Agricultural and Pastoral Society Program and grants

About the grants

In 2025-26, the Victorian Government has made available funding of up to $300,000 under the Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program (Program). The Program is available to support Agricultural and Pastoral Societies to stimulate community involvement across Victoria in activities that promote agriculture.

Grants of up to $10,000 per eligible society are available for eligible projects. Projects that will be considered may include initiatives that:

• provide new, or improved or upgraded facilities for exhibitions, competitions and displays, such as upgrading fencing and stables, or areas used for shearing demonstrations and wool exhibits and/or judging of commercial and stud animals
• enhance public amenities at showgrounds such as toilets, seating, and disabled access
• improve essential infrastructure for electricity and water supply
• enhance biosecurity planning such as a written biosecurity plan, signage, or improved facilities to create separate housing of different species of animals for biosecurity purposes

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be either:

• a company incorporated pursuant to the Corporations Act 2001 and registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission; or
• an incorporated association incorporated pursuant to the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012; or
• another incorporated entity approved by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

AND must satisfy one of the following:

• be a not-for-profit entity and operate for a purpose related to agriculture, horticulture or pastoral outcomes and/or fostering community involvement in these areas including, for example by, holding regional field days. Entities may include, for example, incorporated associations which are Victorian Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Societies; or
• be a peak body involved in providing support to other entities in the area of pastoral activities, agriculture or horticulture including for example Victorian Agricultural Shows Ltd; or
• be a registered member of Victorian Agricultural Shows Ltd.

Note: Applicants cannot apply for funding under this Program if they have not fully completed and acquitted projects under the Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants 2024-25 Program or previous rounds.

Program guidelines

Prior to applying for funding, applicants should read the program guidelines.

• Program guidelines [PDF File - 542.4 KB]
• Program guidelines – accessible [MS Word Document - 1.5 MB]

Apply for a grant

The Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program will close at 11.59pm on 12 September 2025.

• Start a grant application at Grants online
• Return to a draft grant application at Grants online

What is an agricultural and pastoral society?

Agricultural and pastoral societies are community groups with a shared interest in agriculture, horticulture or livestock. With over 100 societies in Victoria, they can be found across rural and regional areas.

The societies have a wide range of roles in the community, from hosting events such as country shows and field days to holding fundraisers to support local priorities and agricultural activities.

How Agriculture Victoria supports agricultural and pastoral societies

The Victorian Government provides funding to agricultural and pastoral societies to support infrastructure development and to celebrate agricultural communities, industries and produce.

It does this through agricultural and pastoral society grants that are administered by Agriculture Victoria.

The Victorian Government has made available funding of up to $300,000 for projects supporting upgrades to facilities or the establishment of new facilities for community use during annual agricultural shows and events.

Projects include initiatives that:

• provide new, or improved or upgraded facilities for exhibitions, competitions and displays, such as upgrading fencing and stables, or areas used for shearing demonstrations and wool exhibits and/or judging of commercial and stud animals
• enhance public amenities at showgrounds such as toilets, seating and disabled access
• improve essential infrastructure for electricity and water supply
• enhance biosecurity planning such as a written biosecurity plan, signage or improved facilities to create separate housing of different species of animals for biosecurity purposes.

Contact

Email agricultural.grants@agriculture.vic.gov.au for more information about the grant program.