Up to $3,500 is available from Farm Business Assistance Program to support farm businesses experiencing financial pressure as a result of prolonged drought conditions.
Farm Business Assistance Program
Farm Business Assistance Program provides financial relief for farm businesses affected by drought and dry seasonal conditions in the Wellington Shire, East Gippsland Shire and Northern Victoria region.
Background
The Victorian Government (through Agriculture Victoria of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Agriculture Victoria) is offering Farm Business Assistance for eligible farm businesses in the Wellington Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Northern and North West Victoria. The Farm Business Assistance Program provides support payments for eligible farm businesses that are experiencing significant financial pressure because of prolonged drought and dry seasonal conditions and industry downturn.
Funding
Grants under the Program are available for the following eligible farm businesses, in the amounts shown:
- Farm Household Allowance (FHA) recipients in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire ($3,500)
- Young farmers in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire ($3,500)
- Remaining commercial farms in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire ($2,500)
- Northern and North West Victoria dairy farmers that are FHA recipients ($2,500)
- Northern and North West Victoria young dairy farmers ($2,500)
- Northern and North West Victoria non-dairy farmers that are FHA recipients ($2,500)
Only one grant is available per eligible farm business.
Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements: $3,500 one-off payment for Farm Household Allowance recipients in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire:
- Own, share or lease a farm business located in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire;
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an ABN and be registered for GST;
- Demonstrate that they were or are currently receiving an FHA anytime during the 2018-19 financial year;
- Provide evidence of FHA status through:
- Copy of the front page of a Centrelink Income Statement; or
- Copy of letter from Centrelink notifying receipt of FHA (Payment Letter); and
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program.
Eligibility Requirements: $3,500 one-off payment for Young Farmers in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire:
- Own, share or lease a farm business located in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire;
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an ABN and be registered for GST;
- Contribute the majority (more than 51 per cent) of his/her labour to the farming enterprise, and under normal business conditions, earn more than 51 per cent of his/her individual income from the farming enterprise; OR
- Commenced farming operation between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018 and 50 per cent of his/her gross income will be derived from the primary production business within three years of the date of application;
- Show proof of age to determine the applicant is a young farmer (under 35 and over 18 years as of 30 June 2019).
- If there are two or more owners of the farm business and one is under 35 as of 30 June 2019, the farm business still qualifies for the one-off payment; and
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program.
Eligibility Requirements: $2,500 for remaining commercial farms in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire:
- Own, share or lease a farm business located in Wellington Shire or East Gippsland Shire;
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an ABN and be registered for GST;
- Contribute the majority (more than 51 per cent) of his/her labour to the farming enterprise, and under normal business conditions, earn
more than 51 per cent of his/her individual income from the farming enterprise; OR
- Commenced farming operation between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018 and 50 per cent of his/her gross income will be derived from the primary production business within three years of the date of application; and
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program.
Eligibility Requirements: $2,500 one-off payment for dairy farmers in Northern and North West Victoria that are Farm Household Allowance recipients:
- Own, share or lease a dairy farm business in Northern or North West Victoria;
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an ABN and be registered for GST;
- Provide proof of being a licensed dairy farm operator, lessee or share farmer. This may include a dairy industry license issued by Dairy Food Safety Victoria, lease documentation, share farming contract or agreement with a dairy production/supply company;
- Demonstrate that they were or are currently receiving FHA anytime during the 2018-19 financial year;
- Provide evidence of FHA status through:
- Copy of the front page of a Centrelink Income Statement; OR
- Copy of Letter from Centrelink notifying receipt of FHA (Payment Letter); and
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program.
Eligibility Requirements: $2,500 one-off payment for young dairy farmers in Northern and North West Victoria (excluding Farm Household Allowance recipients):
- Own, share or lease a dairy farm business located Northern or North West Victoria;
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an ABN and be registered for GST;
- Contribute the majority (more than 51 per cent) of his/her labour to the farming enterprise, and under normal business conditions, earn more than 51 per cent of his/her individual income from the farming enterprise; OR
- Commenced farming operation between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018 and 50 per cent of his/her gross income will be derived from the primary production business within three years of the date of application;
- Provide proof of being a licensed dairy farm operator, lessee or share farmer. This may include a dairy industry license issued by Dairy Food Safety Victoria, lease documentation, share farming contract or agreement with a dairy production/supply company;
- Show proof of age to determine the applicant is a young farmer (under 35 and over 18 years as of 30 June 2019).
- If there are two or more owners of the farm business and one is under 35 as of 30 June 2019, the farm business still qualifies for the one-off payment; and
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program.
Eligibility Requirement: $2,500 one-off payment for non-dairy farmers in Northern and North West Victoria that are Farm Household Allowance recipients:
- Own, share or lease a farm business in Northern and North West Victoria
- Be registered as a primary producer with the Australian Tax Office and have an ABN and be registered for GST
- Demonstrate that they were or are currently receiving FHA anytime during the 2018-19 financial year;
- Provide evidence of FHA status through:
- Copy of the front page of a Centrelink Income Statement; or
- Copy of Letter from Centrelink notifying receipt of FHA (Payment Letter); and
- Sign a Statutory Declaration confirming that they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program.
Timing
Applications close 30 June 2019.
