The Federal and Victorian government have developed a range of initiatives to support job seekers and employers within the agribusiness industry. The grants and programs aim to support farmers in research, upskilling, reducing energy consumption and investing in energy efficient technology.

If you would like assistance applying for this support or have any further questions, please contact Michael Trimble, AFS Agribusiness Specialist, on 03 5443 0344.

Payment for relocating job seekers

From 1 May 2021, as part of the Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job (RATTUAJ) program, job seekers who relocate to take up ongoing work may be eligible for up to $9,000 in payments. Up to $2,000 may also be available through their employment services provider to help cover the upfront costs of their relocation.

This is welcome news to regional business owners who may be struggling to find staff. With many people moving away from Melbourne in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers can take advantage of this program and potentially find new employees currently living in other areas.

The new location must be:

• Within Australia
• Be at least 90 minutes away from where they currently live based on their normal mode of transport
• Not be within the same capital city.

To apply, job seekers should talk to their local jobactive, Disability Employment Services, ParentsNext, Transition to Work, or Community Development Program provider.

For full details on the grant, click here.

Young Farmers Scholarship Program

The Young Farmers Scholarship Program provides young farmers and/or young farm workers with up to $5,000 towards training or study, and up to $5,000 extra funding for professional development, business planning and other activities.

Eligible study or training must have at least 16 contact hours and be provided by a registered training organisation or with another organisation approved by the department. Completion of study or training may unlock further funds to invest in activities that will support application of learnings from the chosen study or training.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be aged 35 years or younger at the time of the application closing date
• Have been working in a food and fibre farm business within Victoria at least three days per week for the past three months
• Have at least two years of total experience on-farm
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident currently residing in Australia.

Apply:

Applications for the program close at 11:59pm on 6 June 2021.

To apply, click here.

On-Farm Energy Assessment

Independent on-farm energy assessments are currently available free of charge to eligible primary producers.

An on-farm energy assessment will analyse on-farm energy use (electricity, gas and diesel) and identify opportunities to make energy savings, improve output volumes per energy unit, and convert to renewable energy sources. The assessments make recommendations tailored to the type and size of farms.

This will provide business owners with independent advice on how to reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and manage energy costs.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for an on-farm energy assessment farms must:

• be a business with an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have an eligible farm located in Victoria
• be a primary producer which is:
  • cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts (including seeds, spores, bulbs and similar things) in any physical environment; or
  • maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce (including natural increase), or
  • manufacturing dairy produce from raw material that they produce, or
  • operating on-land aquaculture facilities
• spend more than $8,000 per annum (including GST) on energy on-farm inclusive of electricity, gas, LPG and diesel (excluding energy for transport)
• be a legal entity
• meet all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards
• agree to participate in future program evaluation activity.

Apply:

Applications close on 15 July 2021.

To apply, click here.

On-Farm Energy Grants and Rebates

Once an on-farm energy assessment has been completed (referred to above), there are a number of grants/rebates a farm may be eligible for based on their existing energy costs and the scale of the investment in new energy efficient equipment.

The three rebates on offer are:

1. Fast track rebate; up to $20,000
2. Tier 1 Grant; between $20,000 and $50,000
3. Tier 2 Grant; between $50,000 and $250,000.

Recipients are required to contribute at least 50% of the total cash costs of the project as grants will be provided on a $1 for $1 cash co-contribution basis.

The grants can be spent on recommendations noted in the on-farm energy assessment.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Meet the general eligibility criteria for the program
• Be in receipt of an On-Farm Energy Assessment (Type 1 or Type 2) undertaken as part of the Australian Exposure Information Platform (AEIP), or an approved Equivalent Energy Assessment
• Be able to meet the agreed (minimum 50%) private cash contribution, and provide evidence of the contribution 3
• Attest to having obtained all relevant regulatory permits and approvals for the project to commence (where applicable).

As part of their application, applicants must provide:

• An ABN
• A copy of your type 1 or type 2 On-farm Energy Assessment or approved equivalent energy assessment report
• Two itemised quotes for each equipment item and/or fit-out cost identified in the energy assessment report
• For individual applicants that have received a group On-farm Energy Assessment, an itemised energy assessment report that relates to the applicant’s equipment requirements.

HOW:

Applications close on 15 December 2021.

To apply for the Fast-Track Rebate, click here.

To apply for the On-Farm Energy Tier 1 Grant, click here.

To apply for the On-Farm Energy Tier 2 Grant, click here.