Category: Grants/Innovation

Grants and innovations

QFF Welcomes funding for Reef projects

Kalagro

QFF welcomes funding for Reef projects

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) will partner with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to deliver two new water quality projects that will support the efforts of farmers and others working with the agricultural sector to safeguard the future of the Reef.

The Reef Alliance Phase Two Project will see industry and NRM groups work with farmers to improve their land management practices. While the Early Career Extension Project will place up to 8 emerging extension officers with organisations that provide agricultural advisory services across the reef catchments to build professional capacity.

QFF President Stuart Armitage, on behalf of all delivery partners across the two projects, welcomed the Foundation’s investment in farmers and agricultural extension officers and their work to improve the quality of water entering Great Barrier Reef.

“Over the next year, Reef Alliance members Burnett Mary Regional Group, CANEGROWERS, Fitzroy Basin Association, NQ Dry Tropics and Terrain NRM, will work with farmers to adopt best management practices that will minimise runoff from farms,” Mr Armitage said.

“Skilled extension professionals will assist farmers increase their uptake of adaptive farm management practices to reduce soil loss, fertiliser application and pesticide runoff.”

“These important environmental stewardship actions will make improvements to the quality of the water leaving the farm and significantly contribute to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.”

“QFF looks forward to working constructively with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, members of the Reef Alliance and the local community to deliver outcomes to improve water quality for the Reef.”

The Reef Alliance Phase Two Project and the Early Career extension officers Project are funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

ENDS
Media Contact:
Kayla Plunkett – 0448 000 692

ONLINE QFF STATEMENT read more

North and West Queensland weather event – February 2019

Kalagro

                                                                                                                                               North and west Queensland have been severely impacted by a monsoonal event across January and February 2019. Record rainfall has led to significant flooding impacting farm infrastructure, paddocks, crops and a large number of livestock deaths.

We have compiled a list of useful support packages and services for Queensland’s primary producers and community members affected by this event.
If you require further information please contact our Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23

Financial support

For primary producers
Activated areas for financial recovery assistance
Flood-damaged producers can apply for Category B and Category C natural disaster assistance to help with their recovery in activated areas. To find out if you are in an activated area, or to apply for assistance visit qrida.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946.

https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/10433/2dwf7hb/2408813/dDXduNkEmhewCZX3eJ1ap_9zS1QK_femcS90BIbM.html

Category B assistance
Category B assistance will help affected producers with assistance, including:
• concessional loans of up to $250,000
• essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 at an interest rate of 1.37 per cent
• freight subsidies of up to $5,000. Primary producers wishing to access freight subsidies should visit daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
Category C assistance
Under Category C assistance affected primary producers can access grants of up to $75,000 to help clean-up and recover.

https://www.vision6.com.au/ch/10433/2dwf7hb/2408812/dDXduNkEmhewCZX3eJ1afsAfnYiO_xRxlXbcxyrf.html

Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP)
Primary producers who have suffered major damage outside the above declared areas may apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration. For further information visit daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23. read more

Land Restoration Fund – Grant Program

Kalagro

LAND RESTORATION FUND

The Queensland Government’s $500 million Land Restoration Fund aims to expand carbon farming in the state by supporting land-sector projects that deliver clear environmental and economic co-benefits.

Carbon farming refers to land management activities that reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This can be achieved by planting trees, protecting native forest by reducing land clearing, managing bushfires through savanna burning and changing farming practices to increase soil carbon.

There are currently a number of grant programs available for landowners to undertake environmental planting and riparian restoration projects. For any growers interested or require further information please refer to the below link.

