A dedicated Agriculture Recovery Manager will work with Victorian farmers hit by the recent storms and floods as assessments of damage in affected areas continue across the state.
The Victorian Government has urged farmers in Gippsland, the Yarra Ranges and Central Highlands to access existing support across a range of emergency programs triggered by the severe weather event.
Agriculture Victoria has reached out to more than 3,700 farmers in affected regions to monitor urgent animal welfare needs and record property, horticultural and livestock impacts.
About 750 farmers who have indicated they have been affected are being called and offered advice and referrals to appropriate support services.
The Agriculture Recovery Manager will assist farmers during the months ahead with a focus on providing technical advice for issues including stock health, nutrition and feed budgeting, fencing, pasture recovery and grazing management, soil erosion and dams and waterways.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas saw the effects of the disaster across Gippsland, which at this stage has a reported 492 stock losses, 258 hectares of crops lost, 5496 hectares of pasture loss, 622 kilometres of fences destroyed, and 91 structures lost including sheds, pumps and farm buildings.
She met dairy farmers Matt and Nadine Gleeson at Boolarra South, who have suffered power loss, mobile phone and landline outages, and lost four kilometres of fencing among other damage.
Ms Thomas also visited the beef farm of Graeme, Joy and Luke Stuckey at Flynn, near Traralgon, where flooding resulted in the loss of 150 hectares of newly sown pasture.
Minister Thomas has also visited affected properties in the Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shire and met with volunteers and staff supporting communities including members of the SES and CFA.
A range of financial assistance is now available in the disaster-declared areas.
Landholders can call Agriculture Victoria on the VicEmergency Hotline 1800 226 226 for advice on horticultural, livestock and other agricultural issues.
For more information about available assistance, flood or storm-affected farmers can visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods. Farmers can also contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1800 686 175 for support and advice.
Source: Vic Government