Blogs

Farmers welcome new powerline inquiry

By Steve Mudd posted 15-09-2023
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Farmers welcome new powerline inquiry The state’s peak farming body has welcomed a new Parliamentary Committee to re-examine underground transmission lines following strong community outrage. A recent government-dominated review into undergrounding high-voltage transmission lines ignored community concerns and strong opposition from the farming sector, recommending enormous above-ground towers and powerlines that would criss-cross towns and productive farmland. Now, the Greens and Opposition have joined forces to establish a Select Committee into the feasibility of undergrounding the transmission infrastructure for renewable energy projects, which will ...
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Be strong and ask for help

By Steve Mudd posted 14-09-2023
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Be strong and ask for help Farmers and rural communities are being encouraged to look out for each other with tight finances and dry times ahead causing concern for the sector. Corowa farmer and mental health advocate Derek Schoen said he had a clear message for the bush this R U OK? Day. “Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness,” Mr Schoen said. “We still have a bit of an old-fashioned mindset in the country when it comes to mental health and that needs to change. “There’s no shame in letting someone know you’re struggling, and we all need to be ready to sit down and have a chat with mates or family members who are finding things ...
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Real cost of water buybacks revealed

By Steve Mudd posted 11-09-2023
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Real cost of water buybacks revealed The Federal Government’s plans to increase water buybacks will have a devastating impact on food production, NSW Farmers warns. Water Taskforce chair Richard Bootle said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek needed to explain to Australians what impact her 450,000ML (megalitres) of water buybacks would have on food security and supermarket prices. “It’s easy to talk about water in terms of numbers, but when you drill down into what those numbers mean I think the Minister has some explaining to do,” Mr Bootle said. “For example, one megalitre of water can produce 21,739 serves of rice, or 57,670 apples, or 51,000 ...
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Help stop country crooks

By Steve Mudd posted 11-09-2023
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Help stop country crooks Country communities are being urged to come together to stop rural crime with a series of statewide events, starting in Dubbo on Tuesday, September 12. Peak agricultural body NSW Farmers in conjunction with WFI Insurance will host the Rural Crime Workshops with guest speakers from the NSW Police Rural Crime Prevention Team, who will share security tips and listen to issues from locals. Dubbo region NSW Farmers Regional Service Manager Caron Chester said rural crime cost landholders and businesses millions of dollars every year, both through losses via criminals and through increased insurance costs. “Theft of livestock, produce ...
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Solutions to country vet shortage

By Steve Mudd posted 30-08-2023
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Solutions to country vet shortage The state’s peak farm group has laid out a plan for government to resolve an acute shortage of large animal veterinarians in country NSW. NSW Farmers has given evidence to the Inquiry into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage in New South Wales, highlighting the concerns of the agricultural sector and putting forward three solutions being used internationally. Dr Robyn Alders AO, a qualified vet and farmer from the Upper Lachlan region, told the inquiry the relative decline in veterinary and other frontline personnel associated with animal health, welfare and biosecurity in rural areas had been presided over by governments ...
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Review risks revolt

By Steve Mudd posted 25-08-2023
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Review risks revolt The NSW Government has been warned not to pit farmers against the environment following the release of a statutory review. The independent review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act – conducted by a panel led by Dr Ken Henry – made 58 recommendations, some of which could have drastic impacts on food and fibre production. NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle said while the government had repeatedly promised to work in conjunction with the agricultural industry – which was essential – there was a risk of a return to “the bad old days”. “We are in a situation now where farmers are recognised as being good stewards of the landscape, working ...
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Supermarket superprofits slammed

By Steve Mudd posted 25-08-2023
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Supermarket superprofits slammed Farmers have welcomed the Federal Treasurer's announcement on tackling big business market power after the big two supermarkets posted enormous profits this week. On Tuesday Coles announced a $1.098 billion profit while Woolworths announced a $1.62 billion profit on Wednesday. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said it was very disapointing that every one of those dollars came out of an Australian’s pocket at a time when families were struggling to make ends meet, repeating calls for action from the federal government. “Families are facing huge cost of living pressures while farmers are getting paid cents on the ...
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Farm leader calls out Euro ‘madness’

