Combined list of help for primary producers

Rural Financial Counselling Service

• Free financial counselling for farmers, fishers, forest growers or harvesters and related small business owners who are facing financial hardship

Call 1800 686 175

Visit agriculture.gov.au/rfcs

Bushfire - $10,000 grants for small business

• Open to primary producers if you are also a small business
• Available in 21 Local Government Areas most affected by the fires
• For those with 40+ per cent revenue drop because of the bushfires

Visit bushfirerecovery.gov.au and select small business and primary producers

Follow the links to your state’s website to apply

Bushfire - Recovery Grants of up to $75,000

• To help pay for costs of clean-up and other emergency measures including salvaging and harvesting damaged crops, as well as fodder and water, sheds, fencing, agricultural equipment, and more
• Available to primary producers in bushfire-affected Local Government Areas

In July 2020, the Australian and State Governments expanded eligibility requirements and extended timeframes to give primary producers more time to apply. 

Read about eligibility and how to apply on our Primary Producers webpage

COVID-19 - JobKeeper

• Employers significantly impacted by COVID-19 will be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees
• A subsidy of $1,500/fortnight per employee for up to six months
• Available to businesses, not-for-profits and sole traders

Register your interest at ato.gov.au  (search the site for JobKeeper)

Find out more at Treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

COVID-19 - Boosting cash flow for employers

• The Government is providing up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium-sized businesses and not for-profits that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000
• Calculated based on salary and wages withheld

Will be paid automatically by the Australian Taxation Office, as a credit in the activity statement system.

Find out more at Treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

COVID-19 - Supporting apprentices and trainees

• Helping businesses to retain apprentices and trainees
• Wage subsidy of up to $21,000 per apprentice or trainee

Talk to the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) in your area. Search for your local AASN at australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Find out more at Treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

COVID-19

Backing businesses to invest, to help the economy

• Instant asset write-off threshold has been increased to $150,000. Now includes larger businesses
• Backing Business Investment. A time limited 15 month investment incentive to support business investment and economic growth over the short-term, by accelerating depreciation deductions

Check your eligibility with the Australian Taxation Office

For more information

• See Business.gov.au (select ‘Coronavirus information’)
• See Treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

Drought - Accelerated depreciation arrangements for fodder and water infrastructure

• Allow an immediate deduction for cost of new water facilities, fodder storage assets and fencing
• Includes depreciation of water facilities, fodder storage and fencing

Drought – On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme

• Rebates for emergency on-farm water infrastructure expenses
• Apply for a 25 per cent rebate on the cost of new infrastructure that supplies water for animal welfare, up to a maximum of $25,000

Flood – North Queensland Restocking, Replanting & On-farm Infrastructure Grants

• For primary producers affected by the 2019 North Queensland flood event
• Up to $400,000 in seed funding to help with restocking, replanting and replacement of on-farm infrastructure damaged by flood. Must be matched with 50 per cent co-contribution

For more information call 1800 623 946

Or visit qrida.qld.gov.au and search for ‘north Queensland restocking replanting and on farm infrastructure grants’

Flood Freight Subsidy and Agistment Scheme

• For primary producers affected by the 2019 North Queensland flood event
• To accelerate restocking in flood-impacted area and increase opportunities for short-term income, primary producers can receive 50 per cent restocking freight subsidies of up to $50,000/year for two years

For more information call 13 25 23

Or visit daf.qld.gov.au and search for ‘Flood freight subsidy and agistment scheme’

Bushfire - Smoke Taint Grant

• Wine grape producers can access up to $10,000 to support recovery efforts and rebuild resilient businesses
• This grants program is targeted at businesses in smoke impacted wine regions which are not currently activated for the $75,000 primary producer grants.
• Businesses must be able to demonstrate smoke taint via an eligible test (or similar evidence), and show they have experienced a decline in income of 40 per cent or more since 1 August 2019.
• Wine grape producers must match the grant dollar-for-dollar with a private financial co-contribution.
• Businesses that have received a $75,000 primary producer grant or $10,000 Small Business Bushfire Support Grant are not eligible for the Smoke Taint Grant.

