In this edition

Latest news

• Victorian Primary Producer Flood Recovery package – applications close 13 July
• Have you applied yet?

Events

• Young Farmer Business Bootcamp: Wallup
• Business Skills for the Future: Robinvale and Mildura
• Irrigation webinar series: new approach to delivery rights in Victoria – 'place of take approvals' framework
• Online Farm Business Resilience Short Course

Resources

• Farm Fitness Checklist
• Drought Resilience Self-Assessment Tool
• Climate Services for Agriculture

Supports

• Victorian flood and storm support for farmers
• Hailstorm Primary Producer Concessional Loan
• Rural Financial Counselling Service
• Farmer Online Assist Program
• National Centre for Farmer Health
• Health and personal wellbeing
• Farm Business Resilience Program

Farmers and growers impacted by floods and storms between 6 October 2022 and 13 January 2023 have until 4 pm on Thursday 13 July to apply for financial support under the Primary Producer Flood Recovery package. Available support includes:

Primary Producer Recovery Grants

• Up to $75,000 grants to support the cost of recovery and get businesses up and running again.

Rural Landholder Grants

• Up to $25,000 grants to support 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 short-term business expenses
• Up to $100,000 for primary producers who suffered a significant loss of income as a direct result of the 2022 Victorian floods and storms but who did not suffer direct damage to assets.

Primary Producer Transport Subsidies

• Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.

More information about the flood recovery package is available on the Rural Finance website or by calling 1800 260 425.

Have you applied for a Primary Producer Flood Recovery grant for the October 2022 to January 2023 floods and storms?

Ensure you submit the correct documents, by checking the Primary Producer Grant guidelines or the Rural Landholder Grant guidelines.

If you have more questions, check out the Rural Finance FAQs

For assistance, contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service here or call 1300 771 741. 

Applications close at 4 pm on Thursday 13 July.

More information is available from the Agriculture Recovery Team on 0427 694 185 or at recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Young Farmer Business Bootcamp: Wallup

These bootcamps are targeting young farmers impacted by flood and storm events as part of Agriculture Victoria’s technical and decision-making support program.

The workshops aim to grow the resilience of young farm businesses and prepare them for future events.

These fun and interactive business bootcamps use a series of farm case studies as real-life examples, providing participants with the skills to help them manage their farm business now, as well as planning for their business into the future.

Topics

Over the 2-day business bootcamp participants will develop:

• cash flow budgeting skills
• a strong understanding of risk management and planning
• a capacity to fine tune their business goals.

Presenter

A farm business adviser from Meridian Agriculture will deliver on farm financial analysis, benchmarking, farm business performance and succession planning.

Location: Wallup Hall, Wallup Hall Road, Wallup

Date and time: Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 July, 8:30 am to 4 pm

Register online here.

More information: email Adam Buzza or call 0447 525 457.

Business Skills for the Future: Robinvale and Mildura

Agriculture Victoria, supported by the viticulture and apiary industries, is offering growers an opportunity to enhance their business skills through a free 2-day ‘Business skills for the future’ workshop to be held in Robinvale and Mildura.

The 2-day business workshop will cover the following topics:

• profitable decision making
• cash flow budgeting
• understanding key business performance rations
• farm health checklist (financial).

Presenter: Gavin Beever, Cumbre Consulting, with extensive experience in farm, land and business management.

Robinvale workshop

• Location: Robinvale Community Centre, 37 Robin St, Robinvale
• Date and time: Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 26 July, 9:30 am to 3 pm

Mildura workshop

• Location: Cnr. Koorlong Ave and 11th Street, 308–390 Koorlong Ave, Irymple
• Date and time: Wednesday 12 and Tuesday 25 July, 9:30 am to 3 pm

More information / register: email Braam Cronje or call 0498 092 135.

Irrigation webinar series: new approach to delivery rights in Victoria – 'place of take approvals' framework

The new 'place of take approvals' framework will strengthen water delivery rights in declared systems and will come into effect during 2023/24 following the completion of consultation.

The new framework will be consistent across all declared water systems and will protect irrigators' existing rights to have water delivered during a rare shortfall event. Irrigators will also have more flexibility to manage their own delivery risk.

The changes are driven by increasing delivery risk in the Murray downstream of Barmah.

Topics

This webinar will discuss what the new framework means for irrigators. It will cover:

• the drivers for the change
• what the changes are, and what they mean for water users, including private diverters and irrigation district customers
• proposed rules under the framework, including cap and trade of water delivery rights
• how the changes fit in the program of work to manage increasing delivery risk in the Murray.

Presenters

• Penny Clark, Senior Manager Water Reform Legislation Oversight
• Alex Murray, Manager Declared Systems Reform, DEECA

Location: online

Date and time: Wednesday 12 July, 1 to 2 pm

More information / register: email Rob O'Connor or call 0408 515 652.

