Q&As
Strategic decision-making on farm (Workbook)
Q. What is the Plan2Farmproject?
A. The project supports farmers to develop a strategy for their whole farming enterprise. By understanding their vision for the farm, farmers are better equipped to make good decisions based on good information such as on farm irrigation modernisation and connection to the irrigation backbone, how much land they will require and the volumes of water they will need.
Q. How is the project going to be rolled-out?
A. An independent and suitably skilled person will sit down with the farming family to complete a workbook, answering questions about the whole farming enterprise to determine key actions those farmers need to take to achieve their vision for the farm.The farmers will then be supported to implement these actions for upto three years.
Q. How much will it cost me to participate in the project?
A. All costs for the development of the workbook are covered by the project. Implementing the actions will be at the cost of the farmers.
Q. Where is the project being undertaken and who can apply?
A. Farmers within the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District and irrigators in surrounding diversion areas.
Q. How is this program funded?
A. The Victorian Government is providing $1.6 million to support the delivery of the project.
Q. What will this program do to support farmers?
A. Our irrigators are a key part of the social and economic viability of our regions and as landholders they play an important part in maintaining the health of the environment.
Initiatives like this will support a more resilient and productive irrigation sector as well as build resilience to changing markets and environmental conditions such as climate change, drought and flooding. This, in turn, supports a resilient irrigation sector.
Q. Can’t the government just provide financial assistance to irrigators being impacted by market and environmental changes?
A. Providing the opportunity to undertake strategic farm enterprise planning is a long-term investment that aims to support the farming community to understand and respond to the complex and significant changes occurring across the GMID and surrounding irrigation diversion areas.
Q. When will I be able to apply?
A. Expressions of Interest in the program will be released in early 2017. Please check the North Central Catchment Management Authority website ( closer to this time for confirmation of the release date.
Q. How many farmers will be able to access the program?
A. it is estimated that 400 families/farmers will benefit from this initiative.
Page 1 of 1