2014 Diary
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BUSINESS TRANSITION & SUCCESSION PLANNING Next Rural is widely recognised for its expertise in managing the complexities of rural family owned businesses and the challenges they face throughout their business and personal life cycle. Too many business transition and succession plans are commenced but never finalised. With Next Rural, however, you will get a clear commitment that our program will provide you with:
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Next Rural is proud to be a Corporate Partner of AgForce Queensland
CONTACT Mark Scanlon (left) M: 0423 685 725 E: mscanlon@nextrural.com.au Ric Moffitt (far left) M: 0419 461 260 E: rmoffitt@nextrural.com.au
A Letter from the President Dear Reader, SINCE 1999 AgForce has been the representative voice of broadacre agriculture in Queensland. With more than 6000 members, the organisation advocates for the sustainable productivity and profitability of the sector and the communities which rely upon the industry. The past 12 months have been particularly important to AgForce and its members as a changed State Government seeks to reform a number of key policies impacting on agriculture. Our organisation has played a critical role in providing information and comment on policies fundamental to the way agriculture operates in Queensland and has advocated strongly for policy that recognises us being the best and most sustainable producers of food in the world. AgForce leaders are members elected by members, who work alongside a dedicated team of policy and regional staff as the voice of primary producers, their families and regional communities. Being a member of AgForce means you can have access to experienced policy staff who are working to resolve important issues on your behalf every day. As well as driving the agripolitical agenda, AgForce provides quality services in industrial relations and information on challenges and opportunities facing primary producers. We ensure members – and other rural and regional residents – have opportunities to grow their enterprises through sustainable resource management; upskilling; practical field days and workshops and industry awareness initiatives. Ian Burnett, AgForce General President
www.agforceqld.org.au
Who is AgForce? AgForce was brought to life in 1999 following the merger of the United Graziers Association, the Queensland Grain Growers Association and the Cattlemen’s Union. The organisation represents thousands of beef, sheep and grain producers across Queensland. “Strength in numbers” is part of what makes AgForce one of Australia’s strongest state-based farming organisations. The more primary producers who join, the stronger our voice to both State and Federal governments at a time of unprecedented pressure and scrutiny on our agricultural operations. As we move into our second decade of advancing rural Queensland, our focus remains on creating a strategic vision to secure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agribusiness sector. AgForce consistently delivers positive outcomes for members on a host of issues ranging from government charges, environment, water and industrial relations at a state and national level. Agriculture in Queensland makes a significant contribution to the national economy through $13 billion worth of food and fibre production, with a flow-on effect through subsidiary industries such as transport, processing and value adding. The sector is also an important employer both on-farm and in areas such as research, education and commerce and plays a critical role in environmental stewardship, resource management and the social vitality of regional Queensland. Importantly, agriculture is a critical industry which feeds, clothes and fuels Australians as well as the growing global community, and there is a continuing need to ensure food and fibre security is protected and developed. We encourage you to become an AgForce member and join thousands of primary producers and agribusiness owners across Queensland who collectively care for up to 80 percent of the state’s landscape – from family farms to Australia’s largest agricultural companies. We need your feedback, your views, your ideas, your concerns and your solutions to continue our good work into the future. “Strength in numbers” is part of what makes AgForce one of Australia’s strongest state-based farming organisations. The more primary producers who join, the stronger our voice to both State and Federal governments at a time of unprecedented pressure and scrutiny on our agricultural operations.
www.agforceqld.org.au
Joining AgForce
Through relationships with leading agribusinesses, AgForce can also offer our members exclusive deals and benefits to build your business.
Who can join AgForce? We welcome anyone with an interest in an eligible farming enterprise to become a member, as well as many others involved in the rural sector. There are several categories of AgForce membership to suit different member requirements.
AgForce Membership Categories • Full Member The principals of a single, eligible farming enterprise may nominate any person with an interest in that enterprise as the full member. • Joint Member Joint membership is available to those who have an interest in an eligible farming enterprise represented by the nominated full member. Joint membership is only available to people who are not otherwise eligible for full membership. Typically, the first joint member might be the spouse or business partner of the nominated full member. Subsequent joint members might be family members such as children, or other business partners of the nominated full member, who also have an interest in the business. Full and joint members have equal rights and status as members, including equal voting rights. • Support Member A person or business may be eligible for membership as a support member if they operate businesses or are individuals with an interest in the industries represented by AgForce. • Student Member An association of students from a Queensland tertiary institution is eligible for membership as a student member and may nominate one representative from the association to vote on matters at a sub-regional level on behalf of the association. • Young Member Any person between 18 and 30 years of age with an interest in the rural industry and not eligible for membership as full or joint members may become young members. To find out more, contact AgForce on 3236 3100.
www.agforceqld.org.au
AgForce Services AgForce Queensland offers a host of benefits to our members; providing either free or discounted services to enable you to improve your skills, manage regulations and industry issues and build your business.
