Farms of the Future Grants Program

We’re excited to share that 365 successful farm businesses have received a total of $7.5 million in funding through the Farms of the Future grant program. These funds contributed to the purchase of approved connectivity solutions and cutting-edge digital Agtech devices, signifying a significant leap forward in the adoption of agricultural technology in NSW.
The average grant amount per recipient is $20,685, emphasising the substantial support extended through this Agtech training and adoption initiative. The successful grant recipients, categorised by their respective Local Government Area (LGA), are:

The Farms of the Future (FoTF) program aims to foster tech-enabled agricultural production and monitoring, by enhancing connectivity and implementing sensor equipment to drive increased productivity, and the sustainable use of agricultural resources.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) leads this transformative initiative, funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Digital Connectivity program.

We're proud of the remarkable success of the program and extend our gratitude to all participants for their commitment to embracing the opportunities available through adopting new Agtech devices and enhanced connectivity, thereby revolutionising the agricultural landscape in our regions.

For further details or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact NSW DPI at fotf@dpi.nsw.gov.au

This grant program is closed and will not be extended.

Agtech Grant Program Details

The NSW Government opened the Farms of the Future grants program in February 2023, to provide up to $35,000 to eligible farm businesses to purchase the latest Agtech equipment and connectivity solutions to address their farm needs. The grants program was available for primary producers in the target Local Government Areas (LGAs). The grant enabled the purchasing of approved connectivity solutions and digital Agtech devices with a level of co-contribution required to participate in the program.

NSW Government Grant Finder Website

Grant period

Applications opened 3rd February 2023

Applications closed 31st August 2023

Claim period closed 29th February 2024

Program closes 30th June 2028

The availability of grants was subject to funds being available. No grants will be offered beyond the allocated funding.

Grant amounts

Minimum grant amount - $5,000 ex GST

Maximum grant amount - $35,000 ex GST

Connectivity solution cap - $15,000 ex GST

Grant contributions for connectivity solutions were subject to a specific cap of $15,000, within the overall maximum grant amount of $35,000.

The subscription cost for apps and devices, up until the program closing, were included in the grant amount.

Applications were limited to one application per Australian Business Number (ABN) for the first round of the program (3rd Feb 2023 – 31st Aug 2023).

Who was eligible to apply for a grant?

To be eligible to apply for a grant, applicants must:

• have a primary production enterprise in any agricultural industry (see Definitions for the list of eligible ANSZIC Codes), hold an active ABN in respect of the primary production enterprise
• operate the primary production enterprise as a sole trader, partnership, trust or private company, or a combination of these structures.
• obtain a turnover of at least $40,000 per annum from primary production or otherwise operate an ATO recognised bona fide primary production enterprise.
• have completed the Farms of the Future Training Program “Monitoring your farm with Agtech”, in-person, or online by 30 June 2023 and received a Certificate of Completion

Eligible locations

• operate the primary production enterprise in an eligible local government area: Armidale, Ballina, Byron, Cabonne, Carrathool, Griffith, Leeton, Lismore, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Orange.
  
  How were the LGAs selected?

Eligible solutions

Proposed Agtech, connectivity and dashboard solutions must be selected from the Program Partners in the Farms of the Future Agtech Catalogue. Applicants will create a Tech List in the Agtech Catalogue and submit this list with their application.

The Farms of the Future program is delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and funded through $48 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Digital Connectivity program.