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Thursday 13 March 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 supports
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.
Safeguarding Livestock From Pests And Disease
The Victorian Government is helping to protect Victoria’s thriving agricultural industry with support for new projects that better control pests and disease that impact our livestock.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence opened the 2025 Livestock Biosecurity Funds program last week, encouraging eligible organisations to apply.
Organisations can use the grants to adopt emerging technologies to respond to unsolved livestock biosecurity issues, encourage collaboration where possible, and provide measurable benefits to livestock and beekeeping industries.
Victoria will continue to face new and emerging biosecurity risks – driven by climate change and increasing trade and travel – so innovative solutions will be essential to help protect Victoria’s agriculture industry.
Agriculture Victoria and the state’s livestock advisory committees set up the grants program which is funded through duties generated by the sale of cattle, sheep, goat and pigs and their carcasses in Victoria, and beekeeper registration fees.
Prospective applicants joined an online forum last week to hear from the livestock advisory committees about what they are hoping to see in applications this round. A recording of the session will be available on the Agriculture Victoria website.
Last year the Cattle Compensation Fund awarded $1.5 million to Veterinary Support Services to run the Victorian Livestock Veterinary Scholarship program – supporting eight early career veterinarians across regional Victoria, providing one-to-one clinical supervision and training from an experienced large animal veterinarian. Applications close on 14 April.
Help stop Water hyacinth
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a State prohibited weed. If you see water hyacinth for sale online or anywhere in Victoria, call us on 136 186 or use the online reporting form. Please report by:
taking a screenshot of the advertisement and emailing it to weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au
emailing details about your sighting, including the address and photos of the plant, to weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au
calling the Agriculture Victoria Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
Please do not attempt to treat or dispose of this weed yourself. We will treat, remove and dispose of water hyacinth safely, at no cost to the land owner.
AgVic scientist receives GRDC Emerging Leader Award
Above: Agriculture Victoria Scientist Dr Audrey Delahunty
At the recent Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) update held in Bendigo, the Emerging Leader Award was presented to Agriculture Victoria Research Scientist Dr Audrey Delahunty.
Dr Delahunty is based at Agriculture Victoria’s Mildura SmartFarm and has worked to support the grain industry since 2019 when she started her career as a PhD student researching genetic solutions for heat tolerance in lentils.
‘It is an honour and privilege to receive the award. I’m incredibly grateful to GRDC for this recognition, and for the support, mentorship and camaraderie I’ve received throughout my career,’ Dr Delahunty said.
Dr Delahunty’s research focuses on pulse agronomy, trait dissection and crop performance. Her expertise lies in advancing sustainable pulse production.
Dr Delahunty’s innovative research aims to improve productivity and resilience in changing climates.
‘I’m proud to contribute to the grain industry and work on research to optimise our farming systems. It’s a privilege to collaborate with such dedicated people from all facets of the industry.’
Dr Delahunty has been working alongside GRDC, researchers and growers across the industry, regularly presenting her research at Grains Research Updates and events across the Wimmera and Mallee.
Thinking of keeping backyard chooks?
Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer, Northern Region
Chickens can be a great addition to your home, filling various roles such as producing eggs, fertilising gardens, eating your food scraps, plus being a pet and providing companionship for the family.
The most trouble-free chickens to purchase are vaccinated hens at the point of lay (16 – 18 weeks) from a reliable commercial source. You will need at least 2 as chickens are social animals.
Chickens need a well-drained and well-ventilated pen, with enough space to ensure chickens don’t fight, and is functional and easy to clean.
A chicken house should give shade from direct sunlight plus water proofing from rain, particularly where the chickens roost and lay. It works well if the chicken house is located under a tree for shade.
The chicken house should be north facing with an eve about a metre long to protect from the summer sun but let the light in during winter. Make sure the house is tall enough to stand up in. Cover the floor with sawdust to form a deep litter for the chicken’s droppings.
Make sure the chicken house is fox proof and unless the sides are attached to a wooden or concrete floor, dig them into the soil to a depth of at least a half a metre.
Make sure there are no gaps that predators could get in, there are secured catches and locks, and consider using a fox light.
For chickens that are not allowed to roam outside their pen clip one wing, not both, to prevent them from flying. Always secure your chickens in the chicken house before the end of the day.
Nesting boxes need to be off the ground, be deep and fairly dark for seclusion, and regularly add fresh straw. Ideally build the house with outside access to the nesting boxes.
Perches for roosting need to be wide enough for the chickens to comfortably stand on, at a jumping height and the right thickness for their feet.
Chickens are naturally omnivores, so they eat a variety of foods. Pellets are a satisfactory food source but can be supplemented with food scraps.
Don't feed more scraps than the chickens can consume or else the leftovers will attract vermin and create odours, don’t give food scraps that are mouldy or have gone off otherwise you chickens may become sick. Give a source of calcium such as shell grit to help form their eggs.
Commercially available feeders and water dispensers work well – have them off the ground to keep them clean. A round feeder is good for the pecking order as the weaker chicken can be on the other side of the circle and not beside the dominant chicken.
Provide enough pellets for no more than one week to prevent them from becoming stale. Chickens also need continual access to clean, fresh water – they drink a lot.
