Jock's Blog

Rollover of drought funding welcome by farmers

While I was up in Brisbane yesterday for the NFF Congress and AGM down in New South Wales the State government announced the continuation of drought transport subsidies and funding for drought support workers; two vital services for drought-affected farmers.

This announcement couldn’t come at a better time for farmers who are facing the prospect of yet another dry and bleak winter here in New South Wales.

The Association lobbied hard to maintain the State government support for our farmers.  The extension includes the rollover of drought transport subsidies for another three months to 30 September 2009.
These subsidies provide vital support to farmers, making it easier for them to access fodder, water and agistment services needed for the welfare of livestock.

Similarly, we are very pleased with the maintenance of funding for drought support workers for another six months to 31 December 2009.

Drought support workers provide vital personal support to farmers and we have long called for the Government to continue this essential service.

Water infrastructure investment

Irrigators in New South Wales received a welcome announcement late last week with the Commonwealth Government kicking the can for water infrastructure investment.  Minister Penny Wong announced a $650 million private irrigator’s package for investment in the Murray-Darling Basin.  The package provides for irrigators to co-invest with Government on water saving infrastructure measures. 

On another point, irrigators continue to have strong concerns about the market rules and termination fee rules which Minister Wong signed off on last week.  These new water trading rules will have a major impact on private irrigators in smaller systems. 

Rural Lands Protection Amendment Bill

Water wrongly allocated in NSW super-reshuffle

Call for Produce: Regional Food Fair 2009

Once again the NSW Farmers’ Association will be hosting the Regional Food Fair at Annual Conference 2009 on Tuesday, 28 July.

It is expected that the event will attract 500 guests to sample gourmet delights featuring locally grown food.  The Regional Food Fair is designed to provide a taste of produce from across NSW.

As a farmer, this is the perfect opportunity to get your product on the plates in front of your most important audience, future customers.

This year there will be twelve different food items on the menu. Each will be served with the details of the suppliers involved.  The suppliers will also be invited to attend the Regional Food Fair so that they can discuss their products with the guests.

We are seeking a wide variety of produce, from the more traditional such as lamb, beef and prawns to the more niche market produce such as olives, herbs and quail.

For a full list of produce needed for the Regional Food Fair or for further information please ring 1300 794 000.

North Coast Flooding

Once again torrential rain and wind have hit the far north coast from the Queensland border to as far south as Coffs Harbour.  Today Lismore is being evacuated and preparing for flood waters to overrun the Wilsons river banks by noon today.  Flood warnings are in place for the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond, Wilsons, Clarence, Bellingen and Nambucca rivers.  Grafton and Coffs Harbour are expecting over 100 ml of rain today.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone up in that area.  We are especially thinking about our farming friends and families.

2009 Farmer and Young Farmer of the Year Award Launch

Today I had the opportunity to head out to Nigel Kerin’s farm out at Yeoval for the launch of this year’s 2009 NSW Farmer of the Year and Young Farmer of the Year Awards.  Nigel is a good example of a farmer whose efforts to combat tough drought circumstances and improve the environmental health of his farm helped him win the 2008 award. 

The field day has demonstrated what Nigel and Kate have done differently to boost production on their property despite tough ongoing drought conditions, through the implementation of holistically managed cell grazing strategies. The launch was a good way to show off to the Sydney media what a great job our farmers are doing out in the bush. 

The Awards are an initiative of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Farmers’ Association, with support from The Land newspaper and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. 

The Young Farmer of the Year Award is open to farmers aged 16-35 years, while the Farmer of the Year Award is open to all farmers aged over 35 years. The Young Farmer receives $5,000, and the Farmer of the Year wins $10,000. Application forms are available on DPI and NSW Farmers’ Association websites, and entries close Friday 12 June.

Mid-North Coast Regional Visit

Today I am visiting the New South Wales mid-north coast to meet with Members and to discuss the damage caused by the recent north coast floods.  I am going to see firsthand the issues affecting farmers in this part of the State.  Local oyster farmers copped a lot of damage as a result of the floods and local farmers are concerned about changes to the Livestock Health and Pest Authority rates.

I am particularly looking forward to meeting with Members at a Member Forum and to having a look at oyster estuaries to discuss the flood damage to the oyster farms.

