BEGA Cheese has been named as one of 24 successful projects nationally to receive a grant under the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Futures Extension and Outreach Program.
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The $850,000 grant will allow Bega Cheese to provide essential information on the Carbon Farming Initiative to 480 dairy farmers and key service providers.
Bega Cheese will also use the funding to help dairy farmers reduce their emissions.
“This $850,000 grant is recognition of the hard work that Bega Cheese does in our local community,” Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly said.
“It will help to spread the word about how dairy farmers can participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI), which will benefit them in terms of cost-saving and help the environment by cutting pollution.
“Bega Cheese itself is investing large sums in improving energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint – the company is a shining example of how you can improve your environmental practices and at the same time boost productivity.
“I am delighted that our government is continuing to support this great local company towards a common goal that benefits everybody.”
The CFI is a voluntary carbon offsets scheme that allows farmers and land managers to earn carbon credits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon in vegetation and soils through changes to agricultural and land management practices.
Dr Kelly said the latest grant adds to the $282,000 the Federal Government provided to Bega Cheese under the Clean Technology program to help the company reduce its energy costs, and the $750,000 Federal contribution to the Bega Environmental Management Systems (BEMS) initiative.
Bega Cheese said the funds, which are spread out over four years, will enable the further extension of BEMS across all supplier regions.
Melissa Balas, senior environment and sustainability officer with Bega Cheese, said the company “will provide dairy farmers with the latest information on management practices that will reduce greenhouse emissions whilst maintaining or improving productivity”.
“We want our farmers to remain sustainable and resilient to future environmental challenges and this project will help ensure our farmers are aware of the latest information on how they can participate in the voluntary Carbon Farming Initiative,” she said.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig said Extension and Outreach projects will support the livestock, dairy, horticulture, cotton and grains industries, as well as targeting specific groups like fertiliser users and young farmers.
“The government is already investing in research and trialling techniques in the farm environment, and these grants share the how-to information with farmers,” Mr Ludwig said.
“The Extension and Outreach projects will help people learn how to reduce their emissions as part of their normal business and land management practices.”
Mr Ludwig said the Carbon Farming Initiative can enable farmers to reduce their emissions and make a second income stream as well.
Applications for the Extension and Outreach Program are open until April 2016, while funds remain.
Funding priorities and the phase 2 assessment cut-off date will be announced shortly.
For more information about the program, as well as a list successful projects, visit www.daff.gov.au/extensionandoutreach.
