• Flood information
• Increased risk of Japanese encephalitis
• Has your horticultural property been impacted by flood waters?
• Financial support for flood-affected farmers
• Practical tips for flood-affected farmers
• Are you taking care of yourself?
• Rural Financial Counselling Service
• Flood recovery newsletter
• Chemical safety after floods
• Tips to recover bogged machinery safely
• Livestock Biosecurity Grants Fund Program
• Free biosecurity learning modules for farmers
• What's on?

Flooding and heavy rainfall have increased the risk of a range of mosquito-borne diseases in Victoria, including Japanese encephalitis (JE).

JE can cause illness in susceptible animal species including horses and pigs.

In pigs, the most common clinical signs are mummified and stillborn or weak piglets while horses usually show no signs of illness but can present with fever, jaundice, lethargy, neurological signs and anorexia.

For mosquito control advice visit the Farm Biosecurity website.

For more information about protecting yourself from JE, please follow the Victorian Department of Health or visit Better Health.

For more information visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Further information is available on the Horticultural Industry Network website ‘Recovering from Extreme Events’.

Additional resources for flood-impacted growers are available at the Food Authority Fresh Produce Safety Centre.

A support package is available for flood-affected farmers:

• Primary Producer Recovery Grants: Up to $75,000 grants to cover the cost of recovery and get businesses up and running again. Note: This replaces the $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up, Relief Grants announced on 19 October. Producers that have received a Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up Relief Grant of $10,000 can now apply for up to a further $65,000 under the Primary Producer Recovery Grant, bringing the total to $75,000.
• Rural Landholder Grants: Up to $25,000 grants to cover the costs of disaster impacts for small-scale producers.
• Primary Producer Concessional Loans: Up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, or to cover the short-term business expenses.
• Primary Producer Transport Subsidies: Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.

To apply for support or for more information, visit the Rural Finance website. 

Go to our website for a range of practical flood recovery information for farmers, and helpful information on what to do immediately after a flood, including our Floods resource directory.

During an emergency, people tend to exist in a survival state to get through the incident, using up considerable emotional reserves. 

If you’ve been working hard for long periods, missing meals and sleep, take some time to take care of yourself.

Recognise the signs of stress and reach out for support if you need it.

For a comprehensive list of health support agencies, CLICK HERE

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) has an experienced team ready to assist primary producers and small rural businesses in recovery planning.

Additional funding has been made available for these services as a result of the floods, and the significant impact on the agricultural sector.

Financial counsellors can help develop financial forecasts and business plans required for lenders or investors, plus connect with support agencies and services.

RFCS provides free financial counselling to farmers and small related businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can also assist with filling in forms and grant applications.

For more information or to book an appointment find your nearest  RFCS HERE

We are providing regular updates on upcoming events, past webinar recordings, resources and support available to flood affected Victorians via our flood recovery, events and resources newsletter.

To sign up click HERE

Recent webinar recordings:

• Flood recovery: Feed budgeting – with Fiona Baker, AgVic. Passcode: Livestock

• Flood recovery: Animal health – with Dr Rachel Gibney, AgVic. Passcode: Livestock

• Cash flow budgeting – with Carmen Quade, AgriFocused. Passcode: CASHFLOW
• Repairing erosion damage to roads, tracks, stream crossings and dams – with Clem Sturmfels, Agriculture Victoria. Passcode: Livestock
• Biosecurity planning after floods – with Kate McCue, Agriculture Victoria. Passcode: Livestock
• Control and repair of paddock-based erosion – with Clem Sturmfels, Agriculture Victoria. Passcode: Livestock.

Landholders in flood affected areas may face a range of issues related to the storage and use of chemicals.

Weed, pest and fungicide spraying may increase after floods. There may also be increased need for chemicals used on livestock, for diseases such as flystrike. Follow the label and ensure you don’t use chemicals past their expiry date.

Floodwaters may result in different pests or diseases to those you usually manage. To minimise risks please only use chemicals according to the label instructions.

Comply with any “DO NOT” statements, including those relating to spraying near waterways or on saturated ground.

Be cautious when using spraying equipment on flood affected areas as it may be less stable than normal.

As large areas are saturated there may be an increased need for aerial spraying. 

If chemicals are contaminated or damaged due to flood waters dispose of them appropriately e.g. via subsidised programs like ChemClear.

For more information on dealing with floods visit the Agriculture Victoria website. 

There’s still time to apply for our Livestock Biosecurity Funds Grant Program.

Victoria’s Livestock Compensation Committees are seeking projects that boost biosecurity for the cattle, sheep and goat, swine and honey bee industries.

Applications close Friday 23 December.

Discover more HERE

With the recent flooding and significant rain events across the state, you may be worried about bogged machinery on your property.

Have a plan for recovery before starting work in the paddock:

• check conditions before entering areas where the ground could be boggy
• assess the situation:

1. can you wait for drier conditions?
2. can you dig out the farm machinery?

• think about maps to show boggy areas to contractors and employees
• reduce or remove weight from the machinery
• use suitable recovery equipment – check the ratings of straps and shackles so you know the working load limit (WLL) and break strength, and how to interpret for recovery
• minimise people in the recovery area
• check the communication between machinery operators, for example, use a phone or UHF radio
• use appropriate anchor points
• consider where (if any) weight can be added to the recovery vehicle
• consider which direction to tow the bogged machinery
• consider how the recovery vehicle will be positioned
• place a dampener onto the recovery equipment.

For more information visit Worksafe's agriculture page.

Farmers across Victoria will benefit from a series of free online learning modules, helping them protect their animals from diseases and biosecurity threats.

Available through Agriculture Victoria’s website, the three learning modules have been released: foot and mouth disease awareness, lumpy skin disease awareness and Come clean, stay clean, go clean – when visiting farms.

Each module should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

For further information about the online learning modules CLICK HERE

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website. Log on to agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

Are you an agribusiness looking to build or improve your supply chain?

Join us for the online launch of the Agriculture Victoria Traceability Information Hub.

Where: Online

When: Friday 16 December

Time: 10 - 11am

The Hub is a new resource for industry to access traceability information.

It provides a central, online place to inform, educate and connect businesses along the supply chain.

Register NOW to attend.

Australian Women in Agriculture (AWiA) will host an afternoon tea and dinner at the Euroa Golf Club on Friday 9 December.

Welcoming women from across Victoria, you will hear from Vic Director, Sarah Parker and other inspiring regional women leading change, including:

• Professor Kate Auty - Euroa barrister, historian, farmer, and community activist.
• Karen Maroney - Deputy Chair of AgBiz Assist (Rural Financial Counselling Service)
• Councillor Laura Binks - Mayor Strathbogie Shire and 2021 MBE Fellow
• Rien Silverstein - Goulburn Valley orchardist and winner of the 2022 Women in Horticulture Award and the 2022 APAL (Apple and Pear Australia Ltd) Women in Horticulture Award
• Jade Killoran - AWiA 2022 LeadHer program participant, independent cover crop advisor, and researcher, working in Victorian grazing systems and founder, of ‘Healthy Farming Systems’.

Register to attend HERE

Do you want to find more practical ways to reduce your electricity costs? We are hosting an online forum to explore practical measures for increasing energy productivity and reducing your electricity bill.

When: Wednesday 14 December

Time: 11.30 am

Where: Online

Energy expert David Coote will be presenting on energy saving opportunities and best use of solar and batteries and much more.

Please register here or contact Kelly Wickham for information on 0456 772 641 or kelly.wickham@agriculture.vic.gov.au

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