Hay on the horizon
WHILE last weekend’s downpour across the district brought some temporary, welcome relief for farmers, more assistance is still urgently needed.
With some farmers tipping out up to 90ml from rain gauges, seeing the heavens open up certainly brought some smiles to faces.
But the drought is far from over. Predictions are that it could take several months before grass begins to shoot and farmers desperately need access to affordable feed for their stock.
“The last 18 months have been particularly hard; we milk 450 cows and at this time of year they’re normally slushing around
in puddles; there’s barely a blade of grass out there,” Simpson dairy farmer Jason said.
“My hay supplier has run out and we’re trying hard to source feed from all over the state; it’s just so hard to get hold of. Everyone is getting quite desperate at the moment.
“There’s big numbers (of cattle) being sold at the saleyards because people have been culling heavily. We all want to retain our core breeding stock so we can rebuild our herds but it’s getting hard.”
Coinciding with last weekend’s downpour, ‘Need for Feed’ has announced on its social pages that it was hoping to make a delivery to the southwest “very soon.”
Large squares of cereal hay, along with grass hay or cereal rounds,
could soon be heading to some of the district’s most needy farms.
Need for Feed, a not-for-profit organisation, is a national project of Lions Australia.
Since 2006 it has been supporting farmers and rural communities in times of need, whether that be through drought, fire or floods.
The assistance on offer is totally coordinated by volunteers.
Primary producers with their main form of income from farming in Moyne, Corangamite or Colac Otway shires can apply for assistance at needforfeed.org/ apply-for-assistance.html
Alternatively, you can contact Need for Feed Australia at contact@ needforfeed.org
Need for Feed would also welcome
financial donations to allow it to continue to purchase hay and other forms of feed, and also welcomes offers of assistance from those who have a truck or trailer and would like to help on a hay run.
Simply head to the Need for Feed webpage www.needforfeed.org or scan below to register your interest
Help to access interstate fodder
IMPORTERS looking to bring fodder into Victoria from interstate can go through Agriculture Victoria to apply for a Plat Biosecurity Permit (PBP) to ensure biosecurity risks are properly managed.
Agriculture Victoria is providing a free service to suppliers, transporters and farmers to navigate permit requirements and expedite access to fodder.
Ongoing drought conditions have created serious challenges for Victoria’s livestock industry, particularly a critical shortage of hay and fodder.
This has resulted in farmers needing to look interstate for source supplies. All imported fodder requires a PBP to manage key biosecurity risks from
entering Victoria from interstate.
This includes annual ryegrass toxicity (found in all states but NT and Tasmania), green snail (found in WA), red imported fire ant (found in Qld) and electric ant (found in Queensland).
Agriculture Victoria chief plant health officer Dr Stephen Dibley said all fodder imports will require a PBP, except for NT and Tasmania.
“Given the ongoing tough conditions across the state, Agriculture Victoria is prioritising permit applications for fodder to make sure essential transport can be fast tracked,” Dr Dibley said.
“Once a PBP is submitted, our team will be in touch within two working days to discuss and assess the specifics of your import request,” he said.
Costs associated with the inspection of interstate fodder by
Agriculture Victoria, where required, will be waived.
For more information and to apply for a plant health permit, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/ moving-plants-and-plant-products/ plant-biosecurity-permit.
Alternatively, email it directly to market.access@agriculture.vic.gov. au.
Agriculture Victoria is actively monitoring seasonal, economic and social conditions across the state.
This information is used to continuously inform the government on current and emerging conditions and pressures in the farming community.
Farmers under financial stress as a result of drought, or other pressures, can access support and resources 365 days a year.
This includes a rural financial
counselling service.
This is a free and confidential business planning support service.
Farmers can also access the farm household allowance program (a fortnightly Commonwealth Government payment) at www. servicesaustralia.gov.au/farmhousehold-allowance.
To help farmers to prepare for, manage and recover from drought, Regional Investment Corporation has low interest drought loans of up to $2 million.
For more information head to www. ric.gov.au/loans.
Many local governments also offer rate hardship policies.
For the most current information on available drought and dry seasonal conditions support visit www. agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons or call 136 186.
