Any day now King Island farmers will receive a donation of feed secured by Need for Feed Australia and its volunteers for primary producers affected by the dry and drought conditions.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, said this donation of stockfeed to King Island is a great example of the help Need for Feed has been providing thousands of farmers in need since it began in 2006.
"I would like to acknowledge Need for Feed, its volunteers and supporters for all their hard work to purchase and deliver this donation," Minister Howlett said.
"The Tasmanian Government extends its sincere thanks to the operators of Port Welshpool, Gippsland Ports and TasFarmers and the Lions Club of King Island, for working collaboratively to ensure the much-needed stock is delivered to farmers across King Island.
"Our Government is pleased to have assisted in this effort by meeting the costs of shipping from the Port of Welshpool to King Island."
Minister Howlett said the Tasmanian Government's financial support for farmers has proven incredibly important as we continue to experience extended dry conditions.
"It has been a helping hand to King and Flinders islands farmers who have been doing it tough and we've already been able to provide almost $2 million in support across more than 130 farmers," she said.
"Both the Mainland Tasmania and King and Flinders Islands schemes have been extended until 30 June 2024 to maximise the opportunity for primary producers to apply.
"Other support is available for farmers including the seasonal conditions schemes, and a number of workshops and events set to be held over coming weeks by the TAS Farm Innovation Hub and the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture.
"Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future outlines continued support for those working in primary production across the State.
"Beyond the dry, we have committed to providing $2.13 million for the Rural Business Resilience Package to manage the impact of drought on farming communities, including the Farm Business Resilience program and the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program."
Details on the support available for producers on King and Flinders Islands can be found on the NRE Tas website: http://nre.tas.gov.au/kingandflinders while grant scheme information can be found on the State Growth website or by contacting Business Tasmania.