Exclusive offers and discounts to AgForce members AgForce members have exclusive access to special offers and discounts from selected service providers: For information on specific deals visit www.agforceqld.org.au > member benefits and services and log in as a member.
Education The AgForce School to Industry Partnership Program (SIPP) is the only program of its kind in Australia and has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 2004. The program works to create and strengthen partnerships between schools and the agricultural sector across Queensland for effective training and employment outcomes for secondary school students. For primary school students the focus is on educating them about where their food and fibre comes from as a means to re-engage young people with the importance of agriculture. SIPP runs a range of events across the state each year including Moo Baa Munch – which is a five day event held at the school farm of Corinda State High School. The event brings together industry and students in a range of activities to engage them with agriculture and related industries and also includes a family weekend open to the general public. This year the event is also being run regionally and will be hosted in Rockhampton at the state high school. SIPP attends many career expos and also manages a team of dedicated volunteers to assist with some of the events. The Rural Champion Volunteer Program has built a database of beef, sheep and grain producers each with Child Safety Blue Cards, living in metropolitan, rural and regional areas across Queensland. The volunteers attend local, regional and state events to spread positive messages about agriculture and showcase career opportunities in the industry. To find out more about the School to Industry Partnership program, call 3236 3100 or visit www.agforceqld.org.au > Industry Activities > Education.
Every Family Needs A Farmer AgForce’s innovative Every Family Needs A Farmer campaign continues to promote a positive image of rural Queensland and educate consumers about the integrity of production systems of primary industries. Since the first phase in 2006, Every Family Needs A Farmer has become a well-known catch-phrase in the bush and a recognised message within the urban community. Our members have joined forces with high profile patrons and ambassadors in the campaign, such as rugby league legend Shane Webcke, Australian of the Year and singer Lee Kernaghan, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley. Through Every Family Needs A Farmer the urban community has discovered the modern, professional face of farming and how environmentally sustainable food and fibre is produced. The most recent phase of the campaign took the message to the next level by focusing on the entire grain and red-meat supply chain, from paddock to plate.
www.agforceqld.org.au
Commodities & Achievements Carbon Since initial discussion of a carbon tax more than a decade ago, AgForce and the National Farmers’ Federation have strongly advocated agriculture was not directly taxed. This was achieved when the industry was made exempt from the tax when legislated and introduced on 1 July 2012, however its impact is still felt across the sector. Ultimately costs are indirectly borne by primary producers and land managers across the State, through the pass back of expenses associated with increased transport and processing costs. AgForce continues to highlight the consequences of this imposition on our industry. Through support of the Carbon Farming Initiatives, AgForce encourages the development of projects and methodologies which may mean agriculture can one day play a role in climate change mitigation through land management techniques (eg tree planting or regrowth retention). While little detail is available to date, AgForce will continue to drive this agenda to ensure that such techniques are compatible with current agricultural productivity. Or put more simply, that diversification into carbon farming does not come at the cost of our current primary production of food and fibre.
Leasehold Land With almost 65 per cent of Queensland primary producers operating on leasehold land, the ongoing security and potential increases in the rentals charged by the state government are of significant concern. In 2012, the Queensland Government held an inquiry into the continued relevance of government owned tenure. AgForce provided extensive comment into this inquiry and provided a range of recommendations, predominately driven by a policy that affordable tenure conversion be made available to all lessees and that the tenure review is the best method through which to address land rent and other lease anomalies. AgForce was pleased to see many of these recommendations adopted when on 31 November, 2011, the State Development and Infrastructure Parliamentary Committee released an interim report on their Tenure Inquiry. The interim report contained a total of 29 recommendations, many of which could be highly favourable for the pastoral leasehold sector. AgForce is currently working with a range of government departments implementing the recommendations.
