Regional Roundup - March 2016

What we do

Rural Financial Counselling Services are:

Free, independent and confidential
Staffed by qualified and experienced Rural Financial Counsellors (RFCs) who understand farming and business – our RFCs are required to have a Diploma of Financial Counselling as minimum qualification, and have years of experience in assisting farming businesses
For primary producers of livestock, milk, honey, fruit, crops, wool, meat, vegetables, eggs, fish, plants, trees and logs
For small businesses who mainly support primary production such as: fencing, shearing sheep, controlling weeds or agricultural pests, managing stock, planting crops etc.
Able to assist farm or small agribusinesses experiencing or at risk of financial hardship
Able to come to your place of business or you can come and see us.

Assistance when

Rural Financial Counselling Services can assist businesses affected by:

Drought/water issues
Low commodity prices
Natural disasters
Structural adjustment
Industry downturns
Low equity/tight cash flow
Difficulties with lenders or access to finance
Unpaid creditors/debtors
Market disruptions
Changes in personal circumstances
Farm accidents or illness
Share farming/succession agreements/ contracts.

How can we help you

Rural Financial Counselling Services can help you:

Understand your financial position and the viability of your enterprise
Identify options to improve your financial position
Develop a plan to implement your chosen options, and implement that plan
Provide information, referrals, and support to access, government or industry grants and programs
Assist you to deal (whether through meetings or otherwise) with lending institutions in relation to:
- Applications and contracts with those institutions; and
- Processes relating to farm debt mediation
Assist you to identify the need for advice from professional service providers, and provide support with preparation for meetings with professional service providers.

News

NE Regional Soil Health Conference

NECMA conference

North East Regional Soil Health Conference - 14 May 2021 at Beechworth is for ALL land managers, agriculture industry groups and soil health service providers in North East Victoria.
Read more ...

Farm Finance getting prepared 2021 Webinar

Farm Finance

The team at the Young Farmer Business Network have put together a series of sessions designed to build skills in financial planning and business resilience for your farm business.
Read more ...

Details: Published: 29 March 2016; Last Updated: 07 October 2016

blog rru

Regional Round-up is a monthly newsletter providing an overview into the environmental and business conditions affecting farmers and rural businesses in the Goulburn Valley and North East Victoria.

Dairy

The Global Dairy trade index initially fell 2.9% on 15th March after a 1.4% rise on the 1st March. The average Global Dairy price for March is 46% below the March 2014 average price and 20% below the March 2015 average price.

Milk prices have remained constant at $5.60 per kg milk solids and, based on recent Milk Factory announcements, will remain at this level.
Cost of temporary water remains high
Farmers continue to balance feed and water costs
Recently a number of larger-scale dairy farms have sought the RFC Service
RFCs continue to report significant levels of unpaid creditors.

Cropping/Sheep

Croppers are preparing for the coming season’s crop, with pre-sowing activities currently being undertaken. This is a significant decision time for many croppers as they weigh up the pros and cons of sowing dry or awaiting rain to sow.

Wheat and canola prices remain low, with current prices the lowest for 5 ½ years. Along with record international stock levels and a higher Aussie dollar the immediate outlook is not great.

Beef

Overgrazing issues are common in all regions, even in the productive valleys of the ranges and areas east of Holbrook. This is the result of a poor spring, overstocking, and a hot dry March. Currently there is plenty of fodder being fed out, dams are running very low in many areas, and stock is being sold.

Beef prices remain strong although continuing dry conditions are impacting prices for store cattle.

Prices are weakening for cattle that are being presented in poor condition due to feed supplies shrinking and fodder being rationed for possibly difficult months ahead.

Quality bred cattle still retain a premium.

Irrigation

Storage levels in Lake Eildon are at 33.5% against 58.3% last year. The Hume is holding 24.6% (against 22.3% LY) and Dartmouth 43.6% (against 77.3%LY). GMW resources storage levels website.

GMW announced no increases in this year’s allocation for the Goulburn and Murray systems on 01/04/2016.

High reliability water share determinations remain at:

Murray system 100%
Goulburn 90%
Campaspe 66% (up 2%)
Loddon 84% (up 4%)
Broken 26%

Low or Nil allocations for the opening of the 2016/17 seasons remain the likely outlook.

Water prices averaged $230 for March. (Temp water), an increase of $20 from February.

High Reliability water shares have averaged $2,800 for March (no change). Low reliability shares traded for $220 up from $200 in February. (Refer Vic Water Register).