In this edition:

• Avian Influenza - remain vigilant
• Ag Vic contacting land owners near Meredith and Terang
• Avian influenza response continues in Victoria
• Getting the rations right in dry seasons
• Take part in our livestock predation survey
• Protect your paddocks with a stock containment area
• Biosecurity Basics – episode 11
• Dry seasons and drought support
• Free financial counselling
• Cultivating Futures in Farming Mentor Program registrations close soon
• In case you missed it
• What's on

As we continue to respond to the avian flu outbreak, we’re urging bird owners to remain vigilant.

Look out for symptoms and report any unexplained bird deaths to the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.

For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu

Agriculture Victoria will be contacting property owners located near the avian influenza affected farms in the Meredith and Terang areas to check in. Residents in the area may be contacted via phone or text.

We will be asking if you have chickens or other livestock on the property, and about the health of the animals. Gathering this data helps us to plan our avian influenza response and lift the quarantine measures that are in place as soon as possible.

Be aware of scams. Agriculture Victoria will not ask for financial information or credit card details.

If you have any questions or want to report sick or dead birds, please contact the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.

For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu

Agriculture Victoria continues to respond to the detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza at 8 Victorian poultry farms, with no new infected properties identified since 24 June. Between 120-160 staff are deployed on any given day.

Victorian Government staff have completed more than 5,000 surveillance activities, including property visits, phone calls and dead bird collections, and tested over 16,300 samples.

Agriculture Victoria staff continue to work with affected properties supporting decontamination, egg and litter disposal. A comprehensive surveillance program of all commercial poultry farms in the area is also underway.

Residents nearby to the infected properties are receiving regular text messages and calls from Agriculture Victoria to confirm the health of any poultry on their property.

Poultry owners are reminded that movement controls remain in place near Terang, Meredith and Lethbridge. Permits are required for the movement of birds, poultry products and feed. These are expected to remain in place until the situation stabilises.

There is also a housing requirement in place, meaning all birds in the restricted area or control area near the infected properties must remain in their enclosures, to avoid any contact with wild birds.

'We appreciate that in these areas it’s not always easy to have your birds housed and we thank bird owners for their essential support to prevent the spread of this disease, as the risk of the disease remains,' said Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke.

'I’d also like to acknowledge the poultry industry for their ongoing assistance as we work to eradicate avian influenza from Victoria. It’s already been a huge effort, but we encourage all primary producers to remain vigilant and report any unwell poultry to the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.'

Agriculture Victoria staff are also providing information at community pop-up stands in Terang and Bannockburn areas each week.

Infected properties continue to be decontaminated and the risk of infection removed, as Agriculture Victoria works towards achieving freedom of avian influenza for Victoria’s poultry industry.

Individual affected farms can experience significant financial stress. Compensation is payable under specified circumstances for destruction of livestock and property on infected premises.

Other supports available include:

• the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)
• the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) is a fortnightly Commonwealth Government payment for eligible farming families in financial hardship
• low-interest loans for farm businesses are available through the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Investment Corporation (RIC).

A comprehensive list of resources and contact details for industry and individual support, including technical, financial and mental health information, support and services, in our resource directory.

Agriculture Victoria continues to urge poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths to the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.

While cases among humans in direct contact with animals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are possible, the current risk to the public remains low. If you have had contact with birds on an affected property and you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, call your doctor or the Department of Health on 1300 651 160 for medical advice.

More information, including movement permits, compensation details and mental health resources, are available online at agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianinfluenza.

Weighing up the value of rations is critical to managing feed in dry seasons.  

Check out these tools at Feeding Livestock – getting the rations right for making rations to ensure stock performance 

Agriculture Victoria is seeking up-to-date data to better understand how wild dogs and dingoes are affecting Victorian livestock farmers.

The Livestock Predation Survey will collect data from farmers about incidents of livestock predation by wild dogs and dingoes on their properties, including:

• The levels and frequency of livestock attacks
• how livestock attacks impact farmers and their local communities
• the effectiveness and efficiency of lethal and non-lethal control methods.

This survey is targeted to livestock producers across the whole of Victoria. Participation is voluntary.

Data collected through the survey will help inform a review of the policies and regulations for the management of livestock predation and conservation of dingoes in Victoria.

In partnership with Traditional Owners, Agriculture Victoria will commence formal consultation in the coming weeks, with farmers, ecologists, industry and other stakeholders being invited to participate and provide feedback.

Survey details

Duration: The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

Confidentiality: This survey is confidential and anonymous. It does not ask for your name. No information about individuals will be released. DEECA’s privacy policy can be found here: https://www.deeca.vic.gov.au/privacy

Deadline: The survey will close at 11:59 pm on 6 August 2024.

How to participate: Click Livestock Predation Survey to access the survey. 

We are grateful for your time and participation. The data you provide is invaluable to us and the broader agricultural community.

If you have any questions about the survey, please email the team at livestockpredation@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Farmers in south-west Victoria are encouraged to consider containment feeding to protect pastures and paddocks from soil erosion over the next few months.

