Funding applications are now open for cattle, sheep and goat producers throughout Australia who are interested in running local projects to demonstrate on-farm benefits of research and development findings.

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) is calling for applications for its 2022-23 Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) program, with applications closing on May 13. This includes Levy and Co-Contributor funding options for projects ranging from two to six years.

MLA Research, Development and Adoption General Manager Michael Crowley said the PDS program aimed to increase the rate of adoption of key management practices and technologies that improve business profitability, productivity and sustainability.

“Adoption of research outcomes is absolutely critical to getting the best return on the research investments we make on behalf of levy payers. By addressing specific productivity priorities, producers are able to implement solutions that deliver direct benefits to their business. Producers who then connect with the demonstration sites then also make changes delivering productivity improvements at scale,” Mr Crowley said.

“In an independent evaluation, MLA’s PDS program has delivered $168.8m in total net benefits to participating producers as a result of completed projects between 2015-2021. In 2021-22 this was $10.8m in net benefits to participating producers.

“On average, this means producers returned an additional net benefit of $6/ha annually as a result of their participation in the program.”

All producer groups will need to engage a facilitator who is experienced in group coordination and extension, monitoring and evaluation of on-farm practice change and communication and reporting.

Co-contributor projects require producer investment in the project, which is matched by the MLA Donor Company (MDC).

Levy PDS program applications must be aligned to regional PDS priorities set by the Research Advisory Committees – SALRC, NABRC and WALRC.