Supporting business success
The GMID has access to all the industry services needed to smoothly run an agricultural business, including support in agronomy, business management, input suppliers, construction and maintenance.
Processing and manufacturing facilities are available to value-add raw product, with strong infrastructure and a sustainable workforce in place to support business operations.
Importantly, the GMID is linked to a reliable road and rail network, making the transportation of goods to domestic and international markets viable for local producers and businesses.
Agronomic and production services
There is a wide range of agronomic and consulting service providers across the GMID, primarily located in major regional centres such as Shepparton, Echuca and Swan Hill.
These services are available across the GMID to support the day-to-day operations of horticulture, dairy, livestock and other agricultural businesses.
Business and property management
The GMID is home to many successful business and property management consultants which offer a range of services to producers including:
- Financial services
- Performance monitoring
- Farm profitability analysis
- Cash flow planning
- Whole farm planning
- Land use planning.
These service providers are experienced across multiple agricultural sectors including dairy, horticulture, broadacre and grazing enterprises.
Input suppliers
A broad range of input suppliers service local areas within the GMID as well as the broader region.
Services include:
- Water brokers
- Irrigation and pumping equipment
- Seed
- Crop nutrition products, fertiliser and compost
- Crop protection products
- Equipment (farm machinery and processing machinery)
- Fencing
- Stock feeds and more.
Contractors
Agricultural businesses depend on a range of contractors to support their existing operations and future plans. A healthy supply of contractors operate across the GMID, including many locally-based construction and electrical providers.
Contracting services include:
- Building and maintenance providers
- Mechanics
- Feed lot designers
- Water boring
- Earthmoving
- Shed and dairy construction
- Waste management and effluent system design.
Employment and labour availability
Agriculture is one of the biggest employers in the GMID, both directly and in food manufacturing or processing. Regional employment is highly dependent upon irrigation, especially in the dairy, horticulture and mixed farming industries, which support substantial regional processing jobs.
Of the GMID’s total population of 158,000, the labour force population is estimated at 70,000 which highlights the available workforce in the region. With a preference to employ locals within the GMID, agricultural businesses offer plenty of opportunities for permanent employment.
Temporary and unskilled labour can be accessed through several labour hire companies which operate across the GMID. These companies primarily service horticultural businesses but also provide labour and workforce development services to dairy and other agricultural industries.
Businesses in the Goulburn Valley area experiencing skills and labour shortages can apply for endorsement to enter into a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Australian Government. DAMAs make sure employers recruit Australian citizens and permanent residents as a priority and then recruit skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers to fill the gaps where needed.
More information:
- Goulburn Valley Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) – Greater Shepparton, Campaspe Shire and Moira Shire regions
- Moira Jobs Link
- GROW Greater Shepparton
- Swan Hill Worker Housing project
Processing facilities
The GMID offers a range of agricultural processing and manufacturing facilities which can transform raw products into value-added options.
These facilities are mostly located in the Greater Shepparton, Campaspe Shire and Moira Shire regions, and include processing for dairy, fruit, vegetable and meat products as well as some smaller grain processing facilities.
Infrastructure and logistics
The establishment and expansion of agricultural businesses across the GMID is made possible with the region’s extensive infrastructure capability.
It includes:
- Local energy providers for gas and electricity, with co-generation capability
- Renewable energy zones for solar and wind power generation
- Strong telecommunications and connectivity networks with access to the NBN.
Agricultural businesses within the GMID primarily depend on the region’s road freight network to access key markets. Victoria’s major highways criss-cross the GMID and include the Goulburn Valley, Murray Valley, Calder, Midland and Loddon Valley highways, which connect to interstate routes including one of Australia’s most important thoroughfares, the Hume Highway.
An upgraded freight and passenger rail system complements the road network to provide businesses and industries in the GMID with direct access to markets and ports in south-east Australia.
Freight and logistics services are also well-developed within the GMID to transport agricultural produce to major domestic and international markets, primarily through Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport and the Port of Melbourne.
Research facilities
Many reputable universities and government organisations have established research facilities within the GMID to help shape the future of the wider agriculture industry in Australia and support the development of local businesses.