Rollout of Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Program

06 September 2018

Assistance available for Tweed farmers to improve their land management practices

Council recently voted unanimously to establish a Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Program to assist farmers to adopt better land management practices.

The new Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Program is now open and accepting applications.

The program provides funding for farmers to implement on-ground works and other activities to address environmental issues on their land.

Eligible projects include fencing and native species plantings to enhance natural areas, support to improve soils, pastures and waterways, support to produce compost and biochar on-farm, and development of integrated pest management programs to lessen the use of synthetic pesticides.

Eli Szandala – Program Leader, Sustainable Agriculture said farmers were continually challenged by soil and water degradation, changing weather patterns, loss of pollinators, pest and disease control and increasing input costs.

“While the challenges are large and the grants only small, we expect they’ll go a long way to assist our farmers to achieve great environmental outcomes and improve the health and productivity of their land,” Mr Szandala said.

Farmers are encouraged to bring forward innovative project ideas which have the potential for wider application and community benefit. Successful projects will be promoted to the community so that the knowledge and outcomes of on-ground works can be applied by other farmers.

If you are thinking of applying, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/agriculture to view the grant guidelines and application forms.

Applicants are also encouraged to attend an information session to learn more about the grant program and develop their project ideas. Applications close at 4pm on Friday 26 October 2018.

Information sessions will be held at the Canvas and Kettle Meeting Room at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre on Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah on Thursday 13 September from 5pm – 7pm, and on Tuesday 18 September from 10am-12pm. Please register your interest to attend via email on tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au (attention Eli Szandala) or by calling Council on (02) 6670 2400.

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Caption: Council’s Program Leader, Sustainable Agriculture Eli Szandala chats with Byangum dairy farmer Corey Crosthwaite about the Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Program