However, Rural Assistance Commissioner Peter Tuohey is urging regional farmers to take up support that is being offered to help prepare for the next one.
Although the most severe drought is being experienced in south-west Victoria, the Victorian Government is offering drought support packages of up to $5000 for farmers all over the state.
Mr Tuohey suggested farmers should be taking advantage of the funding to improve sustainability, introduce more efficient infrastructure, and prepare for the next drought.
A former VFF president, Mr Tuohey was appointed in 2019 to oversee the implementation of rural support packages and to provide advice to government.
“We have been concentrating mostly in the south-west of Victoria, and there is a patch in the Millawa region which looks close to failed crops and that will be their second year in a row,” he told Country News.
“East Gippsland is looking pretty dry too.
“But the $5000 grants are available for all of Victoria.
“Grants are available for anyone doing the eligible work. The whole program was for $140 million, from everything to do with wellbeing to drought relief.
“Although the north has been spared the worst of drought conditions, farmers across the whole state will be paying a price in various ways.
“The price impact on hay will be substantial. Particularly for dairy farmers who are always buying a lot of hay.
“It may be $100 to $150 tonne more than they have been in recent years.
“There will be a big demand in Victoria for hay. Everyone will be looking for extra.”
Eildon reservoir is currently holding only 57 per cent of capacity (the lowest at this time of the year for five years), and Dartmouth is holding 71 per cent.
Mr Tuohey said now is the time to take advantage of assistance to build better and more efficient water infrastructure.
“Things like dams are not an efficient way to deliver water to stock. If they want to improve infrastructure for on-farm water supply that’s the way to go.
“People do need to be wary. The last couple of years show us that drought still happens.
“Think about what is coming around the corner. We could be in the same boat as the south-west next year.”
The grant covers activities like constructing a new or upgrading existing:
- Stock Containment Areas (SCA);
- reticulated water systems;
- irrigation system upgrades;
- grain and fodder storage;
- internal re-fencing to better match property layout;
- feed system upgrades;
- pasture/crop restoration; and
- water carting for livestock and essential business activities.
For eligible farmers in south-west Victoria, an additional $5000 top-up is available through the grant program, taking the total grant on offer up to $10,000. This increase is available to 11 local government areas.
For more information, call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425.
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