Land Management Extension Officer, Clem Sturmfels said paddocks with depleted pasture cover are susceptible to damage. Those most at-risk are on sloping ground and with a sandy topsoil.

‘Once pasture cover drops below 70 – 80%, damage to soil can occur. This damage can be wind erosion, sheet erosion, soil structure decline or a combination of all three,’ said Mr Sturmfels.

‘Continued overgrazing will also significantly damage pastures, resulting in reduced plant density and vigour.

‘Placing animals in a stock containment area (SCA) is the ideal way to protect paddocks in a dry season when ground cover has diminished,’ said Mr Sturmfels.

‘Setting up a SCA requires careful planning and design to make them efficient and easier to operate.’

Containment areas should allow two to five square metres per sheep and 10 to 15 square metres per cattle. Good fencing, appropriate subdivision to separate different classes of livestock, and water troughs with a reliable water supply are also required.

‘Managing livestock in a SCA is a significant commitment and requires daily monitoring and maintenance to ensure the nutritional, water and health needs of stock are met,’ added Mr Sturmfels.

Farmers looking for alternate options to protect their paddocks from soil erosion, could consider using a sacrifice paddock or a laneway as a temporary SCA, to restrict damage to a smaller area of the farm.

Farmers are advised to check with a local Council Planning Officer before starting construction of a stock containment area as a planning permit may be required in some situations.

Find out more about stock containment areas.

Chickens are a popular backyard companion.

From eggs in the morning to wandering around the backyard – they are entertaining feathered friends.  

In this episode, Cathy Ronalds and Agriculture Victoria’s Dr Dianne Phillips discuss looking after the health and wellbeing of your chooks and maintaining good at-home biosecurity practices.   

Listen via the AgVic website.

Have you updated your plan for the current seasonal conditions? Having a solid drought plan can help you with decision making in adverse conditions.

Check out the dry seasons and drought support on the Agriculture Victoria website today.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service provides a free and confidential financial counselling service to eligible farmers and small related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can help you to access available support, analyse your business situation, negotiate with lenders and develop strategies to improve your financial position. To find your closest service visit rfcsnetwork.com.au or call 1300 771 741.

Registrations for the 2024-25 Cultivating Futures in Farming (CFF) Mentor Program close Wednesday 7 August.

It's a free program designed for our ‘next generation farm managers’.

Participants learn from mentors, experts and peers to gain confidence in decision making and how to develop the financial, business and people management skills for running a farm business.

The program consists of face-to-face workshops (including farm visits), online webinars and individual coaching sessions.

The program will begin with an in-person 2-day workshop in Birchip from 14-15 August.

Watch a recently recorded webinar about the CFF mentor program here. Passcode: Bupcq7

Visit the Cultivating Futures in Farming page on the Agriculture Victoria website to learn more and apply.

The Cultivating Futures in Farming Mentor Program is provided by Agriculture Victoria in partnership with Birchip Cropping Group and facilitated by Pinion Advisory. It is delivered through the Farm Business Resilience Program.

GRDC urges growers to assess farm silos ahead of harvest

A series of high-risk incidents involving the collapse of on-farm silos has industry experts calling on grain growers across the country to assess and either maintain or decommission older silos.

Read the media release here.

Support For north-west Victorian wine grape growers

North-west Victorian wine grape growers will soon benefit from increased access to support from the Rural Financial Counselling Service thanks to the investment by the Victorian Government.

Read the media release here.

Dairy farmers use of antibiotics survey

Dairy farmers are invited to participate in a University of Melbourne survey about the responsible use of antibiotics.

The information and opinions you provide will help researchers to develop ways of measuring and reporting antibiotic use that are meaningful and useful to livestock producers.

Complete the survey here.

Avoiding the full force of cold weather on cows

During cold weather, the energy requirements of a cow can increase by up to 20%, with lighter cows being more affected than those in adequate condition.

Read the media release here.

Grants to help bring the agricultural show season

Victorian agricultural and pastoral societies looking to improve their infrastructure or boost awareness and involvement in regional shows will get more support from the Victorian Government.

Applications close 23 August.

Read the media release here.

Farmers invited to ‘Take a Wellbeing Break’

A series of wellbeing workshops targeting farming communities is being delivered as part of Agriculture Victoria’s Farm Business Resilience program, with the first to be held in Dimboola.

Read the media release here.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website.

Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

Save the date!

When: Sunday 4 and Monday 5 August, 8 am to 5 pm. 

Where: Hamilton Showgrounds. 

Buy tickets here.

This free event will be brought to you by Wimmera Southern Mallee Development, which aims to provide communities with clear information on the matters that mean the most.

With just 100 seats available, book your ticket now!

Funded by the Agriculture Victoria 'Regional Drought Resilience Planning Implementation Grant Program'.

Schedule

• 8 am - Free breakfast in the Longerenong College Dining Hall (egg and bacon rolls, tea and coffee etc).
• 8:45 am - Event starts at the Longerenong College Auditorium.

This event is being filmed as an information resource that will be published to WSMD's YouTube and promoted in WSMD marketing.

All efforts will be taken to film the presenters only, and not the attendees.

Click here for more information and reserve your spot.

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