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Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grants 2018 Guidelines & Criteria
Landcare Australia www.landcareaustralia.org.au
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Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grants 2018
Guidelines for Applicants Lion, in partnership with Landcare Australia, is inviting eligible groups to apply for a 2018 Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grant. As part of Lion’s efforts to create long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with Lion farmers, the Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grants program supports dairy farmers in improving the sustainability, productivity and profitability of their farms. Projects must address at least one of the two priority funding areas - improve on-farm biodiversity and land management; and / or improve energy efficiency. To determine whether your project is eligible, please see the eligibility and assessment criteria sections below.
Project Funding Available
A total funding pool of $80,000.00 (excluding GST) is available for eight (8) grants, of up to $10,000 (excluding GST) per project. Enquiries & Assistance
If you have any questions after reading these guidelines, please call (03) 8631 7800, or email: [email protected]. If you need assistance with your application, please contact your local Lion Farm Services representative. They may be able to refer you to an industry specialist who can recommend equipment to best suit your dairy farm.
Key Dates
Applications open Wednesday 18th July 2018
Applications close Wednesday 29th August 2018
Successful applicants notified Monday 24th September 2018
Progress Report due 21st December 2018
Project completed and Final Report due 14th June 2019
Landcare Australia www.landcareaustralia.org.au
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Eligibility
Your farming business is eligible to apply for a Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grant 2018 if it supplies milk directly to Lion, or is part of the Dairy Famers Milk Co-operative (DFMC). Your project must address at least one of the two priority areas below:
• Improve on-farm biodiversity and land management, i.e. through supporting improvements to biodiversity, native habitat or vegetation communities, nutrient management, and / or reducing erosion impacts; or
• Improve your on-farm energy efficiency, i.e. through reducing energy consumption and / or implementing renewable energy infrastructure.
Grant-specific conditions:
• Recipients of funding for energy efficiency projects are required to provide evidence of a reduction in energy usage (in kilowatt hours (kWh), and tonnes of carbon), for at least 12 months before, and 12 months after grant funds are provided.
• All applicants are required to undertake and provide their DairySAT as part of their application. DairySAT is an environmental self-assessment tool for Australian dairy farmers.
• Preference will be given to applicants who did not receive Lion Landcare funding in the 2016/17 year.
• Funding must not be used for political or religious organisations, fundraising dinners or events, debt reduction activities, and / or the purchase of vehicles, computers or media equipment.
General Terms and Conditions
Landcare Australia is responsible for administering the funding for this grant. Prior to receiving funding you will be required to agree to the Landcare Australia Grants - terms and conditions.
Priority Funding Areas
The following section describes the priority funding areas.
1. Improving on-farm biodiversity and land management
Improving nutrient management
Adequate nutrition for pastures and fodder crops is essential for profitable dairy farms. Inputs such as fertiliser (which is a significant operational cost), effluent and manure are the primary sources of nutrients and nutrient loss from farms. Farm nutrient loss is costly, and can degrade waterways, groundwater, habitat for local fauna, and contribute to greenhouse gases.
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The pathways and causes of nutrient loss are well understood, and farmers in recent times have been using tools such as the Farm Nutrient Loss Index (FNLI) and Nutrient Management Plans to simultaneously identify profitability, and environmental risks.
Opportunities to reduce these risks include nutrient budgeting for differing farm management zones, spreading effluent over larger areas with buffer zones for drainage lines / creeks, controlling drainage from hardstand areas and lanes, and composting waste.
Reducing erosion impacts
Implementing erosion control on farms protects our invaluable soil resources and provides productivity and profitability benefits. Soil is essentially a non-renewable resource because it can erode much faster than it is created. Preventing erosion and the movement of sediment also has a significant beneficial impact on water quality and aquatic ecosystems in creeks and rivers.
Preventing erosion and/or rehabilitating actively eroding areas in the early stages can greatly reduce the impact on farm operations and costs. For example, preventing or repairing gully formation increases the efficiency of machinery operations, reduces the reliance on expensive manual works, and often reduces requirement for fertiliser inputs. Designing farm layout to reduce potential erosion, particularly in regard to drainage plans, diversion structures and maintenance of ground cover, reduces the time, costs and lost productivity involved in repairing erosion later on.
Importantly, healthy native vegetation around farms can assist to stabilise soils and greatly reduce the potential for erosion.
