No images? Click here
Thursday 3 July 2025
Statewide 1:1 technical support
Farmers anywhere in Victoria can register now for a one-on-one farm advisory consultation to take stock and discuss the best way forward for their business.
The consultation includes a session of up to 3 hours (face to face or online) and follow-up call, to develop and implement a drought management action plan.
When registering for the program, participants can indicate their preferred consultant from an extensive list of experienced service providers.
To view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or phone 136 186.
Every record matters
Millions of livestock are travelling into, out of and across Victoria each year and when an emergency happens, Agriculture Victoria needs to know where they are.
Quick traceability means we can contain and eradicate emergency animal diseases and contact livestock owners to assess animal welfare needs when there is a fire or flood. This helps to reduce the impacts on individual farmers and the wider industry.
The database isn’t just used in emergencies. Last year there were 33 million livestock movements recorded in Victoria and the database is used by Agriculture Victoria every day to assist stock agents with tracking consignments and undertaking tracebacks on livestock for national residue survey audits.
There are three parts to Victoria’s world class traceability system:
- All locations where livestock are kept have a Property Identification Code (PIC). This includes farms and saleyards.
- All livestock are identified by a National Livestock Identification System eartag or device.
- All livestock movements to a different PIC are recorded in the NLIS database.
Up-to-date records are vital and protecting our livestock industry relies on us all doing our part.
When cattle arrive at your property it’s your legal responsibility to ensure the National Livestock Identification System database is updated within two days. This includes cattle on agistment.
The NLIS can be updated by you, a stock agent, a farm manager or contractor.
Cattle tagging and recording of movements are a vital part of our protecting farming industry and wider community.
For more information call our NLIS helpline on 1800 678 779 between 9 am and 4:30 pm Monday to Friday or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/p2p
If your property doesn’t have a PIC visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/pic
Soil needed to dig deeper into microbiome research
On World Microbiome Day, Agriculture Victoria launched an expression of interest campaign to encourage farmers to donate soil samples to a National Soil Action Plan-funded research project.
Premier Ag Tech event returns to Victoria in 2026
The Victorian Government is proud to welcome Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event evokeAG to Melbourne – a forum bringing the brightest minds in agtech, food production, research and agricultural investment.
Led by AgriFutures Australia, evokeAG is a leading global agrifood technology and innovation event that unites the agrifood innovation community across the Asia Pacific and around the world.
Securing affordable care for Victorian pets statewide
Victorian pet owners will benefit from expanded and upgraded services delivered by not-for-profit animal care organisations across the state thanks to the Victorian Government.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced 33 successful grant recipients as part of Round 12 of the Animal Welfare Fund Grants program, with a total of $1.6 million awarded in this round.
Raising a glass to Victoria's premier wines for 2025
The Victorian Government is celebrating some of Victoria’s most exciting winemakers at this year’s Victorian Wine Show, showcasing the best wine on offer from across the state.
Premier Jacinta Allan joined Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Member for Eureka and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Michaela Settle to honour the winners of this year’s Premier’s Trophy and the Premier’s Choice Award.
Backing workers in our world-class wine industry
The Victorian Government is investing in the sustainability and profitability of Victoria’s prestigious wine industry – backing regional jobs and tourism.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced a $160,000 investment to support Wine Victoria to provide the wine industry with the knowledge, tools and resources they need to improve their practises and outcomes.
Popular irrigation incentive program set to benefit even more Gippsland farmers
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Agriculture Victoria are pleased to open a new round of farm plan incentives, and for the first time, farmers in Warragul, Thorpdale, Noojee and Perry Bridge and across the entire Lake Wellington Catchment are eligible to apply.
Up to $10,000 per farm is available through the Lake Wellington Irrigation Efficiency Incentive Program to help with the cost of a professionally designed irrigation plan.
