The Exception Circumstances declaration for the South West of Victoria will cease on March 31, 2010. Below is a list of contact information for relevant agencies if you are from the South West and need to discuss your situation.

Drought Assistance Hotline         13 23 16
Rural Finance                                  (03) 5448 2600
Rural Counselling Service            (03) 5572 4540

Please follow the link below for more information:
http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/ec/victoria/south-west-vic

As part of the VFF's Membership Drive a new website has been launched that lists the benefits of VFF membership and imminent threats to farming.

For more information on the Membership Drive, local events, or how you can join or assist, please click below to access the site:

http://www.everyfarmerneedstheVFF.com

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has called on State Treasurer John Lenders to keep the need to rebuild the productive capacity of Victorian agriculture front of mind when deciding on Victoria’s 2009/10 State Budget.

VFF President Andrew Broad said the Federation put forward a number of recommendations to help secure a sustainable future for Victorian agriculture in its recent State Government Pre-budget Submission.

“After years of drought, this will be the first year that many farmers will be able to concentrate on investing in their farm. The recent rains across most of the state signals the return to traditionally average yields and water allocations,” Mr Broad said.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed Victorian Water Minister Tim Holding’s decision today to qualify water rights in the Campaspe Deep Lead Groundwater Supply Area to allow for an increase in ground water allocations.

VFF Water Council Chairman Richard Anderson said that this announcement would benefit Campaspe irrigators through increasing this year’s access to groundwater within the area to 65 percent. 

“The VFF has continued to lobby the government on this issue over the last three years as there was an opportunity to increase allocations to 75 percent without threatening the long term sustainability of the aquifer,” Mr Anderson said.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has acknowledged the Federal Government’s acceptance of advice from the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) to extend Exceptional Circumstances (EC) assistance in the Central Victoria North Revised area, Central Victoria South Revised area, Mallee-Northern Wimmera Revised area, North-East Victoria area and Northern Victoria Revised area. The VFF has noted that EC assistance will not be extended in the South Western Victoria area.

VFF President Andrew Broad said that although farmers in the South had received more favourable seasonal conditions, the market situation for agricultural commodities remained poor across the state.

“The extension of EC for areas in the North of the state is recognition of the continuing difficult conditions that farmers are facing,” Mr Broad said.

As Victorian growers begin to decide which wheat varieties they will grow in 2010, the Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) Grains Group has raised concerns that without clear market signals regarding wheat quality, many growers will move towards producing low quality, high yielding wheat.

VFF Grains Group President Russell Amery said that during the 2009 harvest, a lack of coordination between industry players resulted in conflicting information about wheat quality standards, with many growers not being rewarded for high quality wheat varieties.

“After a second harvest under the ‘liberalised’ wheat marketing system, there remain many issues which have not been adequately addressed by either the broader grains industry or the Federal Government,” Mr Amery said.

Changes to the Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) Constitution, put to over 300 members at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Melbourne today, have not passed by the 75 percent required by the existing Constitution.

302 delegates were eligible to vote, 56 percent of votes were in favour, 44 percent were opposed.

VFF President Andrew Broad said that, while he was disappointed with the result, today’s meeting was a productive opportunity to again consult with members regarding the changes needed to take the organisation forward. 

“The fact that upwards of 300 members made the effort to come to Melbourne today and have their say is a clear signal that Victorian farmers are passionate about their organisation, Mr Broad said.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has launched the 2010 VFF/Elders Insurance Young Agricultural Apprentice of the Year Award, with the search now on to find Victoria’s most talented young farmer.

VFF President Andrew Broad said the VFF/Elders Insurance Apprentice of the Year Award sought to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional contribution that young apprentices make to their workplaces.

“Victoria has a plethora of young, talented agricultural apprentices. This award aims to recognise their contribution to our industry and to reward Victoria’s best farming apprentice for their achievements,” Mr Broad said.

The National Farmers’ Federation, with support from the Australian Government, is hosting free seminars across regional Australia from September 2009 to help agricultural producers understand how new workplace relations laws will affect agricultural employers.