Regional Roundup - August 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 September 2019; Last Updated: 20 September 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

RFCs report many dairy farming client continue to experience cash flow difficulty as a consequence of high water and feed prices. Clients who own no or limited water have indicated current prices, in excess of $600, make dairying unviable despite record milk prices.
Some farmers are opting to buy in fodder rather than irrigate due to the high price of temporary water. There is growing optimism with falling new season fodder prices, increasing pasture growth and record milk prices.
RFCs in the west of our region are reporting that a number of farms are considering transitioning out of dairy and approximately 70 have already exited from the surrounding Numurkah area. Murray Dairy estimates 150 northern Victoria dairy farmers ceased production in the 2018/19 year.

Structural adjustment is continuing, as farmers continue to weigh up the predicted costs of production versus potential returns. Farms with high debt and high monthly commitments are finding it very difficult for the numbers to stack up.

Cropping

Crops currently look good but will require finishing spring rain. Silage production has commenced with above average yields recorded. The dry conditions are limiting grain yield potential. Subsoil moisture is building, however further large rainfall events are needed in the coming months to secure good grain yields.

Sheep

Prices have declined as new season lambs come to market. The wool price continued to decline due to international trade uncertainty. The national EMI was at 1,375c/kg, the lowest in almost 3 years (Weekly Times 4/9/19). Livestock farmers continue to seek the service as a consequence of high fodder costs and poor cash flow.