• Register now for drought one-on-one advisory service
• Avian influenza control area at Meredith reduced
• Continue to act on farm water planning
• Fatigue on the farm
• Get your fire plans finalised
• Have you included a farm map in your fire preparedness plan?
• Farm Business Resilience video
• Grants up to $1 million to support businesses development and create jobs
• Free financial counselling
• Dry seasons support
• Join the Design Reference Group and help shape the future of Agriculture Victoria Connect!
• GRDC harvest resources
• In case you missed it
• What's on

Expressions of interest are open for farmers in drought-affected areas of south-west Victoria to register for a free one-on-one consultation with a farm advisor.

The technical decision-making program is being delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s $13.53 million Drought Support Package and builds on existing supports, including technical resources, workshops and field days, already available to farmers in the south west.

Agriculture Victoria Director Kate Linden said the program offers eligible farmers the opportunity to sit down with a consultant to discuss the best way forward for their business in the current season.

‘Decision-making in times of stress, such as when you’re dealing with the daily challenge of drought, can be overwhelming.

‘Taking time to step back, take stock and talk through what you need to do for the next few months can help relieve some of the pressures and feelings of being overwhelmed.

‘This might involve developing feed and water budgets to assess questions as: 'How much feed and water have I got left?', 'How much are my stock going to need?' and 'What am I going to do if the two don’t line up?'

‘Putting plans in place and acting early can make a big difference to your mental load and potentially financial bottom line – buying more hay now (straight out of the paddock), moving stock off the property to agistment or selling more stock might be required,’ she said.

Interested farmers can register their expression of interest with Agriculture Victoria.

Farmers can nominate which advisor they prefer to work with from a panel of experienced and trusted advisors.

The chosen service provider will then contact the farmer directly to book a suitable time for the one-on-one consultation.

Mrs Linden said farmers can meet their advisor either on-farm, at a convenient off-farm location or online. A follow-up one-hour phone consultation, after the initial face-to-face planning session, is also available.

For more information or to register an expression of interest in the Drought Support: One-on-one technical decision-making program visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons, phone 136 186 or email drought.support@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This program is part of the Victorian Government’s Drought Support Package for south west Victoria. Find out more at agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.

Agriculture Victoria has reduced the size of the control area around Meredith that was put in place for the current H7 avian influenza outbreak.

Two more properties in the Meredith area had their quarantine status lifted on 12 November. Four properties remain under the last stages of quarantine.

From Tuesday 19 November 2024, the Meredith control area has been significantly reduced in the north and east and trimmed in the south to remove all the town of Bannockburn.

Properties that remain in the Meredith control area still require permits for moving birds, poultry products and equipment.

Permits are not required for vehicles transporting poultry feed in the Meredith control area as long as they meet biosecurity requirements.

Eight properties were confirmed to have a high pathogenicity H7N3 and H7N9 strains of avian influenza earlier this year.

No new avian influenza cases have been detected since 24 June 2024.

Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said that Agriculture Victoria takes a risk-based approach to establishing and managing control areas and is prepared to move quickly when a lower risk is identified and properties come out of quarantine.

‘Sentinel birds or long fallow periods are being used on the impacted properties as a process of ensuring the farms can safely resume commercial operations.

‘We anticipate that all infected properties will be resolved by the end of this year, which is a significant step towards proof of freedom from avian influenza,’ Dr Cooke said.

If you are a poultry farmer, backyard flock owner or bird owner, report any unexplained bird deaths to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888. Your cooperation is crucial in protecting the health of all birds in the area.

Resources and contact details for industry and individual support are available in our resource directory.

More information, including movement permits, maps, and compensation details is available online at agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianinfluenza.

With below average rainfall leading to unusually low water levels in many farm dams, a timely reminder to continue monitoring water use, regularly check on-farm water supply levels and keep your farm water budget up to date as we head into the summer months.

Agriculture Victoria has information and tools available to help assess your stock water supply and calculate how long your water will last. 

If you would like assistance with managing your farm water supplies you can email us at drought.support@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Fatigue isn't the same as being sleepy or drowsy. It’s about pushing our bodies beyond their mental and physical limits day after day, with no time to recover.

Watch the video of farmer Simon Craig and get tips to manage fatigue on your farm.

You can learn more about managing fatigue at the WorkSafe website Fatigue on the farm | WorkSafe Victoria

Dr Jeff Cave, Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer

Victorian producers are more aware than most of the importance of being prepared and having a plan in place for livestock during a fire.

With the fire season almost upon us, now is the time for livestock owners to get prepared and have a clear strategy to apply in the possibility of a fire emergency on their farm.

A key factor in minimising the threat to livestock during a bush fire or on extreme fire danger days, is to identify safer areas on-farm where livestock can be moved to.

The area you choose will depend on the type of livestock and their expected behaviour during a fire.

To reduce potential injury and death to livestock you should consider relocating stock to designated low risk areas during days of high fire danger and Total Fire Bans.

Low risk areas include:

• bare areas such as ploughed paddocks, and areas cultivated and kept free of combustible vegetation
• bared-out paddocks, provided they are well defended by fire breaks
• irrigated paddocks or paddocks containing green summer crops
• stockyards that can be wet in advance. However, the yards must be well defended as the fire front passes.
• dams and swamps are another possible option.

All low-risk areas should have sufficient drinking water to enable stock to remain in the area for extended periods of high fire risk and high temperatures.

Click here for more information regarding stock containment areas for emergencies.

