Library & Resources

Library & Resources

News

  • JobKeeper eligibility for farming businesses.

    Please note this is general information only and should not to be taken as advice. If you have not yet applied for JobKeeper, this information should only be used as guidance to stimulate conversation. For information that relates to your unique situation, you should …

    Read More

  • COVID-19 Border Controls

    Below is a summary of the COVID-19 Border Controls currently enforced by state and territory governments. Updates will be made as new information becomes available, however, we recommend that detailed information is accessed via the government website links provided. Victoria The …

    Read More

  • Support the foodservice industry with #TakeAwayTuesday

    Earlier this year, we asked you to take a night off and support your local and now we’re asking you to join in Takeaway Tuesday. As COVID19 continues to impact foodservice, APL is supporting Restaurant and Catering Australia’s new campaign. Outlets continue to rely on …

    Read More

  • Advance Notice of AGM

    The Annual General Meeting of Australian Pork Limited (ABN 83 092 783 278) (APL) will be held on Thursday 19 November 2020 commencing at 12.30pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, Melbourne, Victoria, 3006. The …

    Read More

Support for producers

Disaster recovery

Recovery assistance is available to people affected by fires in NSW and Victoria.

NSW: Call the NSW Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444

VIC: Call 126 186 or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/animalemergencies

Commonwealth Government assistance: Call 180 22 66

Personal support

Personal support services include:

Organisation Contact
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Aussie Helpers 0488 807 266 (Text service)

Other resources

https://www.ruralaid.org.au/rural-links

https://therippleeffect.com.au/

Financial support

Assistance for producers in or approaching financial difficulties

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) is the first port of call for producers facing difficulties at this time. Through this service, producers will be able to find information about support services, government funding and low interest loans. APL encourages any producer who is in distress to seek out their local RFCS branch via the RFCS website or by calling 1800 686 175.

For further information about assistance available in each state and territory, APL has compiled a summary of the services that are available in each state which can be accessed at the below links

Commonwealth Funding and Grants

Program Detail Website
Farm Household Allowance Payments of a maximum of $985.00 a fortnight are available to families that are struggling to meet day to day needs.

Eligibility is based on a calculation of income and assets.

 https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/farm-household-allowance

State Governments do not have grant programs that are relevant to pig producers in the current crisis.

Farm Business Support

Commonwealth

Program Detail Website
Farm Investment Loans
  • Loans are available for farm businesses that sell to a processor which services interstate, national or export markets
  • Loans are available for 10 year terms up to a maximum of $1 million, or 50% of total farm debt, whichever is more
  • Interest rate is variable – currently set at 3.58%
  • Loans do not have to add to existing debt, they can instead be used to refinance debt to a lower rate
 http://www.ric.gov.au/farmers/farm-investment
Drought Loans
  • Loans are available for farm businesses in a defined drought area, and who have a drought management plan
  • Loans are available for 10 year terms up to a maximum of $1 million, or 50% of total farm debt, whichever is more.
  • Interest rate is variable – currently set at 3.58%

Loans do not have to add to existing debt, they can instead be used to refinance debt to a lower rate.

 http://www.ric.gov.au/farmers/drought

NSW Rural Adjustment Authority (NSW RAA)

Program Detail Website
Drought Assistance Fund
  • Interest free loans of up to $50,000 are available for farm businesses to assist in implementing systems and management practices that enhance the sustainability of their enterprise by funding;
  • Transport of livestock, transport of fodder and/or water
  • Water infrastructure, and
  • Banking of genetic material of livestock.
 https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/assistance/drought-assistance-fund

QLD Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA)

Program Detail Website
Sustainability Loans
  • Sustainability Loans are available to farmers to assist in achieving a more productive and sustainable primary production enterprise.
  • Interest rate is fixed for 1, 3 or 5 years
 http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/current-programs/Productivity-Loans/sustainability-loan/Sustainability-Loan-Primary-producer

Victoria

No farm business support programs are available

South Australia

No farm business support programs are available

State Growth Tasmania

Program Detail Website
Agrigrowth Loan Scheme
  • The Agrigrowth Loan Scheme provides low interest loans to Tasmanian farmers and agri-food businesses for expansion at an interest rate of 3.5%
  • Applicants must demonstrate a clear need for the loan, to the satisfaction of the Department of State Growth, and projects must advance the Government’s agri-growth agenda/policy and include a minimum three year business plan to the satisfaction of the department
 https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/grants_and_funding_opportunities/loans/agrigrowth

Western Australia

No farm business support programs are available

Counselling and Financial Advice

NSW

Program Detail Website
Farm Debt Mediation Government subsidised mediation scheme to reduce costs of negotiation when facing foreclosure action by a bank https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/fdm

QLD

Program Detail Website
Farm Debt Restructure Office The Farm Debt Restructure Office (FDRO) assists primary producers experiencing financial distress by providing independent expert financial information and analysis of their farm business. http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/fdro
Farm Debt Mediation Government subsidised mediation scheme to reduce costs of negotiation when facing foreclosure action by a bank http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/fbdm

VIC

Program Detail Website
Farm Debt Mediation Government subsidised mediation scheme to reduce costs of negotiation when facing foreclosure action by a bank http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/farm-management/business-management/farm-debt-mediation

SA

Program Detail Website
Financial and Wellbeing Counselling A not-for-profit provider of support for primary producers, fishers and other rural businesses to take action to manage change, risk and business challenges. http://ruralbusinesssupport.org.au/
1800 836 211
Regional Access Regional Access is a free telephone and online counselling service for people who are feeling the pressures and stresses of everyday life. https://saregionalaccess.org.au/

TAS

Program Detail Website
Rural Alive and Well RAW (Rural Alive & Well Inc.) is a non for profit organisation helping individuals, families and the community through mental health issues with a focus on suicide prevention. They provide outreach support to rural Tasmania, as well as working with the community to undertake well-being initiatives. http://www.rawtas.com.au/

WA

Program Detail Website
Farm Debt Mediation Government subsidised mediation scheme to reduce costs of negotiation when facing foreclosure action by a bank https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/grains/farm-debt-mediation-wa-scheme

Some government assistance programs are directed at industries and regions that are suffering as a direct result of drought. Eligibility for these loans will usually depend on a producer’s location, circumstances and assets, but we encourage producers to keep all options open, and consider their eligibility for these loans. Meeting with a Rural Financial Counsellor may assist in more strategic advice specific to your circumstances and business.