Help for flood impacted farmers
Published on 10 February 2023
Campaspe primary producers impacted by the October 2022 flood are encouraged to access the broad range of financial, information and wellbeing supports, resources and events on offer.
Rural Aid
Rural Aid provides farmers with a range of support, including confidential counselling, fodder, domestic water, financial assistance and access to volunteers through ‘The Farm Army’.
A $500 visa card is available from Rural Aid for flood-impacted farmers until 28 February 2023. Proof of primary production is required, such as an ABN number, PIC number, a copy of a council rate notice or copy of a vehicle registered for primary production.
Marg McKay from Rural Aid will be available at Rochester Community House, located at the 4Rs, corner Diggora and Echuca Roads, on Wednesday, 15 February from 10am – 2pm or contact Marg via email [email protected].
To access any of the above supports, please register online at www.ruralaid.org.au or call 1300 327 624.
Local Agricultural Events
Your Soil and the Weather Field Day
Wednesday, 22 February, from 11am
304 Monahan Road, Terrick Terrick East
Bookings: Email [email protected] by Thursday, 16 February
Enquiries: John Wright on 0409 259 723
Lunch provided.
Lockington Landcare Group is partnering with the North Central CMA and Agriculture Victoria to host a field day. Agriculture Victoria’s Rebecca Mitchell will discuss three soil pits in different paddocks, including:
- pasture paddock about to be cropped
- flooded barley crop
- continually cropped ground
BestWool/BestLamb Pastures and Water Quality Field Day
Thursday, 23 February, 8am – 12pm
220 Tehan Road, Timmering
Information and bookings: Erica Schelfhorst on 0429 807 689 or [email protected]
The Timmering BestWool/BestLamb group is hosting a workshop in the paddock to discuss options to keep your sheep as productive as possible. Topics to be discussed include:
- pasture recovery
- farm water quality and supply
- livestock feeding tools
- flood recovery support
Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria’s online information hub for flood recovery is https://www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods.
Rural Finance
The following grant applications are open until 4pm on Sunday, 30 April:
The Victorian Primary Producer Flood Recovery Grant of up to $75,000 is available to support clean-up, relief and recovery efforts. This grant replaces the $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean-Up and Relief Grants announced in 21 October 2022.
The Victorian Rural Landholder Grant of up to $25,000 is available to help rural landholders who have an eligible smaller-scale primary production enterprise with clean-up, relief and recovery efforts. If you do not meet the eligibility for the $75,000 Flood Recovery Grant, but operate a smaller-scale primary production enterprise, you may be eligible for this grant.
The Victorian Primary Producer Flood Recovery Transport Support Program is available to help pay for the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and moving stock to agistment, sale or slaughter. This program provides a subsidy of up to $15,000 paid at 50 per cent of the total costs.
Primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations whose properties have been directly impacted are eligible to apply for a Victorian Primary Producer Flood Recovery Concessional Loan of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets, and meet general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway.
Murray Dairy Taking Stock Program
Flood-impacted farm businesses can receive one-on-one support from local, well-known consultants and industry professionals on the topics of budgeting, feed and farm business planning. For more information, contact Murray Dairy on 4811 6008.
National Centre for Farmer Health – Grants for Community Events that Build Farm Spirit
Are you planning a community event to help the health and wellbeing of farmers and farm families impacted by the floods? The National Centre for Farmer Health #BuildingFarmSpirit program is partnering with Victoria’s community groups, local agriculture industry, not-for-profit organisations, sporting clubs and individuals with grants of $500 to $1,500 for activities that provide social connection and mental health promotion for farmers and farming communities.
If you have an idea for a community event or program that promotes social connection and wellbeing for farmers and farm families, visit www.farmerhealth.org.au/buildingfarmspirit and register your interest.