SMART FARM GRANTS BOOSTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN RIVERINA AND CENTRAL WEST
Important agricultural research in the Riverina and Central West has received an injection of nearly $200,000 from the Federal Government through the Smart Farms Small Grants program.
Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Temora-based farming systems group FarmLink would receive $100,000, while Local Land Services at Wagga Wagga would receive $99,912.
“Riverina and Central West farmers are among the best and most productive in Australia and it is fantastic the Government is backing them by supporting important research in their own region,” Mr McCormack said.
The FarmLink research builds on a current project to increase landholder capacity to sustainably manage nitrogen, while the Local Land Services project revolves around delivering dynamic data to optimise on-farm decision making.
“Modern day farming requires using best practice and this can only be delivered with the help of meaningful and practical research, which the Smart Farms Small Grants program encourages and supports,” Mr McCormack said.
FarmLink and Local Land Services will share in $6.48 million being distributed to 84 projects in the latest round of the Smart Farms Small Grants program to carry out activities which increase farm productivity and profitability and boost natural resource management.
Mr McCormack said Charles Sturt University had also been granted a total of $199,600 for two projects which include research being undertaken in parts of the Riverina and Central West as well as other regions. One project involves research into the use of cover crops to increase carbon storage, improve soil health and suppress weeds while the other involves increased awareness of dung beetles among cattle and sheep producers.
The Smart Farms Small Grants program is a key National Landcare Program initiative and part of the Australian Government’s commitment to helping industry towards its target of growing the sector to $100 billion by 2030.
FarmLink CEO Andrew Bulkeley welcomed the grant for his organisation, saying Farmlink’s focus was always on increasing the adoption of best practices throughout the rural community.
“This grant will expand on previous Government funding to further increase the capacity of southern NSW landholders to make better farm management decisions, with a focus on nitrogen supply in cropping systems,” Mr Bulkeley said.
“This funding will contribute to improved nitrogen use efficiency which will benefit both farm business profitability and the environment.”
Fast Facts
• The Smart Farms program is the key agriculture portfolio initiative under phase two of the $1.1 billion National Landcare Program.
• The program comprises the Smart Farming Partnerships, Smart Farms Small Grants and Building Landcare Community and Capacity grant programs.
• To date, including this fourth funding round, Smart Farms Small Grants has funded a total of 384 projects to the value of $25.5 million.
• An additional two rounds of Smart Farms Small Grants are anticipated with funding of up to $18 million.
• The Federal Government is investing almost $6.5 million funding 84 projects through the fourth round of Smart Farms Small Grants towards a diverse range of local projects across Australia.
• Grants were available for between $5,000 and $100,000 for farmers, fishers and community groups.