• Dry seasonal conditions
• Free financial counselling available now
• AgVic contacting land owners near Meredith and Terang
• Avian influenza information pop ups
• Applications for the Rural Women’s Network Leadership and Mentoring program closing soon
• Feedback sought on dingo conservation and management
• The Fast Break - out now!
• Avoid exposure losses following shearing
• Recording: Victoria's spring seasonal outlook
• Verdict upheld for Gippsland farmer guilty of animal cruelty
• Fox and wild dog bounty
• In case you missed it
• What's on

Agriculture Victoria is continuing to monitor and assess seasonal conditions with a focus on south-west Victoria and is delivering tailored services to support farmers.

The following services are available to support farmers.

Technical support, resources and events

Agriculture Victoria is working with Victorian farmers to deliver technical information and decision-making support to plan ahead and make informed decisions for managing dry seasonal conditions.

Topics include:

• drought planning
• assessing pasture resources
• measuring feed on offer
• stock containment areas
• tools for making rations.

For information on technical support, contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or  recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Upcoming technical events

For information on upcoming online and in-person technical events to manage dry seasonal conditions, check out the Agriculture Victoria events page.

Farm Household Allowance

Farmers in financial hardship may be eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s Farm Household Allowance (FHA), a fortnightly payment available for up to 4 years in a specific 10-year period.

A rural financial counsellor can help farmers to understand eligibility and apply for the FHA.

Regional Investment Corporation

Farmers may be able to access low-interest loans through the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Investment Corporation (RIC).

A RIC loan is a partnership between the farm business, a commercial lender and the Regional Investment Corporation. Available loans include the Farm Investment Loan and the Drought Loan.

More information about low-interest RIC loans, the application process, eligibility, and terms and conditions are available from the Regional Investment Corporation by calling 1800 875 675, emailing info@ric.gov.au or visiting their website.

Click here for more information on dry seasonal conditions support.

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.

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.

Door knocking this weekend

Agriculture Victoria staff will be door-knocking a small number of properties in the Meredith, Lethbridge and Terang areas on the weekend of August 31 – 1 September to provide residents with information and check to see if they have poultry.

Door-knocking activity is part of the wider disease monitoring program to help communities and industry get back to normal.

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 reach out to local communities at our pop-up information stalls. 

You will find us at:

Golden Plains Farmers Market 

22 Byron Street, Bannockburn

⌚ From 8.30 am to 12:30 pm

Terang Farmers Market 

 All Saints Church, Corner Thompson Street and Bourkes Road, Terang.  

⌚ From 9 am to 1 pm

To learn more, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianinfluenza

All rural and regional based women working across the agriculture supply chain are encouraged to apply for the Rural Women's Network Leadership program.

This program is being delivered by LeadershipVic over two residential retreats and aims to develop and empower women as leaders and change makers in their careers and in their communities.

All study and accommodation costs to participate in the program are covered, with additional capped allowances for childcare and travel provided to those who require this support.

Applications close 2 September 2024.

Click here for more information.

Farmers, Traditional Owners and environmental groups across the state are being called upon to help shape the review of dingo conservation and wild dog management in Victoria.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos recently announced face-to-face and online consultation as part of the review. 

Consultation will take place in early September and include five in-person sessions for farmers across regional Victoria and one online.

These sessions will build on previous surveys and consultation and to appropriately balance the protection of livestock and the conservation of dingoes.

This targeted consultation will seek feedback on the economic and social impacts of the dingo unprotection order.

This consultation will build on the government’s understanding of the different views about the current order.

This has been informed by recent stakeholder engagement, correspondence and data collection including the livestock predation survey conducted.

The Ministers for Environment and Agriculture will jointly consider this feedback, alongside the latest scientific research and data, in determining the future policy settings beyond 1 October 2024, when the current dingo unprotection order is due to expire. 

Dingoes are listed as a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. 

The dingo unprotection order only permits control activities on specified private land and within a 3km buffer zone on public land in the east of Victoria.

To find out more about the consultation visit, agriculture.vic.gov.au/dingoreview.

The latest The Fast Break newsletter is now available. 

This newsletter details oceanic and atmospheric climate driver activity over the last month and summarises three-month model predictions for the Pacific and Indian oceans, rainfall and temperature for Victoria.

To subscribe or to view the latest issue click here.

Dr Jeff Cave, Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer

A sheep’s fleece is a great insulator against the cold, so imagine the effect when it’s suddenly gone. 

A freshly shorn sheep may experience a three-fold increase in heat loss, therefore highly prone to hypothermia.

Freshly shorn sheep are at greatest risk of cold stress in the first three days (or nights) after shearing, and remain at risk for up to two weeks, with mortalities seen in some mobs up to four weeks after shearing. 

Although there is little wool growth, acclimatisation and considerable skin thickening occurs after shearing. 

