As the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) continues to delve into its 12-month inquiry into supermarket pricing, farmers find themselves at the centre of a heated debate about fairness, competition, and the future of our food system. With allegations of price gouging and concerns over the cost of groceries, the spotlight is on the complex relationship between supermarkets, suppliers, and consumers.  

In January 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an ACCC inquiry into supermarket prices, responding to growing concerns over the cost of groceries. This investigation aimed to examine the relationship between wholesale, farmgate, and retail prices, as well as barriers to competition in the sector. Advocacy group Choice also received $1.1 million to “provide clear regular information on prices across a basket of goods”.  

The ACCC used compulsory information-gathering powers on supermarkets such as Aldi, Coles and Woolworths. The investigation included: 

• barriers to greater competition in the sector 

• the relationship between wholesale, farmgate and retail prices 

• the challenge for other companies to enter the market 

• the impacts online shopping, loyalty programs and changes in technology have on competition 

The inquiry began in March with an issues paper for stakeholder submissions, along with an online consumer survey. ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh told a recent Farm Writers event the response to the survey exceeded expectations. 

“We received the highest number of responses we’ve ever received for a consumer survey, with 22,000 respondents. So it really highlighted the significance they see in the role of supermarkets in their lives,” Mr Keogh said. 

“The inquiry is looking at the role of supermarkets from a consumer perspective. It’s looking at the prices consumers pay, the arrangements consumers exercise, their ability to go to supermarkets and make choices. It’s also focused on the supply side, the situation of suppliers who engage with supermarkets.” 

“Supermarkets, especially the two majors, do have power. Do they exercise that to the detriment of the consumers? That’s a legitimate question.”

ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh

Mr Keogh also noted there had been plenty of engagement with suppliers, in terms of submissions and also face-to-face meetings, with several showing hesitation in being involved and many others requesting confidentiality – something Mr Keogh said should come as no surprise to the farming community. 

A different perspective 

However, Victorian Farmers Federation President Emma Germano, speaking at the same Farm Writers event, described the supermarket price inquiries as a “smoke screen”, suggesting it’s a distraction from broader government policy issues affecting the cost of living. 

“Whilst I’d love to bash up the supermarkets today because that is what’s trendy and makes us all feel good, what we’ve all done is just run down this track of the best smoke screen I think that I’ve seen the federal government play in the last 10 years,” Ms Germano said. 

Ms Germano pointed out that the cost-of-living crisis had far more to do with government policies than supermarket practices alone. She argued that energy costs, industrial relations complexities, and rising labour expenses were significant factors impacting farmers’ bottom lines. 

“Supermarkets are making on average between two and three per cent net profit. Is that really exorbitant? Are we actually saying the supermarkets are making too much money?” Ms Germano said. 

“How can we talk about price gouging in this sense that there’s an absolute uproar about how expensive it is to buy things in the supermarket. So, as much as I hate supermarkets more than the next guy, this is rubbish.” 

“The simple one line should have been that it’s more expensive to buy meat at your butcher and it’s more expensive to buy vegetables from the market.” 

Ms Germano also said that problems between supermarkets and suppliers have been an issue for a significant period. 

“The issues with the relationships between suppliers and the supermarkets, no doubt, are an ongoing issue. Is it good that we are starting to address that relationship? Yes, it is. But is it good that we’re letting the federal government get away with the fact that the biggest increase to the price of production are the things that they’ve done nothing about?” she said. 

Ms Germano claimed it was all well and good for federal Nationals leader David Littleproud to be talking about supermarkets now, but “why didn’t you do something about the supermarkets and those problems when the Coalition was in government?” 

Complexity a problem in supermarket price inquiries

Behind the headlines about supermarket price inquiries, profits and consumers was a complex web of challenges faced by farmers, Ms Germano believed. While supermarkets influenced farm businesses, they weren’t solely responsible for the cost-of-living crisis, she said, shedding light on the emotional and practical realities of farming. 

“We’re not businesses like other businesses due to the fact that we are unbelievably emotionally connected to our land. All the farmers that I know identify themselves as a farmer first and foremost before nearly being a human being,” Ms Germano said. 

She believed this deep connection to the land could sometimes lead to decisions that prioritised tradition over profitability.  

“Because of that emotional connection and the way that you’ve done things for three generations, you’ve got the sense of loyalty that you have to keep going, and that sometimes means that you make poor business decisions,” Ms Germano said. 

“We’re letting the federal government get away with the fact that the biggest increase to the price of production are the things that they’ve done nothing about.”

Victorian Farmers Federation President Emma Germano

“If you want to grow too many potatoes, you can expect that the potatoes are going to be very cheap and you’re going to create all these avenues where you are taken advantage of.”  

“And the suppliers are oversupplying the market all the time.  This overproduction can lead to price drops and create vulnerabilities that can be exploited by various market players, not just supermarkets.” 

While the ACCC inquiry focused on supermarket practices, Ms Germano argued for a broader perspective on the challenges facing Australian agriculture: 

“Agriculture has so much to offer. You’re asking us to do everything for you, but we don’t value it. And I think that if the supermarkets really value it, Australian food production as part of their ESG (environmental, social and governance), I think the whole vibe would shift,” she said. 

“If the end goal is cheap food, that really bothers me because here’s a really easy way to make food cheaper – let’s just buy it all from South America and Asia – problem fixed. We’re not actually valuing manufacturing in Australia. Agriculture is still the manufacturing industry that is here right now. We’re not taking care of it, but we want to start thinking about what else we can manufacture.” 

