The results of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s 2026 State of the State Farmer Priorities Survey have been released, revealing the condition of regional roads is now the number one issue facing rural and regional Victorians.

Poultry owners in southern and coastal parts of Victoria will be required to continue housing their birds for at least another 28 days, as H5 bird flu detections continue among wild birds.

The United Firefighters Union is warning Victoria’s firefighting fleet is facing an immediate crisis, with recent documents showing 60 Fire Rescue Victoria appliances are currently unavailable for operational service.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed a commitment from the Victorian Coalition to cancel the VNI West transmission project if elected in November.

Victorian residents are being urged to check fire safety measures in their garages, after more than 120 fires have started in garages or vehicle storage areas since April.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging farming families to keep child safety front of mind during National Farm Safety Week, following a number of serious on-farm incidents involving children.

Victorian farmers are being encouraged to review their farm safety practices ahead of updated dangerous goods regulations coming into effect later this month.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is urging regional drivers to report every pothole and road hazard as part of a two-week campaign highlighting concerns over the state of country roads.

More than 220 aspiring police officers have expressed interest in Victoria Police's first regional training academy, as the new Mildura facility prepares to welcome its inaugural intake of recruits. In the lead up to applications for the initial intake closing mid-way through July, FlowFM's Jess Dempster spoke with Victoria Police Superintendent Paul Bertoncello to learn more about the academy and the intricacies of regional policing.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling on both the Federal and Victorian Governments to commit $5 million to advance a major water infrastructure project across western Victoria.

The remarkable sight of dozens of hot air balloons will once again fill the skies of Mildura this week, as pilots and thrill-seekers alike take to the clouds with the 2026 return of Balloons Over Mildura. To learn more about the event and the inner workings of life in the balloon industry, FlowFM's Jess Dempster caught up with Global Ballooning's Eddie Saunders to hear the special stories behind the fourth-generation family business.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to release its recommendations from the Basin Plan review process, saying communities deserve more than a summary of consultation feedback.

Victoria's peak farming body is calling for greater scrutiny of the state's rapidly expanding data centre sector, warning agriculture must not be overlooked as development accelerates.

The Victorian Farmers Federation says new VicGrid Community Engagement and Social Value Guidelines are a welcome acknowledgement of long-standing concerns, but fall well short of providing enforceable protections for landholders affected by renewable energy projects.

In Victoria, farmers affected by the January bushfires are being encouraged to explore the recovery assistance still available to help rebuild their businesses.

Agriculture Victoria is reminding regional dog owners to keep their pets securely contained as the threat posed by roaming dogs to livestock remains an ongoing concern for producers.

Victorian authorities have confirmed the detection of Varroa mites resistant to pyrethroid chemical treatments in the state’s north-east, raising further concerns for Australia’s beekeeping sector.

The Victorian Farmers Federation says Federal water buybacks are distorting the irrigation market, with family irrigators unable to compete against government and corporate buyers.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed the State Government’s decision not to cap firearm ownership by primary producers as part of a broader overhaul of the state’s gun laws. The changes follow the Rapid Review into Victoria’s Firearm Laws, which led the Government to accept 15 of 16 recommendations aimed at strengthening regulation and community safety.

Victoria’s Country Fire Authority has welcomed a significant funding injection aimed at strengthening frontline emergency response. The State Government has committed more than 148 million dollars toward new vehicles, upgraded stations and improved equipment over the next decade.