DAIRY farmers at Tactics for Tight Times workshops at Labertouche and Willow Grove have been urged to contact their local council if they are struggling to pay their rates.
Willow Grove dairy farmer and Baw Baw Shire councillor David Balfour said that councils had a hardship provision that could be applied to dairy farmers.
“If you are having trouble, ring up the council and ask,” he said.
“The council has a hardship policy, so if you need assistance, get in contact.”
Cr Balfour, who has been dairy farming for more than 50 years, said the response to the current situation in the dairy industry has been impressive.
“I believe it’s been very well organised and that the farmers who have taken the time to attend the meetings would have learned how to look after themselves for the next 12 months,” he said.
“Farmers have the opportunity at the moment to go out there and get a lot of support from people who have knowledge of how to grow grass and how to look after stock.
“There have been massive improvements in how dairy farmers have been supported since I started out.”
Collin Marks, who share-farms at Westbury, said he came away from the Willow Grove Tactics workshop with new ideas on how to approach key aspects of farm planning.
“It was definitely worthwhile for both financial information and the feeding discussion for going forward,” he said.
Mr Marks said that getting off the farm and sharing experiences with fellow dairy farmers was also important.
“I came for the social type of thing at the same time. It’s good to get out and see what the others are doing and realising you’re not the only one out there.”
The Tactics events, which have a theme of Finances, Feed and Friends, have been organised by GippsDairy and Dairy Australia using dairy service levy funds.
GippsDairy regional extension officer Karen Romano said the Labertouche and Willow Grove sessions were well attended, with farmers keen to improve on every aspect of their farm business performance.
“We’ve seen at the five Tactics for Tight Times workshops that have been held so far, that farmers are keen to take positive steps to steer their businesses in the right direction,” she said.
“Many of them are having a tough time at the moment, but they are concentrating on the things that they are good at, like running an efficient business, growing quality pasture and managing their herds.”
“For those farmers who did come along, we had plenty of information about taking care of mental and physical health and the importance of keeping an eye out for family, friends and neighbours who might be struggling to cope.”
