Regional Roundup - June 2019

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: 13 July 2019; Last Updated: 30 August 2019

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

Milk factory opening prices for the 2019/20 year range in price from $6.80-$7.45/kg MS. Buyer loyalty is diminished with some dairy farmers considering changing companies. Dairy farming clients continue to question their farming future whilst others establish deadlines to review their decision to farm. Input costs and water availability will play a significant role in influencing clients’ decision to farm.
Dispersal rates of whole herds also continues, resulting in flattened prices for sale of livestock. A lack of pasture, hay and cash underpins these decisions. Conversely, the north-east region reports that autumn calving cows are milking well with good access to pasture grazing

Cropping

The north-east catchments has also seen some run-off into water storages from the recent rainfall. Amid warmer conditions, melting snow has also contributed to an increase in dam levels.
In other areas, pastures responded well to generally warmer temperatures. Cereals have had a promising start to the season, however subsoil moisture is still lacking in many areas which is required to secure good grain yields.
Most croppers are expected to be able to cut hay with an average year overall. At present, feed stocks continue to decline with even poor quality feed difficult to source.
Canola plantings are down due to the dry conditions this year.
New season hay is expected to be available in the coming months and is eagerly awaited.

Sheep

Saleyards have reported a continued decline in numbers and quality of sheep and fat lambs. A continued increase in price reflects this. Sheep are in poor condition. Mutton is selling well.
Wool prices have declined in response to trade uncertainty, but remained strong overall.

Beef

Cattle prices have stabilised with most surplus stock sold. An overall increase in prices was realised for all cattle.
The current reduced numbers of female cattle will likely see a surge in prices once seasonal conditions improve.