On-farm bushfire recovery resources
Following a bushfire there are many decisions that need to be made in relation to the immediate needs of livestock or production systems. Other decisions can be made in the longer term such as the need for pasture establishment. To assist in making decisions for your on-farm recovery a range of technical information and advice can be found on this page.
To speak to an Agriculture Recovery team member phone 136 186. or email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Support programs
Experiencing a bushfire on your farm can be distressing and traumatic. It can also be a time of financial pressure. There is a range of support services and programs that can assist you and your family. For more information visit:
Recovery after an emergency
- Fire recovery checklist
- Recovery after emergency – information for farmers
- Recovery after fire guide (PDF - 1.1 MB)
- Recovery after fire guide (WORD - 290.5 KB)
- Podcast: I want to share my experience of fire with Tom Silcock
- Podcast: Dealing with stress during difficult times with David Cherry
Managing livestock
Assessing, euthanasia and disposal of livestock
- Assessing cattle after a bushfire
- Assessing sheep after bushfire
- Euthanasia of livestock
- Disposing of carcases after bushfire, flood or drought
Water
- Building a sediment fence
- Organic pollution in farm dams
- Stock water impacted by bushfire ash and debris
- Managing farm water supplies
- Water quality for farm water supplies
- Water supply for sheep and beef cattle in containment areas
- Video: Protecting your farm water supply after fire
- Video: Dam maintenance
- Video: Measure the depth of your dam
Feeding and agistment of livestock
- Feeding Livestock – Beef cattle drought feeding book
- Sheep drought feeding book
- Guide to introducing grain to sheep and cattle (PDF - 234.9 KB)
- Guide to introducing grain to sheep and cattle (WORD - 164.6 KB)
- Agistment of livestock affected by a bushfire
- Feeding and agisting livestock
- Stock containment areas
Bees
Horses and pets
- Horses and livestock in emergencies
- Assessing horses after bushfires
- Horses and bushfire
- Fire emergency information for pet and horses owners (PDF - 431.0 KB)
- Fire emergency information for pet and horses owners (WORD - 908.1 KB)
- Care of pets exposed to smoke and ash
Horticulture
Managing your property
Fencing
Pasture
Most fires have a drastic effect on a pasture.
Fire changes the botanical composition and will retard the pasture leading to a reduction in the growth and carrying capacity of the pasture in the following season.
Fire changes pastures in different ways according to several different factors: the intensity of the fire, the pasture species present, the fertility of the soil, the time of the autumn break and follow up rains.
More about on farm bushfire recovery
- Read Pasture recovery resources after fire
- Download Pasture recovery after fire – Quick reference guide (PDF - 1.5 MB)
- Download Pasture recovery after fire – Quick reference guide (WORD - 574.4 KB)
- Podcast: Spring pasture management of fire affected pastures with Fiona Baker
- Podcast: Pasture management in autumn post fire with Fiona Baker
- Watch Managing native grasses after fire
- Watch Pasture management after fire