By Steve Mudd posted 18-08-2023
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Farm leader calls out Euro ‘madness’ NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says it’s time for Australia to stop bending to European demands that would cripple food and fibre production. The latest broadside on Australian agriculture came in the form of a motion to Labor’s federal conference – inspired by European laws – that would directly limit what farmers were able to do on their properties. The Labor Environmental Action Network’s ‘Climate, Clearing and Cows’ motion – which also sought to halve all methane emissions by 2030 – would have dire consequences for Australia’s farm productivity and food security, Mr Martin said. He pointed to heavy-handed ...
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NSW Farmers CEO leaving Association in strong shape

By Steve Mudd posted 17-08-2023
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NSW Farmers CEO to take the next step leaving the Association in strong shape NSW Farmers’ CEO Pete Arkle and President Xavier Martin today announced that Pete will be moving on from NSW Farmers in late 2023 to take the next step in his professional career, having led the organisation for nearly 5 years. “Pete has been an excellent leader through what has been a period of great challenge and more recent prosperity for farmers across NSW” said NSW Farmers’ President Xavier Martin. “Pete has built a strong team, modernised many aspects of NSW Farmers’ approach, developed and delivered a successful strategy, and helped secure multiple advocacy wins for ...
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Farmers set for massive Ag Quip

By Steve Mudd posted 16-08-2023
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Farmers set for massive Ag Quip NSW Farmers will host Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt at Ag Quip in Gunnedah next week to discuss critical issues facing agriculture. An informal forum with Minister Watt and Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres at 10am on Tuesday morning will include the latest updates on trade, biosecurity, drought, and innovation, and provide an opportunity for visitors to the NSW Farmers shed to hear how the new National Reconstruction Fund can support growth in agriculture. In addition to the Ministerial visit, NSW Farmers was bringing back a number of popular offerings for visitors including the free barbecue lunch for ...
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Farmers welcome progress on ferals

By Steve Mudd posted 16-08-2023
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Farmers welcome progress on ferals NSW Farmers has welcomed the National Feral Deer Action Plan, saying it will help control the pest animals. Cooma farmer Craig Mitchell, who argued in favour of feral deer controls at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference in July, said invasive species were a huge problem. “Whether it’s feral deer, pigs, dogs or cats, none of these pests have any understanding about fences or boundaries and they certainly don’t operate in geographic isolation,” Mr Mitchell said. “We need all land managers – public and private alike – doing their part to deal with pest animals and weeds, otherwise we’ll keep seeing them return again ...
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Don’t repeat mistakes in bush push

By Steve Mudd posted 08-08-2023
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Don’t repeat mistakes in bush push The state’s peak farming body says country communities need to be better equipped to deal with an increasing number of ‘tree changers’. According to research commissioned by NewsCorp Australia, more than three million people living in capital cities intend to move to a rural or regional area to escape soaring rents and constant congestion. While people in regional centres were welcoming, NSW Farmers Rural Affairs chair Deb Charlton said they were sometimes ill-equipped to handle an influx of new neighbours. “When you look at our major centres like Wagga Wagga, Orange or Tamworth, they have health services and educational ...
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Powerline upgrade could stop farm shock

By Steve Mudd posted 04-08-2023
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Powerline upgrade could stop farm shock NSW Farmers Energy Transition spokesman Reg Kidd says upgrading existing powerlines would short-circuit community pain over transmission projects. A proposal from the Victoria Energy Policy Centre to use existing powerline easements to house 80-metre-high pylons and high voltage powerlines was worth investigating for NSW as well, Mr Kidd said. “We’ve got people being told their farms will be cut in two by enormous towers carrying high-voltage powerlines, and it’s creating a real headache for landholders and communities,” Mr Kidd said. “This suggestion from Victoria would basically re-purpose the existing ...
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Farmers investing in the future

