Farmers in Eden-Monaro will benefit from Landcare Smart Farms Small Grant funding to adapt to change, innovate and become more sustainable. The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams said the Far South Coast Landcare Association has received a grant of $100,000 for Introducing EMS to Drive Practice Change for the Beef/Sheep industry in the Bega Valley. Senator Williams said the grant will help the Far South Coast Landcare Association train Bega Valley beef and sheep farm land managers in the principles of environmental management systems and to mentor others in resource management practice change. He also congratulated the Sapphire Coast Producers Association on receiving $50,000 for its project Eco-Smart, Climate-Smart Farming. He said this grant will fund a team of experts and farmers to survey demonstration farm ecosystems and identify options to conserve each farm’s biodiversity and increase its climate resilience. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said Aussie farmers have a huge job managing 61 per cent of this nation’s land. “The grants of between $5,000 and $100,000 will support Landcare groups and farmers through new tools, methods and technology they need for their world-leading sustainable practices,” Minister Littleproud said. “The first round of funding was highly competitive, attracting over 800 applications. I strongly encourage those who missed out under round one to apply under future rounds.” Fast facts: The National Landcare Program phase two is an investment of more than $1 billion to 2023. Landcare was first launched in 1989 and has had bipartisan support for nearly 30 years.