It is therefore important to monitor predicted weather conditions before putting shorn sheep into a paddock after shearing.

The impact of cold weather, particularly when combined with wet and windy conditions, can have severe impacts on sheep.

The effect of cold weather will depend on its duration, rainfall, wind speed and temperature.

The type of weather most likely to cause catastrophic sheep losses due to hypothermia is usually associated with the passage of a strong cold front or a rain-bearing depression.

Sheep grazier alerts are issued when a combination of rain, wind and low temperatures reaches a critical level.

If a sheep grazier alert has been received at the end of shearing, shed as many sheep as possible and provide hay for the duration.

Once the bad weather has passed, move the sheep to a paddock with adequate shelter and continue to provide supplementary feed.

In areas prone to winter storms a 'cover comb' or 'snow comb' can be used when shearing.

Once cold, freshly shorn sheep may become extremely difficult to move so always put shorn sheep into a protected paddock with plenty of shelter from the cold. 

Off-shears paddocks should be small and well protected from cold winds by relatively impermeable shelter belts.

Extra feed should be provided to sheep for up to four weeks following shearing to meet their increased energy requirements.

Shearing a month before lambing encourages ewes to seek shelter and hence protection for their lambs.

However, pre-lambing shearing must only be considered if ewes are in good condition and have free access to good feed and shelter.

Heavily pregnant ewes should not be subject to the handling and feed deprivation that shearing involves. 

For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.

In this webinar recording, Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey discussed the recent seasonal conditions including rainfall, temperature and deep soil moisture levels across the state.

We looked at what the latest global models are forecasting for spring and shared information on the dry seasons support available to farmers.

Climate Specialist Graeme Anderson, and Dale, took a deeper look into the current seasonal risks and helped bust some common myths around making sense of forecasts.

VIEW THE RECORDING HERE

Duration: 67 minutes (including questions)

Password: Climate

This webinar was originally presented on Wednesday 14 August 2024 at 12 pm.

All climate webinar recordings can be found on our website.

More information

For more information about these webinars, including assistance joining the webinar, email climate.webinars@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Gippsland farmer Jeremy Rich has failed recently in his attempt to have his conviction and sentence overturned in the County Court of Victoria. 

Mr Rich was appealing against his 2022 conviction on 16 charges, including one of aggravated cruelty, following the death of numerous sheep in his care. 

In 2022, the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court heard the charges related to a large outbreak of flystrike and gastrointestinal parasitism in a flock of more than 2,300 sheep at Mr Rich’s property between March and April 2020. 

Agriculture Victoria officers attended the property in early March 2020 in response to a complaint concerning sick and dying sheep. Officers attended a further 9 separate occasions and issued several Notices to Comply. 

Over this time numerous sheep with flystrike were observed, 3 were humanely euthanised by officers and 41 recently deceased sheep were recorded. 

Agriculture Victoria Compliance Manager, Daniel Bode, said despite receiving numerous Notices to Comply, no action was taken by Mr Rich.

A significant number of sheep died and were either scavenged, partially eaten, removed or buried in a large pit.

Following this Contested Hearing in the Magistrates’ Court in 2022, Mr Rich was convicted and fined $50,000.00, plus costs of $4,005, and a 10-year disqualification order was imposed. 

The matter was reheard on appeal in the County Court in 2024. Mr Rich was convicted on 13 charges, fined $50,000 and ordered to pay additional costs of $40,386 to the Department for the running of the appeal. The court also re-imposed the 10-year disqualification order.

Mr Bode said the weight of the 10-year disqualification order is substantial and will ensure that animals are protected from further pain and suffering.

‘It sends a very clear message that those who continually commit offences against animals should not have the privilege and opportunity to care for them in the future,’ Mr Bode said.

‘Apart from the obvious pain and suffering of the animals, animal welfare breaches can jeopardise Victoria’s reputation as a humane and responsible producer of food, which can, in turn, affect all producers.

‘This is a reminder to all livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian Government or our community.’

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Victoria’s bounty collections continue.

Please continue to check our website for the latest information, collection centres and dates. CLICK HERE

For any assistance, please speak to our bounty collection staff on collection days or call our Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Celebrating the best of Victoria this Melbourne Show

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the world are expected to visit the Melbourne Royal Show this September and experience the best agriculture, food, and entertainment Victoria has to offer.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Five key tips for silage this season

Capitalising on any spring surplus will be critical on farms this year. While some things are out of our control, focusing on these key factors will help ensure that you get the best possible return.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Varroa mite detected in Victoria

Agriculture Victoria has confirmed varroa mite has been detected for the first time in Victoria at a property in Nangiloc near Mildura.

