Current News

There were some familiar faces at Asia Fruit Logistica this year which was held in Bangkok on 2-4 November.

Head to www.horticulture.com.au/annual-report-portal to download the Company Annual Report as well as your industry’s report and take a closer look at key project information from the year, including marketing campaign spotlights and grower case studies that dive deeper into levy investments that have made an impact on the ground.

Farmers and growers who have been impacted by flood or storm events – including hail in the Goulburn Valley – and require assistance or have urgent animal welfare needs, please contact the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 and press 9 for an interpreter.

AgVic asks that people do report damage as it helps with their response.  They also acknowledge that horticulture outcomes can be months down the track. 

What to do immediately after a flood- Department of Agriculture
https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/floods/what-to-do-immediately-after-a-flood
 
Support for Victorian Primary Producers Impacted by Flooding
The Victorian Government has announced support for primary producers and businesses across Victoria affected by the devastating floods. A $73.5 million package will deliver grants to help farmers and business owners clean up their properties, while business mentoring, concessional loans and transport subsidies will help businesses get back on their feet.
 
Support for primary producers- UPDATED

The Victorian Primary Producer Flood Recovery Grant of up to $75,000 is available to support clean-up, relief and recovery efforts. This grant replaces the below $10,000 Primary Producer Flood Clean-Up and Relief Grants announced 21 October 2022.

$19.5 million Primary Producer Flood Relief Program will deliver a one-off $10,000 payment – administered by Rural Finance – to primary producers directly affected by the floods to help them clean up, re-establish their properties, and get their businesses up and running again. The grants will cover activities like the removal and disposal of debris and injured or dead livestock, repairing essential equipment, fixing and replacing fencing, buying fodder, water and water storage, salvaging damaged crops, grain or feed, and hiring or purchasing materials to clean up a property or equipment.
 
Primary producers whose properties have been directly hit are also eligible for concessional loans of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets, and meet general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway. Applications will open on Thursday, 20 October. For more information, visit www.ruralfinance.com.au
 
Support for businesses
Business owners will be supported through the $54 million Business Flood Relief Program. Directly impacted businesses will be eligible for a one-off payment of $5,000 to support clean-up, safety inspections, repairs, the hiring of equipment and purchase of stock that businesses need to get back in business as quickly as possible. The program will also support a dedicated Business Relief Service – with dedicated mentors to guide business owners through the available Commonwealth, state and local supports, manage insurance and landlord issues and build a strong recovery strategy.
 
Applications will open on Thursday, 20 October. For more information, visit Business Victoria or call the Business Victoria hotline on 132 215.
 
Support for mental health
In addition, the Victorian Government has announced a $4.4 million initial package that will support any extra mental healthcare flood-affected Victorians need. This includes $500,000 for specialist agriculture organisations, including the National Centre for Farmer Health, to provide dedicated mental health support to primary producers whose properties, livestock or crops were lost in the floods. Further information on this support is available in the Premier’s statement.

Taking care of yourself
Have you been taking care of yourself? During an emergency, people tend to exist in a survival state to get through the incident, using up considerable emotional reserves.  If you’ve been working hard for long periods, missing meals and sleep, take some time to take care of yourself. Recognise the signs of stress and reach out for support if you need it. For a comprehensive list of health support agencies, click here

Business Victoria- Business Support
A PDF document is available for download from Business Victoria for those that were affected by the October 2022 floods. This is a great resource that outlines assistance available- Download here

Has your horticultural produce been in contact with flood waters?