This call for a more comprehensive approach to valuing Australian agriculture echoed sentiments expressed by other industry leaders, such as former NSW Agriculture Minister Niall Blair, who advocated for a National Food and Fibre Plan to provide long-term certainty for businesses and guide policy frameworks. 

As the ACCC inquiry progressed, the challenges facing agriculture remained multifaceted, including climate change, water scarcity, technological innovation, and shifting consumer preferences. 

Initiatives such as NSW Farmers’ “Feeding the Future” focus, the NFF’s 2030 Roadmap, and the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework, offered promising steps towards a more holistic approach to supporting and future-proofing Australian agriculture. These efforts recognised the need to balance productivity with sustainability, community trust, and adaptability to changing conditions. 

Both Coles and Woolworths, which together controlled roughly two-thirds the supermarket sector, rejected accusations of price gouging in the supermarket price inquiries. They asserted the increase in corporate profits was a result of improved productivity within their stores.  

But regardless of how those profits were generated, they came from Australian hip-pockets, something Australian politicians had woken up to. 

The ACCC will give an interim report to the federal government later this year with the final report due in early 2025. 

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Northern Tablelands Local Land Services (LLS) is introducing a new initiative this year, offering complimentary fox control baits to all certified participants.

Given the threat feral foxes pose to both the ecosystem and livestock, LLS called on landholders in the Armidale, Walcha, and Guyra areas to join forces with their neighbours and engage in the Fox Baiting Program in June 2024.

According to Michael Smart, Biosecurity Officer at Northern Tablelands LLS, cooperation between neighbouring producers was key to the success of the program.

“This program has been running since the early 2000s, and we have always relied on the support of local volunteers to help us coordinate the groups at 18 localities across the region, and widespread participation from landholders. Through this support we are able to reduce the impact of fox predation on local ecosystems and livestock in the region.”

Michael Smart, Biosecurity Officer at Northern Tablelands LLS

Bronwyn Petrie, a Tenterfield farmer and member of the NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management Committee, said any support for farmers in controlling pests and weeds was always welcome.

“Farmers’ engagement in pest and weed control assists not only farming production systems but also the environment. Foxes are an ongoing problem across the tablelands and continue to impact lambs and kids,” Mrs Petrie said.

“NSW Farmers is strongly supportive of coordinated approach to feral pest control in order to be more effective and achieve a greater result.  If farmers and crown land managers work in an ad hoc manner, then the outcome is watered down due to populations of feral animals being unaffected on some lands and then continuing to prey on neighbouring livestock and native animals.

“It’s important for cattle producers to also support the baiting program to ensure a good outcome across the area.”

Mrs Petrie said there was a “wild dog working group” based in Tenterfield, which also covered foxes.

“I’d like to encourage all farmers to join their local feral animal control group so they can be better informed and involved in a coordinated approach to achieve a higher level of feral animal control thus improving farm productivity, reducing stress on livestock and owners, as well as reducing the impact on our native animals.”

Bronwyn Petrie, Member of the NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management Committee

According to the LLS, community support was essential to controlling fox populations in the New England and Northern Tablelands, due to the nature of foxes travelling between properties.

In the Northern Tablelands region, landholders could collect baits for the control of foxes by joining their local pest animal management group. This allowed landholders to work together to bait simultaneously to cover a wide area, which resulted in better control outcomes across the New England area.

Farmers were urged to join their local fox control baiting group. The Northern Tablelands group’s baiting schedule was listed on the Local Land Services website.

All participating landholders were required to be accredited and must show their chemical card, or they could appoint an authorised agent to collect and deploy the fox control baits on their behalf through Northern Tablelands LLS.

There were also free online Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training courses available, which provided accreditation valid for five years.

Learn more here.

Foxes were an invasive pest species known for preying on lambs, calves, and poultry, as well as spreading diseases and parasites to both animals and humans.

In addition to harming livestock, they negatively impacted the natural environment by spreading weeds and hunting native wildlife, such as possums, wallabies, birds, reptiles, and frogs.

Farmers keen to participate in the program were encouraged to contact Northern Tablelands LLS at (02) 6770 2000. More information available here.

If you enjoyed reading about fox control baits, you may also like to read breaking news about avian influenza being discovered in NSW.

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NSW Farmers has welcomed the latest National Grain Freight Strategy, which promises a realistic and workable road map for the government to improve Australia’s position in the global market.

The GrainGrowers strategy, launched last week, aimed to boost the productivity and efficiency of the supply chain, reducing costs and providing savings for Australian growers.

According to GrainGrowers, a record winter crop production of 65.7 million tonnes was moved from paddocks across regional Australia in 2022-23, by either road or rail to port for export or to domestic markets. The expense of moving grain was the single largest cost of production, according to CSIRO modelling, which highlighted transport costs of $2.1 billion per annum.

GrainGrowers Chair Rhys Turton said Australia’s ability to compete on the global stage was not just determined by what farmers grew, but also how efficiently and effectively they could get their grain to market.

 “For context, prior to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both countries’ production costs were $70-$120 AUD less than Australia’s,” Mr Turton said.

A report titled “Connecting the Dots”, commissioned by GrainGrowers, identified crucial points in the supply chain. In the wake of the report, more than 40 stakeholders were consulted to gain extra input into the issues. Mr Turton said collaborating with industry stakeholders and policymakers meant they were working towards a more efficient and resilient grain supply chain.

