There was truly a groundswell of appreciation shown for farmers and the entire agricultural industry, and on the flipside, there were countless farmers and agricultural organisations who let the public beyond the farmgate so everyone could learn more about where their food and fibre comes from. 

Here are some of our highlights from the day that stopped us in our scroll. 

• Triple J Hack interview with WA farmhand Nell Eastough talking about the “supermarket society”. 

• George the Farmer doing what he does best. 

• The energy in Sydney Markets’ video is something else!

• This sibling duo made us realise the future of ag is in good hands. 

• The farmer video that had it all. 

• And the one that made us appreciate the tough times farmers’ deal with. 

• The earworm we didn’t know we needed. 

• Agriculture Minister Julie Collins penned this opinion editorial. 

• Assistant Agriculture Minister Anthony Chisholm’s video message. 

• The NFF team will stick to policy over videos but had fun creating this for Ag Day. 

National Agriculture Day falls on the third Thursday in November each year. Stay in the loop by signing up to this newsletter for updates and check out the dedicated website agday.org.au.

The post What stopped our scroll on Ag Day   appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

This was no small feat, with farmers travelling thousands of kilometres to attend. Some came from Western Australia, others from the Top End near Darwin or as far south as Port Lincoln in South Australia. Then there was the MC Gillian Fennell, who drove 500km from her cattle station in outback South Australia to catch a plane from Alice Springs to Sydney, then another onto Canberra.

What made the event even more significant was the fact it was the first time in four decades Australia’s peak farm body, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), backed a rally, the last being a gathering of about 45,000 farmers in 1985.

Why were farmers rallying

This historic event originally began as a #KeeptheSheep rally, organised by the producers, shearers, truckdrivers and rural communities in Western Australian who will be devastated by the live sheep export ban.

However, with a growing list of pressures on Australian farmers and the need for greater recognition and understanding from policymakers and the public alike, the rally was expanded to include other issues.

In recent years, farmers have felt increasingly sidelined as activist groups push for policies that threaten the viability of their businesses. These policies, driven by people often far removed from farming realities, include banning live sheep exports, reduced water access, increased taxes, and new regulatory hurdles.

As NFF President David Jochinke explains, the farming community is simply asking for fairness.

“We want forward-thinking solutions that will allow Australian agriculture to thrive, not ideological battles driven by out-of-touch activists and detractors who would like to see less food and fibre grown in Australia.

“These groups often push agendas that would undermine our ability to feed and clothe the nation, without understanding the realities of farming or the vital role we play in the economy and regional communities.”

Not your regular protest

The rally was more than just a protest; it was a heartfelt plea for understanding – and a friendly one at that.

Unlike the protests that usually make the news, there was no yelling or people chaining themselves to things. Rather the vibe was more like a family-friendly festival, with farming families, live music by Sam + Sam, food trucks and, of course, speeches from farmers from across the country.

While it was a friendly atmosphere, these farmers made it clear they have had enough of anti-farming voices having an increasing amount of influence over regulations that impact farmers’ livelihoods. These policies have far-reaching effects. Water buybacks, for instance, threaten the food production in the Murray Darling Basin, while unnecessary red tape around emissions reporting increases costs and complexity, particularly for smaller family-run farms.

The issues raised at the rally have wide-reaching consequences beyond the farmgate. As farmers highlighted, when agriculture suffers, rural communities and local economies feel the pinch. Western Australian farmer John Hassell highlighted this point with the banning of the live sheep trade.

“It’s about communities. It’s not about me as a farmer, I’ll change my enterprise mix, I will survive, but my community will not survive. It’s about our schools, it’s about our footy teams, it’s about the businesses in town, it’s about our IGAs. Sadly, I expect 30-40 communities in Western Australia will be savagely affected by this legislation.”

The NFF believes that the policies shaped in Canberra need to reflect the realities of farming life and urges lawmakers to consult directly with those most affected.

“When farmers thrive, the nation prospers. We are the backbone of food security, the lifeblood of regional communities, and a driving force in the national economy,” Mr Jochinke explained. “Support for Australian agriculture is an investment in our shared future, and a rejection of those who would see our industry diminished.”

