Funding boost for budding farmers

THE Federal Government has announced a $500,000 boost to the next generation of farm leaders.
A range of initiatives will be supported with the funds including improving agricultural education in schools and building leadership skills in young rural Australians.
Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce said the funding was an investment not only in Australia but in the future of Australian agriculture.
“Young people are the future of Australian agriculture, so it’s vital we give them access to tools to build their skills and knowledge and that we also empower young people to share the positive story of Australian farming as widely as possible,” Minister Joyce said.
“The current crop of farmers around the world aren’t getting any younger, and we need to find new ways to engage young people to consider agriculture for the industry; that it is one that is central to our national identity, way of life, and economic prosperity.
“It’s an industry ripe with opportunity, one that underpins vibrant rural and regional communities, and one that offers a fulfilling career, feeding and clothing people here and across the world.
“To attract and retain young people to farming, however, we have to ensure they earn a fair and decent reward for their endeavour; it is the best way to compete with other career options.
“That is why this government is focused on driving profits back to the farmgate and into the hands of our farmers – to ensure that Australian farming is as prosperous as possible for future generations. And that is unashamedly the focus of the Coalition Government’s $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.”
The grants include $150,000 to continue the ABC Heywire programme for another three years, $225,000 to the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) to improve agricultural education and awareness in schools, and $125,000 to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) to fund the Young Farmers Forum in 2015-’16.