The association’s president Fiona Simson said managing energy better not only reduced costs but could also open up more efficient production methods, new product opportunities and higher farm gate value.

“Over the past five years energy costs in NSW have risen 60 per cent for small to medium sized farming enterprises and our surveys show that farmers are deeply concerned about energy matters and are seeking solutions,” she said.

“Our program will give farmers access to high quality, independent advice, information and planning tools. We also will be conducting pilots across 20 representative farms involving the development of detailed strategies for intensive and broad acre operations.

“I encourage all farmers to engage with our program as we roll it out over the coming months,” Ms Simson concluded.

Project partners include the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), leading energy consulting firm - Energetics and the University of Wollongong’s SMART Infrastructure Facility.

The project is being funded through a A$1 million grant from the Australian Government and will be delivered by an energy efficiency advisor based at NSW Farmers’ headquarters in Sydney and technical specialists from the Office of Environment and Heritage and Energetics.

The grant received by NSW Farmers and its partners was one of several energy efficiency projects to receive funding under the Clean Energy Future package Energy Efficiency

Information Grant program to help move Australia towards a low carbon future. Click here for a copy of the program overview.