Farm Business Resilience Program Queensland

Purpose and Program Overview

The Farm Business Resilience Program Queensland is a Queensland Government program that helps primary producers strengthen the productivity, profitability and resilience of their farm businesses. The free program provides access to business planning support, peer-to-peer learning and one-on-one assistance to help producers identify risks, improve decision-making and prepare for future drought and climate-related challenges.

The program also helps producers identify opportunities to innovate and grow, consider climate forecasts and develop a tailored Farm Business Resilience Plan. A completed plan can also provide the basis for applying for Queensland’s Drought Preparedness Grant, which contributes 25% of eligible capital infrastructure costs up to $50,000.

The program is co-funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program. It also includes industry-specific extension projects covering major Queensland primary industries.

Key Grant Details

• Program support: Free business resilience planning, training, peer learning and one-on-one assistance.
• Associated grant: The Drought Preparedness Grant provides 25% of the cost of purchasing new or upgrading permanent capital infrastructure, up to $50,000.
• Application dates: No single statewide opening or closing date is specified on the Farm Business Resilience Program page. Participation and associated grant applications are subject to the relevant program and funding arrangements.
• Eligible businesses: Queensland primary producers across agricultural industries.
• Co-contribution: The core Farm Business Resilience Program is free. For the associated Drought Preparedness Grant, the applicant must fund the remaining eligible project cost because the grant contributes 25%.
• Location: Queensland only.
• Program partners: Australian Government Future Drought Fund and Queensland Government Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.

Priority Sectors

The program supports primary producers across Queensland, with specific industry extension projects currently covering:

• Cane
• Livestock and grazing
• Horticulture
• Dairy
• Grain farming
• Intensive agriculture
• Farm business resilience planning support for all industries

The program therefore has a broad agricultural scope rather than being restricted to a single primary production sector.

Funding Scope

Farm Business Resilience Program

The core program is free and focuses on capability development rather than providing a fixed cash payment to each participating farm business.

Support can include:

• Development, implementation and review of Farm Business Resilience Plans.
• One-on-one business assistance.
• Peer-to-peer learning.
• Business management and strategic planning.
• Risk management and decision-making support.
• Climate and drought preparedness.
• Identification of opportunities for innovation and business growth.
• Information about related grants and loans.

Drought Preparedness Grant

The program is linked to the Queensland Drought Preparedness Grant, which provides:

• 25% of eligible project costs.
• Maximum grant of $50,000 per applicant.
• Funding for the purchase of new or upgrading of permanent capital infrastructure that improves drought preparedness.
• A completed Farm Business Resilience Plan, or an equivalent farm business plan covering the same details, is required before applying.

Project Timeline

No standard project duration is stated on the central Farm Business Resilience Program page. Individual activities and associated grant arrangements may have their own timeframes and application requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

For the Farm Business Resilience Program, key eligibility considerations include:

• The applicant must be a Queensland primary producer.
• The business should operate within the Queensland primary production sector.
• Producers from a broad range of agricultural industries can access resilience planning support.
• Participants can access assistance to develop, implement or review a Farm Business Resilience Plan.
• For the associated Drought Preparedness Grant, the applicant must have a Farm Business Resilience Plan or equivalent farm business plan covering the required information.
• The central program page does not specify a general turnover threshold, minimum employee number, ABN requirement or GST registration threshold.
• Applicants should confirm any additional eligibility requirements with the relevant program administrator or Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) before commencing an associated grant application.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The Farm Business Resilience Program supports activities that improve the capability and resilience of primary producers, including:

• Farm business planning.
• Strategic financial and business management.
• Risk identification and management.
• Drought and climate preparedness.
• Peer-to-peer learning.
• One-on-one business assistance.
• Productivity and profitability improvement.
• Innovation and business growth planning.
• Assessment of management practices.
• Identification of solutions to operational and climate-related risks.
• Development, implementation and review of Farm Business Resilience Plans.

For the associated Drought Preparedness Grant, eligible expenditure focuses on new or upgraded permanent capital infrastructure that improves drought preparedness. The grant contributes 25% of eligible costs, up to $50,000.

Examples of infrastructure improvements can include projects designed to improve water-use efficiency and drought resilience, subject to the applicable grant guidelines.

Assessment Process

The Farm Business Resilience Program is not structured as a single competitive grant round. It provides free business resilience assistance through Queensland’s delivery partners and industry-specific extension projects.

The associated Drought Preparedness Grant is a separate financial assistance mechanism. Applicants should demonstrate that the proposed infrastructure investment supports drought preparedness and meets the relevant eligibility and application requirements.

For the Farm Business Resilience Program, the key considerations include:

• Relevance of the business’s identified risks.
• Opportunities to improve productivity and profitability.
• Farm business resilience and drought preparedness.
• Risk management and decision-making.
• Potential opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Development and implementation of an appropriate Farm Business Resilience Plan.

Recent Program Updates

• The Queensland program continues to operate as part of the broader Future Drought Fund framework.
• The program is co-funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.
• Queensland currently supports seven industry-specific extension projects, covering cane, livestock and grazing, horticulture, dairy, grain farming, intensive agriculture and resilience planning across all industries.
• The program continues to provide access to associated grants and loans, including the Drought Preparedness Grant.
• The Drought Preparedness Grant currently contributes 25% of eligible capital infrastructure costs up to $50,000 and requires a Farm Business Resilience Plan or equivalent plan.

Application Tips

• Confirm that the farm business qualifies as a Queensland primary producer.
• Engage with the relevant Farm Business Resilience Program provider for the appropriate region or industry.
• Prepare a clear overview of the farm’s current operations, risks and business objectives.
• Develop or update the Farm Business Resilience Plan before applying for the associated Drought Preparedness Grant.
• Clearly identify how proposed infrastructure will improve drought preparedness or business resilience.
• Obtain accurate project costings and retain supporting quotations and financial documentation where required.
• Check the latest Drought Preparedness Grant requirements before committing to eligible expenditure.
• Consider whether the proposed project also supports productivity, profitability, water efficiency, risk management or climate adaptation.
• Avoid commencing expenditure before confirming whether the relevant grant permits costs incurred before approval.
• Keep records demonstrating the business’s eligibility and capacity to meet any required contribution.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact Pattens Group to discuss the business’s circumstances and identify suitable grant opportunities.

For official guidelines, application details, program contacts and current information, applicants should refer to the Queensland Government’s Farm Business Resilience Program and the relevant Queensland government grant administrator.