The Australian Government's On Farm Connectivity Program is providing $30 million over two years represents an opportunity for primary producers to take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.
The Program forms part of the Better Connectivity Plan for Rural and Regional Australia Plan (Better Connectivity Plan). Funding of $15 million will be provided for Round 1.
As an eligible supplier under the program, Elders has partnered with several key AgTech companies including FarmBot, Sentek and Goanna Ag.
On behalf of eligible primary producers, Elders can claim a rebate of between $3,000 and $30,000 on purchases valued between $6,000 and $60,000.
Elders AgTech Development Officer, Andy Phelan said the program is a great opportunity for primary producers who have been thinking about introducing new farming technologies to be more efficient and productive.
“We’ve seen a growing demand for products such as remote water monitoring, stock and crop management and improved data collection. By having access to accurate information producers can better objectively assess what’s happening on-farm.”
“The program is also a great opportunity for those who have been thinking about trialling new equipment but cost has been a barrier to entry," Andy said.
Producer eligibility is determined by the Government as part of the application process. It is based on annual GROSS income (before tax and expenses) of between $40K and $2M, averaged over the last 3 years.
Once the application has been approved, the product(s) must be purchased within 60 days.
This first round will remain open until 31 May 2024 or until the funding allocation is exhausted.
