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Thursday 25 September 2025
Drought support available
Farmers can access financial assistance and support today to help manage during drought.
Our website provides information on available supports, including financial counselling, mental health and wellbeing services, and links to other organisations that can help.
You’ll also find practical tools, resources and information to help you plan and manage your feed, water and livestock needs.
Plus, find out about upcoming events in your region and online or by calling 136 186.
CMA Drought Employment Program
Farmers, farm workers and agricultural business employees impacted by the ongoing drought conditions in the south west can now apply to be part of the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Drought Employment Program.
The program will be available for farmers or farm-dependent workers from 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in south west Victoria including Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Greater Geelong and southern parts of West Wimmera.
Eligible local farmers and farm workers can now express interest in being part of the program ahead of a recruitment process via www.ccma.vic.gov.au (Corangamite CMA region) or www.ghcma.vic.gov.au (Glenelg Hopkins CMA region).
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.
Melbourne Royal Show
Heading to the Melbourne Royal Show? Swing by the Livestock Pavilion and say hi!
- We're here to talk drought and its impact on farms and communities.
- Learn how to help protect our wildlife from avian influenza (H5N1).
- Plus, fun for the little ones with activity packs and headbands!
See you there!
Find more information about available drought support at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Vic Hub project 1 of 5 awarded in national Long-term Trials program
A project to establish tree-survival signatures for water stress in orchards is one of only 5 nationally to receive funding in Round 2 of the Future Drought Fund (FDF) Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program.
Led by The University of Melbourne, the project brings together 3 other Vic Hub partners – Federation University (as the Digital Platforms Innovations lead), Agriculture Victoria and the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre.
Important information for small berry, melon and leafy vegetable growers
We understand that small horticulture businesses operate differently to larger ones.
To help, we have made sure that relevant information, resources and support are available to help you meet the requirements of the new Food Safety Standards.
Small growers who are not within recognised food safety schemes will complete an online Food Safety Management Statement (FSMS) as part of the registration process. We have created a factsheet to help small growers understand this process.
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre have created 1 page grower guides to help navigate the requirements of the standards: fpsc-anz.com/food-safety-grower-guides/
We recognise that it may take some time to work through the necessary steps, so our team is here to help. Reach out at food.safety@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Find more information and resources, including a factsheet on water quality testing, on our website.
GRDC research scholarship
The GRDC Research Scholarship (GRS) is a 3-year top-up valued at over $38,850 per year, supporting PhD candidates whose research tackles challenges or creates opportunities in the Australian grains industry. It complements existing RTP scholarships and aligns with GRDC’s RD&E Plan 2023–28. Exceptional applicants without an RTP may also be considered, especially in areas needing research capacity.
- Applications Open – 8 September 2025
- Deadline for submission enquiries – 8 October 2025
- Applications Close – 15 October 2025
Zanda McDonald Award
Are you a rising star in the agriculture or rural sector?
The Zanda McDonald Award can help you realise your ambitions through life-changing mentoring, industry connections, and unique 'light-bulb moments'.
Tap into a dynamic network of leading ag professionals and take part in a fully funded trans-Tasman tour designed to fast-track your personal and professional growth.
Open to individuals aged 21–35 across Australia and New Zealand. Apply for the 2026 Award and unlock your full potential.
Online applications open 1–31 October 2025.
Safe Food Victoria: Help shape the future of food safety
The Victorian Government is cutting red tape and making it easier to get fresh food to Victorian families with a new food safety regulator.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas recently announced the new, stronger regulator, Safe Food Victoria – designed to better protect public health and continue to give communities confidence in the safety of their food.
Victorians are now encouraged to have their say on the role of the new body, with the feedback to help shape its focus and priorities, including how they currently interact with other regulators and councils, and how the new regulator should operate.
Hay and grain webinar recording now available
Don’t despair if you missed our hay or grain webinar with Agriculture Victoria’s agronomists Dale Grey, Dale Boyd and Darryl Pearl, plus Greg Toomey from Nutrien Ag Solutions.
- Listen to the webinar recording here http://bit.ly/464utW0 Please use the passcode hayorgrain
Information about available drought supports can be found at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or by calling 136 186.
Ag Vic Talk season 10 -Embracing CaLD workers in Victoria's dairy industry, with Christine Sebire and Jenny Wilson
Hear how Victoria's dairy industry is embracing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) workers.
In this Farming Safe and Well episode, Jenny Wilson from the Gardiner Foundation and dairy farmer Christine Sebire share practical strategies for building culturally safe workplaces, supporting CaLD employees, and strengthening community connections.
🎧Listen now to learn how we can all make farming safer and more inclusive.
Feedlotting sheep workshops
Join us for 3 workshops at Piangil Community Centre where Elders Senior Livestock Production Advisor Rob Inglis will present key aspects of sheep production and offer practical advice on setting up or restarting a feedlotting enterprise.
Workshop 1 - Designing and building a profitable feedlot
When: Tuesday 30 September, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Piangil Community Centre, 8 Beveridge Street, Piangil
Focussing on practical planning, layout, setup costs and group cost-analysis activity.
Workshop 2 - Feeding and nutrition workshop, February 2026 TBC
Workshop 3 - Beyond the feedlot - welfare markets and integration, June 2026 TBC
Full details of future workshops will be confirmed at a later stage.
For more information about the workshop series, contact Roger Harrower on 0407 729 024 or email roger.harrower@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Silage, hay and pasture webinar series
Spring is here and silage, hay and pasture recovery will be top of mind for many producers.
Join us for a lunchtime webinar series running every Wednesday until 8 October from 12:30-1:30 pm.
