The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Victorian farmers to invest in new equipment and technology to improve sustainability and reduce energy costs with the rollout of new Agriculture Energy Investment Plan grants.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today welcomed the latest recipients to receive the grant.
The grants will support farm businesses complete projects to improve their energy efficiency, reduce on-farm costs and maintain their competitiveness. Grants have been awarded to farms across the agricultural sector – including dairy, sheep, horticulture and viticulture producers.
In Western Victoria, recipients include:
- Portland Cool Store & Packing Shed P/L – $50,000 for their Energy Saving Refrigeration System Project. This project will upgrade the refrigeration system in the on-farm packing shed and coolstore.
- Kerry Thompson Family Trust – $8050 for their Dairy Farm Energy Efficiency Project. The project will replace an old inefficient, single-phase chiller condenser with a modern, efficient and ozone friendly three phase chiller condenser.
- Mannagum P/L the GAF & AL Thompson Family Trust – $2499 for their Dairy Modernisation Project.
- Kangerton Farming P/L – $7350 for their Reducing Cost, Increasing Productivity Project. The project will upgrade the heat recovery system, providing energy savings up to $3460 per annum.
The grants process will now be streamlined for dairy farmers applying for small energy grants, who will now be able to receive grants for eligible equipment without requiring an on-farm energy assessment.
This allows dairy farmers facing particularly challenging seasonal and market conditions to apply directly for a grant of up to $50,000 by selecting from a list of pre-approved items.
Farm businesses applying for smaller grants will now be able to apply twice for the maximum combined value of $50,000 allowing them to access support more efficiently and better plan ahead for their businesses.
The Agriculture Energy Investment Plan has been designed to strengthen industry’s ability to adapt to changing energy conditions and provides:
- $5 million for energy efficiency assessments on farm
- $20 million in grants to support farmers invest in energy efficiency and own generation technology
- $1.5 million to demonstrate energy efficiency and own generation measures on farm
- $2.5 million to link farmers and businesses to information, education resources and apps
- $1 million in research to commercialise research for the farming sector.
For more information on how to apply for assessments and grants, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierne
“We’re making sure we can best support farmers to save on their energy bills and make their businesses more efficient – it’s important that we undertake thorough energy efficiency assessments so farmers can get the best cost savings.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes
“We’re proud to be helping Victorian farms move into the future with projects that will bring costs down and make our agriculture industry sustainable for many years to come.”
