February 24, 2012

South Australia receives new grain funding

A voluntary funding arrangement has been formalised for South Australian grain growers and will begin by March 1.

The Primary Industry Funding Scheme (PIFS) levy of US$0.05/tonne will be used for the development of the grains industry in the state.

Minister for Agriculture Gail Gago says the new fund will replace the former levy collected under the Wheat Marketing Act, which was then provided to the South Australian Farmers' Federation.

Minister Gago says the new levy has come about because of the dispute between competing grains organisations SAFF and Grain Producers SA.

"It's a result of a very protracted and apparently intractable dispute going on within the industry that has meant that we have had to set up this new scheme to provide security to the industry and ensure that policy work and advocacy work continues."

Minister Gago says grain growers will see no change to the process of levy collection and the same amount will be collected.

Both individuals and organisations can apply for funding from the PIF scheme.