, which both thrive under similar circumstances.
Both lice and ringworm are typically a greater problem in young cattle in either poor nutrition or with a compromised immune system. Neither are a significant problem to cattle in good health.
Lice are small sucking or biting insects found mostly around the head, neck and shoulder area, and along the back to the tail.
The irritation they cause lead to a rough scruffy appearance, and areas of skin rubbed raw particularly around the neck and shoulder. The main effect of lice is skin damage as well as reduced grazing.
Cattle are infested through animal-to-animal contact with other cattle from which the population of lice can build up rapidly. Cattle lice do not infest other animals.
The cattle’s denser winter coat along with cooler weather favours the lice’s survival.
Without treatment the problem will remain until spring, when increasing temperatures and day lengths along with improved nutrition naturally reduce lice numbers.
Ringworm is a transmissible infectious skin disease caused by a spore forming fungi. It too is spread by direct contact and can spread rapidly through a group of cattle, particularly in poorly growing young animals with underlying poor health or nutrition.
It causes grey-white areas of slightly raised skin with an ash-like surface. It can become extensive being seen predominantly around the eyes, ears and along the back of calves, also the chest and legs of adult cattle.
It causes little permanent damage or economic loss; however, it can be transmitted to humans.
Ringworm usually clears up within one to two months without any treatment particularly when conditions improve.
For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria animal health or extension staff.
Urea use for boosting winter growth – webinar
Urea use has proven to be a successful option to boost winter growth, helping farmers to grow more grass, which is vital during the current drought conditions.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Nick Linden said after a poor spring and summer and a late autumn break, the need to grow more feed is a top priority.
Click the image to watch the video.
How much should you be feeding your sheep?
Livestock Officer Nick Linden looks at getting the balance right when developing a feed budget to avoid pitfalls, such as feeding too little or too much.
Any Victorian farmer can get help with feed budgeting by booking a one-on-one session with a specialist from our panel of farm advisors here.
More trees on farms to benefit landowners
The Victorian Government is encouraging Victorian farmers and landowners to take advantage of a new program to plant more trees on their farms – helping to boost timber supply, increase biodiversity and prevent soil erosion.
It's important to look after yourself so you can effectively look after the farm.
Farmers can face a unique set of challenges, from unpredictable weather to changes in finances.
In this Farming Safe and Well podcast episode, Maggie Bridgewater, a Wellbeing Counsellor with the Rural Financial Counselling Service in western Victoria, shares her journey and offers practical strategies for managing burnout, anxiety, and stress.
Listen now to learn how to recognise the signs of burnout and take steps to improve your mental wellbeing
Popular irrigation incentive program set to benefit even more Gippsland farmers
West 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
Boosting pasture growth with urea - webinar
When: Monday 11 August, 12:30 to 1:15 pm
Where: online.
Livestock farmers are invited to a webinar focused on using urea to boost pasture growth this winter and spring.
Urea can be a useful tool to increase pasture growth rates and reduce the amount of supplementary feeding.
Lisa Warn from Lisa Warn Ag Consulting will share expert insights into pasture conditions to get the best results, as well as timing, rates of application and cost versus benefits.
Nick Linden, an Agriculture Victoria livestock extension officer, will present findings from 2024 urea trials with the Weed Managers Producer Demonstration Site (PDS).
Topics:
- Considerations for applying urea
- Paddock selection and timing of applications
- Does it pay? Costs vs benefit
Winning with weaners
When: Tuesday 12 August, 9:30 am to 3 pm
Where: Omeo Recreation Reserve, Park Street, Omeo.
- Learn about the short, medium and long term impacts of poor weaner management on flock productivity
- Develop a weaner management plan for your weaners, including setting a target weaning weight, target weights at key times, and feeding options
- This practical workshop will help you identify key management strategies that will assist you in improving the performance of your Merino weaners, thereby optimising their performance in your flock for their lifetime.
Morning tea, lunch and workshop materials will be provided.
To find out more or to register your interest, contact Keren Walker on 0477 706 384 or at keren.walker@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Agri Connect: cultivating connections
When: Wednesday 13 August - Doors opening at 6 pm. Dinner and guest presentations from 6:30 pm
Where: Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve, Corner Nine Mile Road and Bunyip River Road, Cora Lynn.
The Cardinia Shire’s farming community is invited to join the Cardinia Shire and the Victorian Farming Federation for a social catch-up and information session.
Come along and hear from soil health expert Dr. Mary Cole and Marshall Scott from NEX Business Farming and Wellness.
Chat with representatives from AgVic and Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
Enjoy refreshments and dinner. No cost or registration required.
For more information, please email a.groves@cardinia.vic.gov.au or call 5945 3690.
Managing Dry Season Conditions to Maximise Spring Pasture Growth - Buffalo, Woodleigh, Phillip Island and Neerim South
When: Monday 18 August, 9:45 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Buffalo Community Centre, Hall Road, Buffalo
When: Monday 25 August, 9:45 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Woodleigh Hall 86 Woodleigh - St Helier Road, Woodleigh
When: Tuesday 26 August, 9:45 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Surf Beach, location provided on registration
When: Thursday 28 August, 9:45 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Neerim South Football Clubrooms,15 Neerim E Road, Neerim South.
With low rainfall, and minimal hay and silage stocks, we need to ensure we have the knowledge and confidence to manage a potentially dry spring and summer.
Presenters include:
- Dale Grey (the Fast Break) - weather outlook and what we can expect in the next few months.
