IN HER opening address at today's NSW Farmers annual conference the association's president Fiona Simson paid particular note to the poor season many farmers were suffering.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mrs Simson, who, without opposition, retained the position of president this morning said, while many producers were enjoying the best start to the winter in many years, many in the north suffered one of the worst droughts in history.
"It seems almost unbelievable to think that some of our members saw their last decent fall back in February 2012," she told the conference at Sydney's Luna Park.
"With the triple whammy of a record long and hot summer and record low cattle prices, it has been an incredibly difficult time for nearly 50 per cent of our State and a large number of our members."
She said it was frustrating this came at a time when there was an absence of drought policy and has been a constant battle for farmers.
Sydney's foreshore is packed full of farmers this morning for the NSW Farmers conference.
Following Mrs Simson's addressthere will be the official opening by the Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet, and Alive and Well Ambassador Hugh Flynn.
Presidential nominees will get a chance to address members for five minutes each from 11am before the farmers roll up their their sleeves and get into the first policy session.
This year's conference includes a focus on some big picture thinking in the federal government's white paper and a proposed white paper on taxation reform.
To steer the conference in this direction an agenda has been set called Funding Farming's Future, which aims to start discussion around issues facing at in the next 12 months.
NSW Farmers is proposing a number of constitutional changes that Mrs Simson says will bring grass roots members closer to the decision making process.
These changes are in response to resolutions raised by members at successive annual conferences.
Mrs Simson, also raised the issue of the State government going back on its promise in the recent State budget on the area of the waiver of Local Land Services Rates and Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate.
"We must continue to reiterate that we are a strong sector, with enormous potential in front of us despite the fact we receive little government assistance and are one of the least subsidised agricultural sectors or industries in the world,"
Other issues to be discussed today include motions about electronic voting for Local Land Services (LLS) elections and amendment to the LLS Act to allow each farm title holder to be entitled to vote in LLS elections; the NSW government to refrain from passing on additional responsibilities to LLS boards unless sufficient funds are provided; LLS not being involved in the implementation of native vegetation; the State government ensure the chairperson of each LLS be elected by the board members each year and that full transparency of LLS be provided to rate payers regarding the financials of each LLS.
Other motions include that management of wild pigs be a State priority of LLS and a motion for each LLS board to give priority grazing rights on land under their control to local stock owners over stock from outside the LLS.
The Land is reporting from the conference and you can follow the coverage here:
