Early Needs Recovery Program

NSW Farmers
A priority for NSW Farmers was to provide growers with opportunities to further their skills and knowledge, to build a more resilient and productive oyster industry. Their focus was providing access to information and support relating to spat-handling management techniques. NSW Farmers employed a dedicated Hatchery Liaison Officer for the duration of their project. This officer focused on providing 1:1 support to growers, delivering workshops and open days along the coast, and developing a series of educational videos and factsheets.

Oceanwatch
OceanWatch delivered a series of shed BBQs to support oyster growers in Central and North Coast regions of NSW. These BBQs were designed to provide growers with access to support services relating to grant applications and mental health following the severe flood impacts. OceanWatch worked with other industry stakeholders, including the delivery of a Biosecurity Risk Management Plan workshop. Workshops were well attended, with one workshop hosted by celebrity chef, Paul West, host of River Cottage Australia. He is an advocate for sustainable food production and Sydney Rock Oysters.

Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters
Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters (SCWO) delivered a number of ‘Grant Blitz BBQs’ to support the local oyster industry in the far south coast of NSW.  These events provided growers with an opportunity to receive 1:1 support relating to finances and grant applications, mental health services and other regulatory changes impacting the industry. In addition, SCWO also organised first aid training for growers helping them to meet their obligations under Australian Maritime Safety Authority requirements. Importantly, these events allowed growers to come together and share experiences and ideas following the floods and discuss ongoing impacts on their industry.

Seafood Industry Australia
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) utilised grant funding to extend the reach and activities of its mental health program, Stay Afloat. They delivered a series of community resilience events to bring together oyster communities with a focus on supporting one another and deepening their understanding of their own mental wellbeing. SIA remained responsive and flexible throughout the project, recognising the shift in growers' needs as their flood recovery needs changed and other industry issues emerged. They reminded growers of the importance of managing mental health during periods of crisis and provided practical tools for growers to use.

NSW Apiarists Association Inc

The NSW Apiarist Association (NSWAA) used grant funding to bolster the delivery of their annual conference and trade exhibition in 2023 with the theme of building resilience in the industry. 

Titled ‘The Future of Honeybees: Drought – Bushfires – Pandemic – Floods – Pests and Varroa’, the conference provided an opportunity for apiarists to come together and gain information to help with recovery and building resilience and preparedness for their businesses and the industry.  

In addition to the conference, each of the 7 branches of the NSWAA organised a range of workshops and training opportunities suited to their member needs including first aid training, 4x4 bogged vehicle recovery workshops and chemical accreditation courses.

Berries Australia

Berries Australia focused on demonstrating to growers how technology can be used to save money and respond to natural disasters. They utilised demonstration farms in the Coffs Harbour region to showcase a variety of technologies and their applications. 

This included an energy audit covering production through the supply chain to demonstrate the benefits of managing energy use, using LiDAR mapping to help develop erosion control plans, using drones for spraying blueberry crops, and installing sensors for water monitoring. 

Berries Australia have also had resources translated to Punjabi to help provide blueberry growers with greater access to information.

Australian Macadamia Society

Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) grant funding was utilised to provide a variety of support to farmers and the wider industry. Several workshops were organised to support recovery efforts and build climate resilience in the industry.

Topics included business resilience, mental health first aid, kernel assessment, native bee pollinators and media training. AMS undertook activities to drive consumption and increase farm gate prices for macadamias by promoting macadamia nuts to Australian consumers through a marketing campaign with independent produce stores in NSW. AMS also funded a flood research study undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). The research investigated the impacts of flooding and successive flood events on the characteristics of different varieties and ages of trees. The results of the trials aim to help growers make decisions about future tree selections and planting areas on farms.

Australian Pecan Association

A focus for Australian Pecan Association (APA) activities included the impact of water logging on trees and evaluating mulching practices to protect root zones. Several workshops and soil testing was conducted across several highly impacted properties. In addition, APA also conducted leaf sampling and testing as well as the fungal testing of pecan nuts.  