Applications for the current round of funding close 5pm, Friday 23rd November 2018.

https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/climate/climate-change/land-restoration-fund

Les Elphinstone

Manager KCGO

QLD Government Rural Economic Development Grants program

Kalagro

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

Please find below a link to information on the Queensland Government Rural Economic Development Grants program. Rural Economic Development Grants are available to fund rural economic development projects that contribute to primary production related economic development and job creation in rural areas. The Queensland Government program offers emerging projects up to $250,000 in co-contributions to build industry and grow employment opportunities across the agricultural sector.  Primary Producers are eligible to apply for the grant.

http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/current-programs/rural-economic-development-grants

Farmacist – Nitrogen Run Off Irrigation Trial

Kalagro

Farmacist – Nitrogen Run Off Irrigation Trial

Jayson Dowie of Farmacist has some funding available via RP161 to undertake a water quality trial to determine nitrogen groundwater runoff in the Burdekin Region. The matter of nutrient runoff in the Delta was the subject of discussion at KCGO’s recent Annual General Meeting and this is an opportunity for members to become involved in a trial at no cost. There are certain parameters that will be need to be met by growers including:

  • The need to be a part of RP161, either in the past or future. The RP161 project is an extension of the RP20 project, which aimed to validate Six-Easy-StepsTMfertiliser rates in the Burdekin. Growers involved in the RP161 project receive:
  1. A whole farm nutrient plan at Six-Easy-StepsTM
  2. All historical soil tests spatially allocated in a Google Earth map.
  3. Their previous fertiliser practices benchmarked.
  4. A soil test.
  5. A G-Dot installed.
  6. On farm and phone support with Farmacist agronomists.
  7. Confidence strips implemented on a block of their choice to compare their current practice to The Six-Easy-StepsTM.

  • Growers must have runoff ie. banded ends will not be acceptable as Farmacist need to investigate dissolved nitrogen runoff leaving farming block.
    • read more

    KCGO Member Notice – Farm Management Grants Guidelines

    Kalagro

    FARM MANAGEMENT GRANTS GUIDELINES – APPLICATIONS CLOSING 30TH JUNE 2018

    Succession planning is crucial to farming families but sadly many have not put in place concrete plans for the future transfer of their farming enterprise. Qld Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) currently have Farm Management Grants available to assist primary producers offset the costs of professional advice associated with succession planning. Current round of grants closes on 30th June 2018. For any growers interested guidelines are detailed below. Any growers wishing to lodge a grant application and require some assistance in completing the online application please do not hesitate to contact this office.

    thumbnail of Farm-Management-Grants-Guidelines-01072017

    (click to view full size)

    Les Elphinstone

    Manager / Company Secretary

    Kalamia Cane Growers Organisation Ltd

    Kalagro Ltd

    140 Young Street Ayr Qld 4807

    PO Box 597 Ayr Qld 4807

    Tel:  07 4783 1312 

    Mob: 0447 128 312

    Email: [email protected]

    DISCLAIMER: This e-mail and any attachments to it (the ‘Communication’) is confidential and is for the use only of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the Communication, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, delete the Communication, and do not read, copy, print, retransmit, store or act in reliance on the Communication. We do not guarantee the integrity of the Communication, or that it is free from errors, viruses or interference.

    Energy Savers Plus Program Extension for Agricultural Business

    Kalagro

    Business Energy Savers Program

    Significant cost savings can be realised through businesses pursuing energy efficiency options. Simple changes/upgrades can deliver cost reductions of 30% with paybacks as short as 1 year.

    The $20 million Business Energy Savers Program, an initiative under the Affordable Energy Plan, provides free energy audits for agricultural customers and large business customers, and co-contributions to fund energy efficiency upgrades.

    The program provides audits for businesses covering a broad range of industry sectors that are vital to our economy, and advice to businesses on how they can reduce their electricity costs by using electricity more efficiently.

    It includes the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension (for agricultural businesses) and the Large Customer Adjustment Program (for large electricity users).

    Under the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension, 200 additional audits for agricultural customers will be completed. In addition to this, co-contribution grants of up to $20,000 will be made available to assist businesses in implementing the recommendations from the audit.

    Expanding on the Large Customer Adjustment Trial, the Large Customer Adjustment Program will deliver an additional 30 audits of large customers and co-contributions of up to $250,000 to help encourage the business to implement the audit recommendations.

    The Business Energy Savers Program also provides broader benefits through the development of case studies to assist other businesses wanting to reduce their energy costs by using electricity more efficiently.