• Victorian flood and storm support for farmers
• National Centre for Farmer Health: flood response support
• Training opportunities for women
• Questions to ask before selling carbon
• Get expert advice on cattle health
• MLA Producer Demonstration Site Program
• Young Farmers Scholarships closing soon
• 2023 Victorian Landcare Grants
• Livestock Farm Monitoring Project looking for participants
• Serrated tussock community grants are now open
• Fox and wild dog bounty collections for South East Victoria
• Watch our invasive species videos
• AgVic Talk on all things AgTech and Energy
• In case you missed it
• Farmer feedback sought to improve farm safety
• What's on

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.  

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

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.

Ag recovery newsletter

Farmers and service providers are encouraged to subscribe to the Flood Recovery digital newsletter to access latest events and information.

Ag recovery events

For information on events and field days across the state please visit the Events page on the Agriculture Victoria website. 

Victorian Primary Producer Flood Recovery package

Flood and storm-affected farmers and growers are eligible to apply for financial support via the current flood recovery grants.

Applications for primary producer and rural landholder financial supports related to the October 2022 to 13 January 2023 flood and storm event have been extended to 13 July 2023.

Applications close at 4 pm on Thursday 13 July 2023.

The extension applies to:

1. Primary Producer Recovery Grants: Up to $75,000 grants to support the cost of recovery and get businesses up and running again. Note: This replaces the $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up, Relief Grants announced on 19 October. Producers that have received a Primary Producer Flood Clean–Up Relief Grant of $10,000 can now apply for up to a further $65,000 under the Primary Producer Recovery Grant, bringing the total to $75,000.
2. Rural Landholder Grants: Up to $25,000 grants to support the costs of disaster impacts for small-scale producers.
3. Primary Producer Concessional Loans: Up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, or to cover short-term business expenses. This loan has been amended to allow 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 to apply for a concessional loan of up to $100,000
4. Primary Producer Transport Subsidies: Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.

To apply for support or for more information, visit the Rural Finance website.

Rural Financial Counselling Service

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. They can also assist farmers to apply for financial assistance.

To connect with your local service call 1300 771 741 or visit the National Emergency Management Agency.

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 farmer health trained 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.

More information is available on the National Centre for Farmer Health website.

Looking for a new challenge?

We’re making it easier than ever for women across Victoria to learn new skills for their chosen career or retrain to get the job of their dreams.

Even with a previous qualification, Victorians may now be eligible for free TAFE and other government-subsidised courses, giving an additional two million Victorians access to more than 500 courses.

With free TAFE, you could undertake courses in community services, nursing, agriculture, early childhood, construction and more without the cost of tuition.

Want to know more?

Find the course you’re looking for at Connecting People with Skills

Have you noticed a lot of commentary about carbon markets in the press recently?  

An emerging carbon offset market offering payments for new carbon sequestered on-farm sounds like an interesting option for farmers hoping to reduce their emissions profile and diversify their business income stream. 

To support farmers learn more about getting involved in this market, Agriculture Victoria has developed a list of questions to ask before selling carbon. 

The first thing to consider is the reason why you might like to sell sequestered carbon from trees or soils on your property.

Questions include, but are not limited to: 

• Does selling carbon fit your long-term property/business goal?
• Might you want to retain your carbon for use in offsetting/insetting against your own farm emissions at some future point? 
• Are you prepared to undertake benchmarking, ongoing sampling, and measurement activities to verify carbon stocks?

Participation as a seller of carbon is voluntary, so farmers get to choose if they would like to participate as a seller of carbon into the offsets market.

Some questions to ask include, but are not limited to:

• Will any longer-term covenants be placed on my land?
• What happens if the carbon offset company goes broke?
• Will the carbon offset company require access to my property and if so, how often? 

In addition to selling carbon, there are also many other practical ways that farmers can reduce emissions or increase carbon on their farm and the 'Making cent$ of carbon and emissions on-farm' booklet provides practical actions that farm businesses can take now to improve their emissions performance.

If you’re interested in selling carbon, seek independent legal and financial advice to ensure that you are aware of all the considerations and obligations that apply in this developing market.  

For more information visit Agriculture Victoria or the Australian Government – Clean Energy Regulator.

Agriculture Victoria is teaming up with RSPCA Victoria to present a webinar about cattle health and biosecurity management.

Keeping Your Cattle Healthy, to be held on Wednesday 10 May from 6 pm to 7 pm, will provide smaller-scale farmers with important information and practical tips to help ensure their cattle are healthy, productive, and profitable.

The one-hour session will cover a range of topics, including how to manage on-farm biosecurity, assessing and monitoring cattle health and feed requirements.

Brett Davidson from Agriculture Victoria and Rachael Laukart from RSPCA will be presenting at the webinar.

