Farmers from all corners of NSW will meet in Sydney this week to discuss critical issues such as the future of farming and the energy transition.
NSW Farmers’ Chief Executive Annabel Johnson said the NSW Farmers’ Annual Conference was a chance to bring the perspective from the paddock to the city as Australia faced a range of challenges.
“Every single day, each and every one of us relies on the hard work of our farmers to feed and clothe the nation,” Ms Johnson said.
“From the rising cost of doing business to green tape and pest and weed problems, farmers are up against it in their efforts to feed the future.
“But we know there are also a lot of opportunities, which is why we are coming together to develop new strategies for success.”
The two-day event at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse will involve policy debates and presentations from industry leaders, as well as NSW Premier Chris Minns, Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty, Energy and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis, and Shadow Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders. No federal parliamentarians are expected due to the return of parliament also happening today.
On the agenda for Day 1 today are most of the big speeches, including the Premier who is expected to address the conference this morning, and the state agriculture minister and secretary this afternoon.
Young farmers issues will be considered first up, with motions to support young farmers to buy their first farm and access affordable insurance. Ag science issues, including motions on retaining access to their own farm’s data, transparent use of AI in agriculture, and fertiliser quality standards, are also on the agenda for today. The role and performance of the Armidale based Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is expected to be a hot debate topic given the drop in performance revealed last week, and a motion on the agenda seeks to change the way that the APVMA do reviews of chemicals to include consideration of the impact a sudden ban may have on farm productivity.
After lunch, a long list of environmental motions will be considered, including five motions on reforms to the management of native vegetation, preventing waste from being transferred from urban areas to rural areas, opposing an energy from waste facility proposed for Parkes, and better management systems and resourcing for management of weeds and pest animals.
Business, economics and trade is also on the agenda for today, with local government rates, local land services rates, biodiversity offsets and road funding all to be discussed. A number of motions on the Right to Repair – a long standing tension point between farmers and machinery makers for the right to repair the equipment they have purchased that is hindered by things like digital locks and software on newer machinery – seeks to have their rights legislated, and companies forced to make their farming equipment interoperable between brands and parts.
As has sadly become the custom of NSW Farmers conferences in recent years, there is again a deeply offensive motion on the agenda, slated for discussion late in the day. This year, the unvarnished hate is from the Deniliquin Branch in two motions about “Aboriginal water”, and opposing traditional owners access and rights to cultural flows, in language that is dismissive of yarning and clearly indicates they believe irrigators should have more rights and more consultation.
“It’s crucial we put the best heads together to come up with the innovative solutions that will drive our farmers – and our food security – forward,” Ms Johnson said.
“Cutting edge issues like artificial intelligence and lab grown meat will be debated alongside perennial issues such as feral animals and renewable energy. There is no shortage of topics to be discussed and solutions to be formed at our Conference this year.
“I look forward to the interaction with key decision makers and discussion of the opportunities and challenges facing the state’s agriculture and agri-food industries, as well as the role strong farms will play in securing our future food supply.
“It is vital to have a strong agricultural sector and robust supply chains that can feed the future, and NSW Farmers is leading the way when it comes to finding the means to make this happen.”
A livestream of the conference is available so that all can hear what is said here.
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