In this edition

Latest news

• Managing seasonal variability
• Farmer online assist: registrations close on 30 September

Events, programs and workshops

• Managing Seasonal Variability webinar series: are you ready for the next dry spell?
• Soil moisture probe interpretation – webinar
• Elmore Field Days
• GrazFert Program for beef and sheep producers: Timboon
• North East Emergency Expo
• Australian Wool Innovation Breeding Leadership 2024
• Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM) course

Resources

• Introduction to soil carbon eLearn – what you need to know
• On-farm visitor management in your pocket
• 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
• National Centre for Farmer Health
• Health and personal wellbeing
• Farm Business Resilience Program

Register now to join Agriculture Victoria’s 6-episode webinar series on ‘managing seasonal variability’.

The webinar series will help famers to consider the following questions:

• What are the influencing climate drivers?
• What is your feed and water situation?
• How much water is stored in your soil?
• How many livestock can you carry if we have a drier than average spring?
• Do you have enough water?
• Do you have reserves of hay, silage and grain?

Key areas that are crucial for preparing your farm for a variable climate will also be explored, including:

• Protecting your pastures and soil from over-grazing, whilst maintaining fit and healthy livestock
• The benefits of using a stock containment area to confine stock during a dry season
• Options for improving the water security and quality on farm, such as tapping into a rural pipeline, installing a bore or drought reserve dam, tanks and pipes or a desalination unit
• Use of silage pits as a longer-term drought reserve.

The 6-part lunchtime series of hour-long webinars will begin on Wednesday September 20 at 12:30 pm, with subsequent webinars running each Wednesday until October 25.

Attendees are welcome to join one or all of the sessions and participate in discussions. Event details below.

The Farmer Online Assist program provides Victorian farmers affected by extreme seasonal conditions with up to 3 free sessions with a farmer health trained and registered AHPRA accredited psychologist – without a need to have a GP mental health plan.

The following eligibility criteria apply:

• you must be over 16 years of age
• you must be a Victorian resident living in a local government area affected by the 2022 floods
• you must be currently living or working on a farm.

Farmers who register for the service by 30 September 2023 will have until January 2024 to book and use their free sessions.

Farmer Online Assist is not a crisis service. If you require crisis support please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or in an emergency where there is an immediate risk of harm to a person call 000.

For more information or to register for Farmer Online Assist visit the National Centre for Farmer Health #BuildingFarmSpirit webpage.

Managing Seasonal Variability webinar series: are you ready for the next dry spell?

Lots of grass and full dams in many parts of the state make this an ideal time to start planning for the next dry season. Over 6 weeks Agriculture Victoria will be running a series of lunchtime webinars to help farmers make early plans.

Presenters and topics:

• Ben and Jodie Greene, Elmhurst: Managing seasonal variability, a farmer’s perspective

Agriculture Victoria presenters include:

• Dale Grey, Seasonal Risk Agronomist: Climate outlook and tools
• Michele Joliffe, Dairy Extension Officer: Fodder conservation
• Clem Sturmfels, Land Management Extension Officer: Siting and design of a Stock Containment Area
• Nick Linden, Livestock Extension Officer: Animal nutrition and feeding during dry times
• Clem Sturmfels, Land Management Extension Officer: Is your water supply up to scratch?

Location: Online

Dates and time: every Wednesday from 20 September to 25 October, 12.3:30 to 1:30 pm

Register here

More information: email Clem Sturmfels or call 0429 018 879.

Elmore Field Days

Come along to Site 349 and meet the Agriculture Recovery Team at the Elmore Field Days.

Location: 48 Rosaia Road, Elmore

Dates: Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 October

More information: visit Elmore Field Days.

GrazFert Program for beef and sheep producers: Timboon

Sheep and beef producers in Timboon and surrounding areas are encouraged to sign up to a free Grazfert farm nutrient management program run by Agriculture Victoria.

GrazFert enables farmers to make better fertiliser decisions, improve soil health and to access support and advice for their soil and pasture management.

One-on-one farm visits and soil sampling run from 9 to 13 October.

Follow up workshops will be held on Wednesday 8 November and Wednesday 6 December.

Workshop location and dates:

Workshop 1: Soil test interpretation – Wednesday 8 November, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Timboon Recreation Reserve

Workshop 2: Nutrient budgeting – Wednesday 6 December, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Timboon Recreation Reserve

Register here

More information: visit the Agriculture Victoria events page, email Greg Bekker or call 0417 340 236

Introduction to soil carbon eLearn – what you need to know

Soil carbon is critical for soil health, improving productivity, profitability and resilience.

This soil carbon eLearn module provides key information about soil carbon.

By building knowledge of soil carbon it will help provide an understanding of the potential mitigation options in managing climate change on-farm.

At the completion of this module, participants will have a better understanding of:

• the soil health benefits of soil carbon
• the difference between soil carbon and soil organic matter
• the influence of soil type, climate and land management on soil carbon stocks
• the impacts of agricultural practices on soil carbon
• where to go for further information and resources.

View the eLearn here.

On-farm visitor management in your pocket

If you missed the Agriculture Victoria webinar presentation on the benefits of smartphone apps and how they are being used to maintain on-farm safety through visitor management, it's not too late.

Utilising the technology that is in everyone's pocket, these apps are designed to improve workforce communication giving growers a real time ability to be on top of management tasks.

This week's lunchtime webinar discussed the Onside platform, which has been designed specifically for the agriculture industry.

Learn how growers, industry associations and government are using this technology for tracing and responding to on-farm biosecurity risks.

Check out the Horticulture Industry Networks website to view this week's webinar (available early next week) and other webinars in the Future-proofing horticulture in a changing climate series. 

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 13 September, Agriculture Victoria has been involved in and supported the delivery of 306 recovery events engaging 2,860 farmers. This includes the delivery of 146 technical activities and engagement and attendance at 160 community recovery meetings and committees.

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.