Nutrien donates $200,000 to aid fire and flood relief in Australia
Nutrien has announced a $200,000 pledge to support flood and bushfire-affected communities as they begin the recovery process following the devastating weather events of recent months.
The pledge includes a $100,000 donation to the Victorian Farmers’ Federation’s Disaster Relief Fund, which is providing immediate assistance to farmers in Victoria impacted by recent bushfires. A further $100,000 will be donated to Rural Aid, a national charity delivering practical support including hay, water, financial aid and mental health counselling to farmers affected by flooding in Queensland and fires in Victoria and Western Australia.
“The scale of destruction caused by the bushfires and flooding in recent months is enormous and our thoughts are with everyone impacted by these weather events – and the challenge is on-going,” says Adrian Capogreco, Managing Director Australia, Nutrien. “Nutrien is deeply embedded in the affected areas; these are towns that our colleagues and customers call home and are key agricultural regions in Australia.”
“Nutrien has always stood with our communities in times of crisis, and this $200,000 donation will be used to provide practical and timely assistance via Rural Aid and the Victorian Farmers’ Federation to Australian farming communities. On the ground, our teams are also providing practical, emotional and financial support to customers on a case-by-case basis to ensure we are offering the right assistance, reliability and flexibility during their time of need.”
In addition to the company pledge, Nutrien employees have been donating to a range of charities through the company’s giving portal, with Nutrien matching employee donations to further boost support for those in affected areas.
“The journey to recovery will take time. Rebuilding infrastructure, herds or flocks, and soil health all takes time. As families begin to count the personal toll of these events, we want to ensure they have access to immediate support and that our teams are available on the frontline of longer-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.”
“From travelling through impacted areas to sitting down with producers, their families and local leaders, the strength of these communities has been clear at every turn,” says John Warlters, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Aid. “In the toughest moments, people have rallied to support others, often putting their own families and farms second.”
“Rural Aid can help with hay to feed livestock, financial assistance, a chat with a professional counsellor and replacement water infrastructure,” he says. “The support of businesses like Nutrien means that support is available now, but importantly also into the future as people rebuild their farm enterprises.”
“I’ve seen farming communities almost wiped off the map. For these areas, there’s no overestimating the amount of support they will need,” says Brett Hosking, President of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation. “The road to recovery will be a long one and it’s so important we’re there when it matters.”
“The VFF’s Disaster Relief Fund is critical. With the generous support of organisations like Nutrien, it allows fire-hit farmers to access grants to replace things such as fencing, pastures and infrastructure and get back on their feet.”
Farmers in impacted areas are encouraged to contact Rural Aid or the Victorian Farmers’ Federation directly to understand and access the assistance available.
For more information on support available through Rural Aid, contact 1300 327 624 or visit ruralaid.org.au.
For information on the VFF Disaster Relief Fund, contact 1300 882 833 or register via the VFF website.