Minister’s recognition of farm R&D shortfall timely: NFF
SPEAKING at the ABARE Outlook conference in Canberra today, Federal Minister for Agriculture Tony Burke recognised the need to build productivity growth across the sector to enable farmers to build resilience in the face of growing challenges, both here and abroad. “We’re alarmed by the decline in agricultural productivity growth commensurate with the fall in […]
Wong’s overdue farm water account, time to ‘ante up’
CLIMATE Change and Water Minister Senator Penny Wong can expect to hear first-hand from angry farmers who are still awaiting on-farm water infrastructure – under the Government’s 12-month-old ‘Water For The Future’ plan – as she travels through the northern parts of the Murray-Darling Basin this week. “Premised on the two simultaneous prongs of water […]
Drought Review must deliver for all farmers
“THE Australian Government’s Drought Review must establish a comprehensive agricultural policy that sets us up for more than just the next drought,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie said today. “Drought has cost this country dearly through the loss of 90,000 on-farm jobs, slashing Australia’s economic growth, and placing individuals, families, businesses, local communities […]
ASEAN deal prevents backsliding & sets tariffs on zero track
STRIKING a new trade deal with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) overnight, Australia has locked in low tariffs in the face of mounting global economic turmoil – effectively preventing ASEAN from sliding into protectionism – while, over time, reducing many tariff levels to zero. “Pragmatically, it’s not a bad result at all,” […]
Prices hold steady despite emerging protectionism
THE Westpac-NFF Commodity Index broadly held steady this month with both significant upward and downward commodity price movements recorded. While the prospects are for prices to consolidate off their 2008 lows, concerning signs are emerging that protectionism may endanger already fragile global markets. National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Vice-President Charles Burke said: “It has been well […]
CPRS hamstrings agriculture, solution needed outside the box
“THE Federal Government must think outside the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) prism if it is serious about reducing emissions” – that’s the message the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) will take to Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and Agriculture Minister Tony Burke in Canberra tomorrow. “With politicians debating the pros and cons of emissions trading […]
Weather break: farmers may finally get reliable forecasts
TODAY the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) applauded the efforts of researchers at the University of NSW who claim to have found correlating links between the Indian Ocean dipole and the weather and rainfall patterns experienced in Australia. “These findings, if verified and supported through scientific review, could be the missing piece in the puzzle for […]
Farm stimulus to spark economic jump-start
WITH the Australian Government releasing its $42 billion economic stimulus package mark II, capital works investment in regional Australia is vital to ensure farm production can continue to keep the national economy afloat. Today’s announcement mirrors the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF’s) imperatives for sustaining Australia through the global economic meltdown and creating jobs by putting […]
Regional Australia pivotal to economic stimulus: NFF
AS THE Australian Government ponders its economic stimulus package mark II, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is urging capital works investment in regional Australia as farm activity continues to underpin the national economy “Agricultural production is the only thing keeping the Australian economy out of the red at the moment,” NFF CEO Ben Fargher explained. […]
NFF launches 2009 Innovation in Agriculture Awards
AS OF today the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling for nominations under its inaugural 2009 NFF/DAFF Innovation in Agriculture Awards, which encourage and recognise excellence in modern farm activity. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the NFF is instituting the Awards to acknowledge the pioneering advances and outstanding contributions made by modern farmers. The […]