The Victorian Government’s Dry seasons and drought support package expanded

The new funding will provide farm businesses with technical and decision-making support right across the state. These services will be delivered in partnership with a range of technical specialists, to support farmers to manage the impacts of increasingly difficult conditions.

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.

The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant Program will continue in southwest Victoria and be extended to 13 additional Local Government Areas (LGAs) and all postcodes in the West Wimmera LGA. The program supports on-farm upgrades that provide immediate support in managing drought and builds future resilience.

The new LGAs include Towong, Northern Grampians, Horsham, Hepburn, Moorabool, City of Ballarat, Cardinia, Casey, Baw Baw, Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Mornington Peninsula, plus the unincorporated area of French Island.

These escalated supports build on programs that are always available to Victorian farm businesses across the state, year-round. These include the Rural Financial Counselling Service, the Commonwealth Government’s Farm Household Allowance and low interest loans available through the Regional Investment Corporation

Ongoing support also includes workshops and field days being delivered each week, a comprehensive archive of practical information on the Agriculture Victoria website including technical resources and tools and calculators to assist with matters such as forward planning, feed budgeting and livestock management.

For more details, please go to: Drought support package | Grants and financial support | Dry seasons and drought support | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria