Agriculture recovery manager Kylie Macreadie said this bootcamp would help farmers to understand and manage business risk, develop a business plan to grow their business and build confidence in a future in agriculture.
The free bootcamp will be held over two days between 9am and 3.30pm, with lunch and refreshments provided, and will be delivered by Meridian Agriculture farm business adviser Paul Blackshaw.
“These fun and interactive bootcamps use a series of farm case studies as real-life examples, providing participants with the skills to help them manage their farm business now, as well as planning for their business into the future,” Ms Macreadie said.
“This is also an opportunity for young and emerging farm managers to connect with like-minded and motivated people.”
Register at: https://uppermurraybusinessbootcamp.eventbrite.com.au
For more information, phone 0428 975 728 or email: paul.simpson@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Grants to build drought resilience
Applications for the second round of the Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program are now open.
These grants are specifically intended to ensure community-led initiatives and rural not-for-profits in agriculture-dependent communities have the support they need to build resilience against future droughts.
Funded by the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund and a range of other donor partners, the program focuses on strengthening social connectedness, building social capital and funding transformative local initiatives that will enable agricultural communities to be more prepared for the impacts of drought.
Grants can support a wide range of initiatives including events, projects, activities, training and small-scale infrastructure that will strengthen community engagement, networking and preparedness for drought.
In this second round, Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal is particularly keen to hear from groups seeking between $20,000 and $50,000, although there are other tiers of funding available.
For more information, visit: www.frrr.org.au/networks
There will be a free grant-seeker workshop on October 5 at 11am and 7pm for those who would like to learn more about the program and the application process. Register at: https://events.humanitix.com/networks-to-build-drought-resilience
Applications close November 15.
Large-scale energy project cost concerns
The National Farmers’ Federation says it is concerned about the significant cost blow-outs associated with the proposed Hume-Link Transmission Line.
It said costs had blown out by 250 per cent to $3.317 billion and that proposed transmission lines within the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Integrated Systems Plan (ISP) had caused land use conflict and was leaving households out of pocket.
"These mega-projects have been thrust on rural and regional communities with little or tokenistic landowner consultations, inadequate compensation and now will leave energy consumers worse off, with each household liable for an additional $60 a year just to pay for the Hume-Link cost blow-out," NFF’s Tony Mahar said.
"The NFF has long sought for a greater focus on small-scale, mid-scale and community scale renewable projects, that keeps the economic and value-add benefits of projects with local communities, and reduces the need for new transmission lines.
“It is a shame that AEMO has on the most part neglected these opportunities in favour of a bigger is better approach."
Mr Mahar said initiatives such as the Australian Local Power Agency proposed by Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines could address some of the challenges.
He said developing an agency that was solely focused on overcoming the regulatory, engineering and financial hurdles for a greater uptake of these small-scale and mid-scale generation opportunities would address the imbalance towards the promotion of predominantly large-scale energy infrastructure.
"The energy transition should benefit our regional communities and all energy users, not just big energy companies."
Supporting mental health
Gateway Health, Gannawarra Shire Council and NCN Health are among 11 councils, primary care partnerships and private organisations to share in $2.9 million to deliver programs that will increase awareness of mental health treatment options for rural communities.
The Resilient Farming Communities Project is a two-year joint Agriculture Victoria and Department of Health initiative to support farmers, farming families and communities to better manage stress and improve their health.
Initiatives include outreach services, on-farm health workshops, wellbeing plans for rural communities, the delivery of resilience programs in secondary schools and mental health first aid training.
“Our farmers have faced many challenges over the years, including drought, bushfires and now the pandemic, which all take their toll on resilience,” Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.
“This project ensures farmers and their communities are supported to focus on their mental health.”
The grant recipients and associated projects are:
• Gateway Health — Building Ovens Murray Agricultural Sector Resilience.
• Gannawarra Shire Council — Resilient Gannawarra.
• NCN Health — Farm Community Connect.
Help for Victorian agribusiness to go global
The Victorian Government has appointed three agriculture export specialists to help agribusinesses establish more trade pathways.
Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the new agriculture-focused specialists would provide in-market support from Victorian Government Trade and Investment Offices in China, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
In Kuala Lumpur, in-market specialist Ian Thompson will provide insights to Victorian agribusinesses looking to grow their exports and diversify their markets in South-East Asia. Mr Thompson will work to promote quality Victorian food and agricultural produce in these markets.
Dubai-based in-market specialist Emma Page has a mandate for the Middle East and North Africa region. Ms Page will be supporting Victorian agribusinesses to respond to the strong demand for premium food and beverage products coming from the MENA market.
Beijing-based in-market specialist Davis Tao Xu will deliver tailored advice to Victorian businesses in Victoria’s biggest food and fibre export destination — Victoria’s food and fibre exports to China were valued at $4.7 billion in 2019-20.
For more information, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/pathwaystoexport
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