Primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster who are in urgent and genuine need of assistance, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

Loans at a concessional rate with a two year interest and repayment free period may be provided to primary producers for:

• essential working capital for up to 12 months from the date of the disaster, to continue farming operations until normal income resumes or until the next major income is received and/or 
• replacement and/or repair of property damaged as a result of a disaster and associated improvements not covered by insurance.

Loan overview

Applications must be lodged within six months of the declaration of the natural disaster. Please see link for declared natural disaster listing. see here

Who is eligible

This assistance measure may be provided to primary producers defined as an individual, partnership, trust or company which: 

• has a right or interest in a farm enterprise (including lessees) 
• contributes a part of their labour and capital to the enterprise
• derives at least 50 per cent of their gross income from the enterprise. 
• In circumstances such as drought, the gross income of some primary producers may not meet the 50 per cent requirement. The RAA can review income from a year earlier than the preceding financial year, on a case by case basis.
• is identified by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a primary producer, with an Australian Business Number (ABN) and
• has their primary production enterprise located within a declared local government area.

Primary producers are defined as those that are listed under the Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006 (ANZSIC) 1292.0 (Revision 2.0) Codes 01 (Agriculture), 02 (Aquaculture), 03 (Forestry and Logging), 04 (Fishing, Hunting and Trapping) and 05 (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Support Services).

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, primary producers must:

• Have assets (including fodder) which have been significantly damaged as a direct result of the declared disaster
• Have a primary production operation which was viable prior to the declared event
• demonstrate that the assistance will ensure the farming enterprise continues to be viable 
• demonstrate that they are continuing or will reestablish the farming enterprise within the same location, or within the same local government area and 
• demonstrate that the farming enterprise has the capacity to repay the loan
• Provide security, acceptable to the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.

Exclusions

Assistance does not provide for costs unrelated to the farming enterprise or commitments overdue at the time of the disaster, such as trading accounts, lease or hire purchase instalments, interest on borrowings or loan repayments.

• Phone: 1800 678 593
• Email: rural.assist@raa.nsw.gov.au