“While growers were at the heart of the strategy, with a key focus on the issues that impacted transporting grain off-farm such as local roads and bridges, it was vital the approach reflected the views of the broader supply chain,” he said.

According to NSW Farmers Grains Committee Chair Justin Everitt, it was an issue that farmers and the Grains Research Development Corp (GRDC) had been hoping to resolve.

“It’s definitely an issue that NSW Farmers and GRDC has been pushing for a very long time, especially with our call for an ACCC investigation of the grain supply chain. So, we have been advocating for this, and it is great to see GrainGrowers taking action,” Mr Everitt said.

“More players in the game means more competition, and that is always beneficial. It ultimately puts more money back into growers’ pockets, which is something we definitely want to see.”

The action plan

The framework of the strategy was based on the following goals:

•     Promote competition and attract new entrants to the supply chain;
•     Expand scalable capacity within the supply chain;
•     Simplify and harmonise regulations;
•     Strengthen supply chain resilience;
•     Foster new technologies and innovation;
•     Improve freight sustainability.

The new approach was seen as a solid action plan centred on road funding, road regulation, bridges, rail, ports, and freight decarbonisation. It also detailed collaborative methods for government and industry stakeholders, ensuring Australia’s grain supply chain kept its global competitiveness.

When it came to new technologies and innovation in the industry, Mr Everitt said technological advancements were always welcome; however, the focus had to be on addressing the existing issues first, particularly in freight.

 “For example, our roads need significant improvements. There is no point in having advanced new equipment if our roads are just going to damage it,” Mr Everitt said.

“Road funding and regulation are crucial. We need a well-maintained national road system, especially in regional and rural areas where councils can’t keep up with maintenance.

“The major highways might have been okay, but often the last few kilometres to the farm gate can be the worst part of your drive. Recently, my last 15km drive in the truck was so rough, I had to hold on with both hands. It was a rough ride.”

Key Components

The action plan’s key components addressed issues including:

Road funding: Immediate actions included developing state-based grain freight strategies, increasing funding for the Roads to Recovery Program, allocating funds to critical grain freight routes through the Infrastructure Investment Program, and prioritising the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy within the National Cabinet.

Road regulation: The adoption of High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV) was hindered by inadequate regulations and lengthy permit processes. Immediate actions included streamlining HPFV regulations, improving safety, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and providing more resources to local councils for road access decisions.

Bridges: Ageing bridge infrastructure hindered HPFV operation, with many councils unable to afford replacements, imposing load limits. Immediate action was needed to fund bridge upgrades on high-volume routes and provide targeted funding for cross-border bridges.

Rail: Improving rail grain freight reduced carbon emissions and efficiently transported grain long distances. Immediate actions included funding upgrades for critical rail freight corridors, aligning rolling stock access agreements, auditing infrastructure standards for standardisation and expansion, and co-funding industry upgrades for rail sidings and loading capacity.

Ports: A well-functioning port system was vital for exporting grain internationally, but Australian ports faced significant challenges due to trade growth. Immediate needs included a nationally coordinated approach to port regulation for improved consistency and coordination and government monitoring of port productivity.

Freight decarbonisation: Australian grain freight required a nationally coordinated and phased transition to low-emission pathways. Immediate steps included implementing a National Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan, incorporating decarbonisation into the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, developing a National Modal Shift Scheme to boost rail freight for grain, and exploring domestic production of canola-based biofuels.

Mr. Everitt commended GrainGrowers for doing a good job in addressing the key issues.

“It is a good pathway forward, but our wish list would probably never end. The grain industry has fallen so far behind that it will take a long time to catch up,” Mr Everitt said.

If you enjoyed reading about the National Grain Freight Strategy, you may like to read about new safety guidelines for livestock transport.

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The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has introduced new regulatory advice to improve safety in Australia’s livestock transport sector. The initiative aimed to clear up confusion within the livestock supply chain by clearly defining responsibilities and boosting the overall safety and efficiency of the agricultural industry.

Unlike other transport sectors, the livestock industry was very complex and operated with a high degree of informality, often relying on ad-hoc agreements based on long-standing working relationships.

The scheduling for livestock transport was often dictated by last-minute bookings and deadlines for sales or abattoir operations, creating a dynamic and sometimes chaotic working environment.

Drivers and other industry participants often performed multiple roles under challenging conditions. For example, they regularly spent extra hours on chores such as cleaning stock crates of effluent for biosecurity, animal welfare, and road safety. There was also the regular need to queue for wash bays, causing excessive delays that seriously impacted drivers’ wellbeing by cutting into their work – as well as their rest – time.

Proper preparation, safe transport, loading, unloading, and management of livestock during transit necessitated the collaboration of multiple parties, each offering specific services or workers with specialised skills.

NHVR’s Chief Safety and Productivity Officer David Hourigan acknowledged the livestock industry as being highly unique, as well as “dynamic.”

“Scheduling is often dictated by immediate needs like upcoming sales or abattoir scheduling,” Mr Hourigan said.

“There are additional challenges, like the need for thorough cleaning of stock crates, which not only affects biosecurity and animal welfare but can also contribute to significant delays for drivers, impacting their rest and overall fatigue management.”

In 2022, the NHVR began a review of the state-based heavy vehicle livestock loading arrangements to find opportunities to minimise the compliance burden on livestock transportation. The review also aimed to simplify cross-border transport and improve last-mile access on local government roads, and improve safety, productivity and efficiency for the livestock transportation industry.

