Farmers in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone will be able to apply for grants to purchase agricultural technology under the NSW government’s new $1.4 million Smart Farming Program.
The program will provide local primary producers with grants covering 70 per cent of the cost of eligible technologies, up to $35,000. The technology must improve productivity, efficiency, safety or business resilience.
Eligible agtech includes soil and water sensors, drones, livestock and crop monitoring tools, electric fencing monitoring, site security platforms and fuel tank sensors.
The grants can also support connectivity devices that underpin modern farming systems, allowing producers to access real time data, automate operations and manage assets remotely.
“These grants, available thanks to the Renewable Energy Zone, will help farmers invest in practical technologies that improve productivity, safety and profitability,” said minister for energy Penny Sharpe.
“Through initiatives like this, we’re ensuring communities hosting critical renewable energy infrastructure see tangible benefits now, while building a stronger future for regional NSW.”
Applicants will need to complete an Agtech Fundamentals workshop delivered through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Farms of the Future Program. The workshops help producers assess technology options, develop farm monitoring plans and make informed investment decisions. The program is available both face to face and online.
Applications are expected to open in the coming months.
The initiative forms part of the NSW government’s $128 million investment in community benefits for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. The funding is intended to ensure communities benefit from the development of renewable energy infrastructure.
The investment also includes the NSW government’s $14.5 million Telecommunications Infrastructure Uplift Program, which aims to improve mobile phone and internet coverage across the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
Additional community benefit funding will continue to flow to the region through fees paid by renewable energy projects connecting to the Renewable Energy Zone network.
Details of upcoming Agtech Fundamentals workshops in the Central West Orana region, including dates and locations, will be published online through Agtech Fundamentals Workshops.
“More than 1,500 farmers across NSW have already taken part in Farms of the Future Agtech Fundamentals training. Our recently launched online learning hub, the Agtech Academy, will make it even easier for producers to build their understanding of agtech and assess opportunities for their own operations,” said minister for agriculture and regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty.
