$5,000 grants available for innovative sustainable farming ideas
Landcare Australia wants to hear from farmers or land managers who have innovative ideas to encourage and develop sustainable farming practices. Grants of $5,000 are available from the Woolworths Sustainable Farming Program for developing and trialling best ideas.
The grants seek to encourage Australian farmers to implement innovative techniques which contribute to more sustainable production and competitiveness of our primary industries.
Landcare Farming Program Manager Shane Norrish said: "These grants are aimed at supporting farmers trial or implement good ideas to improve the sustainability of farming practices."
"New ideas and ways of farming are needed to adapt to our increasingly variable seasons and the best ideas come from the farmers who have to tackle tough conditions on a daily basis. The grants will give farmers the backing they need to help put new ideas into action."
The grants are funded by part of the money donated through the Woolworths Drought Action Day in 2008 which raised over $5 million for Australian farmers. Most of the funding was distributed by the CWA to severely stressed families coping with drought. The remainder is funding sustainable agriculture projects through Landcare Australia.
The grants are available for farmers in areas that were still declared eligible for 'Exceptional Circumstances' assistance in January, 2008.
The Innovation Grants are aimed at helping farmers develop good ideas, focusing on issues such as climate change adaptation, crop or animal production, water or nutrient use efficiency and management of waste or salinity. Innovative ideas for sharing information about successful strategies for managing drought are especially welcome. Applications for the Innovation Grants close on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
For further information, to see examples of projects already underway and to download application forms for the Woolworths Sustainable Farming Program, please visit www.landcareonline.com or contact the Project Officer – Shivani Jayasinghe on 02 9412 1040 or email.
For media information, and requests to interview Shane Norrish, please contact Peter Scott or Ellen Gray at Landcare Australia on 02 9412 1040.
Sarah Burghardt-Smyth, Grants Coordinator, Strathbogie Shire Council - 25-09-2008