Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Victorian Trees on Farms Program provides grants to rural landholders in Victoria, Australia to support tree planting on farms for timber, carbon, and agricultural benefits. Eligible applicants can receive up to $40,000 for environmental plantings, up to $80,000 for farm forestry plantings, plus up to $5,000 for professional support, depending on project size and type.
What is the Victorian Trees on Farms Program?
The Victorian Trees on Farms Program helps rural landholders integrate tree planting into farming enterprises.
The program supports projects that:
- Deliver farm forestry income potential
- Improve carbon outcomes
- Create agricultural co-benefits
- Support environmental services
- Help reduce net agricultural emissions
It is designed to show that trees on farms can provide both economic returns and sustainability benefits.
Funding Amount
1. Integrated Environmental Plantings
- $2,000 per hectare
- Maximum: $40,000
2. Farm Forestry Plantings
- Up to $4,000 per hectare
- Maximum: $80,000
3. Professional Service Provider Support
- Up to $5,000
- Capped at 20% of total grant value
Payment Structure
- Payments are made in instalments
- Instalments are linked to project milestones
What can the grant be used for?
Eligible project costs may include:
- Planning
- Site preparation
- Tree planting
- Maintenance
- Reporting
- Professional technical support (within program limits)
What is not eligible?
Projects are not eligible if they involve:
- Existing native vegetation
- Recently cleared land
- Projects already funded under other Victorian Government tree planting programs
Ineligible costs include:
- Machinery
- Livestock
- Infrastructure
- Routine business expenses
- Other costs not directly related to the planting project
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be a freehold landowner in Victoria, or
- Be a land manager with formal owner approval
- Be registered for tax purposes in Australia with a valid:
- ABN, or
- ACN
- Hold public liability insurance of at least $10 million per occurrence, or confirm the landowner meets this requirement
Who is Not Eligible?
The following cannot apply:
- Government bodies
- Peak organisations
Why this program matters
This program is valuable because it helps farmers:
- Add trees into productive farming systems
- Improve farm resilience
- Reduce agricultural emissions
- Explore farm forestry and carbon opportunities
- Gain both economic and environmental returns
Tips for Applicants
- Design a project that clearly shows farm and environmental benefits
- Make sure the planting area qualifies and is not on recently cleared land
- Check if your project overlaps with other Victorian tree planting funding
- Use professional support if needed, especially for planning and design
- Keep your milestone plan practical and well documented
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for land that includes existing native vegetation
- Including ineligible costs like machinery or livestock
- Overlooking insurance or ABN/ACN requirements
- Submitting a project already supported by another Victorian Government tree planting grant
- Poor project design with weak planting or maintenance planning
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply for the Victorian Trees on Farms Program?
Eligible applicants include freehold landowners in Victoria or land managers with formal approval from the owner.
2. How much funding is available?
- Environmental plantings: $2,000/ha up to $40,000
- Farm forestry plantings: up to $4,000/ha up to $80,000
- Professional support: up to $5,000
3. What can the funding be used for?
Funding can cover planning, site preparation, planting, maintenance, and reporting.
4. Are existing native vegetation areas eligible?
No. Projects involving existing native vegetation are not eligible.
5. Can I include machinery or livestock costs?
No. Machinery, livestock, infrastructure, and routine business costs are excluded.
6. Is insurance required?
Yes. Applicants (or the landowner) must have public liability insurance of at least $10 million per occurrence.
Conclusion
The Victorian Trees on Farms Program is a strong funding opportunity for rural landholders in Victoria who want to integrate tree planting into farm businesses. With support for environmental plantings, farm forestry, and professional advice, the program helps farmers combine carbon, timber, and agricultural benefits while improving long-term sustainability and resilience.
For more information, visit Australian Government.
