The SEQ Hort BMP Incentive Program provides financial assistance and technical on-farm support to growers in adopting best management practices that measurably reduce nutrient, pesticide, and sediment losses from farms and strengthens environmental stewardship.

Incentive grants of up to $30,000 per grower are available until January 2029 or until fully allocated.

Practices that directly contribute to improved water quality outcomes are supported across the following areas:

• soil management and soil health

  • compost application

  • introduction of other soil conditioners

• erosion and sediment control

  • constructing contours

  • constructing retention ponds/sediment traps

  • restoring primary drains

• pesticide and nutrient management

  • use more efficient products

  • precision application methods, including boom sprayer upgrades and variable rate application.

Some examples have been provided above, but consult with the SEQ Hort BMP team to discuss what solutions are most appropriate for your farm.

Growers are eligible to participate if they:

• operate a horticultural farming business within the SEQ Hort BMP Program’s catchment areas (see above map).

• propose on-farm practice change or activities that:

  • are considered best management practices.

  • deliver on improved water quality outcomes.

  • are NOT deemed ‘business as usual’.

• undertake benchmarking using the Hort360 Water Quality before and after participating in the Incentive Program.

• enter into a formal grant agreement with Growcom and provide evidence that funded works were completed.

• have the capacity to meet the program requirements within the specified timeframe.

• demonstrate a commitment to practice change, including broader adoption across the farm where funded practices were proven successful.

• are willing to share information related to outcomes achieved with the funded works (e.g., photos, data, notes) to support reporting on practice change and monitoring of water quality outcomes.

All criteria are mandatory.

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Applying for a SEQ Hort BMP Incentive follows a facilitator-guided process, designed to support growers identify the most beneficial on-farm improvements, demonstrate value for money, and verify environmental outcomes:

1. ‍ ‍Initial engagement and guidance: contact your local Growcom SEQ Hort BMP facilitator who can assist in assessing your eligibility, identifying potential high-impact BMP improvements, and working through the application requirements.

2. Hort360 water quality risk assessment: to demonstrate that the proposed practice change will have a measurable impact on water quality, applicants must complete a Hort360 baseline assessment to identify risks, gaps, the most beneficial BMP interventions. This mandatory benchmarking must be completed before applying.

3. Application development: complete the application form  in consultation with your SEQ Hort BMP facilitator. Your application must include:

   ‍ - baseline conditions from Hort360 water quality risk assessment

   ‍ ‍- detailed information of proposed practice change/s

   ‍ ‍- expected water quality outcomes

   ‍ ‍- supporting information (e.g., photos, maps, farm data, quotes)

   ‍ ‍- costings and in-kind contributions.

   Submit your completed application to your SEQ Hort BMP facilitator.

4. Notification: The SEQ Hort BMP team will notify you if your application is successful or unsuccessful within one week of the assessment panel meeting. Successful applicants enter into a formal funding agreement with Growcom. Once the agreement is in place, groundworks may commence.

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Applications for SEQ Hort BMP Incentive funding are assessed by a panel including representatives from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and Growcom.

The panel evaluates each application regarding how they align with the following criteria:

• Environmental need/risk – the current environmental risk of existing practices, considering proximity to waterways, slope, soil type, erosion risk, runoff pathways, or other relevant site characteristics.

• Expected water quality benefit – the potential for the reduction in sediment, nutrient, or pesticides losses; improved soil health; and/or other measurable water quality outcomes.

• Value for money – the level of environmental and economic benefits relative to the funding invested, including any in-kind contributions.

• Economic and operational benefit to the grower – the likelihood of improving on-farm efficiency, reducing production costs, improving yields and/or quality, or otherwise supporting ongoing business viability.

• Extent of practice change – the potential for the proposed activity to represent a meaningful change to farm practices, to be more broadly adopted across the farm, to address multiple issues, or to represent a measurably improved approach from current practices.

• Grower and industry benefit – the potential to influence other growers and contribute to wider industry practice change, including willingness to participate in case studies, field visits, knowledge sharing, or other extension activities.

• Deliverability and readiness – the likelihood of the proposed activities being completed within the incentive program’s timeframes, with consideration of gathering quotes, contractor availability, approvals, co-contributions, and implementation agreements.

Contact the SEQ Hort BMP team. There details are at the bottom of this page.