The NR Times Rural News
July 28, 2022
Locally owned and independent
RURAL NEWS 47
Farm safety front and centre National Farm Safety Week was last week and acted as a reminder of the many dangers involved in farming and the need to protect our farmers and farm workers the best we can. This year’s Farm Safety Week was based on the theme ‘Recipes for Averting Disaster’. It focused on the intangible risks and hazards that were faced every day on Australian farms and how we could work to reduce these risks through raising awareness of them and
discussing their impacts on our daily working lives. Head of Agriculture and Food Policy and Research at the department, Rosemary Deininger said ensuring the safety of farmers was a priority for the department, and Farm Safety Week was an opportunity to continue this conversation. “Our farmers are some of the best in the world due to their hard work and dedication. Working as hard as they do, their own well-being is not
always made a priority,” Ms Deininger said. “12 fewer farmers died on Australian farms in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2019, according to Farmsafe Australia’s 2022 Safer Farms Report. “The report stresses that while this is a significant step forward, 46 farmer deaths in 2021 is a tragedy. “That’s why it’s so important that we continue to innovate and improve our technologies and raise awareness of farm safety, so that we can reduce the number of
accidents on our farms. “We want to ensure that farm-safe behaviours are instilled into current farmers and the next generation of farmers to further reduce the risk of injuries and accidents. “Improvements in farm safety will be key to building a stronger and more profitable agriculture industry as we work to grow the sector to $100 billion by 2030.” For more information about Farm Safety Week, visit www.farmsafe.org. au/.
Red meat exports soften • Overall red meat exports in 2021–22 fell by 11% year-on-year. • Sheepmeat exports to the US grew by 5%, demonstrating growing demand from American consumers. • Overall goatmeat exports grew by 24% year-on-year, with the US dominating overall export volumes. With the 2021–22 financial year in the rear-view mirror, we’re starting to see emerging trends in red meat exports that bode well for the industry. As the herd and flock rebuilds
begin to mature, exports are rising despite ongoing challenges from an unsettled global landscape. Australia exported 1.3 million tonnes of red meat in FY2022, 11% lower than FY2021. This drop was broadly consistent across major markets – exports to Japan fell by 11%, China by 13%, South Korea by 9% and the US by 13%. This was primarily driven by falls in beef; FY22 beef exports were 13% lower than FY21, at 786,688 tonnes.
Call for government to help flooded farmers NSW Farmers is asking the state and federal governments to urgently release funds to help flooded farmers. NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Chair Garry Grant said farmers in the Sydney basin, Central Coast, Hunter, and South
Coast had been flooded several times in the past 12 months, with many looking at a whole year without any income at all. He said the state and federal governments had stepped up for farmers in the Northern Rivers earlier this year and called for that model of
funding to be replicated. “This has been a devastating time for these farmers and their communities, and we know that the impact of flooding extends beyond the cleanup to repairs, replanting and restarting businesses,” Mr Grant said.
“Earlier this year rural landholders in the state’s flood-affected north were offered $25,000 grants while primary producers were eligible for $75,000 grants. “It’s critical we keep these farmers in business because they grow a lot of food and turf and
drive a lot of economic activity.” Mr Grant thanked the state and federal governments for listening and engaging with NSW Farmers on how to support farmers during this tough time. NSW Farmers has been actively lobbying
the state and federal governments for support for flood-affected communities over the past 12 months and has been working constructively with agencies to ensure farmers and communities get the help and financial support they need.
