19 Feb 2024
- Australian shoppers will be seeing more locally grown cotton products in stores as a growing number of brands and retailers apply to use Cotton Australia’s Australian Cotton mark. This increased demand is reflective of the industry’s traceability and sustainability. Read more here.
- The ACCC is seeking submissions on a new consultation paper released as part of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct review. Have your say here by Thursday, 29 February 2024.
- Disaster Assistance Loans up to a maximum of $250,000 are now available for primary producers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Kirrily. Essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 are also available. Read more here.
- Canegrowers is calling for better local government planning following a trend towards the rezoning of prime agricultural land for housing and renewable energy infrastructure developments. Read more here.
- New energy efficiency grants are now available through Round 2 of the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Enterprises program. Queensland applications open on Wednesday, 28 February. Farm businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as applications open due to the high number of expected applicants. Read more here.
- Grants are available for up to $200,000 to fund projects which provide opportunities to generate economic and employment opportunities related to primary production value chains across rural and remote Queensland. Read more and express your interest here by 28 March 2024.
- Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers has shared thoughts on a recent request from Coles for suppliers to reduce their own costs, rather than request fairer prices. Read more here.
- The Federal Government has responded to criticism of their proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy, announcing a revised levy rate based on GDP contribution per commodity group, rather than the previously proposed 10 percent increase on existing industry levies. Producers remain opposed to the levy due to a range of transparency concerns. Read more here.
- Goanna Ag’s Queensland Murray-Darling Basin (QMDB) Telemetry Project is available to support water users to install compliant telemetry devices on surface water meters in the QMDB. Participants will receive the fully subsidised price of the device itself, installation, and the first year of data services. Learn more and apply here. The project is funded by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.
- Goondiwindi-based Algae Pharm has scored a big win for one of Australia’s emerging agricultural industries: algae farming, having received SGS Australia food grade certification for its marine algae-based products. Read more here.
The post 10 Things to Know – 19 February appeared first on Queensland Farmers' Federation.