So it will come as no shock to many of our readers that as a largely rural council, stretching from Yarrawonga to Cobram to Picola, that Moira Shire does indeed meet the criteria for $1 million in emergency federal government drought assistance.

The Border Mail can reveal that Moira Shire easily meets the threshold of having at least 17 per cent of the community employed in agriculture, despite a Senate Estimates hearing being told earlier this week it fell just short at 16.9 per cent.

Even if the 16.9 per cent calculation was correct, a lot of the shire's 13.7 per cent manufacturing jobs are dependent on agriculture, so by default, the figure could be closer to a third of its working population.

As Moira Shire chief executive Mark Henderson says, "from our farming communities perspective 0.1 per cent is rubbish ... they all know Moira's economy is driven by agriculture".

Wodonga-based Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie, who also happens to be agriculture minister, could turn around what's been a rough week by announcing right away that Moira Shire will be granted the emergency $1 million in funding.

The ABC reported rumblings within the party began recently after Senator McKenzie brought forward a dairy industry code of conduct, following pressure from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Senator McKenzie has received support from a former political rival in Cathy McGowan and Nationals colleague Damian Drum, who described her as a "fantastic" deputy leader.

Moira Shire residents have endured an emotional rollercoaster in the past few weeks, with initial reports suggesting the council area had been confused with Moyne in Victoria's south-west before the 0.1 per cent shortfall was revealed in the Senate Estimates hearing.

It's only fair that Moira Shire gets a share of this drought package and, as agriculture minister, Senator McKenzie has the power to make it happen.