In this edition:

• October 2022 – January 2023 floods and storms
• Watch now - webinars on managing seasonal variability
• Free financial counselling with RFCS
• Beekeepers – know how to do an alcohol wash
• A taste you can trace - episode 6
• Livestock committee recruitment drive now open
• Download your bushfire farm fire preparedness toolkit today
• Farm biosecurity simplified with new animations
• EOI – Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council
• Stuck on how to build a farm safety plan?
• In case you missed it
• What's on

Primary producer flood recovery grants final claim date extended

The final claim date for applicants who successfully applied for a Primary Producer Flood Recovery grant for the October 2022 floods and storms has been extended from 13 January 2024 to 31 May 2024.

This date extension applies to successful applicants of the:

• Primary Producer Flood Recovery Grant
• Rural Landholder Grant
• Transport Support Program.

This extension provides primary producers and rural landholders additional time to undertake their recovery activities and finalise their claims for Tier 2 payments.

While an extension has been provided, grant recipients are encouraged to make their reimbursement claims as soon as possible.

Rural Finance administers these programs on behalf of the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.

For more information visit the Rural Finance website or contact 1800 260 425.

If you applied to Rural Finance for financial support for the October 2022 to January 2023 floods and storms and have a question about your application, contact Rural Finance at:

Phone: 1800 260 425

Email: admin@ruralfinance.com.au

Missed our recent webinar series or want to rewatch a session?

Click below to catch up on best preparing your farm for the changing seasons.

Managing Seasonal Variability – A Farmer’s Perspective

Central Victorian farmer Mr Ben Greene will explain how he and his wife Jodie manage seasonal variability while still running a profitable and sustainable farming operation.

Climate Update and Tools

Confused about the climate predictions for spring and summer?

Join renowned Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey for the low down on the season ahead.

Fodder Conservation

Hay, silage or straw? Join Agriculture Victoria Dairy Extension Officer Michelle Jolliffe to hear the latest information on fodder conservation.

Siting and Design of a Stock Containment Area

Do stock containment areas really work?

How big should I make the pens? How much do they cost?

Presented by Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Clem Sturmfels.

Clem’s detailed presentation is based on more than 30 years experience working in this field.

Animal nutrition and feeding during dry times

A session on animal considerations as we move into possible dryer/hotter spring and summer conditions. Includes the use of Stock Containment Areas.

Covering some of the basics and principles involved in feeding your stock through summer. 

Presented by Nick Linden, Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer.

Is Your Farm Water Supply Up To Scratch?

Presented by Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Clem Sturmfels.

Clem has spent much of his career helping farmers with the design, construction and repair of farm dams.

He is also experienced in the design and construction of farm pipelines.

Have you been impacted by recent floods, fires or dry seasonal conditions?

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.

There are 3 tests commonly used to detect varroa mite and other pests, including alcohol wash, sugar shake and drone uncapping.

While sugar shake and drone uncapping are useful detection methods, alcohol washing has been found to be more effective at detecting Varroa mite.

Make sure you understand safe handling techniques before opening a hive. It's essential that you wear protective clothing when collecting bees for testing.

Learn more about alcohol testing for varroa mite here.

Discover the world of traceability and how it is ensuring brand Australia is top of mind. 

Hear from Michael Dosser, Group General Manager at Results Group, about the many benefits of introducing traceability into your business using a recent pilot with the Australian Table Grape Association as evidence.

🎧 Listen online via the AgVic website: agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgVicTalk

The Victorian Government is calling for a wide range of industry professionals to apply for positions on Livestock Advisory Committees to improve animal health, strengthen the state’s biosecurity and support business management.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced applications are now open for 2 Livestock Advisory Committees – the honey bee and swine industries – while recruitment for the remaining committees will begin in early 2024.

Livestock Advisory Committee members oversee their respective Livestock Compensation Fund and help to deliver a wide range of projects that benefit their specific industries.

The latest round of the Fund delivered a total of $8.1 million across 21 projects.

Applicants will no longer need to be nominated by prescribed bodies – ensuring committees are more accessible and have a diverse membership.

Specific skills, expertise and industry experience will all be considered during the recruitment process.

Recruitment for the Sheep and Goat Compensation Advisory Committee and Cattle Compensation Advisory Committee will open in early 2024.

Click here for more information.

Download a copy of Ag Vic’s Farm Fire Preparedness Toolkit today and use it to review or develop your fire preparedness plan.

The characteristics of every farm and farming business are different and require a unique approach to fire preparedness.

Developing and implementing a fire preparedness plan can help you better prepare, minimise losses and recover faster, should your property be affected by fire.

Find and use our Farm Fire Preparedness Toolkit here.

Victorian livestock owners can brush up on their farm biosecurity knowledge using a series of easy-to-follow animations.

Agriculture Victoria has released a series of new animated videos, highlighting a range of important biosecurity information in a simple format.

Emergency Animal Disease Industry Engagement Program Manager Kellyanne Harris said the animations were produced to help walk through the basics of keeping animals healthy and properties free from disease.

