THE VICTORIAN FARMERS FEDERATION has announced the allocation of over half a million dollars in Farmers’ Fund grants for farmer-led projects.
The Farmers’ Fund panel sat last week to review more than 100 applications. Over a third of the successful applicants were farmers affected by the March 2018 fires in south west Victoria.
The 55 successful farms will receive grants of up to $10,000 to invest in projects ranging from upgrades of on-farm infrastructure, business planning, and fencing and pasture recovery after the March fires.
“The Farmers’ Fund grants will not only improve on-farm operations, but the funds will be spent in local businesses and trades, boosting communities still recovering from the fires” said David Jochinke, Victorian Farmers Federation President.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact these grants will have for our hardworking dairy farmers and the communities they live and work in” said Mr Jochinke.
The Farmers’ Fund is made possible through a partnership with Coles, with 20 cents a litre raised from the sale of Farmers’ Fund milk in Coles supermarkets across Victoria.
The sale of Farmers Fund milk combined with a donation of $1 million from the Coles Nurture Fund brings the total funds raised for dairy farmers to more than $2 million since September 2016.
The latest round of funding means the Farmers Fund has now provided grants to more than 190 farmers.