Farmers left the rally hopeful their collective action sent a clear message: Australia’s farmers deserve a seat at the table, and their contributions to the nation’s prosperity must be valued. As Mr Jochinke put it – a sentiment echoed fervently by the crowd: “No farmers, no food.”

Want to know more about the rally? You can watch the recording here and sign the petition here. You can also show your support for farmers on National Agriculture Day on Friday, 15 November.

The post From paddock to parliament: The reasons behind the historic farmers rally in Canberra appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) is the national peak body representing commercial growers of plants (known as nursery products) across Australia. This sector employs over 25,000 people.

If you have ever bought a plant for your garden or vegetable patch at Bunnings, it is highly likely it was grown by someone in this sector.

GIA estimates Bunnings has a 70% share of the plant retail market in Australia, which is higher than the combined 60% Coles and Woolworths share in the grocery market.

At the centre of all the arguments driving the debate and inquiries, is how these huge market shares gives these companies the market power to determine prices, how much produce is grown, and what the trading terms are.

Chief Executive Officer, Joanna Cave says Bunnings should be put under the same scrutiny as the supermarkets and included in The Food & Grocery Code of Conduct because:

• Plants are already covered by the Code and Bunnings sells more plants than anyone else in Australia.
• Bunnings is an unregulated monopoly in this space.
• Bunnings sells a range of goods from household cleaners to pet food – just like a supermarket.

“More than two thirds of growers are dissatisfied with their trading arrangements with Bunnings,” Jo said.

“A third of growers say the retail giant pressures them to accept a price that’s less than fair,
and 20% say they sell to Bunnings at a loss.

“A third of growers say they fear losing business if they ask for a price increase.”

The greenlife sector has highlighted how “multiple” nurseries have closed down because of unfair practices.

GIA is particularly advocating for big box retailers like Bunnings to be included in the Supermarket Code being reviewed by Dr Craig Emerson. A final report will be handed to the Australian Government by June 30, although an interim report is expected to be released for feedback prior to this.

The post Why Bunnings should be included in the supermarket debate appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

Since 2019, the Aussie Hay Runners has delivered more than 30,400 bales of hay to farmers, bales donated or bought with donations worth over $2.8 million.

Aussie Hay Runners is getting set to hit the road again for its sixth run for 2024, with 25 trucks arriving at Inverell this Friday, March 1 to help bushfire impacted farmers.

To measure the impact this group has had, in 25 runs 844 trucks have travelled nearly 2 million kilometres – that’s nearly 50 laps around the planet! If you think that would mean a lot of fuel, you’d be right. The fuel bill tally is almost $4 million.

The Runners have helped 2,659 farmers to date, like the farm pictured below where a fire swept through, burning 98% of the property.

How it all began

Aussie Hay Runners was established in 2019 when Linda Widdup from Carlisle River, country Victoria, saw a Facebook post about drought affected farmers in Dunedoo, NSW.

“Farmers were desperate, fifth generation farmers were selling their animals because they could not provide water or feed for them.”

Linda knew she had to do something to help, so she teamed up with Phillip Garrett and Tammy Cooper and Aussie Hay Runners was born.

“Now in our fifth year, with a group of dedicated volunteers and a large group of drivers, we are proudly supported by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, Ray Akers of Gippsland Hay Relief and recently we have been made a Project by the largest Lions Club in rural Victoria, Heyfield Lions Club.”

Follow the convoy and donate via the Runners’ Facebook page.

The post Hay with heart appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

But causing more discussion around the barbecue than Border Collie vs kelpie debate, is whether or not the kelpie has dingo in its heritage, leaving a true blue Aussie pawprint on the breed.

To find out whether this is true or just a campfire lore, we spoke to Professor Claire Wade from Sydney University who is an expert in dog genetics.

Professor Wade was involved in research that looked into about 300 kelpies to see whether there was in fact a kelpie-dingo connection.

“Like everyone, I had heard the rumours that kelpies included dingo in their heritage to increase their resilience in our harsh landscapes, but as a scientist I didn’t want to just believe what I was told,” she explained.

The kelpie is in fact from Scotland, so it was no surprise people thought mixing the breed with the dingo helped it adapt to the Australian conditions, but what else made people draw the connection?

