Young farmers can now apply for the State Government’s Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships.
Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes on 27 June opened the program during a visit to former scholarship recipient Kate Kirk’s Bass Coast Dairy Farm in Loch.
Ms Kirk used her scholarship to do an advanced hoof care course and shared her learnings with her employees and other farmers.
She used the financial support to buy a cattle crush, providing a safe environment to practice hoof husbandry.
“Young farmers today need a broad range of skills to keep up with a changing industry,” Ms Symes said.
Up to $10,000 is available per scholarship – with each recipient eligible for up to $5000 to support their training and study in areas such as business and risk management, genetics and pasture management development.
Once recipients complete their studies, they will receive further support of up to $,000 to put their new skills into practice through professional development, business planning or to invest on-farm in equipment.
The Young Farmers Scholarship program has successfully supported 50 young farmers to develop their skills across a range of agriculture sectors since 2015.
The scholarships are open to farmers aged 35 years or under who have been working in farm businesses at least three days a week for the past three months, with at least two years total experience on-farm.
Visit agriculture.vic.gov.au.
