Queensland based primary producers who may be ready to undertake on-farm capital improvement activities or restocking and replanting activities to improve the drought resilience of their primary production enterprise may be eligible for a Drought Ready and Recovery Finance Loan of up to $250,000.

Primary producers can now apply for a loan to a maximum amount of $250,000.

The loan aims to assist producers with the cost of implementing new on-farm permanent capital infrastructure or restocking or replanting activities as identified in the Farm Business Resilience Plan to improve drought resilience.

QRIDA is administering the Drought Ready and Recovery Finance Loans Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

What can the loan be used for?

• improving on-farm water infrastructure
• implementing grain storage
• reasonable freight components to purchase and install equipment or infrastructure
• contractor costs or non-salaried employees’ costs directly associated with implementing the drought preparedness project
• removing unviable crops, plants or trees and  purchasing and planting new seed, seedlings or trees or
• purchasing and vaccinating new stock or drenching new stock.

Please be aware this is not an exhaustive list. Please see the guidelines for a list of eligible activities.

To be eligible for a Drought Ready and Recovery Finance Loan, applicants must:

• demonstrate at least one person in the primary production business is a primary producer
• demonstrate that the project/s and activities identified in the Farm Business Resilience Plan will improve the drought readiness and recovery prospects of the primary production business
• have prospects for viability and the ability to service the loan
• present a Farm Business Resilience Plan satisfactory to QRIDA and
• demonstrate to the satisfaction of QRIDA, for drought recovery finance for replanting or restocking, that the seasonal conditions have improved following drought to enable the restocking or replanting activities.

To be eligible for a loan applicants must also 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; or
  • the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.

• Fax: 07 3032 0300
• Email: contact_us@qrida.qld.gov.au