Subsidies of up to $5,000 are available for horticulture growers in catchment areas near the Great Barrier Reef who are seeking to address nutrient, sediment and pesticide management practices.

Growcom, the peak industry body for Queensland horticulture, is managing the investment scheme, which provides a 40 per cent subsidy (up to $5,000) for investments made by growers in the Bowen Burdekin, Burnett Mary and Fitzroy catchment areas.

Categories of items which are eligible to be subsidised include:

  • Drainage, inter-row, capture works
  • Record/budget tools (development and/or subscription)
  • Fertigation systems (manual/automated)
  • Precision spray applicators
  • Monitoring tools (soil moisture, nutrients, sediment movement)

Growers that receive an incentive are required to complete the Reef Water Quality module of the horticulture best management practice program Hort360.

To learn more about the scheme and how to apply, visit the Growcom website. You can also contact Growcom’s Michelle Haase on mhaase@growcom.com.au.

The scheme is a critical part of the Reef Alliance – Growing a Great Barrier Reef (Horticulture) program, and has direct links to industry adoption programs already in place.

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 22 January 2019. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!