Thursday 1 May 2025

Drought support for south west farmers

Agriculture Victoria continues to support drought-affected farmers in south west Victoria with an ongoing program of events. Check out the events being delivered as part of the Drought Support Package.

Stay up to date with what’s on at the calendar of events. 

Bushfire recovery support

If your business or industry has been impacted by the 2024-25 bushfires in western Victoria, support is available to assist with your immediate and long-term recovery. Upcoming supports include:

• Business Recovery Advisory Service – free business support for impacted businesses, via telephone, online or in-person for impacted businesses, to find the right strategies for long-term recovery.
• Business Bushfire Recovery Grant Program – $5,000 grants to small businesses, including eligible primary producers, that have experienced significant disruptions and revenue losses due to the bushfires.

These programs are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the Western Victoria Bushfires which commenced in December 2024 (AGRN 1166).

Register your interest to receive updates on the 2024-25 Western Victoria Bushfire Recovery grants and other related supports as they become available.

The benefits of stock containment in dry conditions

Agriculture Victoria is encouraging livestock producers to consider effective stock containment strategies to help maintain core herd or flock numbers and support pasture recovery.

Agriculture Victoria’s land management extension officer Kerri Goschnick said dry seasonal conditions and limited rainfall continue to place pressure on grazing operations, impacting pasture growth and causing bare ground across many paddocks.

‘Stock containment refers to confining livestock in designated areas, where farmers can effectively manage feed, water and shelter.

‘This allows farm paddocks to rest until an autumn break causes pastures to recover and withstand livestock grazing.

‘Stock containment doesn’t necessarily require a complicated system; it can be as simple as a sacrifice paddock with good quality water and access for feeding.

‘Farmers should be aware that there is a higher risk of weed infestation when importing feed to supplementary feed livestock.

‘Establishing a stock containment area to use supplementary feed will contain the weed seeds to a manageable area.

‘Weeds to look out for include parthenium weed, particularly in fodder sourced from parts of Queensland and New South Wales.

‘It is important that animals in containment have their nutritional, water and shelter needs met.’

Agriculture Victoria can assist in planning feed budgets and stock containment area design and management.

Further information can be found by searching for these items on the Agriculture Victoria website.

For more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support head to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

The #FarmingSafeandWell tip of the week is to consider where the dangers of confined spaces on your farm are and how to manage them to avoid suffocation from fumes, dust or low oxygen.

Confined spaces on farms can include:

• rooms, garages and sheds without adequate ventilation
• silos
• vats
• underground tunnels and wells
• water tanks
• sewers and manure pits.

Keep yourself, your family, and your workers safe and well – know how to manage the risks.

Visit Better Health Channel to read more about managing confined spaces on farms

Apply for an On-Farm Drought Infrastructure grant

Eligible drought-affected farmers in the south west can now apply for up to $5,000 in co-contribution grants to support establishing on-farm infrastructure such as:

• water infrastructure upgrades (pipes, tanks, troughs, dams)
• stock containment areas
• grain and fodder storage.

Visit the dry seasons webpage for more information or call 136 186.

What's On

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

Online Farm Business Program

Achieve your business goals, build on your skills and strengthen your farm for the future – join our upcoming online farm business course. 

Delivered over 6 weeks, this course is run in collaboration with Rural People Co. and open to livestock, grains, mixed farmers, horticulturalists and apiarists. 

Join us on Wednesdays from 7 pm.

• Module 1: Identifying and managing risks, strategic planning and setting business goals - Wednesday, 7 May
• Module 2: Financial management, budgeting and profitable decision making - Wednesday, 14 May
• Module 3: Managing people on farm, succession planning and farm safety - Wednesday, 21 May
• Module 4: Climate risk and natural resource management - Wednesday, 28 May
• Module 5: Business planning - Wednesday, 11 June.

Weathering the Dry – a farmers’ gathering - Woolsthorpe

When: Friday 9 May, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Where: Woolsthorpe Union Station Hotel, 23 Manifold Street, Woolsthorpe

Come join us for meal and evening of networking and discussion on drought. Connect with farmers, discuss feed, water and strategies to manage the dry season.

This event will focus on sharing strategies for weathering the challenges of the current dry season. Connect with local farmers, discuss issues and opportunities, and gain valuable insights to help you manage your situation. We will also share with you resources, and other support available. Don't miss out on this opportunity to come together as a community and support each other through this dry season.

This event is part of the Victorian Government’s Drought Support Package for south west Victoria.

Using carbon calculators – Benefits for your business - Hamilton and Casterton

When: Monday 12 May, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: South West TAFE 200 Ballarat Road, Hamilton

When: Monday 19 May, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm 
Where: Old Courthouse, 31 Henty Street, Casterton

Learn the benefits for your farm business. Coordinated by Glenelg Hopkins CMA and presented by Chris Blore from Agriculture Victoria.

Topics:

• Carbon accounting explained. Why would I do it?
• Carbon calculators – Which one is best for my business?
• Data - What do I have? What do I need? What else is it good for?
• Know your goal - Reduce emissions. Increase efficiency (kg CO₂/kg product)
• Using a calculator – Know your number. (Demo data trial).
• Test your management – Tweak your system to test and improve efficiency

Making the tough decisions with Cam Nicholson

When: Wednesday 14 May, 10.30 am - 2.30pm
Where: Cobden Football club,  Parrott St, Cobden, Vic 3260

WestVic Dairy (WVD) invites dairy farmers to a free, hands-on workshop with Cam Nicholson, Director of Nicon Rural Services. With over 30 years of experience in farm management and decision-making, Cam brings practical tools and insights to help you navigate the complex decisions that shape your business.

What the workshop will cover:

• Simplifying the decision-making process
• Understanding where our information comes from
• How to tackle tough on-farm decisions — from short-term winter planning to long-term strategic choices

Join WVD for an engaging session and walk away with greater confidence to make informed decisions on your farm.

This event is a part of the Victorian Governments Drought Assistance Package for Southwest Victoria. Find out more at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons

Talk the Talk Workshop - Moonambel and Raglan

Talk the Talk is a free, practical workshop designed to help local communities build confidence to support farmers facing mental health challenges. In the three-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to recognise signs of distress, use observation and listening skills, and start meaningful conversations. Whether you’re a service provider, supplier or neighbour — this workshop gives you the tools to make a difference.

Raglan: 12 - 3:30 pm, Raglan Hall 4 Codrington Street

Moonambel: 6 - 9:30 pm, Moonambel Recreation Reserve, 6190 Stawell-Avoca Road. 

Two-day Young Farmer Business Bootcamp – Hamilton

When: Thursday 15 and Friday 16 May, 9 am to 4 pm 
Where: Hamilton Smart Farm, 915 Napier Road, Hamilton

Are you a young farmer looking to upskill? Agriculture Victoria is running a 2 day business bootcamp that aims to support the next generation of farmers, owners and managers to improve their skills and management practices.

The business bootcamp will use farm case study examples, providing participants with the skills to help them manage their farm business now, as well as planning for their business into the future. After the bootcamp, one-on-one follow-up sessions will be available to participants with the presenters.

The 2 day bootcamp will be delivered by Adam and Cath at Rural People Co, covering the following topics:

• leadership on the farm
• the importance of farm business management
• introduction to budgets
• using financial data to support informed decision making
• managing risk during challenging seasons
• buying land, leasing land and share farming.

BetterBeef and BestWool/BestLamb Network Roadshow

Agriculture Victoria’s BetterBeef and BestWool/BestLamb network are hitting the road!

The 2025 Beef and Sheep Network Roadshow will bring top industry experts to four locations across Victoria, delivering the latest insights on pastures, livestock, and farm business management.

Wednesday 28 May: Edenhope and District Community Centre

Thursday 29 May: Stirling Place Community Centre, Dunkeld

Soils - Sustainable Productive and Profitable - workshop

When: 14 May, 11 am to 2 pm 
Where: HIRL Bandicoot Room, 333 North Boundary Road, Hamilton

Young Ag Professionals join Southern Farming Systems and Glenelg Hopkins CMA in Hamilton for a 'Soils - Sustainable, Productive & Profitable' workshop.

The workshop will explore:

• Understanding and identifying soil constraints
• Reading and interpreting soil test results
• Making fertiliser decisions that are sustainable, productive and profitable

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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