Grants up to $75,000 to help sheep producers, affected by the live export phase-out, develop tailored business plans and adopt alternative farming systems and practices.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Farm Business Transition Program (FBTP)?
The Farm Business Transition Program Round 2 is designed to help individuals, businesses and communities plan and adapt ahead of the legislated end of live sheep exports by sea from 1 May 2028.
The Farm Business Transition Program supports sheep producers to prepare for this change by helping them develop tailored farm business plans and adopt alternative farming systems and practices.
This may include business planning, professional advice, technical advice, training, research and development adoption, on-farm infrastructure, equipment, pasture improvements, feed-base improvements and technology that supports a transition away from reliance on the live sheep export by sea trade.
Applicants may apply to both the Farm Business Transition Program and the Supply Chain Capacity Program. However, applicants cannot receive funding for the same activity from both programs.
Farm Business Transition Program level of support
Level of support:
- There is no minimum grant amount.
- The maximum grant amount is up to $75,000 per eligible applicant across both Round 1 and Round 2.
- Applicants who did not apply in Round 1, or who applied in Round 1 and were unsuccessful, may apply in Round 2 for up to $75,000.
- Applicants who received less than $75,000 in Round 1 may apply in Round 2 for the remaining balance. For example, an applicant that received $50,000 in Round 1 may apply for up to $25,000 in Round 2, bringing the total grant funding across both rounds to $75,000.
- Applicants who received the maximum $75,000 in Round 1 are not eligible to apply for Round 2.
Co-contribution:
- A 1:1 cash co-contribution is required.
- This means applicants must contribute $1 in cash for every $1 of grant funding requested.
- The grant can cover up to 50% of eligible expenditure, to a maximum grant amount of $75,000.
- In-kind contributions will not be accepted as matched funding.
- Applicants cannot use funding from other Commonwealth, state, territory or local government sources to fund their share of eligible expenditure.
- Grant funding cannot be used to reimburse retrospective costs incurred before the grant agreement is executed or before the agreed activity start date.
Farm Business Transition Program important dates
- This program is currently closed
Farm Business Transition Program objectives and outcomes
Program objectives and outcomes:
- Support sheep producers affected by the phase out of live sheep exports by sea.
- Help producers access planning, advice, training, research, and farm improvements.
- Encourage producers to use new farming systems and practices.
- Help producers move away from relying on live sheep exports by sea.
- Provide funding so producers can get advice and change their business operations.
- Help producers supply sheep meat to domestic processors and other markets.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Farm Business Transition Program support
Eligible grant activities must directly relate to the proposed project and support transition away from live sheep exports by sea.
Eligible activities may include:
- adoption of research and development innovations
- engaging qualified or accredited professional services to support new or diversified business planning and business models
- participation in accredited or industry-recognised training programs that build capability to enable business transition
- infrastructure upgrades and equipment purchases to support new or diversified business models
- enhancement of feed base and pasture management systems to support new or diversified business models
- adoption of traceability, animal welfare, carbon farming or other technologies that reflect new or diversified business models
- participation in new domestic or export markets, including meat, crops or horticulture, through business diversification and supply chain engagement
- other reasonable and relevant activities that support transition away from live sheep exports by sea and are not listed as ineligible expenditure.
Eligible expenditure may include:
- development of farm business plans focused on the sheep-producing activity of the business
- adoption of research and development innovations to assist in creating new value chains
- participation in accredited or industry-recognised training programs to guide business transition, including reasonable travel and accommodation costs linked to relevant workshops or training events
- engaging qualified or accredited professional services to identify and implement adaptation strategies
- enhancement of feed base and pasture management systems, including supplementary feeding strategies, fodder crop and protein meal establishment, and investment in storage and seeding equipment
- purchasing or upgrading technology to support business planning and decision-making, such as electronic identification systems, remote sensors for water and pasture, farm mapping software, weather integration tools and carbon planning platforms
- purchasing or upgrading water infrastructure to improve water management, such as water-harvesting systems, water-efficient irrigation and troughs, or dam construction
- improvement of grazing infrastructure, such as installing fencing and watering systems for rotational grazing, developing hay sheds, and investing in infrastructure that supports free-range or grass-fed livestock management
- development and expansion of other revenue avenues in existing mixed farming enterprises, such as expanding cropping or local and regional commercialisation of private meat sales of mutton
- other relevant activities that support transition away from live sheep exports by sea and are not ineligible.
Ineligible expenditure
Grant funding cannot be used for:
- purchase of land
- wages
- major capital expenditure
- retrospective costs incurred before the funding agreement is executed or before the agreed project start date
- costs incurred in preparing a grant application or related documentation
- general ongoing administration costs, such as electricity, phone and rent
- debt repayments, interest charges or costs associated with financing major construction or capital works
- domestic travel not linked to an eligible activity
- overseas travel
- activities for which other Commonwealth, state, territory or local government bodies have primary responsibility
- activities funded through other Commonwealth or state government programs
- ongoing compliance or regulatory costs
- fact-finding travel or general interest research activities
- costs that are not directly connected to delivering the funded project.
