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Thursday 26 February 2026
Bushfire recovery
Following a bushfire there is a lot to consider when it comes to caring for livestock and getting your farm back on track.
To assist in making decisions for your on-farm recovery, a range of practical technical information and advice is available on our website.
You can also speak to an Agriculture Recovery team member on 136 186 or by contacting recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Community events near you
We’ll be at several farm recovery events over the next couple of weeks to support farmers impacted by recent fires across the state.
Our staff will be on hand to talk through your recovery, including feeding livestock, looking after soils and managing farm water.
- Fawcett Hall, Feed budgeting breakfast 2 March, 7:30-8:15 am
- Yarck Hub, 2 March 10 am-12 noon
- Euroa Hub 3 March, 11 am-2 pm
- Lucyvale, Dam Sediment Field Day, 4 March
- Tallangatta, Fire Recovery Fencing Workshop, 5 March, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Creighton's Creek, Fire Recovery Fencing Workshop, 6 March, 9.30 am- 3:30 pm
For support, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bushfires or email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants and Concessional Loans
Has your farm been impacted by recent bushfires?
The Victorian Government recently announced measures to support Victorian primary producers affected by the January 2026 bushfires.
You may be eligible for a recovery grant or a concessional loan to help with cleanup, restoration and rebuilding, including:
- engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises or equipment
- hiring and leasing equipment, or purchasing materials to clean a property, premises or equipment
- purchasing, hiring or leasing equipment or materials that are essential for immediately resuming operation of the primary production enterprise, including pumps and generators
- removing and disposing of debris, damaged goods and material, and injured or dead livestock
- other activities as listed in the program guidelines.
A full list of eligible activities is included in the program guidelines.
When applying for a grant or loan, it’s important that you don’t self-assess and if you’re unsure of your eligibility, contact Rural Finance with any questions.
Applications are now open and will close at 4 pm on 21 October 2026.
You can check your eligibility via Rural Finance www.ruralfinance.com.au or call them on 1800 260 425 with any questions.
If you need help working through what support you can get or how to apply, the Rural Financial Counselling Service is available at:
- Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria North East for farmers and small farm businesses.
- RFCS Victoria West | Home (Mildura and north western).
WorkSafe Tractor Safety
Passing on accurate safety advice protects you now and for generations to come.
Leveraging the superpowers of pulse proteins
Understanding the nutritional benefits of pulse ingredients will support the pulse industry to provide high-quality food into existing and emerging markets.
With the upsurge in interest in Australian pulse crops, such as lentils and chickpeas, combined with a shift towards more sustainable food products, there is an opportunity to utilise the grain in emerging industries.
However, there is limited information on the nutritional and compositional characteristics of individual Australian pulse crops, reducing the ability to leverage these opportunities for new markets.
Some of the traits of interest to industry and consumers include protein content, fibre, fatty acids, oil and starch.
The Fast Break newsletter
The Fast Break details oceanic and atmospheric climate driver activity over the last month and summarises 3-month model predictions for the Pacific and Indian oceans, rainfall and temperature for Victoria.
If you are interested in reading past issues of The Fast Break, please email dale.grey@agriculture.vic.gov.au
$10,000 fine for Numurkah sheep farm manager’s cruelty
A Numurkah sheep farm manager pleaded guilty in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court recently for multiple counts of animal cruelty. Stephen Gapes was fined $10,000 as part of an aggregate sentence with conviction.
In September 2024 in response to a welfare complaint, officers attended the property and observed 350 sheep contained in a heavily grazed paddock with no supplementary feed supplied to compensate.
Multiple ewes and lambs were suffering from neglect, starvation and had either died or were suffering from injuries incurred by predators.
Many sheep were found dead or lying on the ground too weak to move. Post-mortems on some of the dead sheep revealed they had died from starvation, made worse by a severe worm burden.
The Magistrate, His Honor Mr Sabijak considered the plea of guilty and the absence of a criminal history, however also noted that these animals had a painful death, which could have been prevented.
The Magistrate also commented that general deterrence is very significant in the matters and that it is appropriate that a conviction is imposed.
Agriculture Victoria Compliance Manager Daniel Bode said the weight of the fine with conviction sends a very clear message to livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian Government or our community.
‘Victorians have a reasonable expectation that livestock will be cared for by those in charge of them,’ 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.’
Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint in regard to livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Watch out for parthenium weed in interstate fodder
Drought Support
Wellbeing counsellors
Wellbeing counsellors work hand in hand with experienced financial counsellors to ensure that your mental health receives as much attention as your bottom line.
Providing practical strategies and helping you to tailor them to your specific circumstances, across the north and south west.
Wellbeing counsellors can visit you at your property or talk over the phone to assist with:
✔ managing stress
✔ building resilience for tough times
✔ balancing work and life with practical tools
✔ getting support for big decisions and life changes.
To speak to a Wellbeing Counsellor call 1300 771 741.
Find out more at Rural Financial Counselling Network.
For further drought support visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
Drought Farm Advisory Service
Farmers from across the state have access to 2 Farm 1-on-1 consultations with a technical specialist.
Specialist consultants include agronomists, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, business advisors and farm planners, with expertise across dairy, beef, sheep and wool, horticulture and cropping.
For further drought support visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
In case you missed it...
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan review submissions close 1 May. Go to 2026 Basin Plan Review: Have Your Say - MDBA to lodge yours.
- Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2024/25 out now
- Understanding heat stress in livestock and ways to prevent it
- First virtual fencing product approved for use
- Keep an eye out for highly invasive water hyacinth
What's On
Dung beetle farm walk in Romsey
When: Friday 27 February, 5-7 pm
Where: Black Ranges Road, Romsey
This farm visit will focus on dung beetles: their life cycle, the role they play in soil health, and how to introduce and manage them on your property.
Confinement Feeding Sheep Workshops
When: Mia Mia - 3 March, Serpentine - 4 March, Harrow - 5 March and Nullawil - 6 March
Time: 9 am to 12 noon
Come along and learn about establishing and managing sheep in a confinement feeding area as a tool to help deal with climate volatility and drought, or to manage feed gaps in their yearly program.
Presented by Dr Jillian Kelly, veterinarian and ruminant nutritionist, you'll hear the science behind feeding and see practical examples of how successful confinement feeding areas can be used.
These workshops are run in conjunction with locals:
- Erica Schelfhorst (AgVic Bendigo),
- Dr Frankie Collett (Collett Veterinary and Consultancy Service),
- Dr Jane Gaussen (The Livestock Vet Pty Ltd)
- Roger Harrower (AgVic Swan Hill).
This event is supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Drought Support Package.
Events scheduled within regions declared as ‘Total Fire Ban’ or 'Catastrophic' may be postponed or cancelled.
Protecting farm water supplies after fire
When:Wednesday 4 March, 8-9 am
Where: Meet at Lucyvale Hall, demonstration location is short drive from hall
Attend a paddock walk to learn about options to protect farm water supplies following a fire. There will be a practical hands-on demonstration of how to establish a sediment fence to protect farm dams. Water quality after fires will also be discussed. There will be an opportunity to connect with other recovery supports.
More information:
- Kylie Macreadie – 0427 052 352 kylie.macreadie@agriculture.vic.gov.au
- Tony Irwin – 0427 869 019 toni.irwin@towong.vic.gov.au
StockSense fencing workshops
When: Friday 6 March , 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Tallangatta
When: Friday 6 March , 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Creighton's Creek
Learn how to rebuild your farm from the ground up. Join StockSense for a session on installing new fencing, maintaining and repairing existing ones and how fencing relates to good biosecurity. Includes a speed session on whole farm planning and land class fencing principles by Agriculture Victoria.
Limited spots. More information at vff.org.au/stocksense.
Multispecies pastures tutorial series with Jade Killoran
When: Commencing Monday 16 March , 4-5 pm
Where: Online
In this series of 4 online tutorials, multispecies pasture specialist Jade Killoran will discuss the establishment and management of your multispecies pastures.
Each tutorial will focus on a topic essential for the success of your multispecies pasture:
Monday 16 March - Seeds
Friday 20 March - Paddock Preparation
Monday 23 March - Grazing Management
Thursday 26 March – Monitoring Tools
Ask questions and workshop your paddock plans for an autumn multispecies pasture following the tutorial.
Join all 4 sessions or just the sessions relevant to your needs.
Decisions that drive success – Proven techniques for effective on-farm decision-making
When: Tuesday 17 March, 9 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Greater Shepparton Business Centre, 70 New Dookie Rd, Shepparton
Success depends on sound decision-making. This is especially so in times of crisis and change.
This ION Group workshop provides a proven and practical approach to managing competing priorities so you can make better decisions, rebuild your resilience and capacity and adapt your business to recover from drought and other challenges.
When: Tuesday 17 March, 3-4:30 pm
Where: Online
Access Lean management tools and business planning resources in this free webinar for Victorian growers managing drought and seeking practical support.
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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