Horticultural primary producers across NSW can access grants of up to $100,000 for the purchase and installation of protective netting over crops as part of the Australian Government’s $35 million nation-wide Horticultural Netting Program Trial Expansion.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the Australian Government had expanded an earlier trial in a number of states to provide assistance to growers in NSW. 

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW, Dugald Saunders said the program will supplement half the cost of purchasing and installing netting, enabling growers in NSW to protect their crops and secure their investment.

Who can access this grant?

To be eligible, applicants must:

• be a primary producer;
• draw at least 50% of gross income from the horticultural primary production enterprise;
• contribute a part of their labour to the horticultural primary production enterprise; and
• hold an active ABN

Please refer to the program guidelines available on the RAA website for detailed eligibility criteria.

What can the grant be used for?

This grant can be used to offset the cost of purchasing and installing new protective netting over existing horticulture crops. This includes the cost of a third-party provider to supply, or supply and install, new netting and associated structures.

The netting must be purchased and installed to increase horticultural productivity, reducing the impacts of future adverse weather events or animal predation, and to reduce water usage. Mesh size cannot be larger than 30mm.

Purchases and installation undertaken since 14 December 2021 are eligible for this program.

How much is the grant?

Eligible horticulturalists can apply for a grant of up to 50% of the estimated cost to purchase and install new protective netting, to a maximum grant amount of $100,000.

In NSW, the Horticultural Netting Program trial is administered by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) and they expect demand for this program to be high so it’s important to get your application in early, as funding is limited.

For more information about the program, please phone the RAA on 1800 678 593 or visit the RAA website: http://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/netting