Both presenters have extensive experience in animal management and are passionate about helping Victorian farmers to care for their animals.

“Livestock health and productivity go hand-in-hand, and both are crucial for the success of any farming operation,” Mr Davidson said.

“By implementing good biosecurity measures, all landholders can better protect their cattle and farms from diseases and pests.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with RSPCA Victoria to deliver this webinar and provide practical advice to small-scale farmers on how to improve the health and wellbeing of their cattle.”

Ms Laukart said RSPCA Victoria is excited to be working with Agriculture Victoria and sharing their expertise with the community.

“Management of livestock’s ongoing health and welfare requirements are vital to producing high-quality agriculture produce.

“It may sound obvious, but productive farms need productive animals, which is why a healthy herd and having the skills to assess and manage your livestock’s health are essential.”

To register your attendance, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/events

Do you prefer to learn by seeing, doing and getting involved?

Do you want to see new management practices and technologies in action?

The Meat & Livestock (MLA) Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program gives producers an opportunity to discover and implement new management practices that could improve business profitability, productivity and sustainability.

To learn more and find a PDS near you go to mla.com.au/pds

Are you a #youngfarmer looking to take your career to the next level?

Applications for the 2023 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships are now open.

The program offers scholarships of up to $10,000 to upskill and invest in your career.

To find out more and apply visit Business Victoria.

Applications close Monday 21 May.

Applications for the 2023 Victorian Landcare Grants and Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants, funded by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, are now open.

Victorian Landcare Grants for volunteer groups

🌿 Through the Victorian Landcare grants, environmental volunteer groups can apply for up to $20,000, for projects that protect or improve the natural environment, including native vegetation and wildlife, waterways and soils.

Grants of up to $500 are also available to help with group and network administration and running costs.

Applications can be made through your local Catchment Management Authority.

For more information, visit the Victorian Landcare grants page on the DEECA website.

Applications close on 16 May.

Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants

🦋 The Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants provide young Victorians with an opportunity to participate in biodiversity-focused hands-on projects and/or learning activities. Victorian childcare centres, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, Scouts, Girl Guides and youth groups can apply for grants of up to $5,000.

For more information and to apply, visit Junior Landcare.

Applications close on 12 May.

Spots are now available in a free and trusted sheep and beef farm benchmarking project.    

Find out how your farm stacks up against similar businesses across the state by participating in Agriculture Victoria’s Livestock Farm Monitor Project.

All information is treated as highly confidential.

For more information see the project website or contact fmp.Victoria@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) is providing community groups and organisations with the opportunity to apply for grants to manage serrated tussock.

The grants aim to support community groups and organisations to build their capacity to achieve long-term voluntary management of serrated tussock.

Grants of up to $5,000 (GST excluded) are available to deliver a project which meets the priorities and criteria outlined in these guidelines.

The grants promote collaboration between community groups, local municipalities and the VSTWP in the best practice management of serrated tussock.

A key objective of the grants is to support community groups and organisations that have been actively controlling serrated tussock over a number of years.

Please see the guidelines and application form below, which include how to submit the grant application, contact details and the criteria for assessment.

Grants are currently open for application.

Apply here: VSTWP Community Grant Application form

Guidelines here: VSTWP Community Grant Guidelines

Victorian fox and wild dog collections continue.

Submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and/or entire wild dog body parts for a $120 reward.

Participants need to register for the new digital payment system and should refresh their knowledge of the terms and conditions to ensure their submissions are acceptable.

Visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty

The South East Victoria collection schedule for May is listed below:

Ellinbank collections: fox and wild dog
1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank

Monday 22 May, 2 – 4 pm

Bairnsdale collections: fox and wild dog
35 Bairnsdale – Dargo Road, Bairnsdale

Tuesday 23 May, 12 – 2 pm

Maffra collections: fox and wild dog
1 Stratford Road, Maffra

Wednesday 24 May, 9 – 11 am

Yarram collections: fox only
Rodgers Street, Yarram

Wednesday 24 May, 2 – 4 pm

Woori Yallock collections: fox only
Symes Road, Woori Yallock

Thursday 25 May, 12 – 2 pm

Further collections will be held in July, September and October.

The full schedule is available here. 

Rabbits, foxes and feral pigs pose a major threat to our environment and agricultural production.

Monitoring pest animals before, during and after control efforts using activity plots, remote cameras, spotlighting and other methods can save you time, money and improve pest animal control on your place.

Click here to learn more.

AgVic Talk podcast is back for season five, this time talking about the future of Agricultural Technologies (AgTech) and Energy.

From solar-powered poultry farms to on-farm drone trials and the difficulties of connectivity in rural and remote areas, this season covers everything you need to further understand the evolving world of AgTech and Energy.

