Right now, our region is hurting with some of the worst drought conditions we have seen in decades.

Here you will find information and resources on how to prepare and respond to drought during this difficult time.

If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch by email (Martha.Haylett@parliament.vic.gov.au) or by calling my office on (03) 5461 1255.

 

Grants and Financial Support 

Drought support package here.

Farmers across the state will be able to access grants of up to $5,000 to support on-farm drought management improvements. The program supports on-farm upgrades that provide immediate support in managing drought and builds future resilience. Hit the link above for further information.

On Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants here.

Eligible farmers can apply for grants of $5000 and $10,000 depending on your location, for on-farm improvements including water infrastructure upgrades, stock containment areas, grain and fodder storage and drought management tools such as soil moisture monitors and weather stations. Eligible activities under the grant program are being expanded to cover water carting activities and pasture re-establishment in recognition of the broad pressures farmers are managing.

Future Drought Fund here.

Recognising that drought is an enduring feature of the Australian landscape with significant economic, social and environmental impacts, in 2020 the Australian Government established the Future Drought Fund (FDF). The Fund provides $100 million a year in secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives that help farms and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.

The Victorian Government is partnering with the Australian Government to deliver two programs, the Farm Business Resilience program and the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program. Hit the link above to find out more information on these programs.

 

Technical decision-making support

Drought one-on-one advisory service here.

This 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.

It includes a drought management planning session of up to 3 hours and follow up call to develop and implement a drought management action plan.

The planning session aims to:

• identify key business and farm risks, stress and/or pressure points
• conduct feed and/or water budgets, or other analysis
• explore options and trigger points for the short, medium and long term, e.g. whether to de-stock or lease
• provide referrals to other support services where relevant.

Technical information and decision-making events program here.

Agriculture Victoria is delivering technical information and decision-making events and workshops focused on managing drought and dry seasonal conditions.

Visit the events page at the link above for details about online and in-person events.

 

Mental health and wellbeing support

Look Over the Farm Gate program here.

A ‘Look Over the Farm Gate’ mental health and wellbeing grant program will be available statewide to help communities come together and support farmers and farming families under stress. More information will be available soon.

National Centre for Farmer Health here.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is supporting primary producers through the delivery of initiatives to boost farmer mental health and wellbeing, including:

• Distribution of mental health resources and support information
• The 'Managing Stress on the Farm’book explores the common causes of stressors on farms and offers practical ways to deal with them. It also includes the Steering Straight plan, to help individuals manage their mental health with practical, useful steps
• Support Hub– Resources for managing tough times.

Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria West - Wellbeing Counsellor here.

• RFCS Victoria West wellbeing counsellors work hand in hand with their financial counsellors to ensure that the mental health of clients receives as much attention as their financial position.
• Support is free and confidential.
• The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) wellbeing counsellor works directly with impacted families and tailors wellbeing supports to their individual needs.
• If neglected, the risks of short-term worries becoming long term health issues increases.
• To connect with RFCS Victoria West. You can also call 1300 735 578 or email admin@wswrcs.com.au.

Resource directory here.

Find out where you can get advice and support.

Contains a full list of contacts for health and wellbeing services to help you through the tough times.

 

Farming in dry conditions

Farm Household Allowance here.

Farmers in financial hardship may be eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s Farm Household Allowance (FHA), a fortnightly payment available for up to 4 years in a specific 10-year period. A rural financial counsellor can help farmers to understand eligibility and apply for the FHA.

Local council rates - hardship assistance here.

If you are having difficulty paying your rates, contact your local council to see what hardship assistance they can offer. The sooner you contact them the better.

When speaking to your local council officer, find out about:

• available hardship assistance
• if you are eligible for any rate concessions
• what type of assistance is best for you.

Always check that the council will not take legal action while considering your request.

Regional Investment Corporation here.

Farmers may be able to access low-interest loans through the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Investment Corporation (RIC). A RIC loan is a partnership between the farm business, a commercial lender and the Regional Investment Corporation. Available loans include:

• the Farm Investment Loanis used to ‘recover from severe business impact and prepare for future financial disruptions’; it can be used to refinance your debt, pay your operating expenses and enhance your productivity.
• the Drought Loanis used to ‘help prepare for, manage through, and recover from drought’; it can be used to refinance certain debt, pay outstanding bills, pay for fodder or carting water, and contribute to the cost of drought recovery.

Farmer Assistance Hotline here.

Contact the Farmer Assistance Hotline on 132 316 to find out about Australian Government support services available to farmers and rural communities.

