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Drought Preparedness Grants

Drought Preparedness Grants offer up to $50,000 as a co-contribution grant to assist primary producers undertake on-farm capital improvements that will improve the drought preparedness of their property.

Farmer looking into field with irrigator

What assistance is available?

Primary producers can now apply for a grant of 25 per cent of the cost of purchasing new permanent capital infrastructure to a maximum cumulative amount of $50,000 over five years.

The grant aims to assist producers with the cost of implementing on-farm capital improvements and carrying out drought preparedness activities identified in their Farm Business Resilience Plan including the below and as outlined in the guidelines. Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

  • water infrastructure including pipes, water tanks, water troughs, new dam construction, drilling a new working bore, water conservation infrastructure and water pumps
  • storage, mixing and feeding out equipment for grain, fodder, molasses and other supplements
  • grain storage and equipment that improves the ability of the business to manage drought
  • reasonable freight components to purchase and install equipment or infrastructure
  • consumables including fuel for own machinery used in relation to the drought preparedness project and
  • contractor costs or non-salaried employees’ costs directly associated with implementing the drought preparedness project.

A QRIDA Sustainability Loan may be used as the co-contribution to the Drought Preparedness Grant for implementation activities.

To be eligible for Drought Preparedness Grant, the project will:

  • involve the purchase and installation of new permanent capital infrastructure
  • improve the ability of the primary production business to prepare for continue to operate in, or recover from, drought conditions
  • be a drought preparedness activity listed in your resilience plan for the primary production business and
  • not have already commenced the project before the assistance is approved.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for a Drought Preparedness Grant, applicants must:

  • demonstrate at least one person in the primary production business meets the definition of a primary producer;
  • demonstrate an ability to provide the remaining contribution to the grant requested;
  • demonstrate that any necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained; and
  • present a Farm Business Resilience Plan (as outlined in Section 6 of the guidelines), satisfactory to QRIDA.

To be eligible for a Drought Preparedness Grant, applicants must not have:

  • made an application to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries supported by an invoice issued in the past six month period for assistance under:
    • a freight subsidy under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme
    • the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme; and
  • previously received a Drought Preparedness Grant for the same project activity.

Find out more about the Farm Business Resilience Plan here.

Take this example...

By completing their Farm Business Resilience Plan, Jamie knows that installing three large feed storage sheds will assist with protecting their farm from drought.

After seeking quotes for these sheds, they find it will cost $230,000 to build. Jamie decides to apply for a Drought Preparedness Grant to cover up to 25% of the cost to a maximum of $50,000.

Applying through QRIDA, they submit their quotes and Farm Business Resilience Plan for review. Meeting all the eligibility criteria, Jamie is approved for the Drought Preparedness Grant and receives $50,000 as it does not exceed 25% of the cost of the capital infrastructure they wish to build. This money will now go towards building the feed storage sheds.

Apply now

Find your application form and relevant documents here.

Submit your application

Applications for the Drought Preparedness Grant Scheme must be submitted to QRIDA by one of the following:

QRIDA is administering the Drought Preparedness Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Frequently asked questions

View all FAQs

  • Yes, however, you must be operating separate primary production enterprises under separate Australian Business Numbers (ABN). As part of the assessment, QRIDA will confirm these are eligible separate businesses.

  • For full definition’s related to the Scheme please see the guidelines.

  • No. Funding is not guaranteed at any stage of the application process and the payment of rebates is subject to the availability of funding.

  • A QRIDA Sustainability Loan may be able to help fund the remainder of your project. These loans offer up to $1.3 million and can help you invest in the latest infrastructure to create a viable future for your farming business including activities that improve farming system sustainability, natural resource sustainability and financial sustainability. Eligibility criteria apply.

  • Primary producer means:

    (a) a sole trader who

           a. spends the majority of the person’s labour on a primary production enterprise; and

           b. either

                    i. derives the majority of the person’s income from the primary production enterprise; or

                    ii. in the opinion of the authority, based on the demonstrated production potential of the
                        primary production enterprise, will eventually derive the majority of the person’s income
                        from the primary production enterprise; or

    (b) a partnership, company or trust that carries on a primary production enterprise, any partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries

          a. spend the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise; and

          b. either

                   i. derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or

                  ii. in the opinion of the authority, based on the demonstrated production potential of the
                      primary production enterprise, will eventually derive the majority of their income
                      from the primary production enterprise.

  • No, grant funding is only eligible for projects approved under the scheme. Approved projects must not have been started (or completed) at the time of applying.

  • Yes, you are entitled to a decision review. See reviewing a decision for more information.

  • Your project should commence within 90 days and should be completed, with approved funding drawn within six months from entering into a letter of offer with QRIDA. If your Farm Business Resilience Plan outlines projects over a longer duration, these should be the subject of another application for grant funding after completion of the current project.     

  • The draw down process will be clearly outlined in your approval correspondence from QRIDA. To draw down on the approved grant funds, you may either:

    1. submit official invoices and QRIDA will pay 25 per cent of the invoice amount to suppliers or
    2. submit fully paid official invoices and official receipts or similar evidence of payment and QRIDA will reimburse 25 per cent of the receipt amount to the grant recipient.

    You are able to make multiple requests to draw against the approved grant amount within the approved time frame.

    You are still entitled to claim all of the GST credits for your purchase even though QRIDA is providing funds to assist with the purchase. QRIDA will only reimburse eligible amounts excluding GST.

  • Call QRIDA on 1800 623 946. QRIDA also has a network of Regional Area Managers located across Queensland who can help you with your application.

  • Yes, you can. If eligible for the grant, you will be given conditional approval by QRIDA. This approval would be subject to you arranging your co-contribution to the equivalent amount.

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Related information
Farm Business Resilience Plan template - DAF Website
Last updated
06 May 2022