On the back of this review, the new regulatory advice had been designed to bridge these gaps and make sure everyone involved in the process – from primary producers to transport operators to facility owners to stock agents – were fully aware of their responsibilities.

It was believed the new regulatory guidance would improve safety and clarify the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) primary duty and Chain of Responsibility (CoR), focused on specific topics or industry sectors.

NSW Farmers Policy Advisor David Tregenza said the new regulatory guidance was a positive move.

“This advice represents a positive move in establishing a framework that will clear up confusion in the livestock supply chain by making it clear where the responsibility lies and who has responsibilities for important items such as biosecurity and others.”

David Tregenza,NSW Farmers Policy Advisor

“The regulations will undoubtedly help improve the overall safety and efficiency of the agricultural industry.”

The NHVR’s Regulatory Advice provided critical information to assist the livestock industry in several areas:

• Clarifying who within the livestock industry is a party in the CoR and what they need to do to meet their HVNL obligations.
• Understanding the risks associated with livestock transport activities.
• Identifying how collaboration between CoR parties can help manage risks.
• Understanding what each CoR party should do to manage risks.
• Ensuring that each party is doing everything reasonably practicable to maintain safety.

The NHVR Regulatory Advice also provided helpful educational material intended to raise awareness among livestock industry workers who might be unaware that their actions or inactions could affect the safety of livestock transport.

For more information visit: https://www.nhvr.gov.au

If you enjoyed this piece, you may like to read about how the Future Gas Strategy will reduce global emissions.

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Farmers are advised to remain cautiously optimistic in light of the latest winter crop report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

According to the ABARES report, winter crop production in NSW was predicted to rise by 36 per cent to 15 million tonnes in 2024–25, marking a 28 per cent increase above the 10-year average to 2023–24.

Winter crop yields were forecast to rise by 24 per cent to 2.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024–‍25 (this was 23 per cent above the 10-‍year average to 2023–‍24).

The optimistic forecast was attributed to an excellent start to the winter cropping season nationally, allowing most growers to fully achieve their robust planting goals.

However, NSW Farmers economist Samuel Miller said it was always wise to be cautiously optimistic when it came to forecasts released by ABARES.

“ABARES claimed that winter crop yields are forecast to rise by 24 per cent, which sounds positive. However, looking back at the last 25 years of ABARES forecasts, the median forecast error is around plus or minus 18 per cent. Putting that potential 24 per cent increase in context helps,” Mr Miller said.

“It’s likely to be a positive year for farmers, but with all forecasts, it’s essential to be mindful of potential errors. You can never perfectly predict the future. The increased production is likely to offset lower prices currently being seen in Australia. ABARES also mentions that, barring any major issues, wheat prices are forecast to remain low for the remainder of the year. However, that comes with the warning of potential unforeseen global issues.”

Samuel Miller, NSW Farmers economist

“Wheat prices, particularly in the last couple of years, have been quite volatile due to geopolitical tensions around the world. It’s important to highlight the crisis in Eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine. The situation remains unpredictable, and developments there or elsewhere could significantly impact global prices.”

According to the ABARES report, the area planted to winter crops in NSW was projected to grow by 10 per cent to 6.1 million hectares in 2024–25, which was 10 per cent above the 10-year average. Chickpea plantings were experiencing the largest percentage increase year-on-year in NSW this season, similar to trends in Queensland.

The increase in wheat and barley planting reflected the above-average subsoil moisture across much of NSW at the time of this forecast. This expansion included areas that were not planted last season due to dry conditions.

However, drier conditions during autumn and lower soil moisture levels in some southern cropping regions—where canola was predominantly grown—had led to a modest 1 per cent year-on-year decrease in the area planted to canola.

Canola, like wheat, was among the top three crop categories and was expected to have a strong year.

Mr Miller said the area planted was predicted to maintain its historical trajectory, which was a positive sign.

“Chickpeas have seen significant growth over the past decade. International markets have opened up, and experts predict that the area dedicated to chickpeas this year will increase by 100 per cent over last year’s. This surge is largely due to the Indian government’s suspension of tariffs earlier this year,” Mr Miller said.

“The same situation applies to lentils, which saw a substantial increase in NSW production during 2019-20, also driven by tariff suspensions and poor harvests in India. If these conditions persist, we could see continued strong growth and diversification of our winter crops, particularly in commodities that are in demand from India, an emerging middle-class economy on the global stage.”

In the Riverina region, the situation varied significantly depending on location. Glen Andreazza, a grain farmer from Griffith, detailed the contrasting conditions in his area.

 “In Griffith, we’re actually quite wet. So, that’s part of the irrigation area. But, where we are, a lot of people have re-sown once and are probably going to have to re-sow twice as far as wheat goes,” Mr Andreazza said.

Mr Andreazza explained that early rains from the north and east resulted in significant wheat losses in the Riverina.

“That rain stretched over a very isolated pocket, sort of Temora, Griffith, Hay, Hilston. If you went towards Wagga Wagga, the area didn’t get much rain until just this last event that came from the South West. Wagga’s been very dry, and you go down to Jerilderie and Finley, they’ve been very dry as well,” he said. “The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area is very wet, but if you go a little bit further south, then it’s been very dry.”

Despite these challenges, Mr Andreazza remained relatively hopeful.

