RURAL Financial Counselling Service has seen an increase in referrals from Loddon farmers as drought conditions spread in the shire.
Financial counsellor Anna McGee said some referrals were for farmers wanting assistance to access funds to help with sowing new crops and feeding stock.
“There have definitely been referrals in the southern area of the Loddon Shire - areas like Bridgewater, Inglewood, Wedderburn, Tarnagulla - and we are still getting referrals in northern areas too,” Ms McGee said.
Rural Financial Counselling Service had been visiting Bridgewater every Tuesday since the October 2022 floods and having on-property appointments with farmers asking for help.
She said there had been a compounding effect for farmers since 2022 with little rain. “It’s certainly tough at the moment,” Ms McGee said.
According to Ms McGee, the service had been helping Loddon farmers with applications for Regional Investment Corporation concessional loans and the farm-household allowance through Centrelink.
The 10-year loans have a five-year interest only payment period.
The allowance is a fortnightly payment for up to four years in each specific 10-year period with activity supplements up to a lifetime limit of $10,000.
Ms McGee said families on the allowance became eligible for a health care card.