Drought preparedness program
Primary producers across all agriculture industries can apply for these grants and loans without needing a drought declaration.
This assistance focuses on preparedness and business planning to manage the ever-present risk of drought in Queensland.
To apply, you need to have:
- a Farm Business Resilience Plan
- or
- an existing farm business plan that covers the same details.
Preparing
- Drought Ready and Recovery Finance Loans of up to $250,000 for preparedness measures consistent with the producer's Farm Business Resilience Plan.
- Farm Management Grants offer a 50% rebate up to a maximum $2,500, on the cost of eligible professional advice to produce a Farm Business Resilience Plan for your property.
- Drought Preparedness Grants will reopen soon—these grants offer 25% of the cost of purchasing new permanent capital infrastructure (up to a total of $50,000) to improve drought resilience.
During drought
- Interest-free Emergency Drought Assistance Loans of up to $50,000
- Drought Carry-On Finance Loans of up to $250,000 at a concessional interest rate if the Emergency Drought Assistance Loans is insufficient to manage drought conditions
- Land rent rebates and water licence waivers
- Drought Relief from Electricity Charges Scheme
Recovery
- Drought Ready and Recovery Finance Loans of up to $250,000 can be used for drought recovery activities such as restocking and replanting.