‘Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility so we’re providing as much information in a variety of formats to the community so everyone can learn in a way that suits them,’ Ms Harris said.

‘Farmers and their visitors play a critical role in preventing the spread of emergency animal diseases.’

Topics covered in the animations include basic farm biosecurity, farm and visitor hygiene, introducing new livestock and important information about prohibited pig feed and ruminant feed bans.

‘Steps like having biosecurity signage and quarantining new animals have been explained in a simple way.

‘Knowing what you can and can’t feed animals is critical in the prevention of disease, so our new videos on prohibited pig feed and ruminant feed ban will help the community to understand these requirements’ Ms Harris said.

Having good biosecurity practices in place helps protect your livestock, your neighbour’s livestock and the entire agriculture industry from the threats of disease.

‘Whether you have 100 head of cattle or 2 alpacas, it’s important that everyone takes their responsibilities seriously.’

The 5 animations can be viewed on the Agriculture Victoria YouTube channel, the Agriculture Victoria website, social media feeds and online training resources and webinars.

Expressions of interest are now open for the next term of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council (the Council).

Those interested in being considered for the Council can apply through the Join a Board website. 

The Council is a ministerial advisory council that provides advice to the Minister for Agriculture on how the agriculture sector can prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change, and be part of the transition to a net zero emissions economy.

The Council plays a key role in supporting the Victorian Government to deliver strong and lasting action on climate change for the agriculture sector, which is already experiencing the impacts of an increasingly variable and extreme climate.

This includes working with industry to build on the action already being taken.

Key info:

• How to apply: Go to the Join a Board website to read more about the role and to submit an application
• Applications close 5 pm, 12 November 2023.

We all recognise the need to keep our farming families and businesses safe during busy work periods, especially when there are young and old family members working alongside short-term employees.

While we are often told about what we need to have in place for a safe workplace, it is how to implement a farm safety plan that is the hardest step in the whole process!

Rural Edge has developed an online Farm Safety Short Course for farm business owners, managers, and workers to support the early steps into developing a farm safety plan.

The Farm Safety Short Course currently enjoys a 100% satisfaction rating. All participants in this short course would recommend it to others, and their understanding and attitude towards farm safety have increased through joining this short 2-hour safety conversation.
 
Participants will be guided through the core ingredients of a farm safety plan, including a brief overview of the laws and regulations, the need for an induction checklist, and how to develop your Farm Risk Register.

As a bonus, time spent talking to others during the course will help to pick up some tips and tricks to make your farm business that little bit safer.

A large range of tools and templates are also available to all participants through the Rural Edge information portal.

The next National Online Farm Safety Short Course will be held for Victoria on Thursday 9 November. Join us over lunch: 12 – 2 pm.

Register now to secure your place and join like-minded peers to support each other in identifying risks/hazards and work towards developing your own farm risk register.

This course is normally offered at $149 per person but is being offered for free through support from the National Farm Safety Education Fund.

The session will be facilitated by ProcessWorx who are experienced in supporting agricultural businesses in developing and implementing their health and safety plans.

This Short Course is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry through the National Farm Safety Education Fund. Healthier farms begin with safer practices.

Hort Innovation annual report now available

Hort Innovation has published its 2022/23 Annual Report and accompanying 2022/23 Fund Annual Report for 37 horticultural industries.

Read the 2022/23 Annual Report here

Read the 2022/23 Fund Annual Report here

New resources for grain farmers as dry finish looms

Victorian grain growers have a suite of new resources to help them prepare for, and deal with the effects of late frosts and a potential dry finish to the growing season.

Read the media release in full here.

Echuca farmer pleads guilty to livestock offences

An Echuca goat farmer has pleaded guilty to 4 charges under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 at the Echuca Magistrates’ Court recently.

Read the media release in full here.

Keeping Victoria safe from emergency animal diseases

Agriculture Victoria’s Significant Disease Investigation program is playing a critical role in protecting Victorian livestock from emergency animal diseases, with subsidies provided to vets for nearly 370 investigations last financial year (2022-23).

Read the media release in full here.

Mallee CMA bird photography competition ends tomorrow!

During October, Mallee CMA (MCMA) is highlighting some of the amazing bird species you may encounter while enjoying the wetlands and national parks within the MCMA region.

To learn more and enter their competition, please fill in the form here.

Entries close 5 pm Friday 3 November 2023.

[Back to Top]

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.

Come to MLA Updates 2023. A mixture of presentations and interactive displays will outline MLA investments and progress against the MLA Strategic Plan 2025 at the event.

MLA Updates 2023 will be held on Thursday 23 November at Fosterville Gold Exhibition Centre at the Bendigo Showgrounds, 42 – 72 Holmes Road, Bendigo.

The MLA Annual General Meeting will also take place at this venue on 23 November.

For more information click HERE

Enjoying the Grampians Mallee Ag News? Then why not forward to a friend or subscribe yourself.

It's easy – simply click this link.