The infested hive was identified during Agriculture Victoria’s surveillance activities which are carried out each year during almond pollination.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Avian influenza movement restrictions eased

A poultry housing requirement that has been in effect to control the spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza near Terang and Meredith was lifted for some birds from Thursday 15 August 2024.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL 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.

The Farm Business Program is supporting farmers to develop the knowledge and skills they need to improve their farm business and be better equipped to manage the impacts of drought and a changing climate.

Agriculture Victoria, in partnership with Cumbre Consultants, is inviting you to join other farmers in a free online short course with specialists on the following topics:

• business planning and risk management
• farm finances and profitable decision making
• managing people on farm, farm safety and wellbeing
• climate adaptation and natural resource improvement including soil, water, crops and pastures.

Course details:

• Monday 2 September, 11 am to 2 pm
• Friday 6 September, 11 am to 2 pm
• Monday 9 September, 11 am to 2 pm
• Monday 30 September, 12 to 2 pm.

Location:  Register online today.

Visit the Agriculture Victoria website  for all the program details.

Livestock producers are invited to join us for a 2-part dry season webinar series.  

You are welcome to attend either session or both. 
 
Webinar 1 – Growing more feed  

Date:  Wednesday 4 September  

Time: 12:30 -1:30 pm  

Join Fiona Baker, Agriculture Victoria Livestock Extension Officer, who will discuss best practice grazing management. 

Fiona comes with a wealth of knowledge in pasture management, particularly during a challenging season., Fiona’s advice can help you make your grazing system go a bit further.     
 
Webinar 2 – Farm Dam management  

Date: Wednesday 11 September  

Time: 12:30-1:30 pm 

Clem Sturmfels, Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer will talk about best practice dam management and tools for calculating how much water is in a dam. 

For more information and to register visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/events

The sessions will run for about an hour with a chance to answer some questions at the end.  

Webinars will be recorded and shared to all registered participants.

DATE: Friday 6 September

TIME: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm

WHERE: Ballarat Sale Yards 139 Sunraysia Hwy, Miners Rest.

REGISTER ONLINE HERE

Enhance your stock handling skills at Ballarat. Join us for an engaging, hands-on session with the Stock Sense team, featuring renowned stock handling expert Jack Briscoe.

Discover stress-free stock handling techniques designed to benefit both cattle and handlers.

Hannah Manning from Agriculture Victoria will share insights on biosecurity and animal welfare that can be applied.

Collaboration between industry and government is key during an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak, and the Livestock Industry Liaison plays an important role in this response.

If you work in the livestock industry and want to learn more about this role, we have an opportunity for you.

From 29-30 October, Agriculture Victoria and Animal Health Australia will host Exercise Audiatur — a scenario-based exercise responding an EAD outbreak.

This exercise will take place at Agriculture Victoria’s Attwood Centre, providing valuable insights into how emergency responses are coordinated.

Registration details 

To participate, contact your Peak Industry Body to submit an Expression of Interest before Friday, 6 September.

Click here for more information.

The BCG Main Field Day is on Wednesday 11 September.

Agriculture Victoria's Audrey Delahunty will be presenting.

The event offers growers and advisors the latest in local agronomic research including disease management, new varieties, new herbicide technology, nutrition and farming systems.

Entry is free for BCG members.

Register and find out more from the BCG website.

DATE: Tuesday 17 September

TIME: 9:30 am registration and morning tea 10 am - 3 pm

WHERE: Mortlake Soldiers Memorial Hall, Shaw Street, Mortlake.

REGISTER ONLINE HERE

RSVP by Thursday 12 September.

Western Victorian Angus Region and Agriculture Victoria invite you to a free farm business succession planning workshop with Dr Mike Stephens agricultural consultant and Director of Meridian and James Castley Principal at Sinclair Wilson.

You will leave the workshop with new skills and strategies to achieve a successful succession plan.

Reminder - if you attend the workshop, you are eligible for free a one-on-one chat with a farm business consultant. 

If you have any questions email Kate McCue or call on 0407 099 793.

DATE: 17 and 18 September

TIME: 8:30 am - 3 pm

LOCATION: Skipton Golf and Bowls Club, 26 Rokewood–Skipton Road, Skipton.

REGISTER ONLINE HERE

PRESENTER: Dr Kate Burke

Kate is an independent farm consultant who has a PhD and extensive experience in crop agronomy and dryland agriculture.

Kate will share an evidence-based approach to elevate your farming skills in the face of various seasonal conditions and other situations that affect farm performance.

Topics include:

• key profit drivers and high-level benchmarks
• income vs cost of production and impact of rotation
• calculating basic financial benchmarks
• understanding your personal appetite for risk
• understanding your production potential to assess variation in profit
• managing climate variability and farm financial performance
• scenario planning for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and beyond.

This event is free.

Participants who complete the 2-day course and business plans will be eligible for a free, 45–90 minute one-on-one planning review with Kate Burke.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund.

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