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Thursday 12 June 2025
Drought and dry seasonal conditions support
The Victorian Government has announced a new and expanded Drought Package – with an additional $37.7 million in funding.
Eligible farmers across the state will be able to access grants of up to $5,000 to support on-farm drought management.
For eligible farmers in the south west, the grant has been increased to up to $10,000.
The Premier has also established a Drought Response Taskforce.
Farmers can lodge an Expression of Interest for the grants by emailing Rural Finance at: admin@ruralfinance.com.au
To view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or phone 136 186.
Helping Victorian farmers access interstate fodder
Importers looking to bring fodder into Victoria from interstate can go through Agriculture Victoria to apply for a Plant Biosecurity Permit (PBP) to ensure biosecurity risks are properly managed.
Agriculture Victoria is providing a free service to suppliers, transporters and farmers to navigate permit requirements and expedite access to fodder.
Ongoing drought conditions have created serious challenges for Victoria’s livestock industry, particularly a critical shortage of hay and fodder - so farmers are needing to look interstate for source supplies.
All imported fodder requires a PBP to manage key biosecurity risks from entering Victoria from interstate, including Annual Ryegrass Toxicity (found in all states but NT and Tasmania), Green Snail (found in WA), Red Imported Fire Ant (found in QLD), and Electric Ant (found in QLD).
Get your Q fever vac record on the Australian Immunisation Register
You may want to make sure that you have your Q Fever eStatement before the current register closes. You can download your eStatement up until 30 June 2025.
How to get your Q Fever eStatement - you can start by clicking on this link Q Fever Register Login - Australian Q Fever Register then follow the steps in the document.
If you have problems logging in, call 1300 733 837. Please try logging in before calling.
Alternatively, people may have received their statement when immunised from the following email address (if you want to search your own email database): register@mg.qfever.org
Adding your record to the Australian Immunisation Register
Once you have downloaded or received an email of your eStatement, you can take your eStatement to a medical professional like a doctor or practice nurse, who can then load this information to the Australian Immunisation Register on your behalf.
The Australian Immunisation Register will hold this information so you can access it in the future.
The Crop Density tool – AgVic’s latest agronomy tool
An early estimation of crop emergence in these challenging, dry winter conditions is an important agronomy tool to later manage canopy density for the season and spring outlook. If plant establishment is poor it can have a major influence on final crop yield.
Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Boyd (above) said successful crop establishment depends largely on soil moisture which has been limited due to May’s decile 1 rainfall.
‘Having the planting equipment and good quality seed can really help make the most of what moisture is there.’
Workshops to set strategies for farm business success
Agriculture Victoria is hosting upcoming farm business success workshops for farmers located in northern Victoria from June through to July.
The Setting Strategies for Farm Business Success workshops will be facilitated by Gavin Beever from Cumbre Consulting. Gavin has over 35 years of broad, practical experience in agricultural extension and farm management with a focus on creating high-functioning teams who achieve their goals.
Agriculture Victoria Regional Manager Grains Northern Rebecca Mitchell said the workshops are suitable for all members of a farm business.
Partnerships Against Pests – Round 4
Do you have a great idea to help your community combat established pests and weeds in Victoria?
Round 4 of the Partnerships Against Pests grants program is now open to organisations operating at a regional or local level with an interest in established invasive species management.
The grants will help community groups to deliver workshops, resources and community engagement initiatives, build community capacity, and promote collaboration between neighbours and communities.
This round of grants will include an opportunity for groups that can demonstrate sustained community engagement over a minimum of two years, to purchase capital items with a value up to $10,000.
This will aid groups to move to the next stage of their engagement, education and management journey to purchase equipment for demonstration and education purposes in line with best practice management for their target species.
Applications close on Friday 4 July 2025 for 1- or 2-year projects between $10,000 and $50,000.
Agriculture Victoria encourages all eligible groups with innovative and impactful ideas to apply. For more information visit the Agriculture Victoria website (below button) or talk to your regional engagement officer.
What's On
Details about these events and more can be found our website.
VFF Stock Sense Sheep Essentials Webinar Series
When: Session 2 on 18 June, 6-7:30 pm
Where: Delivered via Zoom
Join sheep expert Alison Gunn for this webinar series.
Session 2 – Parasite management, vaccinations, and the importance of a vet/client relationship.
Webinar: Myth busting the seasonal outlook
Join us for a Zoom webinar designed to give farmers a comprehensive view of the forecasts for the weather in their specific districts so they can have the tools and the knowledge to plan for the future.