- Webinar 2, 1 October – Hay Done Right with Frank Mickan
- Webinar 3, 8 October – Bounce Back Pastures with Andrew Speirs from Meridian Agriculture
Find more information on drought and technical decision-making support at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought
Grains biosecurity awareness webinar
When: Monday 30 September
Time: 9-10 am
Plant Health Australia (PHA), the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Grain Producers Australia (GPA) have partnered to deliver a new webinar series focused on biosecurity in the grains industry.
The first webinar in the series, Grains biosecurity awareness – spring 2025, will cover:
- key biosecurity threats to grains for spring 2025
- simple steps you can take to reduce risk on your farm
- how biosecurity supports a strong and profitable industry
- who to contact if you see something unusual in your crops
- upcoming activities to help build industry preparedness.
The webinar will also outline how PHA, the GRDC and GPA are working together to strengthen biosecurity across the grains industry. This is a free online session open to all growers, advisers and others working in the grains industry.
SARLC Bouncing back from dry times
Image credit: Southern Australia Livestock Research Council
When: 1 October, 8:30 am to 3 pm
Where: Hamilton Showgrounds, Shakespeare Street, Hamilton
Join the Southern Australia Livestock Research Council for a free one day event that will equip farmers with practical strategies to boost productivity and profitability post-drought.
Presenters:
- Lisa Miller SFS - Strategies for underperforming pastures
- Angus Brown, Mecarda - Livestock market insights
- Sandy McEachern, Aggregate Consulting - Knowing your numbers, benchmarking
- Nigel Kerin, Kerin Ag - Strategies for bouncing back from dry times
Enquiries: Johnny Gardner - 0418 508 923
Hamilton Farm Safety Day
Farm safe and strong - Practical tips for improving safety on the land
When: Friday 3 October, 9 am - 1:30 pm
Where: Hamilton SmartFarm, 915 Napier Road, Hamilton
Join WorkSafe for a hands-on event dedicated to improving safety and well-being in agriculture – and especially during challenging times. Through expert-led demonstrations and practical advice, attendees will learn safer methods for cattle handling including loading and unloading cattle, preventing Q fever and needle stick injuries.
Whether you’re managing or working on a family farm or a large property, or you are a student in agriculture, this event offers valuable insights and tools to protect your livelihood, your team, and yourself. Come away informed, connected and better equipped for a safer future on the land.
Pasture Cropping Workshop
When: 3 October, 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Loddon Plains Landcare Network, Inglewood
Protection from farm theft webinar
When: 7 October, 12-1 pm
Join co-founder of AgCloud Grant Sutton, a representative from Victoria Police Farm Crime Liaison Group and AgVic Grains Industry Officer Darryl Pearl for a timely webinar on how AgTech and strong biosecurity protocols can protect your farm assets.
The webinar will cover:
- farm theft trends, Victoria Police
- physical security solutions, Grant Sutton
- biosecurity and safety, Darryl Pearl
- question and answer session
Whether you're looking to make informed decisions or future-proof your farm operations, this session offers practical insights and tools to support your journey in protecting what matters.
Contact Darryl Pearl on 0417 432 711 or darryl.pearl@agriculture.vic.gov.au to learn more.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar. The session will be recorded for those who register but are unable to attend.
Farm business health check
When: 8 October, 8:30-11 am
Where: Nareen Hall
Join us for a free breakfast and hear from guest speaker Neville Brady. Neville will speak about improving team (family) performance by reducing conflict. You will get a farm business health check, looking at gaps between actual and ideal structures
RSVP: Sardie on 0478 053 943.
Soil moisture probes and grain storage
When: Monday 13 October, 3-6 pm
Where: 'Girvan Lea', 55 McGenniskens Road, Wonwondah
Join fellow farmers for a practical, on-farm workshop designed to help you get the most out of the Wimmera soil moisture probe network and improve your grain storage practices. The workshop will include presentations by Chris Warrick GRDC grain storage specialist, Tim Powell (Integrated Irrigation) and Dale Boyd (Ag Vic) followed by an inspection of a soil moisture probe, grain silos and a complimentary dinner.
WCMA Otways livestock and landscape tour
When: Monday 20 October
Where: Yan Yan Gurt West Farm, Otways
Join WCMA on a free bus tour to the Otways to visit a thriving carbon-neutral prime lamb operation with a strong focus on biodiversity.
Pickups and drop offs from Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, Skipton and Beeac
Wimmera Pulse Field Day
When: Wednesday 22 October, 8:30 am for 9 am start to 1 pm
Where: 500m north of the intersection at Dimboola-Minyip Road and Keenan’s Road, Kewell. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kbFsH4o8kKVaPbVx6
Join our pulse agronomists, researchers and experts from across the pulse industry for our annual field day and trials showcase at Kewell.
See firsthand the results of our trials in lentil, field pea, chickpea and faba bean.
GRDC events
18 September, 8:30-10 am, Faba bean on-farm demonstration crop walk – Douglas - GRDC
23 September, 9 am - 3 pm, GRDC Harvester Set Up Workshop – Horsham
24 September, 9 am - 3 pm, GRDC Harvester Set Up Workshop – Carwarp
25 September, 8-10 am, GRDC Grain Storage Workshop – Sea Lake
25 September, 1-3 pm, GRDC Grain Storage Workshop – Boort
15 October, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm New Frontiers Grainstorming – Bendigo
23 October, 7-8:30 pm, New Frontiers Grainstorming, online – Workshop 1
Visit grdc.com.au/events to learn more.
Birchip Cropping Group events
Visit www.bcg.org.au/events
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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