“I think farmers do need to be cautiously optimistic at this stage. I’m talking about very isolated areas, and that’s the rice growing area that’s lost wheat, and possibly the second time. The dry area guys are having a fantastic season at the moment. Even around us, dry land certainly hasn’t had too much rain. The rest of the Riverina is going to have a very good start, especially with this last rain that came through for those a bit further south,” he said.

If you enjoyed reading about winter crops, you may like to get informed on how the Federal Budget will impact farmers.

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NSW Farmers has expressed disappointment with the 2024 Federal Budget, revealing a continued shortfall in necessary funding to support rural industries across the state. 

Among the biggest concerns were the increasing costs and production challenges facing landholders, which the budget did not adequately address. While farmers were supportive of improving traceability, they needed federal funding to avoid bearing the financial burden of following traceability reforms for sheep and goats.

Overall, there wasn’t a huge amount of good news in the budget; here’s a look at the “wins and losses.”

Wins:

The Future Drought Fund was a welcome investment into a variety of programs to increase the resilience of farmers during drought, even if the $519 million price tag wasn’t all new money. 

NSW Farmers acknowledged any measures to improve the productivity of agriculture during challenging climatic conditions was a good move.

But according to NSW Farmers Economist Samuel Miller, the downside was the funding was spread out across several years. 

“While it sounds like a lot of money, the Australian Government is allocating that money over eight years, which spreads that out over a fairly long period of time,” Mr Miller said.

“It’s good to have a consistent stream of funding to build up resilience to droughts and other challenging climactic conditions over time. But spreading out the funds is problematic because we know that droughts can happen at almost any time. We don’t know if the next drought is going to be in one year, or two years, or three years’ time.”

A Future Made in Australia

Another win for farmers was the Australian Government’s $22.7 billion “Future Made in Australia” package. There was a focus on strengthening the approvals process to assist energy transition and smooth the interactions with landholders and stakeholders in regional communities affected by that energy transition.

Mr Miller said a multitude of problems had arisen with energy companies eager to transition the economy to net zero.

“In the same breath, energy companies have occasionally stepped on the toes of landholders, which causes problems in communities. It causes frictions and, inevitably, it ends up getting in the way of that transition to net zero,” Mr Miller said.

“So, the government recognising that this is a problem and actually putting funding towards it, through strengthening the approvals process, is a good move.”

Instant Asset Write-Off

The instant asset write-off for small businesses was extended by 12 months to June 2025. And while multiple assets could be claimed, the maximum amount per asset was $20,000 – hardly enough to buy a ute, let alone a tractor. This could lead to farmers seeing fairer prices at the farm gate if the government stuck to its promise about competition reform. However, this was a minor satisfaction compared to the incredibly unfair market power and increasing challenges faced by landholders. 

Losses:

When it came to losses, the 2024 Federal Budget made no secret it prioritised the Australian Government’s fiscal health over the financial wellbeing of farmers, leaving them at a disadvantage.

Biosecurity

In last year’s budget, the government indicated it would fund biosecurity reforms through a levy on farmers. According to Mr Miller, the Productivity Commission had said the government was relying too heavily on levies, particularly in agriculture.

“There has been a proliferation of levies that have increased over time. For example, for research and development purposes that directly benefit the agricultural industry. That’s fair – but where you have a levy which is essentially a tax on the people who are being impacted by the risks from biosecurity, with incursions imported from overseas, that flies in the face of the “polluter pays” principle,” Mr Miller said. 

“In other words, the principle that the people who are generating the risks really should be the ones who are bearing the costs for that risk, not the people who are impacted by that risk.”

Mr Miller said the Australian Government did not appear to consider the fact that protecting Australia from biosecurity threats didn’t just improve conditions for farmers.

“Rather, it improves the conditions for everybody in the agricultural supply chain, between the farmer and the consumer themselves. So, it’s clearly unfair to just be nailing farmers to protect Australia from biodiversity incursions,” he said.

Mergers and Acquisitions

In relation to competition reform, the Australian Government seemed to have paid attention to the recent issues of market power imbalances raised by NSW Farmers, including the ACCC inquiries into issues surrounding the supermarket supply chain.

The 2024 Federal Budget revealed a provision of $13.9 million for reforms to address Australia’s current merger controls, the scope of the competition review, and other items to address competition. 

But, according to Mr Miller, this fell short of what farmers wanted to see.

“We do welcome the funds for the reforms. However, it’s not necessarily the strong actions that we’d like to see with respect to legislative reform of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and for the ACCC to actually address issues of market concentration,” Mr Miller said.

“While this funding is welcome, it doesn’t necessarily go to the root causes of market concentration in supermarkets.” 

Infrastructure

The government had set out a substantial infrastructure pipeline of $120 billion for the next decade. Specifically, $101.9 million was designated for upgrading regional airports, and $40 million was set aside for implementing community wi-fi in regional and remote areas.

However, the 2024 Federal Budget offered little support to address critical issues, including rural roads and bridges which were in dire need of repair – effectively failing rural communities.

Other 2024 Federal Budget losses for farmers

Farmers were still at a disadvantage as the 2024 Federal Budget focused heavily on households in the cities, Mr Miller said, and what was missing from the budget was an investment in the future productivity of agriculture. 

“The Australian Government has prioritised the Nature Positive Plan, climate initiatives, and the Future Made in Australia initiatives, but didn’t put much money towards the food grown in Australia in the future,” Mr Miller said. 