Federal Budget tonight

Tonight the Federal Government will release their second budget at 7.30pm.  I await the outcome of the budget with much interest.  The media have been reporting that important rural organisations and programs such as Land and Water Australia and the rural doctor’s incentives program will be scrapped.  This is extremely concerning if it turns out to be true. This budget will certainly be ruled by a tighter belt than in previous years, but the impact this will have on our industry really remains to be seen. 

I look forward to hearing what Minister Tony Burke (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) has to say regarding the budget at tomorrow's Farm Writers' breakfast in Sydney.

Put pork on your fork

This morning I was up early for a pork promotion on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program helping to reiterate to consumers that Australian pork is safe to eat. 

Something like 800 city workers and visitors had the opportunity to taste the best in Australian pork this morning, with over 100 kilograms of fresh pork products, including bacon, sausages and steaks consumed.

This was a great opportunity to spread the word about ‘clean and green’ Australian pork in the wake of the Influenza A-H1N1 virus outbreak (i.e.swine flu).

As I have said previously, and as Mel, Kochie and the Sunrise team said today, this virus is not a food safety issue, and consumers cannot contract it from eating pork.

Today’s barbeque was an initiative of Sunrise, the NSW Farmers’ Association and Australian Pork Limited, with support from generous donors, including Murray Valley Pork, Newland Foods and Dick Stone Meats. Chef Nino Zoccali, head chef and owner of Pendolino’s Restaurant at the Strand Arcade, also volunteered his time and expertise.

2009 Farmer of the Year Launch

The 2009 NSW Farmer and NSW Young Farmer of the Year Awards will be launched at a field day on 18 May 2009 at Yeoval. 

The field day is being jointly hosted by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and NSW Farmers’ Association, with support from Award sponsors The Land and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.

The NSW Farmers’ Association and the NSW Department of Primary Industries are inviting farmers and interested people to attend the field day at the property of the 2008 NSW Farmer of the Year, Nigel Kerin, in Yeoval at ‘Karuga Park’ Woolshed, Yeoval.  Come on out to see Nigel’s holistically managed cell grazing enterprise.

Nigel’s commitment to improving the environmental health of his mixed merino sheep, cattle and cropping operation earned him the 2008 Award, and his management strategies will be on display at the field day.

Nigel and his wife Kate have significantly boosted productivity on their property, despite tough ongoing drought conditions, due to the implementation of such strategies as cell grazing, pasture cropping and small paddock structure.

If you are planning on attending the field day or wish to apply for this year’s Farmer or Young Farmer of the Year contact the Association on 1300 794 000.

Swine flu outbreak

The international concern about swine flu calls for level heads and accurate information.  The Australian media have been showing pictures of pigs as if the flu virus is of animal origin.  Despite the name ‘swine flu’, the World Health Organisation has said that there is no proof that the current virus has derived from animal origins.  In fact, the World Organisation for Animal Health has said the virus should be called the North American influenza.

I wish to reassure readers that pork sold in Australia is not in any way associated with this flu outbreak.  Australian pork is safe to eat.  It is important to note that the swine flu outbreak is not a food safety issue.  Consumers cannot contract swine flu by eating pork products.

Australia does not import any pigs from overseas and we have stringent processes and protocols to protect the Australian pork industry and consumers.

Youth in Agriculture

Several Association Members attended, on behalf of the Association, a Youth in Agriculture Luncheon this week hosted by the RAS Youth Group at the Royal Easter Show.  The luncheon included several guest speakers who spoke on there being a positive future in agriculture. 

The speakers encouraged young people to be proactive within their own rural community.  The luncheon also provided valuable networking opportunities for the attendees.  Overall the luncheon provided positive encouragement to young people to seriously consider a career in agriculture.

Livestock Health and Pest Authority

A big concern to a number of our Members is the Livestock Health and Pest Authority rates.  The Association recently undertook a survey of Members in order to get a clear picture of the impact this is having on farmers.

I appreciate this is a very controversial topic with our Members, so I am pleased to be able to bring you the results of this survey.

Overall, the survey found that the size of property had a direct impact on rate changes. Those Members with smaller landholdings (a notional carrying capacity of less than 500) experienced the biggest increase in their rates, up 15 per cent on last year. In comparison, those Members with larger landholding (a notional carrying capacity of over 10,000) experienced rate decreases of seven per cent. Of course, we realise that this may not be the case for all, and that some Members may have experienced exceptions to this.