Vegetation In May 2013, AgForce Queensland welcomed the passing in State Parliament of the Vegetation Management Framework Amendnent Bill 2013 which takes steps to reform the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA). For 14 years the VMA had placed an onerous and unnecessary administrative burden on the State’s primary producers and AgForce was instrumental in lobbying Government for this much-needed reform. This advocacy effort included the gathering of member feedback and a representation being made to the Queensland Government that the VMA could be reviewed and restructured to ensure the balance between economic, environmental and social values were restored to rural landscapes. AgForce is committed to working with Government to ensure the positive changes that have been passed are the first in a series of reforms that would encourage sustainable food and fibre production in Queensland and provide security to the sector, across all tenures.
www.agforceqld.org.au
Water Reform AgForce has been liaising with the state government in seeking to reduce the red tape burden on our membership base, including for that pertaining to water resources. This work has included supporting moves to extend the life of water licenses to June 2111, extending the range of minor water uses that do not require authorisation and the removal of duplicative regulations including the requirement for land and water management plans, declared catchment areas, and vegetation removal permits. AgForce has also supported targeted regulation of future levee construction to minimise impacts on other landholders downstream while excluding normal agricultural practices and irrigation infrastructure, as well as the investigation of the potential impacts from existing legally installed levees. At the time of writing these reforms were before parliament and AgForce’s support has been important in progressing these to this stage. AgForce has also provided input to the state government’s development of a 30-year water strategy.
Drought Support The Commonwealth and State Governments are in the process of reforming national drought policy. AgForce’s drought working group has provided input through NFF to the Federal Government on this reform agenda. AgForce’s identified priority drought support measures have been largely adopted by the NFF in this engagement with government. Additionally, the organisationpublically opposed the removal of interest rate subsidies in the absence of a suitable replacement package of support measures and is advocating for an expansion beyond the current government focus on preparedness to include in-drought business support and supports for new entrants. With the frustratingly slow pace of reform, AgForce continues to call for a comprehensive and equitable package that meets the needs of primary producers managing drought.
Nature Refuges AgForce works with landholders across Queensland to balance production systems with biodiversity and conservation management through initiatives such as Nature Refuges. AgForce is a strong supporter of the Nature Refuges program, looking after 40 per cent of the roughly 3.3 million hectares protected in perpetuity. AgForce again renewed its partnership with the Queensland Government in 2013 supporting these voluntary agreements as they showcase agricultural landowners’ credentials as sustainable and productive landscape managers.
Wild Dogs AgForce continues its fight against wild dogs, one of the most costly pest animal species for both sheep and cattle producers in Queensland. In 2011, AgForce formed a wild dog committee comprising livestock producers from across the state, to provide input for the AgForce representative on both Queensland and national wild dog advisory groups. Prior to this, in 2009, AgForce released a report estimating the cost of wild dogs to the Queensland grazing economy at more than $67 million per annum, with around two-thirds of those costs attributed to the cattle industry. In April, 2013 AgForce held Wild Dog Week, a sweeping tour of North Queensland aimed at educating landholders in the region about the economic impacts of wild dogs and the advanced strategic control methods available. Wild Dog Week was supported by Meat and Livestock Australia and AWI. In May, it was announced the Queensland State Government would provide $175,000 of new funding to further roll out key AgForce wild dog control initiatives.
