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Thursday 27 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 support
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).
Visit the Business Victoria website for more information.
What would an exotic disease outbreak look like on my property?
Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer, Northern Region
It is difficult to imagine a more stressful scenario for a producer, an exotic disease has been diagnosed on their property – what happens next?
Naturally there are numerous possible scenarios and the approach taken would vary according to the specific disease. A series of documents known as AUSVETPLAN are in place to guide the process to help ensure a consistent, successful outcome.
In general, the producer’s property would be quarantined to limit the chance of the disease spreading to other properties.
Further samples may be collected to confirm the diagnosis and to help ascertain the extent of its spread on the property. These would be tested at the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) at Geelong.
Epidemiological information, such as recent movements on and off the property, would be collected to help guide tracing and surveillance activities on other properties.
An Incident Control Centre would be established at a suitable location in a nearby town, whose activities would be directed by a State Control Centre.
Infected premises operations would be put into place to eradicate the disease on the property and to ensure contaminated material doesn’t leave the property.
This would vary according to the nature of the disease. If destruction of livestock or property is necessary compensation would be paid.
Local movement controls may be set up through the declaration of restricted areas and control areas.
Eventually, when eradication of the disease had been achieved, proof of freedom testing would be necessary to prove to our trading partners that the disease had been successfully eradicated.
It sounds like a lot, but all of this would be necessary in order to preserve Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock industries and to prevent the establishment of a new exotic disease.
Naturally, none of this will be necessary if we don’t allow these diseases to enter Australia and to come into contact with our livestock.
We urge you to report any unusual signs or suspected cases of emergency animal disease immediately to the all-hours Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Early reporting increases the chance of effective control and eradication.
For further information contact your local Agriculture Victoria Veterinary or Animal Health Officer.
Webinar recording: Implications of climate change on various Mallee horticultural crops
Presenters were Jeremy Giddings, Irrigation Regional Manager, Agriculture Victoria and Geoff Rix, Manager Salinity and Water Quality, Mallee CMA.
Climate change is a critical issue facing irrigated horticulture in the Victorian Mallee, with increasing temperatures and a water constrained environment posing major threats.
In recognising the critical importance of maintaining productive and sustainable horticultural industries, the Mallee CMA commissioned this study, with Agriculture Victoria providing project management.
The initial phases of this project looked at modelling the effect of a changing climate on the production of 7 horticultural crops (almond, avocado, wine grapes, table grapes, dried vine fruit, citrus and pistachio).
The final phases began looking at project water requirements of these crops under future climate scenarios.
In this webinar recording Jeremy Giddings summarised the findings of both phases of the project and how the results could be used by industry and government.
Duration: 58 minutes (including questions)
Password: Climate
This webinar was presented on Wednesday 26 March at 12 pm. You can find all our climate webinar recordings online.
TAFE students get smart with farming In Sunraysia
Horticulture students in Sunraysia are growing almonds and avocados by working smarter, not harder, with support from the Victorian Government.
Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney recently officially opened the redeveloped SuniTAFE SMART Farm campus in Cardross, made possible by a $3.9 million investment from the Victorian Government.
The investment included upgrades to facilities such as a new potting shed with automated seeding and potting machines, a modular farm for controlled climate cropping with hydroponics, new irrigation systems, and upgraded hydraulic valves.
More crops have been planted including patches of almonds, olives, table grapes, citrus and avocados, further cementing Sunraysia’s renowned reputation as Australia’s horticultural food bowl.
In addition, SuniTAFE received $1.9 million through the Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund for its ‘Protective Cropping – Building an Industry Workforce’ project. This initiative supports training in protected cropping through a Certificate II in Protected Horticulture, delivered via the SMART Farm training facility.
With the region’s economy largely driven by horticulture and other agriculture, there is strong demand for skilled workers who have hands-on experience with precision farming and digital technologies.
SuniTAFE’s upgraded SMART Farm training and innovation campus gives students the opportunity to work with industry and researchers on projects in horticulture, conservation, precision farming and business management, while industry partners can also use the farm to test new crops, technology and processes.
SMART farming combines traditional practices with modern technology such as robots, drones and autonomous equipment to make farming more productive, efficient and sustainable.
Queensland grain grower new
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has welcomed the appointment of well-respected Queensland grain grower Andrew Earle as the organisation’s newest board director.
Mr Earle’s appointment was announced by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry yesterday. He steps into the directorship role vacated by South Australian grain grower and pork producer Sharon Starick, who was appointed GRDC Board Chair in September.
The Queensland-based grower is well-known across the sector having previously served as a board member of Grains Australia, and as deputy chair of Grain Producers Australia. He has also been a staunch supporter of grains research having regularly hosted farming trials on his Mungindi property, Bullawarrie.
AgTech Innovators – Episode 8
In the final episode of AgTech Innovators, we are joined by Jane Bunn, meteorologist and founder and CEO of Jane's Weather.
Jane discusses her journey in AgTech, how she started her weather app to provide detailed weather information for farmers and other industries and talks about the challenges she faced as a female founder and the importance of networking.
In case you missed it 📰
What's On
Details about these events and more can be found our website.
GRDC events
1 April - GRDC Grains Research Update, online – New opportunities for crown rot management
1-1:45 pm
3 April - Putting common cropping decision ‘rules’ to the test, online
1-2 pm
3 April - GRDC National Grower Network Forum - Warracknabeal
4-7:30 PM
4 April - GRDC National Grower Network Forum - Horsham
9 am - 1 pm
Visit GRDC events for more information.
Looking after your livestock, looking after you
Farmers are invited to a one-day workshop to help keep your animals and you going during challenging times.
Location: North Park Community Sports Centre, Lamont Street, Stawell
Date: 31 March, 9 am - 3 pm (Stawell)
Beef and sheep farmers are invited to a free managing livestock session with veterinarian Dr. Jillian Kelly of Animal Health and Nutrition Consulting.
Date: 1 April
Location: Hamilton Golf Club
Date: 3 April
Location: Beaufort Community Bank Complex
Leading farm teams
Leading Farm Teams is a hands-on workshop to boost leadership, motivate teams, and enhance farm management with practical strategies.
Date: 7 April
Location: Skipton TBC
Date: 8 April
Location: Hamilton TBC
Webinar – Soil moisture, monitoring wind erosion and seasonal outlook
Join us online Thursday 10 April at noon for a webinar with our seasonal agronomists Dale Grey and Dale Boyd and the Wind Erosion and Land Management project team.
The webinar includes:
- 2024 season review – key insights for the Wimmera Mallee
- 2024 wind erosion and land management observations – findings from the recent Mallee survey
- Satellite technology – how remote sensing is used to monitor ground cover and obtain crop type estimates
- Historical break timings – case studies on Berriwillock and Longerenong
- 2025 seasonal outlook – current soil moisture levels and key insights for the Wimmera Mallee.
Birchip Cropping Group events
Visit www.bcg.org.au/events
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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