Stockyards have been known to successfully hold stock during a fire if protected by a firebreak. If this is your preferred option, consider using a sprinkler system since stock being held together on a hot day can suffer heat stress.

Horses should not be locked up in small areas or stables but moved to an open paddock with minimal vegetation, so they can move freely.

Horses and cattle are adept at avoiding a fire moving themselves to safe open areas and usually suffer minimal burns if left to do so.

If equipment such as rugs, halters and flyveils remain on horses, the plastic may melt, and metal buckles can burn the animal.

Therefore, consider using rope halters for easier handling and management.

It’s crucial not to open gates that may allow stock access to public roadways, as any animals will be a hazard to traffic in smoky conditions.

On days of extreme fire danger or on the day before, stock should be moved into lower risk areas on-farm, or to a safer property.

Agriculture Victoria advises livestock owners to act early and do not get caught trying to move stock as a fire approaches.

Listen to weather forecasts and observe your own environment to help you decide when to put your plan into action.

For further assistance on preparing a farm and livestock bushfire plan go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/bushfires or contact the Agriculture Victoria Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Have you included a farm map in your fire preparedness plan? 

A farm map helps in an emergency by clearly showing critical assets, water sources, stock refuge areas, and assembly/evacuation and exit points. 

Check out the tips on developing your farm map in our Farm Fire Preparedness Toolkit.

Download a copy of the toolkit today.

Dimboola mixed farmers Simon Nuske and Kate Cook undertook farm planning as part of the Farm Business Resilience Program to ensure a sustainable business for their family and the future. 

‘We want it to be sustainable. We want it to be here for the future and to make the most out of what we’ve got.’

Find out more about our Farm Business Resilience Program here

Watch the video: Program case study – Mixed farmers Simon Nuske and Kate Cook.

Caption: Nationwide Trees at Piedmont is using its $775,000 Transition Fund Rd 1 grant to construct a multi-use production and dispatch shed. This is the inside of that shed during construction

The Forestry Transition Fund aims to support business development and the creation of jobs across all industry sectors in towns or communities affected by the end of native timber harvesting.​  

Following the successful delivery of round 1 of the Forestry Transition Fund grants program, round 2 is now open with grants between $10,000 and $1 million available to eligible businesses and industry groups to expand, diversify or start new businesses. 

Successful grant applicants may also be eligible for a Transitioning Timber Worker Employment Incentive Payment of up to $20,000 per ex-native timber worker the project employs.​ 

Applications will be accepted from business and industry groups, including chambers of commerce and associations, peak bodies and business networks, as well as councils and incorporated not-for-profit organisations that act as a business   

Expressions of interest are now open, and applications close at 5 pm on 31 October 2025. 

For more information and to view the guidelines, visit the Forestry Transition Fund or call 1800 318 182. 

The Rural Financial Counselling Service provides a free and confidential financial counselling service to eligible farmers and small related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

They can help you to access available support, analyse your business situation, negotiate with lenders and develop strategies to improve your financial position. 

To find your closest service visit the website or call 1300 771 741.

Have you updated your plan for the current seasonal conditions?

Having a solid drought plan can help you with decision making in adverse conditions. 

Check out the dry seasons and drought support on the Agriculture Victoria website today.

We are excited to announce Agriculture Victoria's new online system designed to streamline your regulatory compliance such as chemical use authorities or food standards. 

As we build Agriculture Victoria Connect, we want your input!

Whether you use this system for regulatory services or simply have an interest in the process, your feedback is invaluable. 

We invite you to be a part of the Design Reference Group, where you can play a vital role in representing the community that uses Agriculture Victoria Connect. 

Meeting every 6 weeks, members will share feedback and ideas to guide the development of services, ensuring the system is effective and user-friendly for both agriculture businesses and community members. 

Your voice matters – help us shape a better system! 

For more information and to join email us.

GRDC has held a number of webinars recently which may be helpful for farmers getting underway with their harvest this season.

Webinars

Grain price outlook for harvest 2024 

Pre-harvest grain storage health

Minimising harvest grain loss

Pre-harvest on-farm safety preparations 

Strategies for canola harvest – windrow or direct heading

Other tools

Reducing Harvester Fires: the Back Pocket Guide - an easy-to-read harvester fire reduction checklist.

The GRDC podcast Preventing harvester fires in lentils  has relevant tips and information for growers (regardless of crop type). 

GRDC has also released a  Harvester Setup Guide – optimising harvest losses  – optimising harvest losses with contributions from a range of third-party independent harvest optimisation experts based on their experiences.

The guide covers measuring harvest losses, reducing header front losses, feeder house set-up, threshing system set-up, the cleaning area, harvest weed seed control and safety.

Terang Avian Influenza Control Area Order lifted

Agriculture Victoria has lifted the Control Area Order for Terang that was put in place for the current H7 avian influenza outbreak.

Read the media release in full here.

Investing in the future of our rising farming leaders

Victoria’s brightest young farming leaders will be supported to invest in their future and explore new learning opportunities while being backed by the Victorian Government to build the future of agriculture in Victoria.

Read more about the Young Farmer scholarship progam here.

Farmers get ahead of the carbon curve

With global and national regulations focusing more on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Professor Richard Eckard emphasised that carbon is no longer just an environmental concern – it’s becoming a critical business consideration for Australian farmers.

Read the media release in full here.

DAMDEEP tool impresses farmers in south west

A simple device for measuring the depth of a farm dam was introduced to landholders at a series of workshops in south west Victoria recently.

Read the media release in full here.

Details about Agriculture Victoria events can now be found in one spot on our website.

Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/events to find out what's on.

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