The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association today welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement that it had extended funding for another four years for the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS).
The RFCS provides free assistance to Australian farmers, fishers and small rural businesses in financial difficulty.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig this week announced the Government would provide $54.9 million over four years in grants to the 14 state and regional organisations that deliver the RFCS.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said the association had lobbied hard to impress upon the Government that the service have guaranteed funding in Tasmania.
“The service has been of immense value here,” she said. “The demand for the service has escalated four-fold over the past four year. One in 10 farmers here consults the service each year.
“Our farmers and rural businesses operate in an environment of extreme weather events, highly volatile dairy and wool prices and an uncertain future for many of those that process rural commodities.”
Jan Davis http://www.tfga.com.au/
