Late last week, Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Agriculture announced important changes to the 2019-20 Drought Support Package to support farmers and farm businesses managing through drought and dry season conditions.
Changes to the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants (Resilience Grants)
The maximum value of the Resilience Grants has increased from $5,000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services whilst still enabling farmers to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.
Eligible farm businesses can now apply for:
- Up to $5,000 for business decision making activities (no-contribution required)
- Up to $5,000 for infrastructure investments (at least 50 per cent co-contribution required).
There are three new eligible infrastructure investments under the Resilience Grants, including:
- Mobile phone booster technologies, such as signal boosters, to improve connectivity for farmers and access internet-based information and support services.
- Weed control, such as purchase of registered herbicide, to support maintenance of healthy pastures and to protect environmental assets.
- Soil moisture probes as an explicit investment under soil moisture monitoring activities.
Farmers are encouraged to apply early to ensure they do not miss out on funding.
For more information and to apply, farmers should contact Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit www.ruralfinance.com.au
There is a range of other targeted support still available for farmers affected by drought and dry conditions, including:
- Up to $3,000 through the Country Women’s Association of Victoria’s household relief program for farming families, farm workers and contractors that are drought-affected and reliant on farming as their primary source of income
- The Catchment Management Authority Drought Employment program, which provides off-farm employment and training for drought affected farmers, farm workers and individuals
- Mental health support and community wellbeing support through the Look Over the Farm Gate Program and the National Centre for Farmer Health
- Fee relief via the Domestic and Stock Bore Licence Fee Waiver.
Changes to the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions or concerns.
Regards,
Michael Bretherton
Hume Regional Leader
Agriculture Victoria
Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
128 Highett St Mansfield 3722
M: 0428 346 209 | E: michael.bretherton@ agriculture.vic.gov.au
