A great grant opportunity has just opened for farmers, fishers and foresters to apply for up to $100,000 from the Australian Government to support their natural resource management efforts.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said $6.5 million is available in Round 4 of Smart Farms Small Grants for one-to-two-year projects that boost best practice sustainable farming awareness, skills and capacity.

“Our farmers have always looked after the land and through these grants we are offering them a helping hand to deliver projects,” he said.

“Projects can include pest control initiatives, vegetation management, farm input efficiency, climate and market management or the use of new technologies across a broad range of areas.

“I encourage local farmers, fishers, foresters and councils or indigenous corporations to apply by the closing date of 9 October 2020.”

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Smart Farms Small Grants program is a sustainable agriculture element of the National Landcare Program and grants awarded under Round 4 would be between $5,000-$100,000.

“Smart Farms Small Grants is a hugely popular program that provides a real bang for buck when it comes to delivering benefits for farms, the environment and regional communities,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Previous rounds of this program have delivered benefits across the length and breadth of the country— from Indigenous fishers and aquaculturalists in Cape York to pistachio growers in Robinvale, Victoria.

“I want to continue that trend and get innovative practices out on the ground and delivering real benefits to our farmers.”

For more information and to apply, visit the Community Grants Hub here.

Local Governments, Corporate Commonwealth or State Entities and Indigenous Corporations can also apply and projects can be delivered regionally.