{"id":103949,"date":"2025-11-24T11:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T00:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/?p=103949"},"modified":"2025-11-24T11:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T00:10:46","slug":"october-rain-brings-short-relief-for-victorian-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/living\/october-rain-brings-short-relief-for-victorian-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"October Rain Brings Short Relief for Victorian Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drought\u2019s Toll on Farmers<\/span><\/h2>\n

Victoria\u2019s farm belts have endured more than two years of severe dryness, with western districts (from Colac and Golden Plains through to the Surf Coast and Geelong hinterland) among the hardest hit. Many producers saw pasture die off and dams run low: some paddocks were \u201cwithout a blade of grass\u2026 looked like the moon\u201d by mid\u2010autumn 2025. The cost has been enormous; farmers were forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on hay and even sell livestock just to survive. Dairy farmer Mark Billing (Colac) says last winter he and many colleagues were \u201c<\/span>on a knife\u2019s edge<\/span><\/a>\u201d as they struggled to keep cattle fed. In beef country, Victorian Farmers Federation members report running out of feed and shrinking herds through the winter of 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

October Rain Provides Respite<\/span><\/h2>\n

Heavy rains in October (followed by more in early November) have \u201crevived drought\u2010affected areas\u201d across much of Victoria. Farmers vividly describe the change: Billing reports sitting in a field of oats \u201ccut for silage\u2026 I\u2019m 6 foot 3 and it\u2019s up to my waist\u2026 We\u2019ve gone from famine to feast for the cows\u201d. Other irrigators echo this late break: Ian Hooker in South Gippsland called 75\u202fmm of rain a \u201cspring turn-around\u201d that refilled dams and greened pastures. Even smaller rain events were welcome: beef farmer Tony Morgan (Bayles) recorded about 26\u202fmm in one weekend and called it \u201ca very welcome top-up\u201d that allowed him to delay selling cattle. Nick Franc (Beaufort) noted that 50\u202fmm helped lock paddocks up for hay, and Anna Toland (Violet Town) said 33\u202fmm has at least kept dams from drying out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ongoing Challenges<\/span><\/h2>\n

Despite the deluge, experts caution that the drought is \u201ccertainly not over\u201d. Agriculture Victoria agronomists point out that October rain moistened the surface and will spur grass growth through spring, but there is still very little moisture left deep in the soil. Northern and north-western Victoria remain especially parched, Millewa farmer Dale Ramsay near Mildura reported only ~110\u202fmm this spring (about half the normal) and said \u201cit\u2019s been a tough year\u201d with very little feed. Economically, many farms are still in the red. Colac dairyman Jason Smith notes that a year of buying hay left him with heavy debts: although he now has \u201cfeed in every paddock,\u201d he warns of \u201chang-overs\u201d from forward contracts and loan repayments. Billing adds that on-farm production is recovering, but cash flow is \u201creally tight\u201d and \u201cthe financial implications of the drought\u2026 will be hanging over us for quite a while\u201d. In summary, farmers appreciate the growth after October\u2019s rains, but most stress that the extra moisture only buys time; without further follow-up rain, many will have to continue culling stock or digging into reserves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Support and Solutions Beyond Waiting for Rain<\/span><\/h2>\n

Farmers say much more is needed than occasional rainstorms. In response, governments and communities have begun expanding aid programs. For example, the Victorian government extended its drought assistance in mid-2025, adding an extra $15.9 million to statewide relief funds. This top-up expanded the original package from 11 to 13 local government areas, covering many western and southern shires (including Colac-Otway, Golden Plains, Surf Coast and even Greater Geelong). Officials note that about <\/span>1,500 farmers<\/span><\/a> have already benefited from on-farm grants, and new funding will reach even more producers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Practical support measures include:<\/span><\/p>\n