Online Farm Business Resilience Short Course

The Farm Business Resilience program provides farmers with the opportunity to develop a plan for their farm business.

Participants will improve their skills and knowledge to better prepare for and manage risk, adapt to change and strengthen their farm business.

The course will be delivered online in August in a series of 2 to 3 hour facilitated workshops, with an introductory session at the beginning of July and a one-on-one session at the end of the program.

Topics covered in the course include:

• Identifying and managing risks, strategic planning and setting business goals
• Financial management, budgeting and profitable decision making
• Managing people on farm, succession planning and farm safety
• Climate risk and natural resource management
• Business plan reviews.

Presenter: Jane Foster, Senior Agribusiness Consultant, ORM Pty. Ltd.

Location: Online

Dates:

• Monday 31 July (Introductory session)
• Wednesday 2 August
• Monday 7 August
• Wednesday 9 August
• Wednesday 16 August

Register your interest in attending here.

For more information about the course, email Elizabeth Alsop or call 0457 838 537, or check out the Agriculture Victoria website.

Farm Fitness Checklist

The Farm Fitness Checklist helps farmers assess where their business is at currently, and to identify areas and opportunities to strengthen their farm business.

It covers subjects including people management, skills and training, business planning and financial performance, emergency management, infrastructure, water supply, natural resource management, risk management, succession planning, off-farm activities and more.

Download the Farm Fitness Checklist from the Agriculture Victoria website.

A range of support measures are available for flood and storm-affected farmers. Information about these measures can be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods. For any urgent animal welfare needs, please contact 136 186. 

Technical Information and decision-making support 

Agriculture Victoria is working with Victorian farmers and industry to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters (including floods and storms) through delivery of technical information and decision-making support services to help farm business recovery including: 

• Grazing, cropping and pasture management
• Irrigation and horticulture system rehabilitation 
• Soil erosion management  
• Land management 
• Animal health and nutrition  
• Farm mapping and planning  
• Water quality
• Weed management.

As of 28 June, Agriculture Victoria has been involved in and supported the delivery of 268 recovery activities, including 132 technical events engaging 2,685 farmers.

These activities provide tangible support and information to farmers recovering from floods and storms in a range of areas including grazing, cropping and pasture management, irrigation and horticulture system rehabilitation, land management, animal health and nutrition, climate and seasonal outlook and pest and weed management.

Farmers are encouraged to contact the Agriculture Recovery team on Phone: 0427 694 185 (Mon-Fri between 8.30 am and 5 pm) or Email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Concessional loans of up to $250,000 are available for Primary Producers in the Greater Shepparton City Council and the Yarra Ranges Council local government areas for impacts from the 23 March hailstorm.

Applications close on 14 November 2023.

More information about the 23 March hailstorm support is available on the Rural Finance website or by calling 1800 260 425. 

The Rural Financial Counselling Service offers free and independent financial information, options, decision-making support and referral services to farmers and small, related rural businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship.

A rural financial counsellor can assist farmers to understand, and apply for government support. Call 1300 771 741.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is committed to supporting primary producers whose properties, livestock or crops were damaged or lost in the floods and storms through the delivery of initiatives to boost farmer mental health and wellbeing, including:

• a supportive online community through the #BuildingFarmSpirit social media campaign
• free access to online psychology support delivered by Lysn psychologists
• support for community events providing social connection and mental health promotion opportunities for farmers, farming families and farming communities
• distribution of mental health resources and support information.

Managing stress on the farm

Click to read or download this Managing Stress on the Farm book from the National Centre for Farmer Health website. You can also request free hard copies from the website.

Dealing with a stressful season

Stressful periods like floods, extended wet conditions and associated production losses often result in farmers themselves getting a bit stuck and operating at less than their best.

A key to recovery is to remain as healthy as you can and recognise that experiencing stress following extreme climatic events is normal.

The National Centre for Farmer Health has developed some quick tips to help you on the journey.

It is normal to have strong reactions following a distressing or frightening event and people can experience a range of physical, mental, emotional and behavioural reactions.

There are a number of support services available (listed below) to assist you and your family recover from the strong emotional or physical reactions you may be experiencing.

Are you concerned about your own mental health? Reach out to Lifeline for a safe place to talk on 13 11 14.

Available support includes:

• Your doctor or local community health centre
• A counsellor or psychologist
• Parentline 13 22 89
• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
• Nurse-On-Call 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Australian Psychological Society Referral Service 1800 333 497.

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.

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or relayservice.gov.au

Don't forget to check out Agriculture Victoria's social media sites for up-to-date information and news.