The industry recovery officer, funded by the grant, supported growers with their recovery and building resilience. This included spending time collating information, sampling, testing, analysing data and coordinating advice on best practice for managing flood events and speeding up recovery.

North Coast Oil Seed Growers Association

North Coast Oilseed Growers Association (NCOSG) supported growers through a tour and a series of workshops. These events provided an opportunity for growers to inspect other farms and see paddock trials first hand.  

Workshops focused on soil rehabilitation and drainage to help improve understanding of soil properties on crop production. NCOSG also conducted trials exploring fertiliser rates and soybean variety. 

The results of the trials were provided to growers to support future decision-making. These activities were supported through the employment of a part-time project disaster recovery officer who was able to coordinate grower activities and trials and provide support as needed.

Australian Tea Tree Industry Association 

The Australian Tea Tree Industry Association (ATTIA) used its grant funding for activities aimed at rebuilding confidence and resilience among tea tree producers. A key aspect was to reposition the Australian tea tree industry in the global marketplace and for the association to be promoted as a global authority. 

ATTIA developed a new website and made resources including key research documents available through a member-only portal. ATTIA worked with growers and industry representatives to ensure website upgrades and communication products improved not only the positioning of Australian tea tree products, but also grower engagement.

Through the project ATTIA has already noticed increased engagement and improved grower sentiment towards the future of the industry.

Turf Australia

Turf Australia used its grant funding to focus on supporting sustainable land use practices and developing online tools to help their growers. Six demonstration sites were established in various regions to show how compost can be used to improve soil structure and plant health. 

Turf Australia also produced 2 online Cost of Production calculators to provide growers with an easy-to-use tool to assess their farming operations and assist with decision-making. The findings from the demonstration sites and the availability of the Cost of Production tool were made available to growers through website updates, supporting guides and resources and promotion through newsletters, magazines, social media. They were also presented at the Turf Australia national conference. 

Turf Australia appointed an Industry Resilience Officer to help coordinate their projects and provide support and advice to primary producers.

Visit Turf Australia to use the online tools.

Protected Cropping Australia

Through the appointment of an Industry Resilience Officer, Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) was able to provide 1:1 support to growers and develop a range of resources to help growers with flood recovery. They also helped to build the capacity of land managers to reduce the impact of future events on their farm business. 

They focused on the importance of water quality, in particular ensuring water resources were restored following flooding and ensuring nutrients were appropriately utilised and recycled. PCA developed a series of resources including podcasts, newsletters, fact sheets and an online learning platform to provide information to growers. 

The resources were applicable to growers starting out in protected cropping and those already in the industry and looking at ways of building productivity and resilience.

The beef industry was supported directly by Local Land Services and DPIRD through the beef fundamentals course and upskilling of staff. For beef producers new to the industry, acquiring fundamental skills is important for success in growing healthy cattle.

Beef fundamentals is a self-paced course that provides the essential farming knowledge and skills needed to thrive as a beef producer.

The dairy industry was supported through one-on-one consultations with consultants. Dairy farmers from some of the most flood impacted regions in NSW have been able to access this targeted technical support and tailored advisory services to help with their recovery. 

The Early Needs Recovery Program saw 45 dairy farmers in the North Coast and Hunter regions receive multiple one-on-one consultations with industry recognised consultants following the February 2022 floods. 

Consultations have been crucial in supporting dairy farmers’ decision-making to enable a faster recovery and reposition themselves to better withstand the impact of future flood events. The advice was tailored to each dairy farm and the specific needs of the owner’s business to aid recovery.

ShoreTrackis a hands-on skills-based organisation providing pathways to employment for young people through social enterprise. Through the Fence Rebuilding Program ShoreTrack not only supported primary producers to recover from devastating floods but also provided hands-on training for their young participants. ShoreTrack supplied the labour to assist Valla farmers in rebuilding and repairing fence lines following the 2022 floods on the North Coast.

BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation working with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters. BlazeAid is continuing to support fence rebuilding in the Lismore Local Government Area. To express your interest in becoming a volunteer with BlazeAid visit their website. Read the case study about the Ulmarra graziers who had fence rebuilding support from BlazeAid following the 2022 floods.