Gaffy Farms, Mooroopna: Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes announces $65 million for solar power, drones, ag-tech
Victorian farmers are set to benefit from a $65 million state government cash splash on a strategy to make them more efficient. Here’s how.
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Victorian farmers are set to benefit from a pool of $65 million to help them move towards solar power, drones and other innovative ag-tech, announced as part of the state budget.
Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes said the funding would help farmers adopt innovative technologies and find new local and global markets.
“Farms are adapting – they’re taking up technology to become more productive, more efficient, and adapt to climate change,” she said.
“We want to make them more efficient, more productive, and we can give them the tools and the technology to ensure that their farms become as efficient as possible.”
The fund includes:
Farmers will be able to apply for grants next year.
Gaffy Farms owner Michael Gaffy was a recipient of a $60,000 state government grant to build solar panels on his Mooroopna irrigation farm.
He said the 80 solar panels have slashed thousands of dollars from his electricity bills.
“I might stay viable,” he said with a laugh.
It follows the announcement $50 million will be injected into agricultural colleges and training providers over four years.
Three university campuses will benefit from the $20 million of the funding, including The University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus in the Goulburn Valley which will build staff, student and conference accommodation for up to 130 people,
Longerenong College in the Wimmera region will build student accommodation for 33 people, a communal building for conferences and student gatherings, and other on-campus improvements.
Marcus Oldham College will construct 30 new student bedrooms at the Waurn Ponds campus near Geelong over two years with its funding.
The remaining $30 million will create the Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund which will support TAFEs and other agriculture education and training providers to develop students’ skills.
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