Up to 600 farmers across the Goulburn Murray Water area now have additional support and tools available to them to make informed decision about their farming future. 

The Plan2Farm program is funded by the state government and was officially launched on Friday 18 August 2017 following the  $1.6 million funding announcement made late last year aiming to achieve  a more resilient and productive agricultural community.

Minister for Water, Hon. Lisa Neville said farmers are a key part of the social and economic viability of regional Victoria. “The Plan2Farm program enables farmers to make considered decisions to drive and optimise agricultural competitiveness, farming resilience and regional development.”

Plan2Farm is being delivered by an Alliance Group with representatives from the North Central, Goulburn Broken, North East Catchment Management Authorities (CMA), Agriculture Victoria, Murray Dairy, Goulburn Murray Water, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and Regional Development Victoria to support and guide farmers to make decisions about their future.

North Central CMA project manager Shari Rankin said a key component of Plan2Farm is farmers having the opportunity to access independent expert advice to assist them to establish or refine their whole of enterprise vision.

“As a fourth generation farmer from the local region I see immense value in Plan2Farm,” she said.

“The program is designed to generate discussion, to provide information to help farmers make decisions, and to prompt thinking about the whole farm business, including where it is heading and what the goals are.

“I have seen first-hand the effects of water variability on small communities within the Goulburn Murray Water regulated area and I’m excited to be part of a program that aims to prepare farmers to make the most of opportunities and respond to changes affecting them. This includes the changes occurring as part of the once-in-a-lifetime Goulburn Murray Water Connections Project.”

For more information click here or phone Shari Rankin on 03 5440 1885.