Apply for a planting grant

Summary:

On this page you'll find out more about the planting grant, how to apply, and what to expect.

Apply for 50% co-funding for new planting projects that strengthen your farm's natural ecosystem. Planting can help reduce erosion, protect waterways, and improve your farm's resilience to wet weather, drought and other extreme weather events.

What the grant covers

Successful applicants can receive funding for 50% of eligible plant purchase costs for projects that:

Include exotic softwoods, or a mix of exotic softwoods and natives
Cover a new planting area of at least 1.5 hectares (cumulative)
Have plants in the ground by 31 May 2027
Meet the requirements to be claimed as Fonterra carbon removals, including being within your Total Farm Area, reaching a minimum height of 5 metres, and achieving more than 30% canopy cover at maturity

Funding is limited. Applications will be assessed based on how well the proposed project meets the grant criteria.

Terms and conditions apply

How the process works

Register your interest by 15 November via the link you were emailed on 12 October
We'll contact you after applications close to let you know whether your farm has been selected
If selected, you can begin your project by working with your chosen nursery or plant supplier
Once your planting is complete, submit your evidence through the planting evidence submission page and claim back 50% of eligible plant costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

All farms can apply for and receive funding for on-farm planting, provided they achieve any level of the Co-operative Difference at the end of the 2026/27 season. Farms that don't achieve the Co-operative Difference in 2026/27 will need to reimburse the funding received.

To be eligible for funding, plants must be woody vegetation capable of reaching at least 5 metres in height at maturity. Pine species are not eligible for funding. Farmers should work with their nursery or plant supplier to ensure the selected species meet the programme requirements.

Let your nursery or plant supplier know that the plants are being purchased as part of the Fonterra planting grant.

When you make your purchase, please ensure you receive a detailed receipt that clearly shows:

The date of purchase
The plant species purchased
The quantity of each species purchased
The total amount paid (GST exclusive)

This will help us verify your purchase and process your reimbursement more efficiently. Please keep a copy of your receipt, as it will be required when submitting evidence for reimbursement.

No. The Planting Grant covers 50% of the cost of plants for an eligible on-farm planting project, provided the project meets the minimum 1.5ha criteria.

Farmers will be reimbursed for 50% of eligible plant costs after submitting proof of purchase. To receive reimbursement, receipts must be submitted by 30 June 2027.

Visit the planting evidence submission page on the Farm Source website and upload:

A copy of your invoice or receipt showing what you bought and when
A photo of the completed planting

All evidence must be submitted before 30 June 2027.

Here's a guide to help you complete this step.

Guide to submit evidence for planting

The reimbursement appears on the service charge statement on the monthly milk statement following verification.

On-Farm Solutions was a customer-funded project that offered a range of tools and support options.

The Planting Grant funds 50% of plant purchase costs for an on-farm planting project covering a minimum total area of 1.5ha. This includes land on the dairy platform and supporting land that contributes to milk production through the rearing of young or dry animals, or feed production, and that is under the control of the farmer.

Fonterra will also require evidence that the plants have been planted. This may be verified through photos, on-farm visits, or third-party mapping software, either at the end of the season or once planting is complete.

We expect that farmers will take all reasonable steps to ensure the survival of the planting. We acknowledge that weather impacts plant survival rate, so this will be addressed directly with farmers on a case-by-case basis should there be significant impacts on survivability due to weather.

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