Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway.
Farmers in the local district will continue to receive critical support to help their businesses thrive thanks to a $12 million investment into the Farm Business Resilience Program.
NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the funding means the program will continue until June 2024.
“The Farm Business Resilience Program has already helped 1,500 farmers. This new funding will ensure hundreds more farmers strengthen their business management skills and knowledge,” Mr Farraway said.
“Farming is a delicate business and the industry has been hit hard over recent times by droughts, floods, COVID and a mouse plague. Farmers now also face the reality of foot and mouth disease. The program provides valuable advice to farmers to help them better identify risks and provide resources that help their businesses grow, ultimately strengthening our State’s food bowl,” Mr Farraway said.
“This funding is part of an overall effort by the Government to build a safer, stronger regional NSW which secures a brighter future for our farming families.”
Branch Manager of Parkes AgriWest Rural Chris Haggarty said the Farm Business Resilience Program allows farmers to improve their business management plans, specifically addressing the disruptions caused by Covid and extreme weather events.
“Providing farmers with access to free business coaching, farm tours, workshops, networking events and online resources helps keep our farming community informed and connected. It also allows them to make the most of the good times in agriculture and plan for the unexpected or more challenging seasons,” Mr Haggarty said.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said building resilience is key to safeguarding communities from future severe weather events like droughts, bush fires, floods or storms.
“It’s through initiatives like the Farm Business Resilience Program that communities can recover faster and more effectively when natural disasters strike,” Ms Cooke said.
The program is an initiative of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, which is jointly funded with the NSW Government. Farm businesses of all sizes can enter the coaching program and access the heavily subsidised learning and development opportunities.
For more information, including access to business tools and resources and to register your interest in the 2022 Business Coaching Program, visit: www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au/fbrp.