Grain Industry Funds
South Australia’s grain industry has access to funds for projects, services and research through the 2 grain industry funds.
Grains include cereals, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses and are defined in both the:
- Primary Industry Funding Scheme (Grain Industry Fund) Regulations 2024
- Primary Industry Funding Scheme (Grain Industry Research and Development Fund) Regulations 2024.
Types of grains are:
- cereal and coarse grain – barley, cottonseed, grain sorghum, maize, millet, oats, rice, rye, triticale, wheat
- pulses – beans, chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, field peas, lupins, soybeans
- oilseed – canary seed, canola, linseed, rapeseed, sunflower seed, safflower seed.
Grains do not include hay, cotton, or small pasture seeds, such as clover seeds, lucerne, or medic.
Contributing to the funds
When grain is sold, the purchaser is required to deduct the following amounts:
Grain sold by a grain grower before or on 30 June 2024
- 20 cents per tonne from the proceeds of sale of all grain purchased towards the Grain Industry Fund
- 30 cents per tonne from the proceeds of sale of all grain purchased towards the Grain Industry Research and Development Fund.
Grain sold by a grain grower from 1 July 2024
- 0.1 % of the value of grain sold paid to the Grains Industry Fund
- 0.12% of the value of grain sold paid to the Grains Industry Research and Development Fund.
This only applies to grain grown in South Australia.
Contribution process
Grain purchased before or on 30 June 2024
Grain purchasers are required to remit deductions using the old remittance form ( ) by the 28th day of the month, following the month the grain was purchased.
Grain purchased from 1 July 2024
Grain purchasers are required to remit deductions using the new remittance form ( ) by the 28th day of the month following the quarter the grain was purchased. That is, payments for the preceding quarter are to be paid by:
- 28 October
- 28 January
- 28 April
- 28 July
You can apply to pay your contributions on a yearly or other basis, in accordance with guidelines and with approval in writing by the Minister on application by the purchaser – please contact us for a copy of the guidelines or submit an application.
Use of funds
Funding for projects and services are set out in the industry fund management plans.
Grain Industry Fund
The Minister approved the release of up to $1.84 million from the Grain Industry Fund in 2025-26. This will be used for projects to benefit South Australia's the grains industry as follows:
| Projects | Funding |
|---|---|
|
Grain Producers SA application comprising of 3 program areas. For further information on Grain Industry Fund expenditure contact Grain Producers SA | $1,800,000 |
| Grain Industry Fund administration costs (budget) | $30,000 |
In addition, the fund will be applied to refund payments.
Grain Industry Research and Development Fund
The South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) uses the Grain Industry Research and Development Fund (GIRDF) for research into:
- growing
- harvesting
- storage
- processing
- marketing.
The Minister approved the release of up to $3.04million from the Grain Industry Research and Development Fund (GIRDF) in 2025–26. This will be used for projects to benefit South Australia’s grains industry research and development as follows:
| Projects | Funding |
|---|---|
| SAGIT has 23 projects funded for 2025-26 - refer to SAGIT Projects | $3,046,000* |
| GIRDF administration costs (budget) | $30,000 |
*SAGIT are only paid actual income to the GIRDF minus $35,000 (administration & refunds).
In addition, the fund will be applied to refund payments.
Details of actual fund expenditure are published in the Grain Industry Fund and GIRDF annual reports
Contribution refunds
Growers can request a refund of their contributions deducted on their behalf by the grain purchaser. This is a voluntary (opt-out) contribution scheme. Refunds can only be requested from the preceding financial year.
Growers are not entitled to receive direct benefits or services from the fund if they receive a refund.
The body to which payments are made out of the fund may receive information identifying grain growers on whose behalf contributions have been paid, or who have been refunded contributions.
Request a refund
Growers can request a refund by notifying the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development of this intention.
You must provide documented evidence of the amounts paid to each voluntary contribution with your refund request to: pirsa.grainfunds@sa.gov.au
Fund management
The Primary Industry Funding Scheme Act 1998 requires the 5-year management plan to be annually reviewed, but the plans can be updated at any time. These address:
- how the fund is governed
- how organisations may apply for funding
- the types of activities that may be funded
- how the industry and grain growers will be kept informed of the activities.
The latest management plans were presented at a public meeting on 18 August 2025. See the presentation slides ( ).
- Grain Industry Fund Management Plan 2025–26 to 2029–30 ( )
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Management Plan 2025–26 to 2029–30 ( )
Annual reports
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Annual Reports 2024-25 ()
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Annual Report 2023–24 ()
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Annual Report 2022–23 ()
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Annual Report 2021–22 ()
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Annual Report 2020–21 ()
- Grain Industry Research and Development Fund Annual Report 2019–20 ()
Ainsley Maconochie – Primary Industries Funding Schemes Program Manager
Phone: 08 8214 6025
Email: pirsa.pifs@sa.gov.au