Other Farm Business Transition Grant important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Farm Business Transition Program support
To be eligible, applicants must be a sheep producer that has actively participated in the live sheep exports by sea industry since 1 July 2020.
Applicants must satisfy the Round 1 eligibility conditions, general eligibility requirements and eligible entity type requirements.
Applicants must:
- have an Australian Business Number
- have a Property Identification Code
- be registered for GST
- be a resident of Australia for operational and tax purposes
- have an account with an Australian financial institution
- be a legal entity with capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract with the Australian Government.
Eligible entity types include:
- Company
- Cooperative
- Incorporated Association
- Indigenous Corporation
- Partnership
- Person
- Sole Trader
An entity that received a grant of $75,000 under Round 1 is not eligible to apply for Round 2.
Applicants are also not eligible if they are:
- unable to meet the additional eligibility requirements for participation in the live sheep exports by sea industry since 1 July 2020
- a Non-corporate Commonwealth Entity
- an International Entity
- a Corporate Commonwealth Entity
- a Corporate State or Territory Entity
- Local Government
- a Non-corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
- a Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
- a Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
- a Statutory Entity
- an Unincorporated Association
- an organisation, or project partner, included on the National Redress Scheme list of institutions that have not joined or signified intent to join the Scheme
- an organisation, or project partner, included on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency non-compliant list.
Farm Business Transition Program assessment criteria
Criterion 1: Impact of the phase out on your business – 50%
Applicants must explain how the end of live sheep exports by sea has affected, and will continue to affect, their business.
A strong response should clearly describe:
- how much of the farm business relies on sheep production
- how much of that sheep production relies on live sheep exports by sea
- the applicant’s flock size
- the applicant’s overall farm revenue
- the proportion and value of revenue connected to live sheep exports by sea
- examples of how the business has been affected since 1 July 2020
- how these impacts are expected to continue or change in the future.
Criterion 2: Alignment with program objectives and outcomes – 25%
Applicants must explain what they are seeking funding for and how the project will help their business transition away from live sheep exports by sea.
A strong response should clearly describe:
- what the grant activity will deliver
- how the activity fits with the applicant’s existing farm business
- how the activity will reduce reliance on live sheep exports by sea
- what practical change the project will create for the business
- how the project supports new or diversified farming systems, markets, infrastructure, technology or business practices.
Criterion 3: Project budget and delivery – 25%
Applicants must explain how the project will be costed, managed and delivered.
A strong response should clearly describe:
- the main parts of the project
- how the project will be delivered
- where materials, equipment or services will be sourced
- the project budget, using the mandatory template
- the project timeline
- how the applicant will complete the activity by 31 May 2028
- the main risks to delivery and how they will be managed.
How do I get the Farm Business Transition Program support?
To successfully receive funding, applicants should demonstrate that they:
- are an eligible sheep producer with active participation in the live sheep exports by sea industry since 1 July 2020
- can provide acceptable evidence of participation in the live sheep export by sea supply chain
- have a clear business need arising from the phase out of live sheep exports by sea
- can quantify the impact of the phase out on the business, including flock size, revenue and reliance on live export markets
- have a practical project that directly supports transition away from live sheep exports by sea
- can clearly explain how the project aligns with the program objectives and intended outcomes
- can show how the project will integrate with existing farm operations
- can demonstrate the project will create a real change in production systems, market access, business capability, infrastructure or diversification
- have a realistic and detailed project budget using the mandatory template
- can provide quotes or suitable cost estimates for budget items over $10,000, GST exclusive
- have the required 1:1 cash co-contribution available
- can deliver the project after the grant agreement is executed and before 31 May 2028
- have identified key delivery risks and practical mitigation strategies
- can provide all required attachments before submission
- have not received other government funding for the same grant activity
- can show value with relevant money and a strong connection between the proposed activity and the program outcomes.
Information to prepare for the Farm Business Transition Program support
Applicants should prepare the following information and documents before applying:
- ABN details
- GST registration details
- Property Identification Code
- Australian financial institution account details
- recent bank statement issued within the last six months to verify bank account details
- entity type documentation
- trust deed and any subsequent variations, if applying as trustee on behalf of a trust
- partnership agreement and any subsequent variations, if applying on behalf of a partnership
- evidence of active participation in the live sheep exports by sea industry since 1 July 2020
- Round 1 submission reference number, if applicable
- details of any Round 1 Farm Business Transition Program funding received
- confirmation that the same activity has not received funding through another Commonwealth or state government program
- project title
- plain English project description
- service area details
- proposed project start and end dates
- funding requested for 2026–27 and 2027–28
- mandatory Project Budget template
- quotes or cost estimates for any budget item over $10,000, GST exclusive
- activity deliverables, including project item name, objective, deliverable, measures of success, timeframe, status and comments
- risk management plan, including risk name, details of risk, risk management approach and comments
- details of expected job creation, if relevant
- details of expected upskilling of employees or family members working in the business, if relevant
- conflict of interest declaration.
Applicants should also prepare strong responses to each of the three assessment criteria, noting the 6,000-character limit per criterion.
Applying for the Farm Business Transition Program support
Applications must be submitted online through GrantConnect.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Farm Business Transition Program resources
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