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Thursday 3 July 2025
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 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.
This includes almost $1.14 million to not-for-profit organisations, shelters, and community rescue and rehoming organisations to support the rehoming of companion animals.
Drought support
Drought support – 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 call 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:
1. All locations where livestock are kept have a Property Identification Code (PIC). This includes farms and saleyards.
2. All livestock are identified by a National Livestock Identification System ear tag or device.
3. 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.
Funded by the Australian and Victorian governments, the ‘Soil biodiversity across landscapes’ project will seek to implement priority actions from the plan under the National Soil Strategy
Agriculture Victoria Research (AVR) Principal Scientist Tim Sawbridge said he hoped to attract interest from at least 50 farmers statewide.
‘We are looking at what microbiomes exist in soil and how they function across natural and farmed environments,’ Dr Sawbridge said.
‘A soil microbiome is a community of microbes, bacteria, invertebrates and other life forms that live within soil.
‘To gain a deep understanding of their role in soil health, we’re wanting a broad range of samples from various production zones and agricultural industries in Victoria.’
AVR is working alongside the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) on the project to collect and analyse samples of soil from across the state.
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.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced its return from 17-18 February 2026 at the Melbourne Convention Centre, where entrepreneurs and growing companies will showcase their work, together with live demonstrations, food and beverage experiences and interactive sessions designed to inspire, inform, and drive collaboration.
WorkSafe risk warning for silage wrappers
Farm machinery is the leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries on farms.
In-line silage wrappers have many hazards and risks.
There are many contributing factors and recommended ways to control risks, for more information go to Employee killed whilst operating a silage wrapper | WorkSafe Victoria
Catch up on our webinar: Seasonal Outlook Mythbusting
Did you miss our recent webinar? Click below to watch.
Hear Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey discuss the timing of the autumn break, if summer is really dry - does it have any bearing on the autumn break, why is it so hard to accurately predict the autumn break, current forecasts and what tools are available to help with planning.
Watch here: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Mansfield – AgCelerate workshop
15 July from 11 am to 3:30 pm.
Mansfield Golf Club Function Room, 24 Kidston Parade, Mansfield
Farmers and ag service providers across Victoria are facing tough seasonal decisions – and that’s exactly what this workshop is here to support.
This event is supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Drought Support Package.
Delivered by ag consultant, business coach and former agribusiness banker Paige Cross from Cross Country Management, this interactive half-day session is designed to help producers make informed, forward-focused business decisions – especially in a dry and uncertain season.
You’ll explore real-world scenarios – like buying or leasing land, off-farm investments, or continuing to feed stock – and understand the short and long-term financial impact of each choice.
We'll also include a focused 1-hour ‘Wow Your Banker’ session to help you feel on the front foot for your next finance conversation.
- Explore costed scenarios relevant to your business.
- Gain tools to support confident decision-making.
- Understand the impact of current choices on future outcomes.
- Enjoy a supportive, judgement-free environment.
This is not a sit-and-listen workshop. It’s a hands-on, practical space to reflect, plan, and take action—with someone who understands the ag sector and the challenges you're working through.
The session includes a working lunch and concludes at 3:15 pm with afternoon tea.
Baranduda – Integrated fox management in peri-urban areas
Foxes are one of the most significant threats to native biodiversity, impacting livestock and agricultural production.
Join this free workshop and hear from experts on fox behaviour and best practice control options, focussing on peri-urban areas and collaborative management.
Saturday 19 July from 10 am to 1 pm at Baranduda Community Centre, 3 Sage Ct, Baranduda.
Wodonga Urban Landcare Network is working with Agriculture Victoria to deliver this workshop on managing foxes in our area.
Dookie – 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
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
Webinar – From Feed Test to Feed Budget
AgVic is inviting livestock farmers to a webinar on working out your additional supplement to get the most of the feed you have.
23 July, starting at 12:30 pm.
Register and receive a free feedtest.
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.
St Arnaud – Setting strategies for farm business success
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.
Rutherglen – In good times and bad: Adaptive skills for your farming future
Livestock and grain producers are invited to participate in a two-day course for your farm business future. In the course you will develop a plan that will help contribute to your farm’s success.
This free course will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, 14 and 15 August at Agriculture Victoria, 124 Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen, from 8:30 am for 9 am start to 3 pm.
Presenter, Dr Kate Burke is an independent farm consultant with extensive experience in crop agronomy and dryland agriculture. Her expertise is sought by large corporate enterprises, but she most enjoys working with farmers that have a commitment to improvement. Using an evidence-based approach, Kate will guide you towards ‘excellent farming’.
Topics include:
- key profit drivers and high-level benchmarks
- income vs cost of production and impact of rotation
- calculating basic financial benchmarks
- understanding your personal appetite for risk
- understanding your production potential to assess variation in profit
- managing climate variability and farm financial performance
- scenario planning for the 2025 season and beyond.
Participants who complete the two-day course and business plans will be eligible for free 45-90 minute one-on-one planning review with Kate Burke.
For further information contact Kylie Macreadie on 0427 052 352 or at kylie.macreadie@agriculture.vic.gov.au
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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