The series will help farmers learn what AgTech is, what energy solutions are available and how they can use them to improve productivity and efficiency on-farm.

These 14 episodes are the latest in the AgVic Talk series, which began as a pilot in August 2020 to cover contemporary commentary on how members of the agricultural community recover, grow, modernise, protect, and promote Victorian agriculture.

You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts:

• Subscribe to AgVic Talk on Spotify
• Subscribe to Apple podcasts.

Goulburn Valley farmer fined for neglected pigs

An animal welfare case against a Girgarre farmer has been resolved following a plea in the Shepparton Magistrates Court recently.

Due to a lack of prior criminal history, an early plea of guilty, plus the accused Grant Haydn Smith, being no longer involved in farming pigs and in the process of selling the property and stock, the Magistrate imposed a $3,000 fine without conviction, with costs awarded in the sum of $278.38.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Invasive aquatic plant a no-no for home gardens

Victorian gardeners are urged to keep watch for the highly invasive weed water hyacinth following a recent discovery in a residential garden pond.

Agriculture Victoria Biosecurity Officer Kaitlin Wright said over 90 of the aquatic plants had been removed from a Williamstown premises following an anonymous report from an astute gardener.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Aquatic outbreak resources now available

Vets, fish farm workers, fisheries staff and scientists could gain valuable insights into aquatic animal disease events thanks to a new book and online courses from Agriculture Victoria.

Agriculture Victoria Principal Veterinary Officer Dr Tracey Bradley has specialised in aquatic animal health for over 16 years and co-authored the resources.

“These resources provide another tool for investigating and responding to emergency biosecurity events and continue to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity capability,” Dr Bradley said.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

Victoria’s Iconic Helmeted Honeyeaters take flight

The Victorian Government is boosting Victoria’s critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater population, with 20 more birds released into the wild as part of conservation efforts to save the species.

Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt visited the Yarra Ranges National Park to participate in the wild release of the birds, which are one of the state’s faunal emblems.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE IN FULL HERE

The Victorian Farmers Federation’s Making our Farms Safer Project (VFF MOFS) is calling for farmer feedback to gauge the impact of the ‘Making our Farm Families Safer’ campaign, which aims to improve the safety of children on farms.

VFF President Emma Germano is urging farmers to complete a short anonymous survey that will be used to inform future campaigns and help reduce tragedy from striking Victorian farming families.

“We’re asking farmers themselves to do a short survey and let us know what worked as part of the campaign and what they’d like to see in future to assist us in our commitment to improve safety outcomes for children on farms.”

“This campaign couldn’t be more important. Recent figures from Agrifutures Australia reported 55 deaths on farms nationwide in 2022, demonstrating that we must continue to work towards keeping every family member and employee safe on our farms,” Ms Germano said.

The ‘Making our Farm Families Safer’ campaign, including the Child Safe on Farms handbook, was initiated in response to a Coronial recommendation in 2021 following the death of seven children on farms between 2016 and 2021.

It launched during Farm Safety Week in July 2021 and is primarily aimed at providing information, tools and resources to those caring for children aged 10-15, who are performing farm work tasks.

Since launching, one campaign video featuring the Head of Trauma and Burns Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Dr Warwick Teague was viewed over 55,000 times on YouTube and the guidebook has been downloaded more than 1,000 times per month from the MOFS website.

“We know thousands of people viewed the campaign videos, read case studies and the guidebook. Now we’re asking farmers what they’d like to see in the future,” Ms Germano said.

The two-minute survey and can be completed here or by visiting www.makingourfarmssafer.org.au and is open until 23 May.

This initiative was developed by the Victorian Farmers Federation Making Our Farms Safer Project with support from KidSafe Vic, the TAC and FarmSafe Australia.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can be found in one spot on our website. Log on to the Events page to keep in touch with upcoming events.

Agriculture Victoria is teaming up with RSPCA Victoria to present a webinar about cattle health and biosecurity management.

Keeping Your Cattle Healthy, to be held on Wednesday 10 May from 6pm to 7pm, will provide smaller-scale farmers with important information and practical tips to help ensure their cattle are healthy, productive, and profitable.

The one hour session will cover a range of topics, including how to manage on-farm biosecurity, assessing and monitoring cattle health and feed requirements.

Brett Davidson from Agriculture Victoria and Rachael Laukart from RSPCA will be presenting at the webinar.

Both presenters have extensive experience in animal management and are passionate about helping Victorian farmers to care for their animals.

“Livestock health and productivity go hand-in-hand, and both are crucial for the success of any farming operation,” Mr Davidson said.

