MANY Victorians have faced a spring like no other, with record breaking amounts of rain in many regions. This has led to extensive flooding, which has had significant impacts on many primary producers.

At the start of October many farmers were sitting in a great position. Crops of all descriptions were looking good, including vetch and other hay crops. However, unrelenting rains have brought many headaches. 

Healthy cereal crops have had their stems kinked or laid over, whilst also sprouting in the head. Canola crops have wet feet, and it isn’t looking like a timely harvest can take place. Crucial antifungal and fertiliser applications have been missed, with paddocks just too wet to access.

But perhaps worst affected are hay growers, with many vetch crops in particular being turned back into the ground. Those who have managed a harvest are seeing good prices; even crops that received significant rain in the windrow and have lost all their colour are achieving $300 a tonne. Southern farmers are bracing for a season with very little quality hay availability.

Grants available

A support package is available for flood-affected farmers. Originally grants of up to $10,000 were announced on October 19, but around a week later, as the enormity of the problem became apparent, this was increased to $75,000.

The categories of grants available include:

• Primary Producer Recovery Grants: Up to $75,000 grants to cover the cost of recovery and to get businesses up and running again. This replaces the $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean-up Relief Grants announced on October 19. Producers that have already received a Primary Producer Flood Clean-up Relief Grant of $10,000 can apply for up to a further $65,000 under the Primary Producer Recovery Grant, bringing the total to $75,000.

• Rural Landholder Grants: Up to $25,000 to cover the costs of disaster impacts for small-scale producers.

• Primary Producer Concessional Loans: Up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, or to cover the short-term business expenses.

• Primary Producer Transport Subsidies: Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.

These grants are open to selected affected shires, as listed on the Rural Finance website. It incorporates most if not all shires across the south-west, including Glenelg, Moyne, Corangamite, Colac Otway, Southern Grampians and Ararat. 

Aside from the Rural Landholder Grants, these grants are open to primary producers who must be able to satisfy primary producer requirements. In particular, the primary producer must dedicate at least half of their labour to farming and derive at least 50% of their income from the farm.

The grant money can be used for a range of flood recovery activities, including cleaning up, but also replacing damaged fencing, paddocks and other infrastructure. It can also be used to replace lost stock and machinery. However, it cannot be used to subsidise lost income.

More information and application forms can be found on the Rural Finance website at https://www.ruralfinance.com.au/industry-programs/victorian-primary-producer-flood-recovery-package