www.agforceqld.org.au
AgForce Commodities AgForce Sheep & Wool AgForce Sheep & Wool serves as the voice of the Queensland industry on a range of local and international issues. Animal Welfare AgForce Sheep & Wool maintains strong relationships with key industry bodies such as WoolProducers, Sheepmeat Council of Australia and the Goat Industry Council of Australia and continues to play an integral part in the development of the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines, which is a proactive step defining industry best practice. Furthermore, AgForce ensures the focus producers have on positive animal welfare outcomes is communicated to consumers and provides a voice of reason in response to the alarmist claims of extreme animal activist groups. AgForce Sheep & Wool maintains a close working relationship with the State Government’s animal welfare regulators to ensure open discussions and opportunities to voice industry concerns relating to the practicality of animal welfare legislation. National Livestock Identification System AgForce Sheep & Wool has campaigned heavily on behalf of members for a practical, cost effective implementation of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for both the sheep and goat industries. AgForce Sheep & Wool continues to support a robust, paper-based system of animal ID, to ensure that high-cost electronic systems are not prematurely enforced on industry. Strengthening Industry AgForce Sheep & Wool are involved in the Sheep Industry Strategic Plan, Meat Industry Strategic Plan and the AWI Strategic Plan. AgForce Sheep & Wool continues to direct the State Government to ensure investment in education, training, research and development into the Queensland sheep industry under the ‘Fresh Approach’ program. AgForce Grains AgForce Grains’ role is to lead the Queensland grains industry in a progressive, vibrant and innovative way. Some of its key aims include: to lobby strongly and effectively on behalf of its members and the greater Queensland grains industry, to increase the price of grain at the farm gate and reduce price volatility, to support families farming for the future in a smart, safe, sustainable, secure and profitable way, to increase the uptake of new and better farming practices and to enable skilled farmers who use clean and green methods to supply protein to the world. Additionally, AgForce Grains endeavours to build mutual understanding between urban and rural communities. Over the course of the past 12 months, AgFroce Grains has advocated for a number of key policy outcomes and made many submissions on behalf of the industry. These have included: •
AgForce was able to work closely with government and GRDC to retain barley breeding capacity in Queensland
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AgForce played a role in the federal government decision to establish the Grains Policy Council to discuss issues of national relevance
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AgForce has worked with GPA to develop a grain stewardship program
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Maintained the GHMS for another year
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Completed a submission to GTA strongly opposing its proposal to increase the test weight for wheat
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Completed a submission to GTA regarding their proposal to introduce an industry code of practice. AgForce was not supportive of the code of practice in the proposed form
www.agforceqld.org.au
•
Completed submission to GTA opposing its proposal to disallow artificial drying of malting barley
Submission to ACCC outlining concerns pertaining to the Archer Daniels Midlands proposed takeover of GrainCorp.
AgForce Cattle AgForce Cattle: From Paddock to Policy Queensland accounts for more than half the nation’s beef cattle herd with 12.6 million head and as such external influences on the beef sector are keenly felt by the state’s producers. A number of significant issues have come into play within the industry over the course of the last year with varying season, the ongoing restrictions imposed on the live export trade, a high US dollar and a flat world economy taking its toll. Despite this, AgForce has continued to advocate on behalf of industry to achieve a range of positive policy outcomes. National Representation AgForce Cattle continues to work towards a united grass fed beef industry through supporting the national restructure process of Cattle Council of Australia. It is imperative Queensland has a wellresourced and strong national body is our voice in Canberra to work on issues directly affecting on farm profitability such as Japanese Free Trade Agreement (our largest meat market), the Korean Free Trade Agreement (our third largest meat market), and to provide oversight to Meat and Livestock Australia on Research and Development priorities. Bovine Johne’s Disease Biosecurity again came under the microscope with the announcement of an incursion of Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) which affected up to 170 suspected properties in Queensland but also the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Effective on farm biosecurity measures as well as biosecurity resourcing across the state were challenged. AgForce Cattle successfully lobbied for a BJD Industry Liaison Officer (former Chief Vet Officer Dr Ron Glanville) to be appointed to crisis manage the large scale disease investigation, for a BJD Financial Assistance Package and a Queensland Cattle Biosecurity Fund. Live Export The Live Export crisis of 2011 continued to play out in political forums and the media and AgForce continued to collaborate with Cattle Council of Australia, Australian Live Exporters Council and NT Cattleman’s Association on the best way forward for the still recovering northern beef industry and the continued roll out of the ESCAS system. Policy Initiatives AgForce continued to work on an exhaustive suite of policy initiatives to improve conditions for our producers across a range of areas, including but not limited to: • • •
Cattle Tick Management Queensland – spearheading the maintenance and integrity of the tick line; Livestock Security – lobbying the State Government for better stock squad issues, especially around theft and retrieval ; and Stock Routes – moving towards a self-funded network for Stock Routes for broadacre producers.
In 2013 and beyond, AgForce Cattle aspires to be a leader in comprehensive, innovative and lasting policy for cattle in Queensland and Australia wide that best serves our beef producing members.
www.agforceqld.org.au
Notes:
www.agforceqld.org.au
Notes:
www.agforceqld.org.au
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Prime Super’s Queensland Regional Managers are on call to help you with your super obligations. 1800 675 839 www.primesuper.com.au
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Prime Super ABN (60 562 335 823) is issued by Prime Super Pty Ltd (ABN 81 067 241 016, AFSL 219723). Call for a PDS.
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February
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2014 January Week 2
Prime Super ABN (60 562 335 823) is issued by Prime Super Pty Ltd (ABN 81 067 241 016, AFSL 219723). Call for a PDS.
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HELPING AUSSIE FARMERS GROW SINCE 1902.