RIVERINA AND CENTRAL WEST FARMERS URGED TO APPLY FOR SMART FARMS SMALL

Published on 06 October 2020

Farmers, fishers and foresters can now apply for Federal Government funding of up to $100,000 to support their natural resource management efforts in the Riverina and Central West.

Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said applications for Round 4 of Smart Farms Small Grants were now open.

“This is a hugely popular program which provides a real bang for buck when it comes to delivering benefits for farms, the environment and local communities,” Mr McCormack said.

“Riverina and Central West farmers not only produce the best food and fibre in the world, but they are also our greatest environmentalists.

“Our farmers have always looked after the land and through these grants we can give them a helping hand to adopt the next generation of sustainable farming practices.

“There is $6.5 million available under this round of Smart Farms Small Grants to support one- to two-year projects which boost best practice sustainable farming awareness, skills and capacity.

“We’re looking for projects across a range of areas such as pest control, vegetation management, farm input efficiency, climate and market management and the use of new technologies.

“Previous grant recipients include Farmlink Research Ltd at Temora and the Mid Lachlan Landcare Incorporated around Cowra which received more than $49,000 each to assist farmers adapt latest innovations and educate on the implementation of sustainable and regenerative grazing practises.

Smart Farms Small Grants is a sustainable agriculture element of the National Landcare Program.

The Australian Government is investing more than $1 billion towards the second phase of the NLP from 2018-2023. For more information and to apply, visit the Community Grants Hub: www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants

Smart Farms Small Grants open for big impact

• Smart Farms Small Grants fund short-term projects which build the capacity of farmers, fishers and foresters to adopt best practice natural resource management.
• Up to $6.5 million is available for Round 4, with funding of between $5,000 and $100,000 (GST exclusive) for each grant.
• Applications close 11pm AEDT on 9 October 2020.
• Smart Farms Small Grants support projects which address a range of natural resource management issues including soil health, pest and weed management, farm production efficiency, Indigenous involvement, climate and market risk and use of new technologies to improve sustainable practices.
• Projects may be delivered locally, regionally and multi-regionally and must be completed by 30 June 2023.
• A total of $43.5 million is available for Smart Farms Small Grants from 2017–18 to 2022–23.