OFCP Round 3 Eligibility Guide

Who is a primary producer for OFCP Round 3 purposes?

OFCP Round 3 uses the standard Australian definition of primary production — activities including livestock grazing, crop growing, horticulture, viticulture, forestry, fishing, and aquaculture. The enterprise must be commercial in nature, meaning it derives income from the sale of primary produce rather than being a hobby or lifestyle farm.

ABN required All OFCP Round 3 applicants must hold an active Australian Business Number registered for primary production activities

Part-time or diversified producers who earn primary production income alongside other business activities are generally eligible provided their primary production enterprise is commercial in scale. The farm does not need to be the applicant's sole source of income, but the primary production activity must be substantive and demonstrable through income records.

Which entity types can apply for OFCP Round 3?

OFCP Round 3 accepts applications from several entity structures that are commonly used in Australian farming:

Individuals — sole traders farming in their own name
Partnerships — formal farming partnerships with a shared ABN
Companies — Pty Ltd and other incorporated entities operating farming businesses
Trusts — discretionary family trusts, unit trusts, and hybrid trusts operating farming enterprises

One application per entity Each eligible entity can submit one OFCP Round 3 application — related party rules apply to prevent multiple applications for the same farm operation

Large farming families with multiple legal entities across different farm operations should review how the related party provisions in the OFCP Round 3 guidelines treat their structure before preparing applications. Each application must represent a distinct, independent farming enterprise.

What infrastructure is eligible under OFCP Round 3?

Eligible OFCP infrastructure is hardware and installation that provides or improves on-farm connectivity for agricultural management purposes:

Satellite broadband equipment (dish, modem, cabling, installation)
Fixed wireless broadband hardware (antenna, router, installation)
IoT sensor networks (soil moisture, weather, water point level monitors)
Livestock tracking and virtual fencing hardware (collars, base stations, gateways)
In-field data aggregation hubs and edge computing devices
Network infrastructure extending connectivity across property areas (repeaters, mesh nodes)

Hardware and installation only Software subscriptions, SaaS platforms, and ongoing service contracts are not eligible OFCP expenditure — the program funds physical infrastructure capital costs

What is the co-contribution requirement?

OFCP Round 3 operates as a co-investment program. Applicants must contribute a specified proportion of eligible project costs. The exact co-contribution ratio is set out in the current program guidelines — previous OFCP rounds have used a 50/50 or similar model. Applicants should have commercial finance or own resources available to meet the co-contribution before applying.

What disqualifies an OFCP Round 3 application?

Common disqualification factors include:

Project costs that are entirely software, services, or operational rather than capital infrastructure
Proposed infrastructure that primarily serves household internet rather than farm management
Applicant entity does not derive income from primary production
Co-contribution cannot be demonstrated or committed to
Double-funded project where the same costs are claimed under another grant program
Infrastructure already purchased before application approval (retrospective funding)

OFCP Round 3 eligibility — frequently asked questions

Does OFCP Round 3 require the farm to be above a minimum size?

There is no minimum farm size specified in OFCP program guidelines. The commercial primary production test is about revenue and activity rather than physical area. Small intensive operations like market gardens or aquaculture can be eligible even if the physical footprint is modest.

Can a new farming enterprise that started recently apply for OFCP Round 3?

New enterprises may be eligible but will need to demonstrate commercial primary production intent and activity. Recent start-ups without a history of production income may need to provide business plans, financial projections, or other evidence of commercial intent. Check current guidelines for minimum trading period requirements.

Can a farm manager (not the land or business owner) apply for OFCP Round 3?

The OFCP applicant must be the entity operating the commercial farming enterprise. A farm manager who is employed rather than the operating principal of the business would not typically be an eligible applicant. The operating entity — the company, trust, or individual whose ABN runs the farm — is the correct applicant.

Are research or trial farms run by universities or state agencies eligible for OFCP Round 3?

Eligibility is targeted at commercial primary producers. Research institutions and government agencies running trial properties may not meet the commercial primary production test. Private research farms operated for commercial production may qualify — confirm with DAFF on a case-by-case basis.

Can an OFCP Round 3 applicant commence infrastructure installation before the grant is approved?

Retrospective funding — reimbursing costs already incurred before a funding decision — is not permitted under OFCP Round 3. Applicants should not commit to equipment purchases or installation until a formal funding offer has been accepted. Pre-approval expenditure is typically ineligible.

OFCP Round 3 eligibility: who can apply?