NSW Agriculture Smashes Growth Records
New data released by the NSW Government, on the eve of National Ag Day, reveals primary industries output has charged past all previous records and is now an estimated $20.9 billion industry. Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall released the 2021 NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Performance Data and Insights (PDI) report today, which showed Industry increased its Gross Value of Production from $15.7 billion in just 12 months.
2020-21 Fast Facts:
- NSW primary industries had an estimated total industry output of $20.9 billion
- Cropping achieved $8 billion output, including;
- Wheat up 541% year-on-year, with an estimated GVP $4.2 billion
- Cotton up 383% year-on-year, with an estimated GVP $847 million
- Oilseeds up 527% year-on-year, with an estimated GVP $844 million
- Barley up 170% year-on-year, with an estimated GVP $769 million
- Pulses up 527% year-on-year, with an estimated GVP $359 million
- Poultry achieved $855 million output, up 1% year-on-year
Dairy achieved $659
- Dairy achieved $659 million output, up 2% year-on-year
NSW Government Support To Reignite Visitor Economy
The NSW Government will invest more than $8 million in a suite of grant programs to accelerate the recovery of the NSW visitor economy as the state reopens to visitors.
The $8.35 million will be delivered through the following programs:
- $4.1 million Tourism Product Development Fund – to support regional accommodation renewal and new visitor experiences
- $1.5 million Regional Event Fund – to support new and flagship regional events
- $2 million Co-operative Marketing Program – leveraging Destination NSW’s new Feel New marketing campaign
- $750,000 Regional Business Event Development Fund – to create, attract and support new business events for regional NSW
The NSW Government, through Destination NSW, will deliver the grants and support recipients to best manage their project delivery.
For more information on these funding programs and all other support available to businesses, go to www.destinationnsw.com.au/funding.
Home Testing Returning Students To The Classroom Earlier
The NSW Government is expanding the use of Rapid Antigen Home Testing (RAHT) to reduce the time students and staff spend away from school if they are a close contact of a positive case.
Under NSW Health advice, close contacts of COVID positive cases can return to school after seven days, provided they receive a negative PCR test result on Day 7 of their exposure date and consistent negative rapid antigen test results from Day 8 until Day 14.
The targeted rollout will include more than 500,000 RAHT kits ready for rapid deployment to any primary school that records a positive case.
The statewide rollout will focus on gov-ernment and non-government primary schools, because those students remain unvaccinated. A process for unvaccinated high school students is currently being explored.
The measures to protect against COVID in schools include mandatory vaccinations for school staff and visitors, mask wearing, cohorting, increased natural ventilation, physical distancing rules, and other hygiene measures.
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