The Albanese Labor Government continues to support farmers and communities in regional and rural Australia prepare for drought, with $27 million being delivered to scale up or extend drought and climate resilience projects.
Delivered through the Future Drought Fund's (FDF) Scaling Success Program, 15 current or previous FDF projects will be expanded to support farmers to boost their drought resilience.
Projects in every state and territory will help keep farmers and producers productive, keep regional economies strong, and help build social and environmental resilience.
This includes the Farming Forecaster project, which will support farmers in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania to improve feed management and natural capital, leveraging favourable conditions and better preparing for dry periods.
Technical advice from the CSIRO will support farmers in dry areas across the country to integrate Oldman Saltbush into their grazing systems, with this drought-tolerant plant to help farmers feed their livestock year-round.
The Albanese Labor Government has invested more than $1.3 billion in rural support and drought resilience measures to help farmers prepare for, adapt to, and recover from challenging conditions since July 2022.
Scaling Success Program grant recipients:
- South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc, WA: $2,812,546
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, NSW, SA, WA: $1,972,292
- AG Excellence Alliance Incorporated, NSW, SA, Vic, WA: $2,709,278
- Adelaide University, NSW, SA, Vic, WA: $2,625,068
- Adelaide University, NSW, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: $1,638,490
- Stirlings to Coast Farmers Inc, NSW, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: $473,400
- Mallee Catchment Management Authority, Vic: $1,498,880
- Wimmera Catchment Authority, Vic: $616,000
- Farmers2Founders Pty Ltd, NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: $2,985,000
- Sub-Tropical Dairy Programme Limited, NSW, Qld, Vic: $968,000
- NRM South, NSW, Tas, Vic: $1,870,541
- Grower Group Alliance Inc., SA and WA: $3,000,000
- Up 2 Us Landcare Alliance Inc., Vic: $1,357,000
- Deakin University, NSW: $1,098,900
- Soils for Life Pty Ltd, ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: $1,040,351
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:
"Drought is a case of when, not if, which is why we're working with farmers and regional communities to help them prepare for and boost their resilience to drought.
"The Scaling for Success Program is about not reinventing the wheel, but leveraging the work of existing projects and technology that's already helping our farmers and producers to remain productive.
"Every community across Australia relies on the work of our farmers, which is why our Government will always back our farmers during challenging conditions."