“The yellow or cream kelpie to the average person looks quite similar to the dingo and the ears also look quite similar,” Professor Wade said.

The study looked at the gene coding for ears and coat colour and found no shared history. “In fact, the yellow coat in kelpies is essentially the same as the yellow coat in a labrador.

“Sure people have tried it (cross breeding them), but if think about it logically when kelpies were brought to Australia they were brought as livestock herding dogs, so would you take these dogs, imported with great difficulty, and cross them with sheep killers and expect their progeny to be good?”

Where did the kelpie get its name?

The kelpie is in fact a collie, a short or smooth collie. So how did Australia end up naming the breed kelpie?

According to the Working Kelpie Council of Australia, three pairs of working collies were brought to Australia from Scotland by three early landholders. One of Australia’s foundation females – born from black and tan collies – ended up being owned by Jack Gleeson who swapped a horse for the pup he trained on a station in Victoria.

“The rumour was they got the dogs cheap because they had weird ears but they had good herding bloodlines,” Professor Wade explains.

“In Scotland pricked ears are not an advantage because they can get frostbite, but in Australia the ears help to dissipate the heat.”

Mr Gleeson named his female “Kelpie”. In Scottish mythology a kelpie is a dangerous sea creature that can appear in the shape of a horse. 

“So a kelpie is Celtic sea monster but I think at the time, kelpie was a well-known race horse in Australia.”

City vs country kelpies

The divide between city and country kelpies is a thing! It dates back to the early days of the breed coming to Australia and is loosely defined by a difference in coat colour. The working dogs commonly (but not always) have the black and tan markings, whereas show dogs are single coloured.

Professor Wade said the study also revealed a big difference between the two bloodlines was their toughness in their paws – the working kelpies need to handle running across paddocks and the prickles that come with that.

We learnt earlier about a man called Jack Gleeson. Later, after he moved to New South Wales, this female had a litter and one of them, named Kelpie after her mother, put on an exceptional performance at the first sheep dog trial at the Forbes Show – so good it’s how the breed got its name.

According to the Working Kelpie Council, at first, dogs of this bloodline were proudly known as “Kelpie’s pups”, but by the turn of the century, dogs with ‘Kelpie-like’ appearance were described as kelpies regardless of origin.

Fun facts

• In the 1860s and 70s, Queen Victoria had smooth collies (kelpies) and owned 88 in her lifetime. This made them a popular breed.
• Another history-making kelpie in Australia, a black dog called “Coil” won the Sydney sheepdog trials in 1898 with a perfect score on the first day, but overnight broke his leg. Despite the injury he competed the next day and achieved another perfect score.
• A newspaper in 1903 published a story how one of Coil’s daughters inherited his herding abilities and could herd a chick into a tin!
• Gleeson’s Kelpie and Coil made the black and tan, and pure black, coat colours popular, but cream (a recessive gene), blue, fawn and red colours have always been there. These other colours are favoured much more now.
• The record price paid for an Australian working kelpie is $49,000.
• The Border Collie got its name from its homeland on the Welsh-Scottish-England borders. However, it’s believed the breed arrived in England from Viking and Roman invasions more than one thousand years ago!

The post The fascinating story behind how the kelpie got its name appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

So, when the Federal Government announced last week the consumer watchdog, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) would investigate supermarket prices and competition, the news made national headlines. 

National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said farmers were definitely questioning why the gap between what they get paid and what produce ends up on supermarket shelves for keeps widening. 

Things came to a head late last year when farmers went from getting on average $10 per kilo for a sheep down to about $4, but there was no change in price at the supermarket.” 

Farmers weren’t impressed and neither were consumers who were already bowing under the cost of living crunch.  

We particularly felt food price inflation in the quarter to September 2022 when fruit and vegetables jumped by 16.2%.” 

While food prices have since steadied thanks to better growing conditions, latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show we are also feeling price pain from rises in insurance, transport and, of course, housing.  

While people are looking squarely at the end of the supply chain, the supermarkets, and whether they are price gouging, Mr Jochinke wants to see a lens put over the entire food supply chain. 

“There’s a lot of players in the middle between the farmer and supermarket. There’s just no transparency in the supply chain on who’s clipping the ticket, if there’s any problems pushing costs up and what efficiencies we can improve upon – for example are the poor conditions of roads adding to transport costs? 