13 June, 12 noon to 1 pm.
Hear Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey discuss topics such as:
- Timing of the autumn break, historical analysis
- Why is autumn such a difficult time to accurately predict?
- Current climate influences
- Current forecasts for winter and spring
- Tools that are available to help with planning.
Know your number, control your future – Cohuna, Boort and Kerang
Join us to learn how understanding your farm’s number can help you improve efficiency, boost soil health and gain access to emerging markets, while providing practical insights to help futureproof your business and maintain profitability.
Cohuna - 17 June, 9:30 am to 2 pm, CFA Shed, 37 King Edward Street, Cohuna, barbecue lunch will be provided.
Boort - 18 June, 9:30 am to 2 pm, Memorial Hall, 115 Godfrey Street, Boort, barbecue lunch will be provided.
Kerang - 19 June, 9:30 am to 2 pm, Kerang Golf Club, Kerang, barbecue lunch will be provided.
Presenter: AgriSci P/L soil scientist Dr Cassandra Schefe.
These free workshops will feature locally relevant strategies and be delivered by people who have practical experience in agriculture. It will equip farmers with the information and resources they need to apply practical strategies that suit the way they farm today.
Topics include:
- improving soil health
- rotational grazing
- improving herd efficiency
- pasture planting
- manure management
- and more.
The workshop is presented by North Central Catchment Management Authority in partnership with Agriculture Victoria and Landcare Victoria.
Tumpinyeri growers soil biology workshop
Tumpinyeri Growers use regenerative farming practices to grow salad and other vegetables for local markets. They follow agroecological principles and are focused on soil health, and careful water usage including for crop production and to encourage biodiversity.
Tumpinyeri Growers have been working with RMIT University and University of Melbourne on a research project examining soil biological health with a focus on nematodes, bacteria and fungi. This workshop will present a summary of the research findings.
Workshop details
Where: 129 Morgantis Road, Eganstown.
When: Tuesday 1 July from 10 am to 2 pm - lunch will be provided.
This will be an opportunity to hear from scientists about soil biology, soil health, and how management practices influence soil properties, plant growth and healthy production systems.
Presenters will include:
- Josh Williams, Tumpinyeri Growers
- Dr Helen Hayden, RMIT University
- Dr Reza Ghaderi, University of Melbourne.
Webinar – Talking trees
Trees do a lot more than just take root. Trees on farms improve biodiversity, enhance soils, and sequester carbon all while improving farm productivity and health.
Join Landcare Victoria's next webinar on Thursday, 3 July, to learn more about how trees can benefit your farm while being used to generate additional revenue through agroforestry, carbon farming, or biodiversity markets.
When: Thursday, 3 July
In good times and bad: Adaptive skills for your farming future
When: 22-23 July, 8:30 am for 9 am start to 3 pm.
Where: Dookie College, 940 Dookie-Nalinga Road, Dookie.
When: 14-15 August, 8:30 am for 9 am start to 3 pm.
Where: Agriculture Victoria, 124 Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen.
Livestock and grain producers are invited to participate in a 2-day course for your farm business future. In the course you will develop a plan that will help contribute to your farm’s success.
For further information, contact: Kylie Macreadie Team Leader Land Management, on 0427 052 352 or email kylie.macreadie@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Diversifying farm income
When: 27 June, 9:30 am
Where: Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre
The Murray Region Forestry Hub, in partnership with the North East Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, and Wangaratta Rural City Council is proud to present a pivotal forum aimed at empowering landholders with practical and research-backed insights into the benefits of integrating forestry into farming systems.
This free event will take place on 27 June in Wangaratta, featuring a range of topics presented by leading specialists.
Irrigation Insights 2025
Irrigation Insights is designed to address the needs of irrigated farm systems offering growers access to information and the latest innovations. The conference program focuses on issues and opportunities for irrigated farm systems.
Event details
Date and time: Tuesday 22 July, 9 am to 4:30 pm
Venue: Rich River Golf Club, Moama
Setting Strategies for Farm Business Success – St Arnaud
St Arnaud Sporting Club, 26 Dunstan Street, St Arnaud.
The 2 days will discuss and examine areas that make for an effective farm business strategy.
8:30 am – 3 pm, 23 and 24 July.
Topics will cover financials, farm resources, human relationships, setting business goals and the tools and skills that will get you to where you want to go.
Presenters include Gavin Beever from Cumbre Consulting. Dale Grey and Jim Moran representing Ag Vic and Brendan Williams, Managing Director Autonomous Ag, on the latest in AgTech.
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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