The Victorian Government will provide new young farmers with a $10,000 First Farm Grant to help young farmers get on the land and kick start new agri-businesses across regional and rural Victoria - grants of up to $3000 for first-time farmers to access business advice and on-farm planning and up to $7000 as a start-up contribution towards the delivery of their farm business plans. 

The delivery of the First Farm Grants will be administered through the Rural Finance Corporation (RFC) and first farm buyers who have accessed first home buyer grants or subsidised loans through RFC will still remain eligible for the new grants.

The Victorian Premier John Brumby announced that the Government would provide grants of up to $3000 for first-time farmers to access business advice and on-farm planning and up to $7000 as a start-up contribution towards the delivery of their farm business plans.

Mr Brumby also announced that a new leadership program for young agribusiness professionals in which the Government will provide the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) with $200,000 to help develop the next generation of leaders within the agriculture sector.

"We are making the right investments to lock-in a prosperous future for regional and rural Victoria," Mr Brumby said.

"When I became Premier I said I wanted to support Victorian farmers to be more productive, sustainable and competitive in the face of challenges such as drought, climate change and an increasingly competitive global market.

"The next generation of farmers are the future of farming in Victoria. These new schemes are about backing our new young farmers to take-up the very important task of driving future agriculture production and prosperity in our state.

"It is about providing the right incentives to our young farmers to take-on their family farm, for new farmers purchasing a farm to get the advice they need to be productive and successful and enticing our young people to consider a career on the land."

Victorian Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said that as part of the $200,000 Young Agribusiness Professionals scheme, the VFF would develop forums for young farmers to use networking and information sharing to improve their own productivity.

"The initiative will also provide mentoring for farmers, rural employees, agribusiness service providers and the agribusiness sector to support them as they drive Victoria's farming future," Ms Allan said.

The Victorian Government will provide $2 million over two years for the First Farm Grants.

The grant of up to $3000 will go towards providing young farmers with business advice and planning advice by a qualified agronomist. Farmers can access up to a further $7000 to assist in purchasing equipment, machinery, or building costs that have been recommended in that plan.

To be eligible for the First Farm Grants farmers will need to be under the age of 40 years and have purchased or leased farm land and recognised as primary producers.

The delivery of the First Farm Grants will be administered through the Rural Finance Corporation (RFC) and first farm buyers who have accessed first home buyer grants or subsidised loans through RFC will still remain eligible for the new grants.

The introduction of the $10,000 First Farm Grant comes in addition to the Regional First Home Owner Bonus, which was boosted in this year's State Budget to $26,500 for first home buyers who build a newly constructed home in regional Victoria.

This brings potential Government assistance to young farmers who purchase and build their first farm to more than $36,000.

Further details on the grants are available at www.ruralfinance.com.au.