Five banks pass on rate cuts to farmers, June Monitor shows
After two Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate cuts in two months and repeated calls from the farm sector to reduce agribusiness loan rates, five financial lenders have passed on some cuts to their agribusiness customers, the June Agribusiness Loan Monitor has found. Released today by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), the June Monitor […]
Good rhetoric, now time for action on agriculture
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the comments from the Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard, from Mexico overnight regarding the need to improve agriculture and food production. Speaking at the launch of a joint foreign aid program for agriculture in Los Cabos, the Prime Minister said that agriculture needs “better agricultural productivity, more […]
Blueprint for Aust Ag: time running out to have your say
Only four weeks remain for all interested in or involved with agriculture to have their say on the future of the sector via the Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. Input into the Blueprint has been sought from across the farming sector and the wider supply chain since February, and the opportunity to contribute will close on […]
Economic Forum disappointing: ag not on the agenda
The Prime Minister’s Economic Forum has failed to recognise the important role of agriculture in helping to build Australia’s economy, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has today said. NFF President Jock Laurie said the Forum, held in Brisbane this week and attended by NFF Vice-President Duncan Fraser, did not capitalise on the opportunity to look […]
NFF welcomes foreign investment working group
An announcement by the Federal Government that a working group will be established to consult on the development of a foreign ownership register is welcome news for the Australian farm sector, said the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF). NFF President Jock Laurie said today’s announcement shows the Government is listening to industry’s concerns on foreign ownership […]
Animal welfare the priority for Australia’s farmers
Animal welfare continues to be a very high priority for the Australian farmers who raise and care for livestock, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has today said. “Yesterday, the Federal Government released documents relating to possible animal welfare concerns in Australia, under freedom of information laws,” NFF President Jock Laurie said. “These documents show concerns […]
Australia on the world stage: farmers take on Rome & Rio
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is representing Australian farmers at two global forums taking place this month. NFF President Jock Laurie is currently appearing for Australia at the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) General Assembly in Rome, while next week, NFF CEO Matt Linnegar will travel to Rio for the UN’s Rio+20 where he will act […]
Landholders uneasy on Native Title changes
Farmers have reacted with caution to today’s public announcement by the federal Attorney General Nicola Roxon regarding changes to native title legislation. In a speech delivered in Townsville, Minister Roxon announced a suite of changes to the legislation including reform for indigenous Land Use Agreements, hardwiring criteria for what constitutes good faith negotiations and setting […]
Farmers call on banks to pass on interest rate cuts
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed today’s interest rate cut, calling on financial lenders to pass the full 0.25 percent cut to their agribusiness customers. “For the second month in a row, we’ve seen a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in the official cash rate, yet farmers and agricultural businesses […]
Failed Basin Plan – fix required, Minister
Farmer and irrigator groups across the Basin today united in their rejection of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s revised Basin Plan. “It beggars belief that after 20 weeks of consultation where communities across the Basin implored the Authority to deliver a more balanced Plan, there has been little substantive change,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) CEO Matt […]