“There is $1.5 million to improve existing arrangements for plant-based products and $1 million to attract graduates to work into agriculture. These are important issues. But will it shift the dial and increase the productivity of Australian farmers? Unfortunately, not really.” 

For the latest in biosecurity news, avian influenza has resulted in half a million chickens being culled in Victoria and WA.

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Two outbreaks of avian influenza on Victorian poultry farms have farmers on alert. The two detections – at Avgo Eggs in Meredith and Surf Coast Eggs in Terang – have resulted in more than 500,000 birds destroyed to contain the spread.  

The H7N3 strain, a highly pathogenic version of bird flu, was initially detected at Avgo Eggs on May 22. This strain is the most commonly occurring variant in Australia.

Following the Avgo Eggs outbreak, as part of standard biosecurity measures, Agriculture Victoria began monitoring the owner’s other farm, Surf Coast Eggs, near Terang, where a different strain of the virus was discovered – H7N9.

To prevent further transmission, a 5km restricted area was established around the Meredith property, while a 1.5km exclusion zone was placed around the Terang site. Movement of poultry and equipment was strictly regulated and only allowed by authorised personnel.

Additional movement controls and surveillance were being enforced within a 15km radius of the properties, with permits required for transporting poultry, poultry products, and equipment.

This marks the ninth recorded outbreak of avian influenza in Australian poultry farms. The last outbreak occurred in Victoria four years ago, originating at a farm in the state’s west, while NSW has been free from the disease for more than a decade.

All poultry and bird owners were urged to adhere to biosecurity practices, including maintaining cleanliness in poultry sheds, yards, and equipment, and minimising contact between poultry and wild birds.

Meanwhile, a low pathogenic H9N2 strain was detected in WA last Thursday. The WA Department of Primary Industries confirmed this strain was not the more serious H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza associated with disease in poultry overseas – nor was it the H7 high pathogenicity avian flu currently being managed in Victoria. 

The WA and Victorian cases were not believed to be linked.

NSW Farmers Poultry Meat Manager Dave Banham said it was important to remember that there was no need for alarm and to seek advice from the experts.  

“Avian flu has been handled in Australia before. When I came to NSW Farmers in 2012 as a Regional Services Manager I had some experience with bird flu, just watching from the sidelines as one of our members went through the issue,” Mr Banham said.

“It’s an infectious disease. So, you need to be on the lookout for any of the signs and symptoms of bird flu, such as they become lethargic, they don’t eat or drink much, or if they’re unusually quiet. If you’ve got egg layers, and there are changes in the eggs, such as pale shells, or there might be changes to their appearance, such as changes to their heads or combs. Or that they actually look unwell. Those are the signs to look out for.

“Of course, if the birds start dying, that’s a significant warning sign. Essentially, any change in the birds should be noted.”

Mr Banham said if anyone noticed anything unusual about their flock, the best course of action was to contact the emergency animal disease hotline or Local Land Services. 

“These agencies are well-equipped to handle such situations. It’s better to be cautious and report any suspicions, similar to the early days of COVID-19,” Mr Banham said.

“For farmers and backyard poultry keepers, maintaining biosecurity is crucial. This includes entry and exit logs, wheel washing facilities, foot baths, and rodent control measures. Poultry farmers are typically good at managing these protocols.

“For backyard poultry, it’s essential to wear different boots and wash clothes before checking the birds to prevent any potential spread of the virus. Controlling an outbreak in backyard poultry would be much harder.

“Overall, our message to farmers is to stay alert but not alarmed. If you’re even slightly worried, contact the emergency animal disease hotline. Keep an eye out for any changes in your flock’s health, such as a decline in feed and water consumption and quieter behaviour.”

If you are concerned about your birds, you can notify by phoning your private veterinarian; the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week); or your Local Land Services District Veterinarian on 1300 795 299.

For more on biosecurity, read about Australia’s new landmark biosecurity initiative here.

The post Avian Influenza outbreak sees half a million chickens culled appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

The “pleasant surprise” of Easter rain was welcomed by many farmers across the state, who’d hoped for moisture in the lead-up to planting winter crops, and it also benefitted livestock farmers by invigorating pastures, reducing the need for supplemental feeding in the drier regions. The most significant rainfall was recorded in the state’s northwest and northeast, where some areas saw up to 100mm.

In particular, around Armidale on the Northern Tablelands, farmers received at least 30mm in one night (April 3). This rainfall was anticipated to boost feed production for the upcoming winter and was especially beneficial for regions such as the Hunter Valley and Northern Tablelands, though warmer weather for another month would help accelerate pasture development before winter.

Forecasts indicated more warm weather for the remainder of April, which should further aid in pasture growth. In the northwest near Moree, rainfall varied from 30mm to more than 100mm near the Queensland border. The timing was also opportune as summer crops like sorghum and cotton were being harvested.

New Edge Microbials agronomist Edwina Murray said the Easter rain was a confidence booster for many producers, as some areas were in dire need of rainfall.

“Some areas had dried out so having some moisture that will stay around for a while has really helped with farmers’ confidence on getting better emergence, but also better seed/soil contact when they’re sowing,” Ms Murray said.

“It’s apparent, especially around my region (Young), that a lot of producers have really started working on their winter crop because conditions have been so great.”

However, Ms Murray cautioned that the rain could also be a double-edged sword.

“Nothing is ever perfect and the earlier you sow the earlier you’re going to spray the pre-emergent chemicals. And, of course, the earlier you start, the earlier they’ll run out which means you can run into weed situations,” she said.

