Funding available for on-farm producer demonstration sites

Sheep and goat producer groups are invited to apply for funding through Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) program to validate the on-farm benefits of adopting MLA research findings and technologies.

The PDS program provides funding of up to $25,000 a year for three years for producer groups to demonstrate, develop and adopt new innovation and on-farm management practices into local farming systems that improve profitability and productivity.

MLA’s General Manager – Producer Consultation and Adoption, Michael Crowley, said the objective of the PDS program was to shorten the time lag between technological innovation and adoption of practices by producers at a local level.

“MLA is committed to partnering with producer groups to achieve improved business profitability and productivity outcomes,” Mr Crowley said.

“The key outcome of a PDS is producer adoption of the demonstrated innovation and management practices resulting in improved business performance.

“Funding is available for up to six sheep projects and one to two goat projects that are able to commence in early 2017.” MLA is calling for preliminary applications for producer demonstration sites related to sheep enterprises that align with regional Southern Australia Meat Research Council (SAMRC) and Western Australian Livestock Research Council (WALRC) priorities.

From a goat industry perspective, applications are sought focused around improved feedbase utilisation, improved business/herd management and genetic improvement.

To help guide producer groups considering applying for the PDS program, MLA is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, 5 October at 12.30pm (eastern daylight saving time).

The webinar will address some of the common mistakes people make in their applications and provide tips for creating a compelling application.

It will examine what activities are and aren’t eligible for funding, and examples of what’s considered a PDS.

Preliminary PDS applications should be submitted on or before 21 October, 2016.

For more information, visit: http://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/funding-opportunities/producers

To register for the webinar, visit: http://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/events-and-workshops/mla-producer-demonstration-sites--what-you-need-to-know--free-webinar