“There’s also work that can be done to improve our competition laws in Australia where we have a highly consolidated market – there’s just not many places growers can sell their produce to. 

“This means farmers have limited options to shop around and find a better price and it also puts consumers in the same boat.” 

Reduced margins were one of the reasons 34% of growers told AUSVEG last year they were considering leaving the industry. 

The ACCC inquiry isn’t the only one looking at food prices, there are numerous other inquiries happening at the moment, such as the Food and Grocery Code Review and a Senate inquiry. 

“Farmers are pleased these inquiries are happening, but there’s no silver bullet. The ACCC inquiry alone is a 12-month investigation and we’ve seen before how reports and recommendations sit on shelves in Canberra, collecting dust. 

“Australians need to see some real change and fairer and more transparent markets are a good place to start.” 

The post Food prices in the spotlight  appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

Across social media, thousands of posts popped up from urban Aussies wearing their #GrowYouGoodThing merch and sharing their gratitude to the people who grow their food and fibre, as well as from farmers giving people a behind the farmgate look into their industry.

Each year the agriculture’s big day is celebrated with the #AgDayAU photo and video competition where $5,000 cash is up for grabs thanks to sponsors Syngenta.

This year Belinda Dimarzio-Bryan’s photo (main image above) of her determined toddler trying to help feed the rams was been awarded first prize for encapsulating this year’s theme #GrowYouGoodThing.

National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said the judges had a tough job with the competition attracting almost 500 entries.

“There are endless moments in farming that you simply cannot plan, like a brewing storm, an animal’s expression or the way the light hits a paddock.

“These moments are some of the reasons why farmers do what they do, we really do have the best offices in the world.”

Syngenta Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Paul Luxton, said the diversity in this year’s entries was outstanding, providing a snapshot into the different faces, landscapes and produce behind Australian agriculture.

“Without doubt, Australian farming is a special industry and imagery is one of the best ways we can share it with all Australians, so they can come on a journey with us and better understand where their food and fibre comes from.”

National Agriculture Day – or #AgDayAU – is held on the third Friday of November each year. 

The post Future farmer wins #AgDayAU photo competition appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

This year the National Farmers’ Federation has recruited five AgDay “ambassadors”, farmers who are taking over the Australian Farmers’ social media accounts.

These agfluencers are taking viewers behind the farmgate to show them what is going – from mustering sheep, to milking cows, seeing what crops are growing and even sharing insight into how they are dealing with drought and everything else the weather throws their way.

The take overs kicked off with Mel McGorman (AKA Lady Ba Ba) last week, where we took a glimpse into how Mel and her family manage the day-to-day running of the farm – everything from a 2-hour school run to mustering sheep and sunset farm fun.

Today and tomorrow, October 25-26, one of Australian dairy’s biggest names and social media influencer, Big Farmer Andy, takes over and has promised plenty of mischief. Then in November, we will have farm vlogger Mark Merrett, drone master Rural Riley and McLeod’s Daughter star Bridie Carter.

Follow along on Australian Farmers socials: Instagram, Facebook,and TikTok (we also hang out on Twitter/X for anyone who prefers to tweet.

National Agriculture Day is on the third Friday in November and is a day to celebrate all things agriculture. Want to know how to join in the fun? Head over here for our top ways to celebrate (and even win cash!).

The post Grow you good thing! The social media agfluencers getting behind #AgDayAU appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

National Farmers’ Federation Chief Executive Tony Mahar said this year’s theme #GrowYouGoodThing celebrating the incredible food and fibre farmers grow could not come at a better time.

“We have an El Nino on our hands and some farmers are facing a very poor outlook for the season ahead,” Mr Mahar said.

“That being said, Aussie farmers work hard to make sure the impact of dry times is barely felt at dinner tables.

“Our farmers are the best in the business. A huge amount of planning and careful management goes into make sure food and fibre still gets grown despite difficult times.”

How to celebrate AgDay

Register AgDay events now

People are encouraged to hold an event in their community or workplace to receive a complimentary event kit – no event is too big or too small. All you need to do is register your event, choosing whether you want to make it public or private, at agday.org.au – and make sure you tag us on social media on the day by using #AgDayAU.

