• CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow program now open for SME applications: Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is on the hunt for Food and Agribusiness SMEs looking to invest in R&D to grow their business. The next round of its free, SME-focused, online learning program - Innovate to Grow. Applications for the next round of Innovate to Grow close on 16 October. Visit the CSIRO website for more information.

• Funding boost for drought water infrastructure rebate- More farmers will be able to take advantage of the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme thanks to a $50 million funding boost. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said the $100 million scheme would be available this financial year to drought-affected livestock producers and horticulturalists with permanent plantings. Read more of this Country News article...

JobKeeper flexibilities
The JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act have been extended to 28 March 2021 (with some changes). Some flexibilities remain for legacy employers that are no longer receiving JobKeeper payments. The Fair Work website has info and resources to help you understand the changes and your options.

Workplace legal advice program
The workplace issues arising out of the coronavirus outbreak can be complex. The Workplace Legal Advice Program helps employers deal with issues and get on with running their business. It gives eligible employers access to free, confidential legal advice. The FAQs explain who’s eligible and how you can get involved.

Solutions to the COVID-19 restrictions limiting the supply of seasonal labour in Victoria will be discussed during a special Rural Press Club of Victoria webinar.  The webinar is free of charge.

Moderated by national agribusiness journalist Sue Neales, the webinar will hear from a panel of growers and industry experts including Victorian Shadow Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh, fruit grower Peter Hall and Australian Fresh Produce Alliance chief executive Michael Rogers. Register now! 

Click here to view the promotional blog..

 

Federal Budget 2020, What does it mean for Agriculture?

Agricultural Exports
$328 million allocated for the following:

• $222.2 million over 4 years for digital services to take farmers to market  – a single touch point for exporters that is available 24/7.
• $14.3 million over 3 years - improving regulation post COVID-19 including targeted intervention for the seafood and live export sector, dedicated case managers to help new exporters and existing exporters to expand and diversify their markets.
• $10.9 million over 3 years - building a more competitive export meat industry and working with industry to streamline export and production costs to remain competitive.
• $10 million over 4 years -  busting congestion for plant export industries. Streamlining border clearances for plant exports by reducing manual processes and improving service times and cost savings for exporters. 
• $71.1 million over 3 years for Australian export services critical to ensuring our products make it to export markets.

Agricultural Levies
$7.2 million to streamline and modernise agricultural levies legislation. This will save time and money for the almost 8,000 businesses that collect levies, as well as for thousands of farmers. See attached flyer
 
Agricultural Workforce

• $17.4 million in relocation assistance and $16.3 million to incentivise young Australians to take up farm work by temporarily changing Youth Allowance (student) and ABSTUDY independence eligibility criteria.  The relocation grants for individuals will include $6,000 if you relocate to a regional area, an extra $3,000 if you relocate with a dependent, $2,000 if you are a visa holder with the right to work in Australia

Floods & Drought
$155.6 million over four years to support drought and flood-impacted communities, including:

• $50.0 million in 2020‑21 to extend the On‑farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme,
• $19.6 million in 2021‑22 to extend the drought function of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency for a further year to continue coordination and community engagement for the Government's response and recovery activities; and
• $86.0 million over four years from 2020‑21, through the Future Drought Fund, to establish eight Drought Resilience and Adoption Hubs that support networks of researchers, farmers, agricultural business and community groups to enhance drought resilience practice, tools and technology.

An additional $60 million for 2019 Monsoon Trough: A strategy for long-term recovery 

Instant Asset Write Off Increase

• Now, more than 99 per cent of businesses can write off the full value of any eligible asset they purchase for their business. This will be available to businesses with a turnover up to $5 billion, until June 2022.

Rail
$528 million for regional rail services for the people of Shepparton and Warrnambool

Modern Manufacturing Strategy 
$1.5 billion for the  Modern Manufacturing Strategy which provides support for Australia's food, beverages and agribusiness sector, more than $1.3 billion is for driving collaboration between industry participants and expediting R&D commercialisation.  An additional $107.2 million is allocated to deliver the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. The $50 million funding allocation for extension of the Industry Growth Centres initiative, including the Food and Agribusiness Grown Centre

Please note that a new set of Horticulture Seasonal Workforce Directions have been issued from the DHHS. Please refer here  for detailed information referring to pages 19 to 23 that specifically cover Horticulture. These directions are specific to seasonal workers only and not to ongoing workers.  

Employers have until the 24^th October 2020 to review and ensure they have the correct COVID Safe processes and procedures in place.  

The National Fruit Fly Council will be holding a series of short online workshops during October and November 2020 to gather information from ‘the ground up’ on fruit fly issues across Australia. At these workshops we want to hear about grower fruit fly challenges and priorities so we can make sure that a wide variety of experiences are represented at the national table. 

• Protecting production – in-field management, chemical limitations, exotic fruit flies, etc.
• Market access – domestic and export trade, treatment options, research, etc.