Thu 12 May 2022

Growing the economy: Australian grain growers have their say

View the results and key findings from the 2022 Annual Policy Survey

Over 600 growers took part in GrainGrowers recent policy survey, sharing their views on the Australian grains industry and highlighting issues and opportunities that they see directly on their farms. Huge thanks to the growers who took time out of their busy schedule to complete the survey, it is appreciated. Grower input helps ensure GrainGrowers always has a strong case on the issues that matter.

With Australian grains delivering over $13billion to the economy and two record breaking harvests, GrainGrowers’ 2022 Federal Election campaign is a roadmap for industry and government to work collaboratively with growers and ensure the settings are right for the powerhouse sector to continue its positive growth.

TOP THREE CHALLENGES:

Growers identified their top three challenges as:

Input costs and availability
Farm labour and workforce
Machinery, equipment, repairs and parts

SENTIMENT:

Like 2021, positive sentiment in 2022 was largely driven by stronger commodity prices, good seasonal conditions and improved technology, research and efficiency and productivity gains.

Download the PDF to view the survey results and also see the work that GrainGrowers is doing on these important issues.

Download the results

2022 Annual Policy Survey Resultspdf 1.60MB

Topic

Grower Engagement / GrainGrowers

Some Key Findings

33%felt that the grains industry will improve in the next 12 months

60%believed the financial health of their farm business is better now than 12 months ago

40%say the environmental state of their land had improved

25%indicated their personal wellbeing has increased since last year

1 in 3 said their grains business was in an expansionary phase

1 in 4planned to increase their crop area in 2022

Application

WORK

Utilising the findings, GrainGrowers is working to:

Strengthen critical input supply chains

Secure and sustain market access growth
Overhaul Australia’s freight and logistics system
Provide a stable business environment
Reset Australia’s biosecurity system
Provide climate adaptation tools.

POLICY

Top Policy Issues of focus

Growers have provided a clear direction on what areas they believe GrainGrowers should focus on to drive increased sustainability and profitability for their grains business.

Input costs and availability
Roads, rail and ports infrastructure
Trade agreements and market access
Freight and shipping costs
Agricultural chemicals
Telecommunications and connectivity
Plant breeding technologies
Farm labour and workforce
Access to technology
Biosecurity

ELECTON

Federal Election Priorities

Growers’ feedback has been acknowledged and used to determine the federal election priorities. The most important issues facing the grains industry this election are:

Maintain the Fuel Tax Credits
Increase domestic manufacturing of critical farm inputs
Improve international market access
Improve grain freight routes
Overhaul Australia’s ports and shipping system
Improve telecommunications and connectivity
Ensure fair competition and effective governance of grains industry
Increase price transparency of farm inputs
Maintain government matched levy funding
Improve access to farm workers

SNAPSHOT

Health

Planting Intentions

Business phase

Focus areas

Contact us

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with GrainGrowers if you have any queries