Dairy support
Visit the new Dairy Farmer Central website for the latest information on help available.
Contents
Introduction
The Victorian dairy industry is currently experiencing challenging economic and seasonal conditions.
The Victorian Government is supporting the Victorian dairy industry with services including:
- health and wellbeing support
- on-farm business advice and decision-making support
- increased funding for the Rural Financial Counselling Service
- further Targeted Dairy Technical Support
The dairy industry is also providing support to farmers. Victorian dairy industry bodies, including United Dairyfarmers of Victoria, Dairy Australia and their Regional Development programs, are increasing communication, technical and decision making support for dairy farmers by boosting programs such as Tactics for Tight Times and Taking Stock.
More information
Dairy Australia: (03) 9694 3777
West VicDairy: (03) 5557 1000
Murray Dairy: (03) 5833 5312
GippsDairy: (03) 5624 3900
Initiative/Service: Rural financial counselling
Free and independent financial information, options, decision support and referral services.
More information
Call 1800 686 175 (toll free) or call:
Western RFCS: 1300 735 578
Eastern RFCS: (03) 5662 2566
North East RFCS: 1300 834 775
North West RFCS: 1300 769 489
Initiative/Service: Targeted dairy technical support
Agriculture Victoria will provide more targeted dairy technical support for dairy farmers.
More information
Call the Agriculture Victoria Information Line on 136 186.
Initiative/Service: Dry seasonal conditions in East Gippsland
Agriculture Victoria has developed a range of services to support strategies for managing the current dry seasonal conditions and improving preparedness for future decisions if conditions do not change. Dairy farm businesses are making significant decisions on feed budgeting and destocking.
As conditions cool off and the potential for pasture growth reduces even if it does rain, farmers will need to supplementary feed through until there is substantial pasture growth in spring. Agriculture Victoria's dairy services team will provide the following services to support dairy farm businesses up until spring 2018.
Water Budgeting
Understand your water use, current storage capacity on-farm, potential water capture under different rainfall scenarios, and amount of water currently stored on the property. This information will support farmers to make short term decisions about water for stock and domestic purposes. This is a one to one service for dairy farmers located in East Gippsland.
Risk Management Planning
Identify risks to the farm business and come up with an action plan for management in the short term (e.g. stock health and condition). This will also look at how decisions made this winter will impact on the longer term business operations. This is a one to one service for dairy farmers located in East Gippsland.
Technical advice by phone
Dairy Services staff are available to provide advice on a range of information and sign-post to relevant services.
Further information
To book a visit or to receive advice please call:
David Shambrook, Dairy Extension Officer, (03) 5662 9913
Maria Rose, Dairy Extension Officer, (03) 5147 0843
Initiative/Service: Farming information
Information to assist farmers with a broad range of agricultural issues, including animal health and welfare information and upcoming workshops and events.
More information
Call the Agriculture Victoria Information Line on 136 186 or visit the drought page.
Initiative/Service: Farm Household Allowance
Income support payment, available to eligible farmers and their families experiencing financial hardship.
More information
Call 13 23 16 or visit Department of Human Services.
Initiative/Service: Farm debt mediation
The scheme makes it compulsory for banks and other creditors to offer mediation to farmers before commencing debt recovery proceedings on farm mortgages.
More information
Call 136 186 or email farm.debt@ecodev.vic.gov.au or visit the drought page.
Initiative/Service: Australian Government Farmer Assistance hotline
Information on the Commonwealth Government's support services available to farmers and rural communities (e.g. Farm Household Allowance).
More information
Farmer Assistance Hotline: 132 316.
Initiative/Service: Farm management deposits
Assists primary producers to deal more effectively with fluctuations in cash flows.
More information
Initiative/Service: National Centre for Farmer Health
Research, workshops and other programs to improve the health, safety and well-being of farm men and women, farm workers, their families and communities across Australia. The very popular Sustainable Farm Families program can be arranged for dairying communities.
More information
For further information, call (03) 5551 8533 or visit Farmer Health.
Emotional and health support
Initiative/Service: Lifeline
24/7 telephone counselling – Connect with someone who cares.
More information
13 11 14
Lifeline.
Initiative/Service: Beyondblue
Information about issues associated with depression and anxiety.
More information
1300 224 636
Beyondblue.
Initiative/Service: Nurse-on-call
24/7 phone service that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse.
More information
1300 60 60 24.
Initiative/Service: Mensline Australia
24/7 service for men with relationship and family concerns.
More information
1300 78 99 78.
Initiative/Service: Kids Help Line
24/7 telephone and online counselling service for young people.
More information
1800 55 1800
Kids Help.
Initiative/Service: Family Relationship Service
Providing families with access to information about family relationship issues.
More information
1800 050 321
Family Relationships.
Initiative/Service: Victorian Better Health Channel
Health and medical information that is quality assured, reliable, up to date, easy to understand, regularly reviewed and locally relevant.
More information
Initiative/Service: Find a mental health service
Mental health consultations
More information
Contact your local GP for a referral.
Personal assistance
Initiative/Service: Victorian State Concessions
The Victorian Government offers a number of concessions designed to assist and improve the affordability of essential services for low-income Victorian households.
More information
Initiative/Service: Foodbank Victoria
Foodbank distributes meals to individuals and families across regional, rural and metro areas of Victoria, helping to feed over 100,000 Victorians each month.
More information
Foodbank Victoria
(03) 9362 8300.
Agriculture Facebook
Agriculture Twitter
Agriculture YouTube
