Funding boost for regenerative farming

TWEED farmers will benefit from a new $60,000 agribusiness training initiative aimed at improving profitability and encouraging regenerative practices.

The funding, secured by Tweed Shire Council’s Sustainable Agriculture Program, will support the development of a tailored program called “Cultivating Tomorrow: Empowering Tweed Shire Farmers through Regenerative Agribusiness Mastery.”

The project, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust’s Environmental Education Program, will equip farmers with skills to adopt techniques such as managed grazing, agroforestry, cover cropping, and using organic amendments like compost.

Council’s program leader for sustainable agriculture, Eli Szandala, said the initiative would help farmers balance environmental improvements with profitability.

“We often hear the adage – it’s hard to be green when you’re in the red, meaning it’s hard to invest in environmental improvements when you’re not generating much revenue,” Szandala said.

“This project will improve profitability and nature outcomes on farms by filling gaps in business training needs.

“The grant will help deliver relevant, engaging and locally available training courses, coaching and workshops at affordable, subsidised rates for Tweed Shire farmers.

“We’re aiming to engage experienced agribusiness trainers and our local farming leaders who run profitable regenerative farms to share their knowledge,” he said.

Local farmers and agribusiness owners interested in increasing profitability with regenerative farming will meet at Earth Beer Company’s brewery at Cudgen on Friday, December 6, at 10 am.

For information and to book, visit events.humanitix.com/profitable-regenerative-farming