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Thursday 11 September 2025
Ask R U OK? ANY DAY.
Whether it’s a friend, partner, family or community member, people around us can be going through life’s ups and downs at any time, on any day.
We know that managing through drought has been particularly tough for many – so today is a good reminder to check in.
There are wellbeing and mental health services available to help manage challenging times, including:
Lifeline: call 131 144
Beyond Blue: call 1300 224 636
Rural Aid: call 1300 327 624
National Centre for Farmer Health www.farmerhealth.org.au/support-hub-victoria
Flying Doctor Wellbeing www.flyingdoctor.org.au/vic/what-we-do/wellbeing/
Rural Financial Counselling Service - wellbeing support: call 1300 771 741 or visit https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/drought-support/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support
Take time to take care of yourself. More information about available supports can be found at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or by calling 136 186.
Financial relief for drought-affected farmers
The Victorian Government is backing drought-hit farmers with cash flow relief, helping them cover costs, and continue to support the local communities and families that depend on their farms.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced the Primary Producer Support Payments program is beginning to roll out and will provide eligible farmers with the equivalent of a 40 per cent reduction on their property rates.
Farmers in the south west have experienced the worst drought conditions in the state for more than 2 years, impacting their livelihoods, households and local communities.
The government is working closely with the 12 councils that are administering the program, including Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Greater Geelong, and the southern parts of west Wimmera.
Drought support for farmers across the state
- Farm Drought Support Grants of up to $5,000 to support on-farm drought management activities like infrastructure improvements, water carting and pasture re-establishment
- expert technical support through the one-on-one farm advisory service
- local workshops and events to connect with other farmers and discuss drought issues and management strategies
- fee and duty relief package to reduce costs linked to biosecurity and food safety regulations and duties.
Find more information about drought support: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Animal health management reminders
Richard Smith, Agriculture Victoria Dairy Extension Officer
Carefully managing livestock as they transition back onto pastures is crucial to avoid health issues.
Farmers currently with stock in containment areas may be tempted to shift to paddock grazing once spring hits and some lush green pick is available.
It's critical farmers manage this feed transition as the higher moisture content and lower dry matter in pastures, and sudden change in diet can lead to animal health issues such as acidosis.
To better manage the transition and reduce the risk of health issues the following strategies can be utilised:
Transitioning feed is critical
Feed transition is important to reduce the impact of digestive issues and plant poisonings. To manage this gradually reduce the amount of dry season ration offered and replace it by providing limited access to pasture (an hour or 2 each day).
This change in diet should happen slowly over a week to allow the rumen to adjust.
For more information on meeting the nutritional needs for your livestock visit www.feedinglivestock.vic.gov.au/beef-resources/
Monitor pasture composition
Keep a watchful eye out for bloat, especially in young cattle if they are grazing on fast growing legume species, such as clovers, lucerne or vetch, and ensure the stock have ready access to fibre such as straw and cereal hay.
Before grazing, inspect paddocks for weeds. If there are high levels of weed infestations, check the plant species and seek advice on their potential toxicity and how to best manage.
Manage and monitor nutrient toxicities and deficiencies
Monitor for nitrate/nitrite poisoning, which is a higher risk in the first weeks after rain, symptoms include diarrhoea, salivation, breathing difficulties, and blue/chocolate mucous membranes.
If these symptoms are detected reduce access to pastures and extend the feed transition with a more balanced diet.
For more information on drought support visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Ag Vic Talk season 10
Understanding Q fever: protecting dairy farmers, with Karen McLennan
Do you know the signs of Q Fever? Did you know that the disease is prevalent in Victoria, especially in Gippsland?
Tune in to our latest Farming Safe and Well episode, where we are joined by Karen McLennan from GippsDairy.
Karen shares valuable insights on the importance of vaccination, protective measures for farmers and farm workers and awareness among the dairy community.
Listen now to learn how you can create a safer and more efficient farm by understanding and preventing Q fever.
RIC Loans
RIC variable interest rate for farm business loans is on hold at 5.18% effective 1 August 2025 until 1 February 2026.
Farmers in tough financial times due to situations outside their control from drought, flood or other natural disasters may be eligible to apply for a RIC loan.
RIC’s AgriStarter Loan is also available for new farm businesses or succession planning to keep family farms in the family.
Farmers can restructure up to 50% of their existing debt to improve cash flow to gain some financial breathing space.
What's On
Details about these events and more can be found our website.
Tatura and Echuca dairy seasonal planning workshops
Feed and water reserves are tight, what’s next? The next 6 weeks are critical, and it’s time to start planning.
Workshop dates – all workshops run from 10:30 am – 2 pm
- Tuesday 16 September – Tatura (Tatura Middle Hotel)
- Wednesday 17 September – Echuca (Caledonian Hotel)
If you’re a young dairy farmer in northern Victoria, don’t miss these seasonal planning workshops designed to help you make confident decisions about feed, water, and herd management this spring.
