On Farm Connectivity Program

Overview

This program aims to enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and/or fisheries to extend connectivity in their fields to take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology. It forms part of the Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, which is providing $656 million to improve mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in rural and regional Australia.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Extend digital connectivity and enable primary producers to take advantage of advanced farming technology.
• Enhance a primary producer’s ability to implement digital agribusiness solutions through improved connectivity.
• Capitalise on the agricultural sector’s productivity, growth and exports.
• Support access to new communications equipment and services by offsetting some of the cost.

Rebates between $1,000 and $30,000 (GST exclusive) are available offsetting 50% of the cost of eligible equipment item/s listed at Attachment A of the Guidelines.

A total funding pool of $33 million is available over years from 2023-24 to 2024-25, of which $18 million is allocated in Round 2. Will consider outperforming arcDUG status.

A primary producer can benefit from one rebate per farm under the program. If a primary producer operates more than one farm that carries out eligible primary production activities, with each operating as a separate and independent business entity and has its own ABN that has been registered for 12 months or more, one rebate for each farm may be paid.

Eligible Activities

Eligible equipment include:

• Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN): Connectivity technologies that enable and extend connectivity across a primary production enterprise and contribute to the objectives of the Program.
• Connectivity equipment: Products that provide connectivity to sensors and controllers within a local area network or wide area network.
• Environmental monitoring: Devices that monitor environmental activity and provide real-time data to Primary Producers.
• Farm management: Farm management systems that assist with monitoring on-farm conditions, infrastructure, livestock, assets, and safety.
• Remote automation and control: Devices that provide primary producers with tools to enable remote automation and control of connected assets.
• Information dashboards and network software: Information systems that accompany the installation and use of IoT hardware to support decision-making and improve productivity.
• Other: Support services to assist primary producers in enabling connectivity solutions.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligible equipment.

Who Can Apply ?

Eligible applicants must:

• Have an ABN, ACN.
• Be an established operator in the market, demonstrated by:
  1. Having been in business for at least two years.
  2. Supplying eligible equipment, farming or other related equipment to the agricultural sector for at least two years.
  3. Having a presence in rural, regional or remote Australia or demonstrated capacity to service and support eligible agricultural businesses in rural, regional or remote Australia.
• Have the capacity to deliver to, and install on, farms at least one type of connectivity solution or at least 25% of equipment on the indicative List of Eligible Equipment (Attachment A), and have demonstrated arrangements with:
  1. Manufacturers and/or suppliers of the equipment.
  2. Transport operators to deliver the equipment, including to remote locations.
  3. Technicians to install the equipment.
  4. Experts to provide training to support the use of the equipment.

Businesses who applied through, or were an eligible equipment supplier in Round 1 of the program will need to reapply to participate in Round 2.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligibility requirements.

Main Assessment Criteria

The main assessment criteria include:

• Eligibility of the primary producer
• Type of farm and equipment

Restrictions

The following are ineligible for funding:

• Telecommunications services or internet service providers, unless they have products and installation services tailored to the agricultural sector to improve connectivity for primary producers.
• ‘Last mile’ connectivity solutions which connect a primary producer’s premises to a communications network.
• Drones or autonomous vehicles, robotic technology or equipment.
• Operation and maintenance costs.