“By implementing good biosecurity measures, all landholders can better protect their cattle and farms from diseases and pests.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with RSPCA Victoria to deliver this webinar and provide practical advice to small scale farmers on how to improve the health and wellbeing of their cattle.”

Ms Laukart said RSPCA Victoria is excited to be working with Agriculture Victoria and sharing their expertise with the community.

“Management of livestock’s ongoing health and welfare requirements are vital to producing high quality agriculture produce.

“It may sound obvious, but productive farms need productive animals, which is why a healthy herd and having the skills to assess and manage your livestock’s health are essential.”

To register your attendance, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/events

Topics covered:

• The impacts of different management practices used at the site for eradicating Parramatta Grass and other weed species
• Managing pastures into winter
• The productivity of the site
• MLA Pasture Paramedic decision-making tool (tool available to take home).

DATE: Tuesday 16 May

TIME: 10.30 am – 1.00 pm

LOCATION: Swan Reach Demonstration Site, Howlett’s Lane, Swan Reach

COST: Free, includes morning tea and lunch

REGISTRATION

Please contact James Paulet by 9 am 15 May by emailing james.paulet@agriculture.vic.gov.au or call/SMS 0447 695 839.

This project is supported by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Good biosecurity is paramount to protecting Victoria. Please ensure your footwear is free of mud, dirt and manure. A footbath will be mandatory for farm entry.

Everyone has a role in minimising biosecurity risks and impacts to the industry.

Agriculture Victoria is delivering biosecurity workshops for Victorian dairy farmers to help develop biosecurity plans which can be used in conjunction with current milk quality and LPA requirements.

Details of Gippsland workshops are as follows: 

When and where: 

• ORBOST, 16 May, 10 am – 2 pm, Snowy Rovers Football and Netball Club, Lochiel Street, Orbost
• SALE, 17 May, 10 am – 2 pm, Sale Greyhound Club, Champions Room, Maffra-Sale Road, Sale
• LEONGATHA: 18 May, 10 am – 2 pm, Leongatha RSL, corner Smith Street and Michael Place, Leongatha.

The workshop will provide farmers with increased knowledge of how to better protect their livestock from pests and disease and how simple, practical, low cost, good biosecurity practices can be built into daily farm activities.

Topics include:

• Developing a biosecurity plan
• Designing a farm map
• Implementing a biosecurity plan – what you can do now.

A light lunch is included. If you feel unwell, please do not attend this event.

Note: If you have already commenced a biosecurity plan, please bring it and your laptop along to the workshop.

For more information and to register to attend visit the Agriculture Victoria events page, email Richard Smith or call 0436 803 765..

WHEN: 5 May, 12 – 1 pm
Online webinar
Register HERE

Agriculture Victoria has commenced an On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot as part of its commitment under the Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge to provide practical information, tools and services to support farmers understand and reduce emissions.

The team will work with up to 250 farm businesses across Victoria to estimate their on-farm emissions profile and identify potential actions to manage and reduce emissions while maintaining productivity.

In this webinar we will hear more about the pilot and learn from two of the participating farmers who have begun their journey to understand their emissions profile and taking action to reduce their emissions.

For more information email Heather Field or call 0438 391 210.

Attention sheep industry - plans are finalising for the Agriculture Victoria 2023 BestWool/BestLamb Conference and dinner to be held in Bendigo on 19-20 June.

The dinner will be celebrating 25 years of BestWool/Best Lamb network, with the conference on the following day.

Further details will be on our events page HERE

Registrations are now open for the Future Drought Fund’s 2023 Science to Practice Forum, 6–8 June 2023.

The annual forum is a showcase of the innovative tools and practices helping Australian farmers and communities respond to a changing climate and prepare for future drought.

Award-winning television journalist and presenter of ABC TV’s Landline, Pip Courtney, will host this year’s online forum and facilitate engaging discussions, with each day focussed on a particular theme:

• Tuesday 6 June – Research and Development: Data-driven projects, stories around research trials and outcomes, future-driven content and content relevant to opportunities under the Future Drought Fund for Natural Resource Management, farming systems groups and research bodies.
• Wednesday 7 June – Farmers, Producers and Agricultural Advisors: Stories of drought and preparing for it, ‘call-to-action’ presentations, content relevant to opportunities under the FDF for producers and their communities, farmer and farm-advisor delivered stories.
• Thursday 8 June – Community and Policy: Community and social projects, including presentations on farmer wellbeing and community resilience in the context of drought, policy discussions and input from FDF network partners.

The forum connects participants to research and activities building the sustainability of Australian agriculture and is an opportunity to collaborate and network with like-minded people.

Register for the 2023 Science to Practice Forum via Eventbrite.

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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 the National Relay Service on 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au.

All contact points can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/contact-us

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