• For advice and information about dealing with flood-impacted horticulture, visit the Agriculture website.
• Further information is available on the Horticultural Industry Network website “Recovering from Extreme Events”.
• Additional resources for flood-impacted growers are available at the Food Authority Fresh Produce Safety Centre website

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment 
Provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by storms and floods: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/what-victorian-floods-october-2022-australian-government-disaster-recovery-payment?context=63461The NB The threshold is $20,000 in damage this includes fences livestock etc

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance 
Provides income support payments to eligible persons who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of storms and floods: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-events?context=6004

Council Flood Support Fund 
This will be established as an initial measure to provide immediate payments of $500,000 to the 24 local government areas that have experienced the most profound flood damage. This support is in addition to existing Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Further information provided in the following link:  https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/funding-support-local-recovery-effort

Fast Facts: Farmers Lung
Moving mouldy hay, straw, grain and compost may trigger breathing issues. Take preventative action and look for signs of Farmers Lung with these Fast Facts by @FarmerHealth. More on lung health here: https://bit.ly/3AHa2OD

Chemical safety after floods
Landholders in flood affected areas may face a range of issues related to the storage and use of chemicals:

• Weed, pest and fungicide spraying may increase after floods. Follow the label and ensure you don’t use chemicals past their expiry date.
• Floodwaters may result in different pests or diseases to those you usually manage. To minimise risks please only use chemicals according to the label instructions.
• Comply with any “DO NOT” statements, including those relating to spraying near waterways or on saturated ground.
• Be cautious when using spraying equipment on flood affected areas as it may be less stable than normal.
• As large areas are saturated there may be an increased need for aerial spraying.
• If chemicals are contaminated or damaged due to flood waters dispose of them appropriately e.g. via subsidised programs like ChemClear or call 1800 008 182.

For more information on dealing with floods visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods

Translated Flood Factsheets
Please see below links for translated flood fact sheets from Agriculture Victoria. The material is in:

• Punjabi
• Farsi and
• Italian

General scams awareness
Protect yourself from scammers by being scam aware
Between January and August 2022, Australian farmers and agricultural businesses lost over $1.2 million to scammers. In total, Australians have lost over $300 million to scammers so far this year. It can be difficult to recover any losses suffered from a scam and so it is important to stop them before they happen. The ACCC operates Scamwatch, which aims to help Australian consumers and small businesses recognise scams and avoid them by providing information about how to report scams and where to get help if they’ve been scammed.

Tractor & Machinery scams
Over $1.03M has been lost to tractor and machinery scams so far this year. Scammers can create fake websites and use online platforms to ‘sell’ machinery. They often say they’ll hold payment during a free-trial period and promise full refunds if you are not satisfied.
Do extra checks before buying online. Report scams to Scamwatch.

Fake Invoice scams targeting Farmers
Australian farmers have lost over $320,000 to fake invoice scams so far this year. Scammers often impersonate businesses and request payment of “invoices”. These may look exactly like an invoice you are expecting. Report scams to Scamwatch.

Don't let scammers harvest your personal data
Scammers target more than just money – they have eyes on your personal information too. Protect yourself from identity theft:

• Use strong, unique passwords
• Be careful how much personal information you share and who you give it to
• Don’t send money or give copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust
• Check your bank transactions

If you think your identity has been stolen, contact IDCARE

You can read more about these scams and other common scams on the ACCC’s Scamwatch page. Scamwatch also provides guidance on protecting yourself from scams and where to get help.

You are invited to the Victorian Cherry Association AGM…
 
This year’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 18 October at Wild Cattle Creek Estate and includes a light lunch. It will feature an array of guest speakers to discuss topics such as the recent changes to the Horticulture Award that came into effect 28 April 2022, the CGA Restructure and the CGA Export Project and Agriculture Victoria’s Cherries Traceability Pilot.
 
The cost of the event will be $55 pp which is to be paid prior to the date via EFT – NAB BSB: 083-739 Acc: 518832418, please use surname/business name as a reference.
 
Please RSVP by 10 October 2022 E:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or P: 5825 3700.

Media Release- 28th September 2022

CGA secures major pilot project on traceability

Cherry Growers Australia has secured a major innovative project to strengthen traceability for cherry exports high-value markets.

Cherry Growers Australia (CGA) and Agriculture Victoria will partner to lead an innovative cherry supply chain traceability pilot for on-farm traceability and high-value export markets. 

Download the full Media Release here..