- Fiona Baker - setting ourselves up for spring, and summer, water requirements, and maximising our potential growth leading into our peak growing season
- James Paulet – will talk about the 6 new soil moisture probes and weather stations located in West and South Gippsland and using this data to make informed decisions.
- Farmers Chris Nixon (Beef and Dairy - Orbost, and Trevor Caithness (beef and cropping – Goon Nure) will talk about strategies they implemented to get through the 3-year drought in East Gippsland and what worked and what didn’t, and what they would do better next time.
After lunch we will visit Ross Batten and Madeline and Bernard Buckley’s farm and discuss strategies they are implementing in preparation for a potentially dry spring and summer.
Technical irrigation workshop – vegetables
When: Tuesday 26 August, 11 am to 2 pm.
Where: Peter Schreurs & Sons, Devon Meadows.
This half-day, on-farm practical irrigation workshop will be held at Peter Schreurs & Sons in Devon Meadows. It will be presented by irrigation agronomist and designer Jeremy Giddings.
You will learn about:
- efficient vegetable irrigation systems and design
- water usage
- budgeting
- and much more.
A light lunch will be provided to all registered attendees.
Irrigating berries technical workshop
When: Wednesday 27 August, 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Lilydale Lakeside Conference Centre, 1 Jarlo Drive, Lilydale.
Agriculture Victoria irrigation agronomist and designer Jeremy Giddings will present a session focused on berry irrigation systems and design, including:
- how to test for drip application uniformity
- designing and maintaining optimum system drainage, avoiding ‘wet patches’
- chlorination, flushing and system maintenance checks
- pressure and discharge maintenance.
The event also includes an on-farm practical irrigation demonstration at a berry farm in the Yarra Valley.
Decisions that drive drought recovery – Meeniyan
When: Wednesday, 27 August, 9 am - 3:30 pm
Where: Meeniyan Community Hub, 95 Whitelaw Street, Meeniyan
A powerful and practical 1-day workshop on how to build resilience, navigate crisis and adapt to change.
Feel confident and equipped to make the decisions necessary to navigate your farm business through the current seasonal crisis/challenges by:
- learning how to navigate competing priorities for limited resources (family, farm and business)
- identifying key resource issues, stressors, risks and opportunities for your farm business
- learning improved decision-making skills and how to manage key priorities – especially when under pressure and stress
- learning skills to rebuild capacity after battling personal/health and business challenges
- connecting to networks that support recovery and resilience.
Morning tea and a light lunch provided.
CFOP workshop and farm walk – Bass Coast
When: Friday 29 August, 10 am to 1:30 pm
Where: Archies Creek (address provided after registration)
Join us for this informative Bass Coast Carbon Farming Outreach Program (CFOP) workshop and farm walk.
This event will be hosted at the Archies Creek property of Ric Oldham, who has developed a CFOP action plan, and will be supported by expert CFOP presenter Nick Dudley.
Nick has over 15 years of experience in carbon farming and will be speaking on the following topics:
- Fundamentals of carbon farming
- Tracking and calculating your farm emissions
- Estimating your farm’s carbon footprint
- Using carbon accounting tools including a greenhouse accounting framework and LOOC–C
- Introduction to developing an on-farm emissions action plan
- Showcasing Ric Oldham’s case study action plan.
Host farmer Ric Oldham will also provide insights into the development of his action plan and showcase some of the works he has implemented on his property during the farm walk.
Morning tea and lunch will be provided. BYO chair and mug. Please RSVP by Monday 25 August.
All about feralSCAN
When: Thursday 4 September, 5 to 6:30 pm
Where: online.
Join Peter West from the Department of Primary Industry to hear about how and why recording pest animal sightings on feralSCAN is one easy way we can contribute to pest animal management.
Peter has 20 years’ experience in pest animal research and management and is responsible for the national feralSCAN program.
Download the feralSCAN app to your phone now.
Contact Kirby on kirby@sgln.net.au or 0480 749 731 if you need any help.
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Partnerships against Pests program
Plant and soil health seminar – Maffra and Pakenham
When: Tuesday 9 September, 11 am to 2 pm
Where: DEECA, 1 Stratford–Maffra Road, Maffra.
When: Wednesday 10 September, 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Mercure Pakenham conference room, 77 Racecourse Road, Pakenham.
International soils expert Joel Williams is returning to the region. Learn about foliar nutrition and soil management in baby leaf and brassica crops, including sap testing.
Submit your questions to Joel through the registration page.
Best Practice Fox Control
When: Friday 12 September, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Sandy Point Community Centre
The lead up to lambing season is a great time to plan a control program.
Attendees to this event will have the opportunity to borrow camera traps from South Gippsland Landcare that can be used during a control program or to help you understand your pest animals.
At this event Aaron Stephens from Bass Coast Landcare Invasive Species team will cover:
- all available fox control methods
- how to integrate methods for the most successful control
- what qualifications are required
Fox control is currently being undertaken in Sandy Point and along the Bass and Bunurong coast. Aaron will also talk about this fox control program.
Kasun Ekanayake from Birdlife Australia will talk about how fox control along with other methods have been implemented to try and increase the success of Hooded Plover breeding along the coast. Learn how you could get involved.
Please email kirby@sgln.net.au if you have questions.
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Partnerships against Pests program
Youth Agritech Jobs Expo
When: Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 September
Where: Gippsland Agriculture Centre.
Head along to the Youth Agritech Jobs Expo - showcasing the broad range of careers in agriculture.
For more information, call 0423 205 007.
Keep up to date with GippsDairy's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Gippsland Agricultural Group's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Food & Fibre Gippsland's events on their website.
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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