Rural Finance – On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant Program

This program aims to assist eligible farm businesses to invest in on-farm drought preparedness and to seek business advice. It is a key component of the increased drought assistance being provided to Victorian farmers.

The objective of the program is to help farm businesses manage current drought conditions and enhance the drought preparedness and longer-term viability of the farm.

The scheme is available to eligible farm businesses in the following Local Government Areas:
- Wellington and East Gippsland Shires
- Far North West Victoria – Millewa (This incorporates the following towns and locality areas in the Mildura Shire: Carwarp, Cullulleraine, Lindsay Point, Meringur, Merrinee, Neds Corner, Wargan and Werrimull)
- Goulburn Murray Irrigation District

Grants up to $5,000 (GST-exclusive) are available for:
- Business decision making activities (no co-contribution required)
- Infrastructure investments (with at least 50% co-contribution required)

Applicants can apply for a combination of infrastructure works and business activities, for a combined total of no more than $10,000 (GST exclusive).

One grant will be offered per applicant. An applicant who operates more than one farm business or that has more than one farm property may only apply for one grant.

Eligible applicants must:
- Be the owner, operator, share farmer or lease holder of a commercial scale farm business.
- Have a farm business property located in an eligible area:
a) East Gippsland or Wellington Shire
b) If the farm property is located in the Millewa and surrounds: Primarily be a dry land producer (i.e. the majority of your income is, under normal seasonal conditions, based on dryland production).
c) If the farm property is located in the GMID: Primarily be an irrigation farmer or have transitioned from an irrigation production system to dry-land production after the 1 July 2018.
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be registered for GST.
- Contribute a significant part of their labor and capital to the farming enterprise, and under normal business conditions, earn more than 51% of their individual income from the farming enterprise and/or have commenced their farming operation between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2019 and their intention is that more than 51% of their individual income will be derived from the farming enterprise within three years of the date of their application. Eligibility on this basis will be considered on a case-by case basis.
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the program.
- If requested, provide further evidence in relation to any of the eligibility requirements above.

Eligible activities include:
- Business decision making activities: Those that will help farmers make decisions about how to manage drought conditions, reposition the farm business, improve on-farm practices or make a significant farm business change.
- infrastructure improvements: Those that will improve drought preparedness and better position the farm business into the future.

The eligible activity must be purchased and undertaken on or after the 2 October 2019.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligible activities of each category.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Wages for employees or self-assessed labor or transport costs.
- Management tools that are part of standard farm production and not directly contributing to drought preparedness.
- Livestock electronic identification devices or equipment.
- Construction of new dams.
 - Training costs.
- Replacing agricultural machinery and equipment (e.g. tractors).
- Purchase, lease or acquisition of land.
- Purchase, lease or maintenance of transportation.
- Vehicles (e.g. cars, motorbikes, quad bikes, quad bike safety devices, trailers and trucks).

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list ineligible activities.