National Centre for Farmer Health here.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is supporting primary producers through the delivery of initiatives to boost farmer mental health and wellbeing, including:

• Distribution of mental health resources and support information
• The 'Managing Stress on the Farm’book explores the common causes of stressors on farms and offers practical ways to deal with them. It also includes the Steering Straight plan, to help individuals manage their mental health with practical, useful steps.

Rural Flying Doctors Service - Flying Doctor Wellbeing here.

Flying Doctor Wellbeing is a free mental health and wellbeing service for people in rural and remote Victorian communities. Phone: 03 84120480  Email: wellbeing@rfds.vic.gov.au

 

Managing resources in dry conditions

Drought feeding and management of livestock here.

Practical guides to building plans for managing cattle and sheep in drought. You’ll also find tools, tables and calculators – feed budgeting, feed values and more in the pasture, sheep and cattle resources.

Animal health and welfare here.

Stock owners must make good decisions to meet their moral and legal obligations to the welfare of their stock and their land.

It is critical to complete regular feed budgets to ensure decisions to sell livestock or buy feed are made prior to animal deterioration. This improves animal welfare and marketability of livestock.

Water management here.

Information on water and irrigation related specifically to farming and agriculture.

 

Managing resources in dry conditions

Protecting the land in dry times is summarised here.

Careful management of stock and crop preparation is the key to conserving soil during extended dry periods. Effective ground cover is critical in protecting soil from erosion.

There are some good reasons why it is important to hold soil in place. The key is to act early and maintain acceptable cover.

Disposing of carcasses after bushfire, flood or drought summarised here.

A bushfire, flood and drought can result in animal carcasses requiring disposal.

There are several options outlined for livestock producers for carcass disposal.

Importing fodder and livestock feed into Victoria summarised here.

Biosecurity threats associated with the movement of stock feed and fodder pose a serious risk to both plant and animal industries. To mitigate these threats, Agriculture Victoria administers legislative requirements aimed at preventing the introduction, establishment and spread of these threats through powers provided under the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010.

 

Farm water solutions

Farm water solutions project More information here.

The Farm Water Solutions project aims to support farmers and service providers in improving their understanding and better management of water access and water storage.

How much water does my farm need? More information here.

A reliable supply of good quality water is critical for any mixed farming enterprise. Prolonged dry seasons over the years have highlighted the value of this precious resource. Water is needed for stock, garden and domestic use, as well as for a variety of other purposes.

Knowing water requirements is needed to inform whole farm planning, drought preparation and upgrading of water infrastructure. Figures provided are based on the water requirements for an average farm in central Victoria. The figures will vary significantly depending on:

• farm location
• type of stock
• management practices.

Resources for managing water use on farms More information here.

Taking and using water must be in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements. Visit the link above to find out more about your responsibilities.

How much water is in my dam? More information here

Visit the link above to find out more about how to calculate how much water is inn your dams.

Managing farm water supplies More information here

Water is an essential requirement for running a livestock business and has a significant impact upon stock welfare, farm productivity and business profitability.

Knowledge of stock drinking water requirements and potential sources of water are important for planning on both an annual and daily basis. Visit the link above for further information.

What if it doesn't rain soon? More information here

Managing farm water supplies is a challenge. Good planning helps manage the risk associated with running out of water.

These are steps to take and resources to use if you are concerned about when it will rain next and the possibility of running out of water.

Efficient use of farm water here.

Managing farm water supplies is a key challenge. Planning helps farmers manage their water resources.

Visit the link above for key points to consider when planning to get the most out of your water.

Stock water requirements here.

Grazing animals need water for metabolic functioning which includes:

• body maintenance (digestion, excretion, transfer of nutrients, electrolyte balance)
• growth
• mobility
• cooling
• reproduction (including lactation).

Animals suffer if they do not get enough water. Their activity and growth decline.

Grazing animals get water from both food and drink. The balance between these two depends on the amount of water contained in the feed.

The amount of water drunk by an animal each day varies a lot throughout the year. An annual average does not reflect this variation — but the overall figures at the link above are useful for planning.

Stock perform better when drinking from troughs here.

Dams are the main source of water for livestock in Victoria. The quality of this water source is a high priority for livestock producers.

Research indicates that when cattle are provided with high quality water, they will:

• drink more
• eat more
• gain weight quicker.

Because weight gain in livestock is a priority for farmers, it is worthwhile to ensure that stock water is of high quality.

Agriculture Victoria also goes into more depth on these topics. Their website is here.