Mallee Farmer Issue 06 - March 2014

Page 31

The

Mallee Farmer

Events VNTFA Mallee Pre-Seeding Workshop Where: TBA When: Tuesday 18 March

MSF Loxton Grower Meet

Where: Loxton When: Wednesday 19 March Time: 1pm until 4.30pm

VNTFA Wimmera Pre-Seeding Workshop Where: TBA When: Friday 19 March

MSF Geranium Grower Meet

Drought support for farmers

The Australian Government supports farm families and farm businesses in managing and recovering from periods of hardship, including drought, and assists them in preparedness and future planning. On 26 February 2014 the Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, and the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, announced a package of measures offering financial, social and mental health support to farming families, farm businesses and rural communities suffering from drought. The Interim Farm Household Allowance (FHA) will help farm families with their daily living expenses and is available to eligible farmers Australia wide, without the need for a drought declaration. Like the Transitional Farm Family Payment, the Interim FHA will be paid at a fortnightly rate equivalent to Newstart Allowance. However, the interim payment will have a different asset test, so that more farmers, including those affected by drought, will be able to access income support when they need it. Payments under the Interim FHA commence from March 3rd 2014 for new

applicants and will be available until the permanent Farm Household Allowance (FHA) is implemented on July 1st 2014. A fact sheet can be downloaded from the following website: www.sunrcs.com.au Located at 139 Lime Avenue, Mildura and 194-208 Beveridge Street, Swan Hill, the Rural Financial Counselling Service is open until 9pm on Wednesday evenings until Easter.

For more information

Call Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria - Murray Mallee Mildura - 03 5022 0799 Swan Hill - 03 5032 2562

Where: Geranium When: Friday 21 March Time: 1pm until 4.30pm

BCG Grains Research Expo

Where: Birchip P-12 School When: Thursday 3 July

VNTFA Annual Conference

Where: Grains Innovation Park, Horsham When: Friday 11 July

BCG Main Field Day

Where: Birchip When: Wednesday 10 September

For more information Birchip Cropping Group (BCG)

For more details on BCG events please contact Justine Severin T: 03 5492 2787 E: info@bcg.org.au W: www.bcg.org.au

Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) For more details on MSF events please contact Richard Saunders M: 0419 853 089 T: 03 5021 9100 E: events@msfp.org.au W: www.msfp.org.au

Victorian No-Till Farmers Association (VNTFA)

For more details on VNTFA events please contact Kerry Grigg T: 03 5382 0422 E: kerry@vicnotill.com.au W: www.vicnotill.com.au

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