Monitor your chickens daily for their health, egg production, and food and water availability, and collect their eggs daily. Regularly clean your chicken coop including feeders, drinkers and equipment, and frequently replace nesting materials.
Always wash your hands with warm water and soap after handling birds, eggs or other materials in the coop.
Agriculture Victoria is currently responding to an outbreak of H7N8 avian influenza (bird flu) on four Victorian poultry farms. A housing requirement is now in place only for properties with 50 or more birds in the restricted area.
This disease detection serves as a reminder for all bird owners to routinely monitor the health of their birds. If you suspect your birds are sick, contact your local vet or call the all-hours Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
To avoid this happening to your flock avoid contact between poultry and wild birds, keep feed and water in a protected place where wild birds can’t access, and keep your poultry away from water sources frequented by wild birds such as streams, dams, ponds and even puddles. Limit visitors to your birds and use clean footwear.
If you are planning to have more than 50 chickens, you are required to have a Property Identification Code, and either be in a quality assurance program or complete and follow Agriculture Victoria’s food safety management statement.
Also, check your local government requirements, as many have by-laws on flock size and housing, as well as prohibiting keeping roosters in metropolitan areas.
Chickens are an easy and enjoyable animal to keep. So, if you are thinking about it give it a go. For further information regarding keeping backyard poultry visit https://go.vic.gov.au/3FrSzz9.
Avian influenza is a notifiable disease. If you suspect infection in your own poultry or wild birds you must notify Agriculture Victoria on the all-hours Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888. For further information regarding Avian Influenza visit https://go.vic.gov.au/3FrSoDZ.
Moyston workshops: all you need to know about water
Join a two-day (18 and 25 March) workshop at Moyston and find out all you need to know about farm water. Hosted by farmer Anthony Pola and Agriculture Victoria’s technical specialist Clem Sturmfels.
Each day will start in the Moyston Recreation Reserve, followed by a farm visit. Topics include:
- Preparing a farm water plan
- Calculating your water needs
- Planning your pipeline
- Farm dams
- Pipeline hydraulics and design
- Pipes, fittings and pumps
- Pipeline installation and construction.
Lunch and morning tea provided.
Apply for an On-Farm Drought Infrastructure grant today
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.
For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186
Episode 6: AgTech Advancements, with Peter Wren-Hilton
Would you like to find out more about the global AgTech ecosystem. Or the emerging biologicals sector?
In this episode Peter Wren-Hilton from Wharf42 and Platform10 discusses the emerging trends and opportunities in the global AgTech market.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Student Bursary: Encouraging emerging talent in the wool industry
The Student Bursary to attend the Inaugural Women in Wool Conference and Gala Awards Night is aimed at giving a student, or recent graduate, the opportunity to attend both the Inaugural Women in Wool Conference and Gala Awards Dinner in Geelong on Thursday 3 April 2025.
'The recipient must be a current student or recent graduate in the field directly related to the wool industry. This is a great opportunity for a young woman to attend the Women in Wool conference in Geelong and hear about the latest news and share ideas with others at this event.' President Victoria Fish said
'The future is in the hands of our younger generation no matter what sector of the wool industry they belong to!'
The mission is to empower and uplift women in the global wool industry through the connection, education and promotion of women in all sectors of the wool industry.
Two Awards will also be presented at the Gala dinner following the conference. They are the 'Career Legacy Women in Wool' Award and 'Early Career Women in Wool Award'.
Both will recognise the contributions made to the wool industry by emerging young women and those who have made outstanding contributions and significant impacts in the wool industry. These awards are sponsored by Vitale Barberis Canonico.
Nominations close Sunday 16 March 2025.
What's On
Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot at agriculture.vic.gov.au/events.
Carbon and low emissions farming – St Leonards
To celebrate International Women's Day, Corangamite Rural Women’s Network is hosting a special on-farm event and lunch to share information and learned experience about carbon and low-emissions farming. Guest speakers:
- Fiona Conroy – beef and sheep farmer, Knewleave Partnership
- Alison Kelly – farm emissions specialist, Agriculture Victoria
- Sarah Brien – sustainable agriculture senior projects officer, Corangamite CMA.
Date: Wednesday 19 March, 10 am – 2.30 pm
Location: TBC St Leonards.
Dealing with autumn – getting ready for the break
Date: Tuesday 18 March
Time: 7.30 - 9 pm
The free webinar provides essential guidance on supplementary feeding during droughts, helping producers ensure their feeding programs supply the necessary feed to maintain or enhance stock production. Options for quick growing feed for early winter will be addressed.
Presenters: Jess Revell- Rumenate Livestock Services and Cam Conboy- Gorst Rural
Unlocking the benefits of low carbon farming – Cavendish
At this workshop, well known agronomist Cam Nicholson will explain why global and national markets are moving to a low-carbon economy and how carbon farming practices can help you take advantage of these changes.
Date: Wednesday 19 March
Time: 9.45 am - 3 pm
Location: Mokanger South, 710 Mokanger Road, Cavendish.
Calm the Farm – Casterton
Are you interested in reducing the risks to mental health in your farm workplace by improving work systems, or doing things a bit differently?
