Annual open call for new Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) projects
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is committed to partnering with producer groups to improve business profitability and productivity. Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) aim to increase the rate of adoption of key management practices and technologies that improve business profitability, productivity and sustainability through livestock producers pursuing new skills and management practices in their own commercial livestock production systems.
The PDS program underpins MLA’s research, development and adoption (RD&A) programs by supporting groups of producers to demonstrate, adapt and validate the triple bottom line benefits of integrating new management practices, research and development outputs, and associated skills within the context of their commercial production systems. The key outcome of a PDS is producer adoption of the demonstrated management practices resulting in improved business performance.
Funding is available for sheep, beef cattle and/or goat producer groups to validate and demonstrate the business value of integrating new technologies and on-farm management practices into local production systems.
Producer groups who wish to participate in the PDS program will have the option to apply for either a levy, co-contributor or partnership PDS.
Producer groups wishing to engage in a levy PDS project can apply for up to $30,000 per year, for the length of the project.
Groups wishing to engage in a co-contributor PDS project can apply for up to $60,000 per year (plus access fee), for the length of the project. Co-contributor projects require cash investment in the project, which is matched by the MLA Donor Company (MDC). A minimum of 15% of the co-contribution must be producer investment (cash).
The ‘Partnership PDS’, funded through MDC, invites producer groups and other eligible third parties to collaborate with MLA, enhancing project delivery and outcomes with the benefit of higher funding values. Partnership PDS applicants can request up to $100,000 (+ access fee) per year for the duration of their project. Partnership PDS projects will require an eligible cash contribution in line with MDC funding requirements.
All producer groups will need to engage a facilitator who is experienced in group coordination and extension, monitoring and evaluation of on-farm practice change and communication and reporting.
To find out more information on what is involved in a PDS project, check out the PDS FAQs.