Examples of erosion and nutrient management projects: • Fertiliser Management Plan for Mt Victor Rodwell, WA (agiVivo) • Managing Dairy Farm Effluent (Gipps Dairy) • Maximising your fertiliser $ with whole farm soil analysis & mapping (Dairy Australia) • Cradle Coast NRM & DairyTas – Soil Nutrient Management project (Dairy Tas) • Dairying Better n Better for Tomorrow – Gin Gin dairy farmers (Burnett Mary Regional Group) • Effluent Management Video Series (Dairy Australia) • Dairy waste (Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation)
Increasing biodiversity
Re-establishing biodiversity is one of the key ongoing challenges for Australian farming. Farmers now recognise that to support native wildlife and improve overall land management, some areas of their farm can be protected or replanted with native vegetation.
Many of the remnant areas of our most threatened ecological communities are located on farms. Activities such as fencing vulnerable habitat to exclude stock, control of invasive pests, revegetation with native species, installing wetlands and repairing eroded slopes or gullies, are highly beneficial to both farms and the wider community.
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Over recent years, many farmers have revegetated creeks, shelterbelts, wildlife corridors and wetlands. Benefits include improved stock health, creation of native wildlife habitat, control of erosion on waterways and slopes, reduced salinity and improved water quality.
Examples of biodiversity and native habitat projects: • BIGG Watercourse Revegetation project (Barossa Improved Grazing Group) • Waterway Protection Benefits Dairy Farms (Corner Inlet Connections) • Dairy the Green Way (Dairy Australia / GippsDairy) • Arnum Land for All – Case Study (Dairy Australia / GippsDairy) • Tree Benefit Sale Dairy Farm (Dairy Australia / GippsDairy) • Share Farming with Nature (Dairy Australia / Gipps Dairy)
2. Improving on-farm energy efficiency
Reducing energy consumption on the dairy farm
The price of energy is increasing, and accounts for a significant proportion of a dairy farm’s operating costs. Many dairy farmers undertake energy efficiency assessments to identify opportunities to increase profitability by reducing costs, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Every farm is unique, and the potential range of options for energy savings varies between farms. Across the industry, assessments have found that similar herd sizes have significant variation in energy costs. Investments in reduced energy consumption in cooling milk, milk harvesting and generating hot water, are some of the opportunities for improving energy efficiency.
Renewable energy (solar and wind turbine) systems
A reliable and efficient source of energy is essential for a profitable and productive dairy farm, with high-energy demands from cooling milk, harvesting milk and generating hot water.
Increasing the use of renewable energy can have multiple benefits for dairy farms, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, improved carbon footprint and reduced costs.
Examples of energy reduction projects: • Economic analysis of technologies to reduce dairy energy consumption (Agriculture Victoria) • A practical natural resource management (NRM) program to secure the future of Australia’s
dairy farms (Dairy Australia) • Solar: A better solution to inadequate power supply (Dairy Australia) • Energy & Water Savings in a Cow Shed (DAFF / Dairy Australia / GippsDairy) • Reducing Farm Energy Costs (Dairy Australia) • Solar hot water reduces costs in the dairy (Dairy Australia) • Dairy Shed Effluent & Biogas – FAQ’s (Dairy Australia)
Landcare Australia www.landcareaustralia.org.au
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Planning & Monitoring Tools
All dairy farmers are required to undertake and provide their DairySAT as part of their application. In addition, detailed advice on keeping nutrients on-farm and utilised for feed production can be found on the Fert$mart and Dairy Pride websites.
Many farmers use tools such as Riparian Vegetation Appraisal Tool (RVAT) and the Farm Nutrient Loss Index (FNLI) to identify opportunities and provide guidance on improving both profitability and environmental management.
Tools such the Riparian Vegetation Appraisal Tool (RVAT) can demonstrate improvements for projects focussed on biodiversity. Each tool can provide simple recommendations, yet strong direction for a project application. For example, the project objective could be to improve the “Environmental function” ranking for waterways as assessed by the RVAT.
Advice on native revegetation, habitat connectivity and management of waterways can also be sought from your local Landcare group, Council, or regional Natural Resource Management Organisation, Catchment Management Authority (VIC), or Local Land Services (NSW).
Electricity bills provide a simple measure of the reduction in energy use. Implementing the recommendations from an energy audit also provides good direction for a project application in this area.
Applicants are welcome to suggest other methods for measuring improvements, but they should provide a clear and objective rationale for undertaking the project and demonstrating positive change.
