The submission asks the state government to "provide a minimum of $650 million in the budget over the next four years for dedicated regional road asset maintenance," and a further $200 million to reintroduce the next four years Fixing Country Roads Program.

The specific projects singled out in the submission are a $2 million upgrade to Dimboola Bridge on the Western Highway and $4 million to allow B-Double crossing on Western Highway at the Nhill-Jeparit Nhill-Netherby roads.

READ MORE:

Ryan Milgate farms predominantly wheat, barley and lentils near Minyip. He said the surrounding roads were in a dire state.

"Particularly in the Wimmera the roads are just so rough," he said.

"In our trucks, we have to drive slow or we literally chug bits of road to pieces."

Mr Milgate said this severely hampered efficiency.

"For me to go to Horsham, or Donald, or Stawell, or basically anywhere from home, you have to go no more than 80kmh because otherwise, it's too tough on man and machine. It knocks you around significantly," he said.

OTHER NEWS:

"Taking all the repairs and tyre-wear on board as well, and all that sought of thing, it's 20 per cent of productivity just taken away."

Mr Milgate said the sub-standard roads were also a safety hazard.

"It's making things really hard, not to mention dangerous. It really affects how vehicles handle on the road," he said.

"It's not just impacting on farmers but everyone who uses the roads."

He said the issue was not isolated to certain areas either.

"Any road out of Minyip is terrible. North, south, east, west, the roads are shocking," Mr Milgate said.

MORE NEWS:

The roads remain a problem further south also.

Victorian Farmer's Federation Lake Bolac representative Ian Meek described the roads in his region as "terrible".

In the Victorian Farmer's Federation's 2020/21 budget fixing country roads was also one of its "four main priorities".

Mr Milgate said the condition of regional roads is an issue that is frequently overlooked.

"A lot of these roads were basically sealed a generation ago, and they haven't seen any major maintenance other than patching up the odd hole since then," he said.

READ MORE:

"I don't feel we're getting taken seriously at all. It's frustrating that we've got to keep asking for the same thing over and over again."

Victorian Farmer's Federation president Emma Germano voiced a similar sentiment in her introduction to the State Budget 2021-22 Submission.

"The VFF is concerned the inequity between city and country will continue to increase without increased State Government support," she said.

"Farming communities are concerned that there is a backlog of regional infrastructure developments that needs to be addressed immediately.

"Failing to do so will hold our rural economies back from reaching their potential and compromise, the safety of Victorians travelling on our country roads."

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Stawell Times-News. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the region, sign up here.