The Victorian Government will provide an additional $2.7 million in support for northern Victorian dairy farmers, who continue to be affected by seasonal conditions and high input costs.
The extra support will put additional financial and business counsellors on the ground for farmers and small business in Shepparton and Swan Hill.
The funding boost will also support Regional Development Victoria to partner with Murray Dairy to re-establish the Rural Skills Connect program — with more than $315 000 to support dairy farming families and farm workers seeking off farm income to develop new skills and use their existing expertise to gain new employment.
“Our dairy farmers in northern Victoria are still doing it tough after extended dry conditions,” Agriculture minister Jaclyn Symes said.
“This funding boost will ensure they continue to get the support they need to make their farm businesses more resilient.”
The government’s On-farm Drought Infrastructure Support program has received more than 3400 applications since it began in late 2018.