New grants available to aid Australian pineapple, prawn and peanut producers

Pineapple, prawn and peanut producers in Australia can apply for grants that will help them access safe and effective agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals.

The grants - valued at a total of $2 million - are part of the Australian Government’s $33.8 million 15-year commitment to help farmers access agvet chemicals to help feed Australia and the world.

According to ABARES, the program has demonstrated great returns on investment - roughly $117 for every grant dollar spent.

To date, this Improved Access to Agvet Chemicals program has awarded 250 grants totalling $19.86 million. This has resulted in 45 new permit uses and 45 new label uses for agvet chemicals across Australia.

Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy, Matt Lowe said, funding was guided by a collaborative process between rural RDCs, commodity groups, the National Farmers Federation, and state and territory governments to compile a priority list of agvet chemical needs for Australian farmers.

“This Round 10 approved 11 grants that address industry-identified priority uses in a range of plant and animal commodities, such as prawns, pineapples, peanuts, tea tree and poultry, for pest and diseases ranging from Blue Billygoat weed to calonectria,” Mr Lowe said.

“The program improves the productivity of Australian farmers and helps smaller industries that can find it difficult to gain access to agvet chemical products.”