Farming smarter​​​​​

The agriculture sector needs access to the most advanced technologies and practices to continue to ‘farm smarter’.

Research, Development & Extension (RD&E)

The Australian Government will help farmers keep up-to-date with the latest research and technologies and new ways of improving business.

• 100 million over four years to extend the Rural R&D for Profit Programme to 2021–22 to get research onto the farm.
  
• A $1.4 million research boost to match industry levies and contributions in the export fodder and tea tree oil industries.
• A $1.2 million allocation to the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation for small industries.
• New RD&E priorities to direct levy funds to areas that will improve farm gate returns.
• Reduce Research and Development Corporations administration costs to leave more money for RD&E.
• $50 million to boost Australia’s emergency pest and disease eradication capability.
• $50 million to give farmers better tools and control methods against pest animals and weeds.

Skills and labour

The government is already helping farmers access skilled and reliable labour by:

• Focusing on better training through the $664.1 million Industry Skills Fund.
• Making visa programmes more flexible by expanding the Seasonal Worker Programme Australia-wide, and the Working Holiday Maker (417 and 462) visas in northern Australia.
• Establishing a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration to review the list of occupations available for sponsorship under the 457 visa.