About the funding scheme
The Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) commenced on 1 July 2010 to address pest and disease threats relevant to the WA grains/seed/hay industry.
The scheme uses funding arrangements authorised under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act), whereby contributions are collected from the WA grains/seed/hay industry. These contributions replace those traditionally paid to the Skeleton Weed Trust Fund that was authorised under the Plant Pest & Diseases (Eradication Funds) Act 1974.
The regulations enabling the Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS can be found on the Western Australian Legislation website.
Current programs
The scheme collects the following IFS contributions from growers: 25 cents per tonne of grain and seed, and 12.5 cents per tonne of hay. The contribution applies only to the first sale of produce grown in the agricultural areas of WA*.
The contributions fund programs to manage skeleton weed and eradicate three-horned bedstraw, and may also be used to manage potential future incursions of other pests/diseases that are a priority to the industry. The scheme operates in the agricultural areas of WA*.
*Defined to include all local government districts of WA except for those comprising the Kimberley (Broome, Halls Creek, Derby-West Kimberley and Wyndham-East Kimberley) and the pastoral area (Ashburton, Carnarvon, Coolgardie, Cue, Dundas, East Pilbara, Exmouth, Laverton, Leonora, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Meekatharra, Menzies, Mount Magnet, Murchison, Ngaanyatjarraku, Port Hedland, Roebourne, Sandstone, Shark Bay, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna and Yalgoo).