OFCP Round 3 · South Australia

OFCP Round 3 for South Australian farmers

South Australian primary producers — from Eyre Peninsula grain growers to Barossa Valley viticulture and Kangaroo Island mixed farms — are eligible for OFCP Round 3 grants of up to $100,000 for on-farm connectivity infrastructure.

Is OFCP Round 3 available to South Australian producers?

Yes. The On Farm Connectivity Program Round 3 is open to primary producers in South Australia on the same terms as all other states. DAFF administers the national program and SA producers apply directly through the federal process.

Up to $100,000 Maximum OFCP Round 3 grant available to eligible South Australian primary producers

South Australia's agricultural geography creates a strong case for OFCP investment. The Eyre Peninsula and Far North are major grain and pastoral regions with significant connectivity gaps. The Barossa, Clare, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra wine regions have dense horticulture with intensive management needs. The Murraylands support irrigation agriculture under connectivity conditions that vary widely by property location.

What connectivity projects suit South Australian farming conditions?

South Australia's major agricultural sectors align with distinct OFCP project profiles:

  • Eyre Peninsula grain (wheat, barley, canola) — precision agriculture sensor networks, yield mapping data systems, automated weather station integration with crop management platforms
  • Wine grapes (Barossa, Clare, Coonawarra) — vineyard microclimate monitoring, automated irrigation control, soil moisture sensor networks, canopy health data systems
  • Livestock (Mid North, South East, Flinders Ranges) — livestock GPS tracking, remote water point monitoring, virtual fencing hardware
  • Irrigated horticulture (Riverland, Adelaide Plains) — irrigation scheduling sensors, frost monitoring networks, automated fertigation data systems
Eyre Peninsula Produces approximately 30% of South Australia's grain output from properties that frequently operate with limited terrestrial connectivity

Does Primary Industries and Regions SA offer complementary programs?

Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) and the South Australian Government operate programs that may complement OFCP Round 3. The SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and various PIRSA extension programs have included digital agriculture components. Producers should review current PIRSA grant programs to assess whether state-level co-funding options are available alongside an OFCP application.

$10.2 million Total OFCP Round 3 national pool — SA producers compete with applicants from all states and territories

How do SA producers prepare a strong OFCP Round 3 application?

South Australian applicants should frame their project around the specific operational constraint being addressed. A Eyre Peninsula grain grower might document the cost and delay involved in not having real-time soil moisture data for irrigation timing decisions. A Barossa viticulture operation might quantify the frost damage risk that better microclimate monitoring could reduce. Concrete operational context strengthens OFCP applications because it connects the infrastructure directly to farm management outcomes.

OFCP Round 3 SA — frequently asked questions

Can a South Australian wine grape producer apply for OFCP Round 3?

Viticulture is a recognised primary production activity. Wine grape growers are eligible applicants for OFCP Round 3 provided they meet the commercial primary production test and the project involves eligible connectivity infrastructure. Vineyard sensor networks, irrigation automation data systems, and microclimate monitoring hardware would be typical eligible project components.

Is Kangaroo Island eligible for OFCP Round 3?

Kangaroo Island producers are eligible for OFCP Round 3 as the island falls within South Australia. Connectivity on Kangaroo Island is more constrained than mainland SA regions, which may strengthen the case for connectivity infrastructure investment. Satellite-based solutions are a common project approach for island operations.

Can a SA Riverland irrigator include water quality sensors in an OFCP project?

Water quality sensors that form part of a connectivity project — uploading data to a farm management platform or alerting system — may be eligible. Standalone water meters or sensors that do not require connectivity infrastructure are less likely to qualify. The connectivity component of the project must be substantive rather than incidental.

Does OFCP Round 3 require SA producers to use Australian-made equipment?

OFCP Round 3 does not specify a requirement to use Australian-manufactured equipment. The program focuses on eligible infrastructure categories and program objectives rather than country of origin. Producers should confirm equipment eligibility through the official program guidelines and may need to provide technical specifications.

What evidence does a SA producer need to support an OFCP Round 3 application?

Typical supporting evidence includes ABN registration and primary production income documentation, supplier quotes for proposed equipment and installation, a site plan or map showing proposed infrastructure placement, and a project description explaining the connectivity problem and how the proposed investment addresses it.

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