What’s covered:
- current conditions
- water use and irrigation decisions
- feed planning plus budgeting
- herd numbers across all classes
- financial impacts of your choices.
With expert advice from Tom Farran (Farmanco Consultant)
Free to attend – but registration is essential.
Supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Drought Support Package.
For more information, please contact Tom Farran on 0447 377 820.
Webinar – Hay or grain? Making the right call
Join our agronomists Dale Grey and Dale Boyd and Nutrien Ag Solutions Greg Toomey, for a timely and practical webinar aimed to help you make an informed decision to cut your cereal crops for hay or to harvest them for grain.
Monday 15 September from 12-1 pm
For more info contact Rebecca Mitchell on 0438 111 994 or at rebecca.mitchell@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Corryong, Benalla and Mansfield – From vision to action: building your farm business strategy
Corryong - 16 September from 9 am to 4:30 pm at RSL Hall, 42 Donaldson Street
- Benalla - 17 September from 9 am to 4:30 pm at Lakeside Community Centre, 2A Bridge Street
- Mansfield - 18 September from 9 am to 4:30 pm at Delatite Hotel, 95 High Street.
Join Pinion Advisory consultants Esmée de Looff and Nathaniel Modra as they guide you through the process of developing a strategic plan tailored to your business.
You’ll leave with a renewed sense of clarity, practical tools and a roadmap to move forward with confidence. Whether you’re planning for growth, succession, or simply want to run a more streamlined operation, this workshop is designed to help you take action.
Bring your business partner(s) along to make the most of the opportunity to go through the process, and collaborate, reflect and plan together.
Topics of the workshop:
- Business strategy and culture
- Identifying strategic priorities
- Action planning for key initiatives
- Systems for business efficiency
- Risk management
- Team roles and responsibilities.
Mansfield – Fodder production in a challenging season
Needing to produce fodder after the tough season? Or will you be buying in fodder to get through spring? Come along to one of our fodder field days to get the most out of your pasture hay or silage this spring.
Wednesday 17 September at the Mansfield Golf Club. 24 Kidston Parade, Mansfield
Presenter: Frank Mickan - Frank is an industry-renowned specialist in fodder and pasture conservation, providing insights into producing high-quality hay and silage.
Topics include:
- How to make the best quality hay and silage
- How fodder quality influences livestock production
- Understanding the ensiling process
- Including additives
- Storage systems and minimising wastage
- Feed testing.
For further information, contact Toni Dakis, Agricultural Recovery Officer on 0428 975 728 or toni.dakis@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Numbers are limited. Registration is essential for catering purposes.
Leneva – Herbaceous weed control workshop
20 September from 10 am to 1 pm at Leneva Hall, 3081 Beechworth-Wodonga Road.
Herbaceous weeds are more than just a nuisance; they pose serious threats to our landscapes. These invasive plants can take over pastures, outcompete native species, shelter pest
animals, and reduce the productivity of both farmland and natural areas.
Join us to learn how to identify priority species and apply proven control techniques as part of a broader, collaborative approach to weed management across the region.
What you’ll learn:
how herbaceous weeds impact biodiversity, agriculture, and waterways
how to identify common and priority weeds in our region, including:
- Paterson’s curse
- St Barnaby’s thistle
- Wild watsonia
- Chilean needle grass
- African lovegrass
- St John's wort.
- best practice control methods: manual, mechanical, chemical, and biological
- importance of safe and effective herbicide use
- ideas for the most effective control strategies on your property
- local case studies and success stories
- hands-on guidance in identifying herbaceous weeds in the field.
Numurkah, Tatura and Cohuna – Water workshop series
Unsure what water prices will do this year? What drives the water market? What can you do to manage water risk?
The water workshops aim to provide irrigating farmers in the northern Victoria region with an overview of what influences the water market, what the current situation is and how farms can ensure long-term sustainability.
- 22 September, 10 am to 2 pm – Numurkah Community Learning Centre, 99 Melville Street, Numurkah
- 23 September, 10 am to 2 pm – Agriculture Victoria Tatura Smart Farm, 255 Ferguson Road, Tatura
- 24 September, 10 am to 2 pm – Cohuna, Cohuna Bowls Club, Tennis Road, Recreation Reserve, Cohuna.
Participants will gain skills in:
- interpreting seasonal water outlooks
- evaluating entitlement versus allocation trade-offs
- applying risk management tools
- decision-making around water purchasing
- strategic use of carryover
- aligning water strategy with farm system needs.
Ultimately, producers will be better equipped to plan, respond and adapt their water use in the face of drought and market uncertainty.
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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