Grants of $10,000 and $5,000 are now available to Australian farmers under the Woolworths Sustainable Farming Program, and thanks to the support of Woolworths shoppers, who last year raised $4.7 million to help Australian Farmers.

The Woolworths Sustainable Farming Program is a collaboration between Landcare Australia and and Country Women's Association (CWA) to assist in the distribution of $1.5 million of these funds to develop, improve and encourage sustainable farming practices and increase the capacity of farming businesses to manage through, and recover quickly from droughts. It specifically focuses on properties in areas that are declared eligible for ‘exceptional circumstances’ assistance.

We are seeking applications from both farming groups and individuals who wish to undertake projects in any primary production industry. The key emphasis of the program is to assist farmers to better manage their farming operations in response to our highly variable climate. In addition, the program aims to assist farmers in difficult circumstances evaluate and/or learn about innovative farming practices. 

Landcare Australia and CWA intend to have the majority of the funding applied to on-ground activities and building the experience and skills of farmers involved in each project. The grants are not, however, restricted to a particular type of project model and we are keen to work towards developing projects that generate clearly defined benefits.  

 

Grant Applications close 30 March 2008.