What's On
Agri Connect: cultivating connections
When: Wednesday 9 July, 3 to 9 pm
Where: Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve, Corner Nine Mile Road and Bunyip River Road, Cora Lynn (access is off Bunyip River Road).
Come along and hear from AgVic, who are presenting on Feed budgeting for Beef Livestock, chat with representatives from NEX Business Farming and Wellness and Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF). Soil health expert Dr. Mary Cole will also be available to chat with from 6 pm.
Free barbecue, scones and refreshments are available from 3 pm onwards.
For more information, please email a.groves@cardinia.vic.gov.au or call 5945 3690.
Here and now workshop – Drouin
When: Tuesday 15 July, 10:30 am to 1 pm.
Where: Drouin Family Hotel, 65 Princes Way Drouin.
While farming in our region experiences seasonal variability that has challenged most of us, we continue to work towards mitigating risk.
Join consultant Laura Tweddle and a team of speakers who are passionate to share their knowledge on future planning your feed base and profitability.
Whether change on your farm means increasing intensity of housing, or simply improving feed harvesting and management in your grazing system, this event aims to improve your forage growth potential and paddock performance.
Speakers:
- Laura Tweddle (Aggies Without Borders)
- Jane Bunn (Jane’s Weather)
- Damien Adcock (Barenburg Seeds)
- Donna Woerz (Debenham Australia).
Making a lot from a little: calving and spring tactics
When: Wednesday 16 July, 10 am to 1:30 pm.
Where: Macalister Demonstration Farm, Riverslea
Field Day presentations by Liz Semmens (Vast Agronomy), Donna Woerz (Debenham Australia), Tony Anderson (Bendigo Bank), Trudi Lang (NEX Solutions, formerly Rural Financial Counselling Service), and a farmer panel from the MID.
Tactics for calving and spring topics on the day include:
- assessing feed available over winter
- assessing feed demand based on current numbers
- options to reduce feed demand
- options for transition cow feeding to maintain optimum health and prevent milk fever
- comparing feeds and calculating the break even prices of different options
- staying on top of finances - using your bank as your bank
- managing cash flow for the whole season ahead.
The farmer panel will share their current situation and how they made decisions to get to now. They will discuss learnings from this season that they will take into the future.
Support services will be available on the day to share information.
Lunch provided.
Webinar - From Feed Test to Feed Budget
When: Wednesday 23 July, 12:30 pm.
Agriculture Victoria is inviting livestock farmers to a webinar on working out your additional supplement to get the most of the feed you have.
Register and receive a free feed test.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Extension Officer Nick Linden will discuss feed quality, livestock requirements and how to make the most of what you have. Nick brings extensive expertise in feed management and will offer valuable guidance for farmers feeding and managing livestock.
Livestock Extension Officer Chris Blore will also talk about the current drought support available.
Calculating on-farm emissions webinar
When: Wednesday 30 July, 5:30 to 7 pm.
Where: Online.
Nationally and internationally, governments and companies are making net zero commitments, driving demand for low emissions agricultural products. Understanding your on-farm emissions can help you access emerging markets, understand on-farm opportunities and increase your productivity, all while improving the environment.
In our webinar, agronomist and farmer Cam Nicholson will take you through a new, simple calculator from Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA) and will give you a step-by-step guide to calculating your on-farm emissions. Cam will be joined by landcarers and farmers, who will share their experience and tips for calculating their on-farm emissions. Their learnings and productivity gains may surprise you.
Calculating your on-farm emissions can seem daunting. But knowing your number is the first step in considering how your farm can be sustainable in years to come. Whether you want to inset or offset, knowing your number will help you understand your power in the supply chain.
This webinar is part of an ongoing series of events, including free, sector relevant local training – see what’s available near you here.
Submit your questions for the webinar here.
Keep up to date with GippsDairy's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Gippsland Agricultural Group's events on their website.
Keep up to date with Food & Fibre Gippsland's events on their website.
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
This newsletter is distributed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe now.