By GrainGrowers Chair, Rhys Turton, originally published in Farm Weekly - 9 January 2025.
It is fantastic to see the WA harvest tonnages higher than most expectations and I do hope you have had at least a reasonable season in your own patch as harvest enters the home stretch.
GrainGrowers has wrapped up another busy are turning onto the home straight before the Christmas break after another busy and accomplished year of advocating on behalf of growers.
As we all know, the federal election is imminent and we have been vigorously promoting the essential needs of the grains industry with those in power to ensure firstly, regional Australia is not forgotten and secondly our sector is abundantly resourced to ensure grain production, transportation and marketing is as efficient and competitive as possible. We have formulated our election priorities and presented these on your behalf to all the relevant politicians, staffers and their respective departments to implore them to act prudently and make beneficial decisions for our rapidly growing industry.
The initiatives presented include:
- Targeted investment in regional housing.
- Improved telecommunications and connectivity.
- Improved community engagement for the energy transition.
- Essential service availability for regional communities.
- Unrestricted access to critical farm inputs including a pragmatic and well managed chemical regulator.
- Appropriate biosecurity funding.
- The National Grain Freight Strategy.
During the year, GrainGrowers continued to commit considerable resources to several critical industry issues that are absolutely essential for current grain production systems.
The APVMA review of paraquat and diquat was one, with GrainGrowers and many other agricultural and allied groups expressing concern and protest about the determination and scope of consideration undertaken by the APVMA, pointing out that the proposed changes would significantly impact farmers and the Australian landscape in terms of environmental impact and economic sustainability.
While the APVMA is now considering all the evidence, it must undertake a more comprehensive consideration of this and all relevant Australian data before a final decision is made. As we all know, paraquat and diquat are critical farm inputs and essential tools for integrated weed management programs on farm.
To help the community better understand the sustainable practices of growers, GrainGrowers recently launched an information series to demonstrate the positive impact modern farming tools such as chemicals have on environmental sustainability. It features growers from across the country talking about how safely and responsibly we farm. Please have a look at this on our website or social media channels and share the presentation with your friends in the wider community so our important message can be heard and understood.
Grain freight and logistics continues to impact all growers. GrainGrowers have a strategic objective to improve our grain transportation system by improving efficiency and reducing your grain freight costs.
After an extensive deep dive into grain logistics around Australia, we launched our National Grain Freight Strategy. The investigation revealed a plethora of issues in all Australian States and this undertaking has led to a focus on advocating for improvements on priority grain freight routes to ensure the main arteries receive priority focus.
To raise awareness of the grain freight challenges we face, GrainGrowers held an event at Parliament House called the Parliamentary Friends of Trucks Trailers and Transport. Key players from the grains and transport industry spoke and with numerous politicians in attendance and in particular the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Transport, we were able to demonstrate the importance of road transport to all in the grain supply chain, and the many obstacles and issues road transport around this country confront.
I am delighted to say Innovation Generation 2025 will be held in Fremantle. Innovation Generation is our showcase professional development event for young agricultural industry professionals and growers. It is always filled with future focused activities to empower aspiring ag leaders to tackle national industry opportunities and challenges. Full of fresh ideas, industry leading speakers, innovation and technology IG 2025 is not one to be missed if you are an under 35-year-old ag industry participant.
It is an exciting time to be a grain farmer. Scale, innovation, boldness and determination have seen a meteoric rise in grain production in terms of both hectares planted and tons produced. GrainGrowers have been supporting Australian grain farmers in this growth for 66 years and will continue to fight prudently and assertively for your benefit. Our goal is to ensure you are profitable and sustainable for generations to come.
On behalf of everyone at GrainGrowers I would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year and say thank you for your support throughout 2024.
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