The Victorian Government has released further funding, for farmers hit by drought and dry seasonal conditions.
Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has announced a $2 million pasture recovery and management grant program, for drought-affected farms in East Gippsland and Wellington shires.
The Pasture Recovery Grants provide support of up to $5000 on a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution basis, for activities associated with pasture recovery and restoration due to the extended dry conditions.
"The Pasture Recovery grants are vital for farmers in Wellington and East Gippsland to minimise the damage these extended dry conditions have done to their paddocks, and future-proof them for years to come," Ms Symes said.
The grants can be used for seed and fertiliser costs, ground cover establishment, planting shelterbelts, desilting works on dams, upgrades to stock containment areas, professional pasture restoration planning advice and other professional services used for pasture restoration.
Ms Symes said support would also be available for farmers in northern Victoria, who had been hit hardest by climate and rising costs of production.
The government's Farm Support Fund was also now open, which is being delivered through an expansion to the Farm Business Assistance program to include farmers in northern and north-west Victoria who were most at risk of financial stress from ongoing dry conditions.
The program will be available to Farm Household Allowance recipients in 20 eligible council areas in northern and north western Victoria.
It will provide one-off payments of $2,500.
The grants, as well as other government drought support programs, are being administered by Rural Finance.