New breed of disaster assistance for flood hit producers

In a Queensland first, cattle farmers accessing Disaster Recovery Grants can claim for the costs of embryo transfer procedures to restore breeding stock following recent flood events.

This crucial change to activities eligible under the grants, valued up to $75,000, gives farmers greater choice in how they rebuild stock levels following severe disasters.

In addition, eligible producers can also be reimbursed for costs associated with synchronisation drugs, veterinary fees, labour and technicians, and travel for embryo transfer procedures.

Disaster Recovery Grants are funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This assistance is available to support primary producers directly impacted by the devastating Queensland Monsoon Trough, Cyclone Koji, Cyclone Narelle, and associated severe weather that has moved across Queensland for the past four months.

The changes are also being applied retrospectively to major flood events of 2025, including the Western Queensland Surface Trough and the North and Far North Tropical Low.

Eligible local government areas stretch right across the state, from the Far North to the south-west, out to Gulf Country, along the coast down to Gympie, and through the Wide Bay-Burnett into the central interior.

For more information and grant applications visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

Losing genetically valuable breeding livestock and future breeders can quickly make a cattle business unviable, limiting a farmer's ability to resume breeding operations to pre-disaster levels.

Including embryo transfer as an eligible cost under DRFA Disaster Recovery Grants will allow stud cattle enterprises and other affected producers to rebuild their herds and return to full production sooner.

This update to activities recognised under the grants acknowledges the massive impacts recent disaster seasons have had on Queensland cattle farmers, and the value these operations provide to the state.

It also ensures the disaster support being provided to primary producers is contemporary to the reproductive technology available.