Community
19 September, 2025
Financial relief for farmers
THE state government is backing drought-hit farmers through its Primary Producer Support Payments program.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence has announced the government would begin rolling out the program, providing eligible farmers with the equivalent of a 40 per cent reduction on their property rates.
He acknowledged that farmers in the south west are experiencing the worst drought conditions in the state for more than two years, impacting their livelihoods, households and local communities.
Twelve councils are administering the program, including Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Greater Geelong and the southern parts of West Wimmera.
The primary producer support payment is one of a host of programs and services in the government’s $144 million drought support package.
The package also include waivers of livestock duties and reductions in regulatory fees and charges across PrimeSafe, Dairy Food Safety Victoria (DFSV) and Agriculture Victoria for the next financial year.
It’s estimated these measures will deliver savings of more than $10 million for farmers and food producers.
Agriculture Victoria is partnering with food and safety regulators, DFSV and PrimeSafe, along with livestock compensation advisory committee chairs to deliver this support.
More than 2,800 farmers have accessed the farm drought support grants and more than 490 farmers have utilised the free one-on-one technical decision-making consultations.
In addition, over 120 Look Over the Farm Gate community events have been approved to support mental health and wellbeing across the state.
For more information on the government’s drought support package for drought-impacted farmers visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or phone 136 186.