- An interactive and engaging 2-hour workshop that explores ways of reducing work-related stress.
- Connect with other local farmers as you focus on practical solutions to improve job satisfaction and effectiveness for you and your team.
- Continue the conversation over a meal – on us.
Date: Wednesday 26 March, 5 - 7 pm
Location: The Albion Hotel, 25 Henty Street, Casterton.
Latest climate webinar
Implications of climate change on production and water requirements of various horticultural crops in the Victorian Mallee.
Join our upcoming webinar to hear the findings of a recent study into the implications of climate change on production and water requirement of various horticultural crops in the Victorian Mallee.
Climate change is a significant issue facing irrigated horticulture in the Victorian Mallee, with increasing temperatures and a water constrained environment.
Jeremy Giddings from Agriculture Victoria will summarise the key findings and how the results could be used by industry and government.
When: Wednesday 26 March – 12 pm.
Register here:
This webinar will be recorded and will be available to everyone who registers.
Drench resistance in sheep webinar
Join our upcoming webinar on assessing drench resistance in sheep on Monday, 17 March, 7 pm.
An overview of recent testing in East Gippsland will be covered along with:
common worm species and their lifecycle
contributing factors to drench resistance
options to manage resistance.
Worm control is becoming a significant challenge for sheep producers in East Gippsland, as wet summers drive outbreaks and provide ideal conditions for Barber's pole worm. Increasing drench resistance is making management tougher, highlighting the need for strong worm control strategies to protect flocks and productivity.
This 3-year producer demonstration project is run by the Bairnsdale Bestwool/BestLamb group, showcasing best practices in sheep worm management.
A series of Producer Demonstration Site projects are operating across Victoria, co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat and Livestock Australia. For more information visit https://go.vic.gov.au/4dXKVsw
Register here https://tinyurl.com/tbb6mmtx
Better pasture management: Manipulate or renovate?
with Lisa Warn
The Colac BetterBeef group invite producers to a free pasture improvement workshop with Lisa Warn from Lisa Warn Ag Consulting. The practical session will help you assess the current state of your pastures to decide what action to take to optimise pasture growth, quality and sustainability.
Lisa is an agricultural consultant and researcher with a long history of working in grazing industries. She is well known for her research in evaluating grazing systems and pasture persistence, as well as identifying soil constraints to pasture growth.
The workshop will help you:
- Assess pasture performance
- Decide where to get the best return on investment - Manipulate or Renovate?
- Use grazing management to improve productivity and persistence of pastures and reduce weeds.
- Plan cost effective fertiliser programs.
- Reduce use of herbicides and need for re-sowing.
When: Wednesday 26 March, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm
Location: Beeac Community Hall, 55 Lang Street Beeac
If you have any questions, please contact workshop coordinator Hannah Manning , 0419 315 468 or at hannah.manning@agriculture.vic. gov.au
Set up your Carbon Accounting: Derrinallum
Friday 21 March, 10 am - 2 pm
Lismore Land Protection Group and Corangamite CMA
Set up your carbon accounting with Cam Nicholson. This hands-on training is using the new Agricultural Innovation
Australia Carbon calculator.
Cam Nicholson, a leading industry expert, will guide us through a real-world example to demonstrate how the tool works and show you how to apply it to your business. This workshop will give insights into carbon strategies that add value to your farm. Take a copy of a new training manual developed as part of this event.
This event is free and catering is provided.
To register, RSVP to lismorelpg@gmail.com or 0439 059 202
Great South Coast Skilled Migration Roadshow
Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 March in Warrnambool
Tackle staff shortages, access global talent, and secure critical skills for your business.
Getting the Dirt On Carbon: Identify and Understand the Problem (What, where, when?) Colac
Friday 28 March, 10 am - 3 pm
This workshop series builds farmer capacity to apply practice change to reduce CO2 and/or CO2e emissions in the Colac Otway Shire. Many strategies for reducing emissions and sequestering carbon have co-benefits - increasing biodiversity, increasing water quality and waterway health, animal health, improving ecological function, soil biology and human health. Participants will witness practice change in their own community and landscape, through peer learning and sharing. Experts in their respective fields will present at three logically sequenced workshops.
Workshop 1 - Identify and understand the problem (What, where, when?)
- What is carbon, CO2 and CO2e in relation to land management, stewardship and farming in a changing climate?
- The carbon and water cycles role in climate change.
- What is the current state of play regionally, state-wide, nationally, and internationally in the carbon field and climate situation?
- What and where are forms of carbon and greenhouse gases in farming systems? (emissions and sequestration - blue/teal carbon, trees, pasture, soil, animals, produce, vehicles, fertiliser, lime, etc.)
- Methane reduction technologies and how carbon markets may intersect with the incoming nature repair market
This event will be delivered in partnership between Central Otway Landcare Network and the Climate Action Team and is supported by -
The Victorian Carbon Farming Outreach Program is delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the National Carbon Farming Outreach Program. The Program is delivered through a partnership between Agriculture Victoria, 10 Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare Victoria and other bodies.
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 the National Relay Service on 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au
All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
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