We’re in this together... You’re not alone
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
SCAN HERE
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. s e r v i c e s a u s t r a l i a . g o v. a u / f a r m household-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.