As a result of this survey, the Association now has a more accurate picture of what is happening across the State, and we have been using this information in our discussions with the Authorities and Government. I would like to thank the Members who took their valuable time to respond to this survey. For those Members who would like to gain further insight into the survey results they are available on our web page at www.nswfarmers.org.au .

Minister Tony Burke Visits China

This week Federal agriculture Minister Tony Burke has been in China and Hong Kong where he has met with the Chinese Minister for Agriculture and Quarantine.  While in China Minister Burke has been Twittering his journeys.  He has indicated to his Chinese counterpart that any free trade agreement with Australia must include a good deal for agriculture.  It will be interesting to see how Australian farmers will benefit from a free trade agreement with China.

While in China Minister Burke attended a G8 agriculture ministers' meeting to discuss global food security, climate change, and issues related to bilateral trade.  While in Hong Kong the Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further boost cooperation on wine-related business. 

He also had a site visit of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo to see how Australian products will be promoted at the event.  World Expos are a great opportunity to highlight Australia and our products to an international audience.

Royal Easter Show

Flying Fox Meeting

Flying foxes are a growing problem for our orchardists within the Sydney basin.  Urban sprawl along the eastern seaboard and to some extent climate change has forced flying foxes to go looking for food in other areas.  This is usually a farmer's stone fruit or apple orchard.

The only cost effective way of protecting crops from flying foxes is to cull.  Farmers cautiously cull only when required.  After all, who wants to stay up all night trying to protect a ripening crop after having worked all day in the orchard?  Yet this particular crop protection method is under threat of removal by the State Government.  The only other option without culling will be to fully net the orchard.  This is a very costly exercise.

Next Wednesday the Association is holding a farmers-only information night for Sydney Basin Orchardists (including Central Coast Orchardists) on the Government's efforts to review the culling of flying foxes.

The Association needs all Orchardists to attend this meeting and we encourage you to invite you neighbours and fellow farmers, including non-Members.

The meeting will be held at Richmond Club at 7pm (6pm for bistro meal at own cost) on 15 April.  Contact Frances Vella for further information: 0428 228 818.

Interest Rates

Today the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the official interest rate by twenty five basis points down to 3 per cent.  This is the sixth rate cut by the RBA since late last year.  Yet farmers are yet to see the same level of reductions in our loans as other sectors are experiencing.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it is imperative that rate cuts are passed on to farmers and agricultural borrowers in full and as soon as possible.

Even the Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, has recently inferred that he is less than impressed in the way banks have been passing on cuts to commercial agricultural borrowers, compared to their mortgage customers.

The NSW Farmers’ Association is continuing to urge the Australian Government to increase pressure on agricultural lenders to pass on today’s reduction in full.

Pork Producers AGM and the Royal Easter Show

This week I head out to Dubbo for the annual NSW Pork Producers Conference and AGM.  A number of nsw pork producers will gather for an afternoon to hear presentations from Australian Pork Ltd and the Pork CRC Roadshow.  The event will be topped off with a Producer Dinner at the Cattleman’s Country Motor Inn.

Also this week is the start of the Sydney Royal Easter Show at Homebush.  This is an annual event that many people look forward to attending both from the bush and the city.  It is a great opportunity for folk from the bush to show the benefits of country living.  Over 900,000 people attend each year making it one of the largest show events of its kind in the world. 

The Show will highlight 15,000 competitors show casing breeds and livestock, art, food and produce.  There will be interactive hands-on farming experiences, food production demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, animal nurseries, dog and cat shows and more. 

I’ll be out there for much of the show so if you see me come up and say g’day.

IPTAAS and more doctors and nurses

This week the NSW Minister for Health, the Hon John Della Bosca, announced in Parliament that part of the Government’s response to the Garling Report is to improve entitlements for patients using the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).   The Minister said, “There is no question that we are experiencing tough times and that communities need all the help they can get.” 

Under the new changes eligible pensioners and health care cardholders will no longer have to personally contribute to travel costs to access specialist treatment.  For those who have to travel over 100 kilometres for specialist treatment they will no longer have to contribute towards their travel cost nor pay an administrative fee.

The Minister also announced $30 million in funding over the next four years to create 45 extra medical positions in rural areas.  This funding will help improve the supply of skilled doctors in rural areas.  It will also be compulsory for second and third year medical students to do rural training.  The Government is also permanently allocating Country Careers Officers in each of the four rural area health services to help support recruitment of doctors, nurses and other clinical staff into rural communities.