Funding Opportunities

The 2nd of the On-Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), $18 million is designed to assist primary producers in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in adopting advanced connected machinery and sensor technology.

Applications will open mid-October 2024.

Farmers will be able to benefit from a 50% rebate on eligible equipment costs, including installation and training, with rebates ranging from $1,000 to $30,000. It’s time to start planning now. Key program enhancements include:

• Higher revenue cap: The revenue cap for primary producers has been increased to $4 million, averaged over the past three financial years.

• Lower minimum rebate: The minimum rebate amount has been reduced from $3,000 to $1,000 (GST exclusive), broadening accessibility.

• Extended activity timeframe: A single ‘up to 120 calendar days’ timeframe now replaces the previous two 60-day periods.

• ABN registration requirement: Primary producers must have an ABN registered for at least 12 months to be eligible.

For more information about the OFCP and to access the free advisory service, including case studies from Round 1, visit https://regionaltechhub.org.au/onfarm/.

 Landcare Australia offers a new $300k Community Grants program directing funds into the heart of grassroots groups.

The $300,000 Landcare Australia Community Grants Program offers grants from $5,000 to $20,000.

The grants program is open to all landcare groups and other community-led environmental groups including Bushcare, ‘Friends of’, Coastcare and Dunecare groups. The grants will support what matters most to landcare groups – using local knowledge to restore, enhance and protect their natural environment, increase biodiversity and help improve community engagement in landcare activities.

 Eligible activities include educational workshops, field days, restoring wildlife habitat, creating shelterbelts, installing fences, protecting waterways, managing weeds and feral pests, working with Traditional Owners and First Nations organisations, purchasing plants and equipment, installing signage, amongst other landcare activities.

Grant will close Monday 30 September 2024.  

Read more on the Landcare Australia website

$1,000 SafeWork small business rebate

If you are a small business owner in NSW, this $1,000 rebate will help you purchase safety items to improve work health and safety for you and your workers.
This program is funded and administered by SafeWork NSW.

Primary producers can claim an immediate deduction for capital expenses on fencing & fodder storage.

Fence and fencing asset includes an enclosure or barrier, usually made of metal or wood, around or along a field or paddock and includes posts, rails, wire, droppers, gates, fittings adn anchor assemblies.

Fodder and fodder storage asset includes a structural improvement, a repair of a capital nature, or an alteration, addition or extension, to an asset or structural improvement, that is a fodder storage asset. Read more HERE

Strengthening Rural Communities Small & Vital grants(ongoing)

The SSRC Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.

Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly. Read more HERE

Farm Household Allowance

A payment for farming families in financial hardship.

To get this you must:

• be a farmer or partner of a farmer

• meet the income and assets test limits

• meet mutual obligation requirements.

A farmer must contribute significant labour and capital to a farm.

Read more HERE.

The full conditions under which people can apply are included HERE.

NSW Land for Wildlife Landholder Biodiversity Grant

Landholders who are members of Land for Wildlife can apply at any time for a Landholder Biodiversity Grant.

Land for Wildlife Members can apply for up to $2,000/year for up to 3 years with each year being a new application. If demand for the program is high this may mean you are only successful in one year. Years 2 and 3 applications will be considered after successful acquittal of previous year.

The following activities are eligible:
- Assisted regeneration and weed control
- Fencing to secure conservation area or to enable restoration of native vegetation
- Introduced pest animal control
- Revegetation (including supplementary planting with local species)
- Improvement in Habitat Structure through additional ground cover layers
- Repairs to existing habitat, soil or waterways to maintain biodiversity values
- Other work needed to maintain biodiversity values

In some cases, L4W may arrange to visit you on your property to assess eligibility or the success of outcomes. Previously completed works will NOT be eligible for a grant. Read more HERE

Wettenhall Trust Small Environmental Grant Scheme

Providing support for people undertaking projects that will make a positive difference to the natural living environment, in land, sea or air, rural or urban. We support grassroots organisations and individuals, and academics who are working with on-ground community groups.

Learn more or apply at Small Environmental Grant Scheme – Wettenhall Environment Trust