For more information visit the Department of Agriculture's Bushfire Support Page

Bushfire - Forestry Recovery Development Fund

• The fund is for facilities that were directly damaged, or experienced a decline in supply due to the loss of trees, as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.
• The fund will deliver public-private partnerships and grants valued up to $5 million. Grants will require a dollar-for-dollar financial co-contribution from industry.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate they were directly damaged, or experienced loss of wood resource due to the loss of trees, as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.
• They must outline how their project will benefit their business, community, and forestry industries more broadly.
• Applicants must also prove that the proposal is not being funded through another Federal Government or state-based recovery package.

For more information visit the Department of Agriculture's Bushfire Support Page

Bushfire - Recovery Grants for Apple Growers

• Eligible applicants could receive grants of up to $120,000 per hectare to help their business bounce back from the Black Summer bushfires. Apple growers will need to match funding per hectare.
• Spend it on: Replacement of stock, damaged irrigation infrastructure, poles, trellises and netting, and/or the clean-up of damaged infrastructure and other site preparation not funded through other programs

For more information visit the Department of Agriculture's Bushfire Support Page

For more information visit our Combined List of Help for Individuals and Families page

Or

agriculture.gov.au/fha or call the Farmer Assistance Hotline on 132 316

To apply visit servicesaustralia.gov.au and search for ‘farm household allowance’

Bushfire - Concessional Loans of up to $500,000

• For primary producers affected directly or indirectly by the fires
• No repayments or interest for the first two years, then a concessional rate
• Available to primary producers in bushfire impacted Local Government Areas

Visit bushfirerecovery.gov.au and select small business and primary producers

Follow the links to your state’s website to apply.

COVID19 - Supporting the flow of credit

• Government will provide lenders with a guarantee for loans, to increase their willingness and ability to provide credit
• Loans of up to $250,000, over up to three years, with an initial six month repayment holiday
• For small or medium sized businesses with turnover up to $50 million

Talk to your bank

For more information:

• Business.gov.au (select ‘Coronavirus information’)
• Treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

Flood – AgRebuild Loans

• For primary producers affected by the 2019 North Queensland flood event
• Loans of up to $5 million to replace livestock, replant crops or refinance existing debt at a lower rate
• First two years are interest free

For more information call 1800 875 675

Or visit ric.gov.au/agrebuild

Flood – Disaster Assistance Loans

• For primary producers affected by the 2019 North Queensland floods
• Loans of up to $250,000 can assist with re-establishing normal operations by covering expenses such as building repairs, purchasing stock or meeting carry-on requirements
• Initial annual interest rate of 1.37 per cent

For more information call 1800 623 946

Or visit qrida.qld.gov.au and search for ‘Disaster assistance loans’

Flood - Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans

• For primary producers affected by the 2019 North Queensland flood event
• Loans of up to $100,000 can assist with essential working capital expenses such as paying salaries or wages, rent or buying goods
• Initial interest rate of 1.37 per cent

For more information call 1800 623 946

Or visit qrida.qld.gov.au and search for ‘Disaster assistance loans essential working capital’

Flood – Exceptional Disaster Assistance Loans

• For primary producers affected by the 2019 North Queensland flood event
• Loans of up to $1 million are available to primary producers whose assets have sustained exceptional damage
• Can be used to repair or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, restock and sustain livestock, and meet carry-on requirements
• First two years are interest free. Initial annual interest rate from the third year is 1.37 per cent

For more information call 1800 623 946

Or visit qrida.qld.gov.au and search for ‘exceptional disaster assistance loans’

Drought Loans

• Loans of up to $2 million to pay for operating expenses , capital or refinance existing debt at a lower rate
• First two years are interest free

Call 1800 875 675

Visit ric.gov.au/drought

Farm Investment Loans

• For farm businesses who solely or mainly sell products into supply chains that are interstate or outside Australia, or plan to in the future
• Loans of up to $2 million to pay for operating expenses or capital, enhance productivity or refinance existing debt at a lower rate
• Concessional interest rate of 2.11 per cent applies

Call 1800 875 675

Visit ric.gov.au/farm-investment

COVID-19 - International Freight Assistance Mechanism

• Help for exporters get their high-quality produce into key overseas markets
• Return flights will bring back items critical to the ongoing health response

Find out more from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Call 02 6272 2444

Drought – Farm Management Deposits Scheme

• Allows eligible farmers to deposit up to $800,000 in pre-tax income from primary production in years of high income, which can be drawn on in future years
• Farm management deposits can be used as offsets against a farmer's mortgage in certain circumstances

Drought – Income tax averaging

• Allows farmers to even out their high and low income years and the tax payable over a maximum of five years