“There are also issues in some areas where producers wanted to hold off the winter sowing opportunities so they can finish summer harvest and then seamlessly go into the winter cropping season.

“However, with the rain, the two seasons have run into each other which would be stressful for cotton farmers, as cotton doesn’t like a wet finish. You need to be able to potentially kill the cotton crop to harvest it, but the moisture keeps the crop going.”

Ms Murray, who lived in the Young area, said the recent rain allowed farmers to sow into moisture rather than sow dry and expect the moisture to come along.

“Most people start sowing around Anzac Day, but they definitely started earlier now they’ve got the go ahead from Mother Nature,” Ms Murray said.

“I think this has given many producers a big sigh of relief because it’s a short window, as you’ve got to start working on the winter crop before it gets too cold… and it gets very cold in Young.”

According to Ms Murray, many livestock producers would be looking at autumn lambing, with a view to hopefully align with rainfall to invigorate their pastures.

“With the Easter rainfall, many pastures would be invigorated earlier, so farmers will be confident that that mothers who are ready to lamb are healthy and strong. And that when the lambs are ready to move onto feed, they’ll be stronger than expected,” Ms Murray said.

“There are predictions for more warm weather ahead this month, which is also a bonus for many producers.

“With the combination of moisture and warm weather, this will speed up the general metabolism in plants, so it means the farmers have the seeds in the ground and it will establish and set roots and repair itself for the cold weather. It means there will be a more resilient crop which sets itself up for more yield potential.

“It also put its roots further into the soil profile to access more moisture and nutrients; this means if you hit a dry period the crop will be more tolerant to stresses.”

But not every area was pleased with the amount of rainfall, as some parts of the state copped a deluge. NSW Farmers Regional Services Manager Mark Bulley said there were definitely pros and cons with the “surprising” Easter rain.

“I think we were lucky the rain was spread over a few days. The average rain in the mid-coast area over three days was about 250mm so that’s pretty good, although it probably delayed some people from doing their tasks,” Mr Bulley said.

“One farmer told me this was the best drought he’s experienced! It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, of course, as there had been concerns we were moving back into drought.

“While it’s good to have the rain, if it runs off too quickly you’ve effectively lost it – it’s the slow, soaking rain that’s really needed so it gets into the ground and the root system. So, while many farmers were saying the rain was fantastic, it really needs to penetrate into the soil.”

Ms Murray also claims the warm, wet conditions were excellent for the survival of inoculants on pulses.

“Farmers who are considering inoculating or double inoculating with these current sowing conditions should see fantastic results,” Ms Murray said.

If you enjoyed this piece on the Easter rainfall, you may like to read about how El Nino has been defying predictions in 2024.

The post Pre-winter rainfall from East Coast low bolsters optimism appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

Western Local Land Services (LLS) has successfully concluded its spring aerial baiting initiative aimed at managing populations of wild dogs, foxes, and feral cats. This campaign was active from April 2 to April 16, distributing 1080 (known as “ten eighty”) poison-laced meat baits along specified bait lines.

The operation spanned several areas, from Enngonia in the north east to Broken Hill in the west, extending to near Pooncarie in the south west and Mt Hope in the south east.

The aerial baiting was undertaken along pre-approved strategic bait lines in mostly inaccessible areas. According to an LLS spokesperson, landholders who agreed to participate provided signed approval for the aerial baiting to go ahead on their property.

“Meat baits are injected with 1080 poison by qualified biosecurity officers, loaded into a fixed wing light aircraft and dropped along the pre-approved bait lines at the rate of 10 baits per kilometre,” the spokesperson said.

“Wild dogs remain a priority pest species in the Western LLS region. Following good seasonal conditions for the last few years, wild dogs and other pest animals have increased their breeding and continue to cause damage to livestock, native animals, the environment, biosecurity and the economy.”

There were several primary and secondary control measures for wild dogs. Seasonal baiting was a primary control and the LLS strongly encouraged landholders to participate in control measures including baiting, trapping, shooting and monitoring.

NSW Farmers Western Division Council chair Gerard Glover said aerial baiting covered a huge area that would be incredibly tough for landholders to carry out themselves.

“Vast areas in the Western Division are very difficult to cover if you’re on the ground and spreading the baits, so the aerial baiting is very effective in getting to all those inaccessible areas. We all know that wild dogs can travel very long distances in 24 hours, so the aerial baiting is a good way to get the job done as they cover a very wide distance. So, it is an important step in the baiting process.”

Gerard Glover, NSW Farmers Western Division Council chair

“Some landholders don’t bait very regularly as it’s not easy to get baits all around your property. So, the aerial baiting is just another way of dealing with the feral cats, foxes and feral dogs.

“I’m not sure how bad the problem is with feral cats because it’s difficult to know how many you have on your property until you go out at night spotlighting. Nobody really knows the full extent of the damage they cause. As for foxes, most people only control foxes about six weeks leading up to lambing and when it’s very sporadic use of baits, there’s a lot of ground that will be neglected. So, I believe that more landholders need to bait for foxes more regularly.”

Mr Glover said most farmers were well aware that wild dogs were capable of inflicting a shocking amount of damage to livestock.

“I’ve heard many stories from farmers about the destructive wild dogs and, while I haven’t had a great deal to do with them personally, we recently had two town dogs come onto our property,” Mr Glover said.

