Agriculture training slashed in Budget

The Federal Government has cut $150 million in agriculture programs run by the former Government.

But it's re-allocated most of the money to new programs to help farmers and the forestry industry cope with and tackle climate change.

As expected, the Government has slashed its Budget for agriculture training programs.

The $37 million Farmbis training program for farmers to access management training has been cut. After lobbying by farm groups agriculture and horticulture apprenticeships will be kept.

$30 million in grants to improve the productivity of agriculture, under the former government's Advancing Australian Agriculture program, have been cut. However, it's rebadged and refocussed grants for regional food producers to innovate and improve their productivity.

The $97 million Farmhelp program for struggling farm families has been cut. This program has been replaced with a smaller $14 million program called the Transitional Income Support Program to help families which are moving off drought support.

Otherwise, funding to the drought support program for farmers and agriculture-dependent businesses in drought declared areas is unchanged. The government expects to spend $761 million on drought support in this financial year.