“It’s always wonderful to see communities coming together on AgDay to celebrate Aussie farming. It doesn’t matter where you live, that connection to farming is such an important part of our identity as Australians,” Mr Mahar said.

Download the stakeholder kit so you can access social media tiles, suggested posts and more.

New look ‘I Love Farmers’ merchandise released

The NFF has given the iconic “I Love Farmers” merchandise a fresh new look. There’s also plenty of merch in the store featuring this year’s theme “Grow you good thing!”

For the first time, cattle tags and bucket hats have been introduced to the range, which also includes t-shirts, trucker caps, stickers and tote bags. Shop the range at agday.org.au and make sure you tag your selfies with #AgDayAU – we can’t wait to see everyone in their gear!

Photo and video competition

Entries are now open for the coveted photo and video competition with a prize pool of $5,000 up for grabs thanks to sponsors Syngenta.

There is no age or skill limit on entries, the judges are just looking for imagery that celebrates Australian agriculture.

Entries close at 5pm AEDT on AgDay, Friday, 17 November. For more information visit agday.org.au.

Check out the agfluencers taking over social media

This year the National Farmers’ Federation has recruited five farming #agfluencers to take over the Australian Farmers’ social media accounts. Mel McGorman, Big Farmer Andy, Mark Merrett, Rural Riley and Bridie Carter are showing us what is happening on their farms (and it’s going to be loads of fun!)

Find out how to follow along here.

Stay in touch

Keep updated on all things Australian Farmers by following Australian Farmers on social media Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok).

The post How to celebrate #AgDayAU appeared first on AustralianFarmers.

How to grow sunflowers

• Choose the right location: Sunflowers love full sun, so select a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
• Choose the right varieties: There are various sunflower varieties to choose from, including giant varieties that can reach higher than 3 metres with flowers up to 50cm wide or smaller, more manageable ones. Pick a variety that suits your space and preferences.
• Prepare the soil: Sunflowers prefer well-draining soil. Give your sunflowers the best chance by adding compost or well-rotted manure to the soil before planting.
• Planting: Sow sunflower seeds directly into the ground once there’s no chance of frosts, typically in late spring. Plant seeds about 2cm deep and 60cm apart, but we recommend checking the packet as depends which variety you go with.
• Watering: Keep the soil, especially during the early growth stages. Once established, sunflowers are relatively drought-tolerant but appreciate regular deep watering.
• Support tall varieties: For giant sunflowers, provide support with stakes or a trellis to prevent them from toppling over.
• Fertilise sparingly: Sunflowers are pretty tough and don’t require much fertilisation. A slow-release fertiliser during planting should be enough.
• Enjoy the show: Be prepared for a burst of colour when they bloom, which should last up to 10 weeks.
• Harvest seeds: When the flower heads droop and the back of the head turns yellow, it’s time to harvest seeds. Remove the heads and let them dry for a few weeks before extracting the seeds.

Visit a farm to pick your own sunflowers

We know not everyone has a green thumb and that doesn’t mean you should miss out. More and more farms are opening to the public for a pick-your-own sunflower experience. A great way to not only walk among thousands of sunflowers, but also meet the farmers who grow them.

Location and the weather does have a hand in when they bloom, but keep an eye out from December to March for farms that open their gates to offer pick-your-own (noting some farms have blooms beyond these months). Many of these are ticketed, so make sure you check first.

Most of these farms are just an hour or two from capital cities, making it a great day out. Remember to only enter farms that allow it. If you come across a sunflower crop not connected to a pick-your-own, please take your photos from a distance and don’t enter the paddock.

Here’s a list of some pick-your-own farms, but please comment with any others you know about!

Pick Your Own Dunnstown – Vic

The Farmgate Shop – Vic

Glenbernie Family Farms – NSW

Majura Valley Farmgate – ACT

Shimmering Pines Farm – SA

The Barns Freeling – SA

Kalbar Sunflower Festival – Qld

The Sunflower Route – Qld

Mount Gnomon Farm – Tas

The post Growing sunshine: A guide to growing sunflowers (and what to do if you don’t have time!) appeared first on AustralianFarmers.