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Thursday 12 June 2025
Helping Victorian farmers access interstate fodder
Importers looking to bring fodder into Victoria from interstate can go through Agriculture Victoria to apply for a Plant Biosecurity Permit (PBP) to ensure biosecurity risks are properly managed.
Agriculture Victoria is providing a free service to suppliers, transporters and farmers to navigate permit requirements and expedite access to fodder.
The Crop Density tool – AgVic’s latest agronomy tool
An early estimation of crop emergence in these challenging, dry winter conditions is an important agronomy tool to later manage canopy density for the season and spring outlook. If plant establishment is poor it can have a major influence on final crop yield.
Agisting? Manage the biosecurity risks
Richard Smith, Dairy Industry Development Officer, Agriculture Victoria, Tatura
If you’re considering agisting cattle on your property alongside your own herd or sending your stock for agistment elsewhere, taking some simple precautions may help avoid the risk of a costly disease outbreak.
Be alert for triple fungicide resistant Barley net form net blotch
Barley growers in Victoria should keep watch for signs of net form net blotch (NFNB) disease following the recent confirmation of a triple fungicide resistant mutant of NFNB at Streatham.
Q Fever eStatement current register closing soon
You may want to make sure that you have your Q Fever eStatement before the current register closes. You can download your eStatement up until 30 June 2025.
How to get your Q Fever eStatement - visit Q Fever Register Login - Australian Q Fever Register, then follow the steps.
If you have problems logging in, call 1300 733 837.
Alternatively, people may have received their statement when immunised from the following email address: register@mg.qfever.org
Adding your record to the Australian Immunisation Register.
Once you have downloaded or received an email of your eStatement, you can take your eStatement to a medical professional like a doctor or practice nurse, who can then load this information to the Australian Immunisation Register on your behalf.
The Australian Immunisation Register will hold this information so you can access it in the future.
Expanded drought support package: Assistance for farmers and communities
The Victorian Government has announced a new and expanded Drought Package – with an additional $37.7 million in funding.
Eligible farmers across the state will be able to access grants of up to $5,000 to support on-farm drought management.
For eligible farmers in the south west, the grant has been increased to up to $10,000.
The Premier has also established a Drought Response Taskforce.
More details are available at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons
Farmers can lodge an Expression of Interest for the grants by emailing Rural Finance at: admin@ruralfinance.com.au
Do you have a great idea to help your community combat established pests and weeds in Victoria?
Round 4 of the Partnerships Against Pests grants program is now open to organisations operating at a regional or local level with an interest in established invasive species management.
Applications close on Friday 4 July for 1- or 2-year projects between $10,000 and $50,000.
Popular irrigation incentive program set to benefit even more Gippsland farmers
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Agriculture Victoria are pleased to open a new round of farm plan incentives, and for the first time, farmers in Warragul, Thorpdale, Noojee and Perry Bridge and across the entire Lake Wellington Catchment are eligible to apply.
Up to $10,000 per farm is available through the Lake Wellington Irrigation Efficiency Incentive Program to help with the cost of a professionally designed irrigation plan.
Nominations now open for the 2025 Australian Biosecurity Awards
The awards provide important recognition for biosecurity champions across industry, government and the public, who have made a significant contribution towards protecting our nation from pests and diseases.
Nominations close 9 am Monday 30 June.
Dairy Effluent Management EOI
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and GippsDairy are inviting expressions of interest from dairy farmers in the Macalister Irrigation Area (MIA) to join a project aimed at boosting the benefits of effluent on farm and ultimately reducing effluent entering the Gippsland Lakes.
Expressions of interest close 5 pm Monday 16 June 2025.
In case you missed it
What's On
Webinar: Seasonal outlook myth busting
When: Friday 13 June, 12 – 1 pm
We invite all Gippsland farmers and service providers to a webinar to bust some myths about seasonal outlooks and winter and spring forecasts.
Hear Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey discuss topics such as:
- Timing of the autumn break, historical analysis
- Why is autumn such a difficult time to accurately predict?
- Current climate influences
- Current forecasts for winter and spring
- What tools are available to help with planning.
VFF Stock Sense Sheep Essentials series
Session 2 - Wednesday 18 June, 6 - 7:30 pm
Parasite management, vaccinations, and the importance of a vet/client relationship.
Field Day: Future proofing your farm!
Join us for a day of presentations from national specialists to help ensure the long-term sustainability of your farm.
When: Wednesday 25 June, 10:30 am – 2 pm
Where: Foster (exact location provided on registration).
Topics covered will include:
- Related climatic past and future trends
- Farm biosecurity
- Energy options
- Dry seasonal conditions options for farmers
- Improvements to housing and feeding infrastructure.
Guest speakers:
- Dale Grey – Seasonal Risk Agronomist, Agriculture Victoria
- Donna Woerz -- Consultant, Debenham Australia
- Scott McDonald – Specialist, Intensification, Agriculture Victoria
- Dr. Shareen Labib -- Gippsland Region Public Health Unit
- Graeme Anderson – Climate specialist, Agriculture Victoria.
This field day will also provide the opportunity for all participants to interact with national experts and specialists on:
- Back up energy options
- Measuring your water
- Feed pad and effluent management integration project
- Trees on farms.
VicGrid Community Hubs
VicGrid wants to hear from communities, landholders, industry, and First Peoples about the draft Victorian Transmission Plan.
They have opened community hubs across regional Victoria where you can learn more, ask questions and have your say in person.
The draft 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan is the first of its kind in Victoria. It identifies the most suitable locations for renewable energy zones and the transmission projects needed to keep costs down and the lights on.
Talking trees: Landcare Victoria webinar
When: Thursday 3 July, 5:30 - 7 pm
Join Landcare Victoria's next webinar to learn more about how trees can benefit your farm while being used to generate additional revenue through agroforestry, carbon farming, or biodiversity markets.
Drought Resilience 2025
When: Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 July
Where: Deakin University, Geelong.
Join experts from all disciplines to learn about and discuss the latest drought resilience research.
Keep up to date with GippsDairy's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Gippsland Agricultural Group's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Food & Fibre Gippsland's events on their website.
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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