On Farm Connectivity program
The Australian Government's On Farm Connectivity program is providing $30 million over 2 years to enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and/or fisheries to take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.
The objectives of the program are to:
- extend digital connectivity and enable primary producers to take advantage of advanced farming technology
- enhance a primary producer's ability to implement digital agribusiness solutions through improved connectivity
- capitalise on the agricultural sector's productivity and growth
- support access to new communications equipment and services by offsetting some of the cost.
Applications are now open for Round 1 of the OFCP, with up to $15 million in rebates available for the purchase of eligible equipment.
Eligible equipment suppliers can claim a rebate of between $3,000 and $30,000 for the sale of eligible equipment, with primary producers accessing discounted prices. The rebate can be claimed for up to 50% of the cost of the eligible equipment.
Equipment suppliers must submit an application for each proposed sale to the Business Grants Hub through the online portal. This application must detail the proposed connectivity solution/equipment and include a declaration from the primary producer that they meet the eligibility criteria. The Business Grants Hub will assess applications against eligibility criteria specified in the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.
The Business Grants Hub will notify suppliers if their application has been successful. The equipment supplier will then have 60 days to finalise the sale of the connectivity/solution equipment with the primary producer. Equipment suppliers can then claim the rebate through the online portal.
This is a demand driven grant opportunity. Rebates will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis in order of application receipt, until the funding is exhausted. $15 million is available to 30 June 2024, or until funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first. It is important to note that a rebate cannot be claimed for equipment sold before the Business Grants Hub has notified the supplier that their application has been approved.
Further information is available at :On Farm Connectivity Program | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts