Help is out there during farm hardship

AGRICULTURE Victoria staff have reached out to farmers to provide a checklist of resources to help them deal with the current difficult seasonal conditions, including below average rainfall across most of the state during autumn and winter.

Agriculture Victoria’s program manager horticulture services Aimee McCutcheon stressed that it’s important for them to know that support is available to “help make early and informed decisions.”

She said the Agriculture Victoria website explains what support is available, including financial support and assistance, as well as mental health and wellbeing support.

“One example is the Australian Government’s Farm Household Allowance which is a fortnightly payment for eligible farmers,” she said.

The allowance is available to those whose total income is below the cut-off for the JobSeeker Payment income test and have combined personal and farm assets below $5.5 million.

“Our website also provides access to other organisations that can help, such as the free services from the Rural Financial Counselling Services and the National Centre for Farmer Health,” Ms McCutcheon said.

Agriculture Victoria offers extensive practical information, resources, tools and calculators to help farmers with forward planning, feed budgeting and livestock management as well.

“All these free resources are available online 24 hours a day, or you can speak with staff at your local office,” she said.

Agriculture.vic.gov.au also has a calendar of both online events and events coming up in your region.

Further information is available by calling 136 186 or emailing [email protected].