Tasmanian farmers dealing with rising costs and a dry season will be able to get free financial counselling for another five years.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced the extension of the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Richmond last Friday.
Nationally, more than $100 million will go to 10 providers across 12 regions over five years from July 1, 2027. Tasmania will receive $2.8 million.
The service offers free, confidential and independent advice to farmers, fishers, foresters and related small businesses in or at risk of financial hardship.
Support lasts up to three years or four for people on Farm Household Allowance.
“Rural financial counsellors understand the challenges facing their local communities and provide practical, tailored support to help farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses make informed financial decisions,” Collins said.
The federal government said counsellors helped almost 7,500 businesses nationally last financial year and 3,581 so far this financial year.
Collins said farmers were facing higher input costs because of the war in the Middle East, as well as bird flu, mainly in the chicken meat and egg industries and a forecast El Nino.
“We obviously know the biggest issue for our farmers is always the weather,” she said.
She said the five-year agreement would give providers the certainty to keep qualified staff.
Rural Business Tasmania chief executive Elizabeth Skirving said the funding would give her counsellors job security and let the organisation plan ahead.
She said the east coast and Southern Midlands were particularly dry.
“It is a difficult time for our farmers across Tasmania,” Skirving said.
She said fuel, fertiliser, freight and vet costs were adding up and commodity prices probably had not risen to match.
But she said Tasmanian farmers were “stoic” and many were adapting by diversifying, helped by the state’s irrigation schemes in a dry year.
Skirving said farmers usually felt the real pain going into harvest, “when the cheques start to land”.
She said client numbers typically rose by about 10% after a drought, flood or commodity issue and she expected an increase into next autumn and winter.
Farmers can contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1300 771 741.