By Steve Mudd posted 04-08-2023
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Farmers investing in the future The state’s peak farming body is supporting five bright young minds from country communities to complete their studies. The NSW Farmers 2023 Tertiary Scholarships, each worth $4000 annually, were awarded to members or their children to support their university or vocational qualification in an agriculture-related field. This year’s recipients include Bega’s Amelia Whyman, who is studying a Bachelor of Animal Science, Megan Seis from Dunedoo, who is studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, aspiring Occupational Therapist Tiarna Burke from Jerilderie, Sam Johnston from Forbes, who is studying a Bachelor of Property Valuation, ...
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Government reminded one size does not fit all

By Steve Mudd posted 04-08-2023
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Government reminded one size does not fit all Farmers have urged the federal government to work with the industry to avoid unintended impacts on the fresh food supply chain. Federal Employment Minister Tony Burke this week announced proposed new laws to require casual workers with regular and predictable hours to be made permanent, but NSW Farmers workplace relations spokesman Chris Stillard warned it would simply make it harder to employ casuals with no real benefits. Casual employees already had a pathway to request permanent employment, he said, and had been no increase in the employment of casuals over the past decade. “In agriculture there are ...
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NSW Farmers welcomes new board member

By Steve Mudd posted 04-08-2023
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NSW Farmers welcomes new board member Moree-based cropper Oscar Pearse has been elected to the NSW Farmers Board at the Annual Conference this week. Mr Pearse, a father of three whose family has deep roots in the state’s north west, said a sustainable future for farming was critical to feed families and protect the country. “I’m a big believer in farmers being part of their landscape, and being good stewards of the land in a way where we can generate real returns,” Mr Pearse said. “Farmer are renowned for protecting productive natural capital, our assets of soils, pasture and key natural areas, but sometimes the economic returns aren't there. We ...
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State farm reps agree on need for traceability funding

By Steve Mudd posted 04-08-2023
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19 July, 2023 Progress on sheep and goat traceability Sheep and farmed goat producers say they appreciate funding to help transition to a mandatory traceability system, but concerns about tag costs remain. On Wednesday NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced $38 million in joint state-federal funding to support the sheep and farmed goat industry in the implementation of mandatory individual electronic identification (eID) across NSW. From August 1, parts of the sheep and farmed goat supply chain will be able to access an NSW Sheep and Goat eID Infrastructure Rebate to assist impacted stakeholders ...
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Avoid cracks in egg supply

By Steve Mudd posted 13-07-2023
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Avoid cracks in egg supply Egg farmers are calling on Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to avoid egg shortages and price hikes by deferring a phase-out of conventional cage eggs. On Thursday, a joint meeting of federal and state agriculture ministers endorsed an updated version of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry, but pushed a decision on when to phase out conventional cage egg production to each state. Farmers had warned the egg industry could not afford to stop conventional cage egg production before 2046 without causing supply shortages and subsequent price spikes. NSW Farmers Egg Committee chair Brett Langfield ...
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State farm reps agree on need for traceability funding

By Steve Mudd posted 13-07-2023
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State farm reps agree on need for traceability funding Leaders from the nation’s state farming organisations have agreed to work together on sweeping reforms announced by Agriculture Ministers last year. The meeting, held at Adelaide Showground and online on Wednesday, was organised by NSW Farmers with the support of Livestock SA, and featured representatives from the Victorian Farmers Federation, AgForce Queensland, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, WA Farmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA to discuss reforms to sheep and goat traceability. The implementation and transition to mandatory sheep and goat electronic ...
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Country vet shortage a growing concern

By Steve Mudd posted 10-07-2023
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Country vet shortage a growing concern It’s getting harder and harder to find large animal veterinarians, farmers say, amid calls for increased training and targeted skilled migration. Shane Kilby, a cattle producer from Dubbo, will take the issue to the NSW Farmers Annual Conference next week. “As a livestock producer it’s vital to have a good relationship with a large animal veterinary practice so you can get the care you need, when you need it,” Mrs Kilby said. “Vets are indispensable for us, whether it’s pregnancy testing, calving or even just looking in on a sick animal. “Sadly we’re seeing a decline in the number of large animal vets across ...
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