We’re in this together... You’re not alone
Grants now open for brigades
CFA brigades across the district are encouraged to apply for funding in the next round of volunteer equipment grants.
Applications for the 2025-26 round of the Volunteer Emergency Service Equipment Program (VESEP) are now open.
This year the government has announced an additional $15 million in funding.
Under the program, the state government will match every dollar paid by volunteer groups with a $2 co-contribution to a maximum contribution of $250,000.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said brigades and groups were encouraged to apply for the life-saving equipment which help protect communities.
“VESEP supports
volunteers by providing funding to replace or purchase equipment such as vehicles, tankers, watercraft, trailers and can also include minor facility improvements,” Jason said.
Funding is available in five categories: tankers, specialist and support vehicles, operational equipment, volunteer amenities costing less than $5000, and minor works costing less than $250,000.
“One of the key focuses of the program will be aiding those brigades that have not previously benefitted under VESEP and may face challenges with fundraising,” Jason said.
In the previous round of funding, CFA received more than $11 million across 167 successful VESEP projects.
This included six light tankers, 15 ultralight tankers, six new Big Fills
and the replacement of 18 field command vehicles.
The 2024-25 round also funded more than 40 brigades for minor works at their stations.
Brigades and groups can
only apply for one project per funding round, as per emergency management Victoria guidelines. Application documents, vehicle flyers, program guidelines and further
information is available on members online.
Applications for the 202526 funding round will close on July 28, 2025. Successful projects will be announced later in the year.
Green arm bands in support of farmers
ROUND nine (this weekend) has been declared ‘Farmers Round’ for all Hampden Football Netball League matches.
The HFNL earlier this week announced that round nine would be officially recognised as
Free barbecue at store sale
IN a show of solidarity and support, the Let’s Talk Foundation and members of the local CFA brigades will operate a free barbecue at next week’s store sale at Mortlake.
The barbecue will run at the store sale, to be held at the Mortlake saleyards on Thursday, June 19, from 9.30am until the middle of the afternoon.
Farmers, agents, transport operators and others at the sale are most welcome to enjoy a free sausage in bread and take the opportunity to have a casual chat with the Let’s Talk team.
Farmers Round, with all participating clubs wearing green armbands to show solidarity and support for the farming community.
In light of the ongoing drought and the mounting challenges faced by farmers across our region, the HFNL is standing united with those who continue to work tirelessly to support both our local economy and the nation’s food supply.
The initiative has been the brainchild of Elise McKinnon, a passionate advocate from the Farmer-Led Drought Relief Alliance.
“This is not just a rural issue, it’s a national crisis that impacts every Australian household through food supply, economic strain, and the wellbeing of entire regions,” McKinnon said.
HFNL administrator Trent Hill echoed the importance of the message.
“Wearing green armbands is a symbol of unity; showing that the local football and netball community stand with the people who contribute so much to our local community as well as the nation,” Hill said.
The green armband signifies the grass and the land, the very foundation of our farming communities, and serves as a visual reminder of the deep connection between sport, country, and community.
The Green Armband Round aims to drive awareness of the impacts of drought on our farming communities; foster a spirit of support and community resilience; and to show our farmers they are not alone.
“Farmers are the backbone of our region,” Hill added.
“This round is about letting them know we see them, we support them, and we thank them.”
Also adding their support to ‘Farmers Round’ footy legends Sam Newman and Kevin Sheedy proudly wore green armbands and footy jerseys at the MCG on Wednesday.
Following the recently adopted motto, ‘One Team, One Nation, Stand with our Farmers,’ the pair stood in support of farmers as they battle the worst drought in living memory.
This powerful gesture came ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster between Geelong and Essendon.
“Farmers are the backbone of Australia,” Newman said.
“These are the people who feed our nation. It’s time we stood with them.”
According to Sheedy, footy has always been more than a game.
“It unites people in times of triumph and hardship; right now, our farmers need that unity more than ever,” he said.
The green armband signifies the grass and the land; the very foundation of our farming communities, and serves as a visual reminder of the deep connection between sport, country and community.
“This simple yet powerful gesture could change the national conversation, raising awareness across both regional and metropolitan Australia about the severity of the drought and the essential role our farmers play in food security and the economy,” Elise McKinnon added.