“From what I observed, those dogs weren’t killing for their own need, it was almost like a sport for them – running around in a pack of two or three, they’d chase a cow until he dropped dead through sheer exhaustion. The dogs might not kill the animals, but they will leave them with dreadful injuries or scars.

“We had some sheep who’d been attacked by the dogs, and we found them in the paddock just looking stunned after the dogs had got to them. We ended up having to put them down, and that was caused by the town dogs who’d been on the property for about a week. We eventually tracked them down, but they’d already done a fair amount of damage. They’ll start with a goat and then move onto a cow. They’re an absolute menace.”

The next stage in the Western LLS baiting process was set to begin shortly, with ground baiting efforts. Farmers can learn more about managing wild dogs and other pest animals by speaking to an LLS biosecurity officer on 1300 795 299 or visiting an LLS office. There’s also additional information about wild dog and other pest animal management on the LLS website – www.lls.nsw.gov.au

If you enjoyed this story on aerial baiting for wild dog management, you may like to read about the Feral Pig Program targeting wild pigs.

The post Aerial baiting tackles wild dogs in Western NSW appeared first on The Farmer Magazine.

Farmers are poised to better understand the path their products take to Indian consumers, focusing on preserving quality and strengthening trade within the lucrative market.

The initiative, orchestrated by Hort Innovation and executed by KPMG Australia, aimed to chart the export journey of horticultural goods to India by pinpointing key opportunities and hurdles and proposing methods to improve the standing of Australian offerings in the market.

The study received financial support from a federal government Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) grant given to Hort Innovation. The funding supported the broader objective of increasing the global reach of Australian agricultural produce.

Australia currently exports to more than 80 countries, with the top six markets by value being China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan, and India.

In the year ending February 2024, Australia exported $152.6m to India (112 per cent change from the previous year) and approx 31,000 tonnes (95 per cent change from previous year).

Hort Innovation chief executive Brett Fifield said India was a significant focus for produce exports.

“Growth in incomes, population, and urbanisation in India are projected to drive a substantial hike in premium agrifood consumption in the future. By 2050, significant increases are expected in import demand from India for fruit, vegetables and nuts, so now is the time for the Australian horticulture sector to better understand the Indian supply chain.

Brett Fifield, Hort Innovation chief executive

“With positive outcomes already emerging through the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, India provides immense opportunity for Aussie growers and producers, with a young, growing population who value Australian produce. The reduction in tariffs as set out by the AI ECTA will enable the Australian horticulture industry to supply India’s growing food demand.”

A growing market

India was the second largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the world, but it was also an expanding market for imported products. Due to an increased focus on nutrition and health, Indian consumers were eating fresh fruit and vegetables more regularly.

According to Mr Fifield, this was something Australian exporters could benefit from as there was increasing demand for Australia’s healthy, fresh, and safe produce in India.

“There is a strong market for our nut exports, with Australia ranking second in market share of India’s almond imports. Another example is Hass avocados who received market access in 2023 and have already exported over 300 tonnes,” Mr Fifield said.

“Currently, Australia has market access into India for nuts (almond, macadamia and pistachio), fruit (apple, avocados, blueberry, cherry, citrus, dates, pear, summer fruit (apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums and table grape) and vegetables (chives, leeks, onions and shallots).”

Brett Fifield, Hort Innovation chief executive

“So the time is ripe for our exporting industries to capitalise on trade opportunities with India, and this report will provide us with a roadmap on where to focus our efforts and drive value for our sector.”

NSW Farmers Board member Chris Stillard said, as an exporting nation, any opening of markets would be welcomed by Australian farmers.

“With India’s population and growing economic economy, we would be more than happy to work with India to supply our clean and world-class produce,” Mr Stillard said.

“Obviously our grains and pulses would help meet India’s basic needs but getting access to their off-season (Northern Hemisphere) horticultural markets would be of great benefit to our growers. India hasn’t really been on my radar, as Asian markets have been my focus. But India would definitely be an initiative we would welcome.”

Federal focus on fresh food trade

Last year, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt led a delegation to India with 12 senior members of Australian agribusiness to promote high-quality produce and push for greater trade ties between the two countries.

“With positive outcomes already emerging through the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, India provides immense opportunity for Aussie growers and producers, with a young, growing population who value Australian produce.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt

The avocado industry was ready to do business with India; Avolution chief executive Antony Allen claimed; with early exports to India, they were already learning much about the market and customers.

“This study offers deeper insights that will help grow our partnership with India further. We’re gearing up to make our mark on the Indian market after last year’s federal government announcement that Australian Hass avocados can now be exported to that market,” Mr Allen said.

“We have got levy-funded scheduled for May to deliver positive messages about Aussie avocados, sharing their virtues in terms of taste, nutrition, and versatility.”

Mr Fifield claimed Australian exporters could also benefit from our complementary agriculture season, existing trade reputation for fresh produce, and relatively close location allowing for faster shipping and fresher produce.

“One of Hort Innovation’s core imperatives is to accelerate local and global demand, and this project will set industry up for future success by equipping them with the intel they need to play in the Indian market,” Mr Fifield said.

According to Mr Stillard, the great news was that Australian exporters could gain advantages from our reputation as clean and safe food producers.

“Australian premium produce is renowned around the world, and we would be ready to take on the challenge of a new and relatively close market in India that we could access,” he said.

If you enjoyed this story on Australia’s horticulture trade with India, you may like to read more stories about international trade.

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