Critical Producer Grant



Below are the industries eligible for the Critical Producer Grant:

Agriculture

  • Dairy - up to $100,000 per applicant
  • Extensive livestock (beef & sheep) - up to $75,000 per applicant
  • Intensive livestock (poultry & pork) - up to $50,000 per applicant
  • Broadacre cropping - up to $ $75,000 per applicant
  • Apiculture - up to $50,000 per applicant

Horticulture

  • Turf - up to $75,000 per applicant
  • Vegetables - up to $30,000 per applicant
  • Perennial tree crops -  up to $75,000 per applicant
  • Other horticulture (fruit, berries, vine crops, cut flowers, plant nurseries etc) - up to $30,000 per applicant

Aquaculture

  • Aquaculture - up to $30,000 per applicant
  • Commercial fishing - up to $30,000 per applicant

Forestry

  • Private native forests and timber plantations - up to $10,000 per lease
    More info

Below are the local government areas (LGAs) eligible for the Critical Producer Grant under natural disaster declaration AGRN 1012:

Armidale, Ballina, Bayside, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Byron, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cumberland, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Fairfield City, Georges River, Glen Innes, Goulburn Mulwaree, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Kempsey, Kiama, Ku-ring-gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Lithgow, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan Palerang, Richmond Valley, Ryde, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Strathfield, Sutherland, Tenterfield, The Hills, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Waverley, Willoughby, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong.

The Primary Industry Support Package Critical Producer Grants are available to eligible primary producers who were affected by the NSW storms and floods that occurred during February and March 2022 onwards, and who operate in specific industry sectors. Applicants can apply different funding amounts depending on their industry sector, to support their recovery following the storms and floods that occurred from February and March 2022 onwards.

Guidelines

Agriculture, Horticulture and Aquaculture industries

Download your industry guidelines below for full details of what you can claim.

Forestry industry

For details and how to apply for the Critical Producer Grant if you're in the Forestry industry, visit:
www.nsw.gov.au/criticalproducergrant

Funding agreement

Critical Producer Grant applicants receive a Funding Agreement upon approval of their application. Once this has been signed and returned to the Rural Assistance Authority you will receive your first milestone payment.

An example of the Funding Agreement is available here (PDF, 5340.67 KB).

Milestones

All Critical Producer Grant funding recipients are paid via milestones. Please refer to the tables below for an example of how the milestones are paid. Milestone values will be advised if successful and will be dependent on the value of your claim.

You will be required to provide evidence of expenditure to access each milestone payment.

Claiming payment

To lodge a claim you will need:

  • BP reference number
  • ABN number
  • Case number from original application
  • Invoices (including proof of payment)
Stream 1 - Critical Producers Grant - Agriculture
IndustryMaximum Grant AmountMaximum Applicable Milestone
Dairy
$100,000$25,000 (up to 4 milestones)
Extensive Livestock (cattle & sheep)$75,000$18,750 (up to 4 milestones)
Broadacre Cropping$75,000$18,750 (up to 4 milestones)
Apiary$50,000$16,500 (up to 3 milestones)
Poultry and pork$50,000$16,500 (up to 3 milestones)
Stream 2 - Critical Producers Grant - Horticulture
IndustryMaximum Grant AmountMaximum Applicable Milestone
Turf$75,000$18,750 (up to 4 milestones)
Perennial Tree Crops$75,000$18,750 (up to 4 milestones)
Fruit and Vegetables$30,000$15,000 (up to 2 milestones)
Other Horticulture (Berries, vine crops, cut flowers, nursery etc)$30,000

$15,000 (up to 2 milestones)

Stream 3 - Critical Producers Grant -  Aquaculture & Commercial Fishing
IndustryMaximum Grant AmountMaximum Applicable Milestone
Aquaculture $30,000$15,000 (up to 2 milestones)
Commercial Fishers$30,000$15,000 (up to 2 milestones)
  • The close date for Critical Producer Grant applications is 30 September 2023 (or until program funding is fully allocated, whichever occurs first).
  • Successful applicants will be notified within 20 working days of receipt of a fully completed application (including all documents required for assessment).
  • Project(s) and expenditure must be completed by 31 May 2024.

Click on the link below to visit the Critical Producer Grant frequently asked questions page:

FAQs - Critical Producer Grants

DPI Rural Recovery Support Services

The Rural Recovery Support Service is managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, to provide assistance to rural landholders and primary producers who have been impacted by severe storm and flood events. DPI Recovery Workers are a single point of contact, providing information and referrals to support you on your recovery journey.

Reach out to your local Rural Financial Counsellor

If you are experiencing any issues completing the application form, free confidential assistance is available from your local Rural Financial Counselling Service.

  • Southern Region - call 1800 319 458
  • Northern Region - call 1800 344 090
  • Visit the RFCS website

You can also give the RAA permission to work with your own private financial advisor or accountant to assist you, however you will be liable for any professional fees charged. Contact the Rural Assistance Authority team on 1800 678 593.



Private Native Forestry and timber plantation operators

Support is also available to Private Native Forestry and timber plantation operators that were directly impacted by the severe weather and floods that occurred from February 2022 onwards.

For all information on the Critical Producer Grant for the forestry industry, refer to the Private Native Forestry and Timber Plantations Guidelines on the Department of Regional NSW website.