The Agricultural Assistance Scholarship (AAS) supports Hume’s rural community by assisting with fees associated with employing specialised consultants to offer on-farm advice around sustainable agriculture and agribusiness related activities.

The scholarship should encourage landholders to explore alternative agricultural businesses that are resilient to the ongoing challenges rural landholders face within Hume’s rural landscape.

The AAS will be administered via payment of up to 80 per cent of agricultural consultancy fees, up to a maximum of $1,500, GST exclusive. Applicants can apply maximum once per year per property.

Council will fund a range or combination of activities for on-farm advice from a professional consultant. All activities must be for the purpose of assisting landholders to implement sustainable agricultural practices and explore alternative agricultural businesses that are resilient to the ongoing challenges within the rural community.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Soil health 
• Succession planning
• Leadership development, coaching and mentoring 
• Water portfolio management 
• Climate change (mitigation and adaptation) 
• Agricultural land capability assessment 
• Agribusiness start up

Applications open on 1 July each year and remain open until the end of the financial year, unless total available scholarship money has already been allocated.

Climate change presents challenges to rural landholders and is likely to have a detrimental impact on biodiversity and land use in Hume. Extreme weather conditions such as storms, flooding, drought and bushfires will increase in frequency. Water will be less available and new pest weeds and animals are likely to emerge.

Priority will be given to applicants seeking professional advice to support sustainable agriculture and climate change adaptation.

Who can apply?

Landowners or managers with property that is zoned: Green Wedge, Green Wedge A, Rural Living and Farming outside the urban growth boundary, or Rural Conservation, Special Use or Rural Living zones within the urban growth boundary.

• Phone: 9205 2200
• Email: ruralenvironment@hume.vic.gov.au