Other tools that may be useful for implementing and monitoring your project include:
• Dairy Greenhouse Gas Abatements Strategy (DGAS) (Dairy Australia) • Dairy shed water – How much do you use? (Department of Primary Industries) • Farm Biosecurity Action Planner (Plant Health Australia / Animal Health Australia)
How to Apply
Groups can apply for the Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grant 2018 on the Landcare Australia Communities Portal until Wednesday 15th August 2018. To submit an application:
1. Login to the Landcare Australia Communities Portal. If you have applied for a grant on the portal in the past, your username will be your email address. If you have not applied for a grant before, you can register as a user here.
2. Click on ‘Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grant 2018’. 3. Click on ‘Create Application’. 4. If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press ‘Save’ and log out. You can log
back in and continue to edit your application form until you are ready to submit.
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5. Upload photos and other documents to the grants portal (maximum of three attachments per application). Click on your grant application number (e.g. GA-00006543) and select ‘Attach File’ in the Notes and Attachments section.
6. To submit your application, select the ‘Is application complete?’ checkbox and press ‘Save & Close’.
7. You will receive a confirmation email when your application has been successfully submitted. If you do not receive an email confirmation please check your junk or spam folder.
For questions about online submissions, please refer to the Landcare Australia Grants - Frequently Asked Questions or email [email protected].
Assessment Criteria
Essential Criteria
Applications will assessed based on the following criteria:
Assessment Criteria Explanation
The project aligns with at least one of the program objectives. • Refer to ‘priority funding areas’.
The project is well developed, appropriately supported and resourced.
• Project activities are feasible with a sound technical basis and a strong probability of success.
• There is adequate technical expertise to support the project. • Project benefits will be achieved in the time / budget available. • Relevant planning approvals or state EPA guidelines are
addressed.
Project benefits are clear and measurable.
• The project will measure and report on benefits (e.g. assessing energy consumption, photo-monitoring, water quality monitoring).
• For energy efficiency projects – the application provides evidence of on-farm energy usage (in kilowatt hours (kWh) and tonnes of carbon) for the previous 12 months.
There is a commitment to monitor and maintain project benefits.
• Project demonstrates how project infrastructure, on-farm works or revegetation will be maintained into the future.
The project demonstrates value for money.
• Adequate detail is provided in the budget. • The budget is relevant and aligns with the project activities. • The budget aligns with the expected project benefits.
The Dairy Pride Self-Assessment Tool has been completed.
• The application includes the Dairy Pride Self-Assessment report.
Landcare Australia www.landcareaustralia.org.au
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Desirable criteria
● You may advise whether the project will support broader environmental sustainability objectives, e.g. water conservation, water quality, waste minimisation, greenhouse gas emission reductions.
● You may make a financial contribution to your project (e.g. in-kind contributions). ● You may involve others in your project, such as local Landcare groups, or the wider
community, and also share information about your project.
Reporting Requirements
As a condition of receiving the grant you will be required to complete a progress report and a final report. Reporting must include evidence of the improvements as described in your original application, such as energy bills and before / after photos. Landcare Australia will contact you to complete your reporting. Recipients of funding for energy efficiency projects are required to provide evidence of a reduction in energy usage (in kilowatt hours (kWh), and tonnes of carbon), for at least 12 months before, and 12 months after grant funds are provided. Reporting timelines for the Lion Dairy Pride Landcare Grant 2018 are as below:
Progress Report due: 21st December 2018
Final Report due: 14th June 2019
About Lion
Lion is a leading beverage and food company with a portfolio that includes many of our region’s favourite brands. We employ more than 6,500 people across Australia and New Zealand predominantly and take great pride in our local manufacturing footprint, which spans 34 sites – including large breweries, craft breweries, wineries, dairy farms, milk, cheese, yoghurt and juice sites as well as venues. Lion is a company focused on long-term, sustainable growth. We have a clear ten-year strategy to reinvigorate our beer markets and contribute to vibrant and responsible drinking cultures; transform our dairy and juice businesses and champion the nutritional credentials of our portfolio; and build our presence in high-value categories in targeted Asian markets. To achieve this we invest in our core strategic assets – our people, brands, production facilities and supply chain.
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About Landcare Australia
Landcare Australia is the leading national not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with business, government and community to support the Landcare community’s natural resource management program. A registered charity, Landcare Australia works to align the practice of environmental management with land productivity and delegating governance and management to local communities.
For more than 25 years, Landcare Australia has supported the Landcare movement’s role of protecting, restoring and sustaining the productivity and value of Australia’s natural environment.
