The Morrison Liberal National Government is investing more than $5 million – including more than $53,000 in Mackay and Proserpine – to help equip farmers with new skills and knowledge to improve sustainability and their bottom line.

Congratulations to Catchment Solutions in Mackay who will receive $42,795 to manage ponded pastures for sustainable fisheries, and Proserpine Young Farmers who will receive $11,017 to assist with increasing the capacity of landholders to adopt precision agriculture and variable rate technologies in cane farming systems.

These recently funded projects show the determination of many in the electorate to continue that tradition.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said 113 projects nationally will receive grants of up to $50,000 from the third round of the Smart Farms Small Grants program.

“Australian agriculture has a long history of early adoption of innovation - the ingenuity of our farmers never ceases to amaze me,” Minister Littleproud said.

“They have always looked after the land and we are giving them a helping hand through this grants program to adopt best practice natural resource management methods.

“These are projects happening throughout the country and are about improving the resilience and productive capacity of farms.”

Grants have been given to farming and landcare groups for projects related to sustainable farming education, pest management, improving soil health, agroforestry and more.

For more information on the Smart Farms Small Grants program visit: agriculture.gov.au

• Smart Farms Small Grants is part of the Federal Government’s Smart Farms program – a key initiative of phase two of the National Landcare program

• Smart Farms Small Grants is a $43.5 million grants program (six annual rounds)

• Round 1 funded 77 projects for a total of $4.75 million. These are expected to be completed by April 2020

• Round 2 funded 110 projects for a total of $9.25 million. These are expected to be completed by September 2021

• Round 3 projects must be completed by 30 June 2022