Farmer have skin in the game

It is critical that farmers are involved in government decisions that impact the capacity to do business on the farm and in the broader economy. 

It seems such a simple statement, but it might be surprising to learn how often it isn’t the case. This involvement shouldn’t just be a ‘tick-box’ exercise but a meaningful interaction that influences outcomes for the benefit of all agriculture.

TasFarmers confronts many issues on a daily basis. We do achieve some significant wins, often out of the media’s focus and with no fanfare as government bureaucratic decisions are discussed and often improved before seeing the light of day. 

In many instances, what might start as conflict with departmental decision-makers often develops into productive and mutually beneficial relationships where open communication becomes the norm rather than a terse email or letter ‘advising’ of some change or another.

While we have a dedicated team of motivated professionals working in TasFarmers, the biggest asset we have is farmers. Across the many issues we deal with and our councils and committees, the best advice and advocacy comes from our members who give up their time on their farm to make sure that all farmers are heard, and the best possible outcomes are achieved for all farmers.

A case in point was recent discussions with the Department of State Growth concerning the maximum permissible widths for the carting of baled commodities such as hay, silage and wool. While our internal team are all clever people, nothing gets a point across better in a meeting with decision-makers than the direct experience of farmers and cartage contractors who can explain, in very understandable terms, the consequences of any proposed change. 

These discussions are extremely important for farmers and cartage contractors to ensure the continued safe, efficient and effective movement of fodder throughout Tasmania, between the islands and across Bass Strait.

Over the past few months, TasFarmers, with critical help from farmers, have dealt with many other issues: Assisting with negotiations for commodity pricing and ensuring that irrigation water is available where it is needed, much-needed firearm regulation reforms, frozen vegetable imports undermining local farming viability, the irrepressible march of local government rate rises, biosecurity involving various viruses including varroa mite in bees, bird flu preparations for any incursion of this dreadful virus from Europe, transport regulations for farm vehicles, fluctuations in vegetable commodity volumes, the development of a Tasmanian Red Meat Strategy, various motions in state parliament that would not be in the best interest of farmers, advocating strongly here and in Canberra for the South East Irrigation Scheme and many, many others issues.

The key to our success in these issues has been the close and ongoing involvement of farmers who put the interests of the overall agricultural industry before their farming interests. It is not just chairs and members of committees and councils, but farmers with the right expertise and a sense of doing the right thing by the entire industry. 

In all of these meetings, dealing with so many and varied issues, we are constantly reminded just how important it is to involve and listen to those with the real skin in the game – our farmers.The importance of farmers being in the room

It is critical that farmers are involved in government decisions that impact the capacity to do business on the farm and in the broader economy. 

It seems such a simple statement, but it might be surprising to learn how often it isn’t the case. This involvement shouldn’t just be a ‘tick-box’ exercise but a meaningful interaction that influences outcomes for the benefit of all agriculture.

TasFarmers confronts many issues on a daily basis. We do achieve some significant wins, often out of the media’s focus and with no fanfare as government bureaucratic decisions are discussed and often improved before seeing the light of day. 

In many instances, what might start as conflict with departmental decision-makers often develops into productive and mutually beneficial relationships where open communication becomes the norm rather than a terse email or letter ‘advising’ of some change or another.

While we have a dedicated team of motivated professionals working in TasFarmers, the biggest asset we have is farmers. Across the many issues we deal with and our councils and committees, the best advice and advocacy comes from our members who give up their time on their farm to make sure that all farmers are heard, and the best possible outcomes are achieved for all farmers.

A case in point was recent discussions with the Department of State Growth concerning the maximum permissible widths for the carting of baled commodities such as hay, silage and wool. While our internal team are all clever people, nothing gets a point across better in a meeting with decision-makers than the direct experience of farmers and cartage contractors who can explain, in very understandable terms, the consequences of any proposed change. 

These discussions are extremely important for farmers and cartage contractors to ensure the continued safe, efficient and effective movement of fodder throughout Tasmania, between the islands and across Bass Strait.

Over the past few months, TasFarmers, with critical help from farmers, have dealt with many other issues: Assisting with negotiations for commodity pricing and ensuring that irrigation water is available where it is needed, much-needed firearm regulation reforms, frozen vegetable imports undermining local farming viability, the irrepressible march of local government rate rises, biosecurity involving various viruses including varroa mite in bees, bird flu preparations for any incursion of this dreadful virus from Europe, transport regulations for farm vehicles, fluctuations in vegetable commodity volumes, the development of a Tasmanian Red Meat Strategy, various motions in state parliament that would not be in the best interest of farmers, advocating strongly here and in Canberra for the South East Irrigation Scheme and many, many others issues.

The key to our success in these issues has been the close and ongoing involvement of farmers who put the interests of the overall agricultural industry before their farming interests. It is not just chairs and members of committees and councils, but farmers with the right expertise and a sense of doing the right thing by the entire industry. 

In all of these meetings, dealing with so many and varied issues, we are constantly reminded just how important it is to involve and listen to those with the real skin in the game – our farmers.