Fletcher International head Roger Fletcher, left, with Stantec Australia’s Tony Eyres at yesterday’s AgXChange conference

Australia should stop supporting drought-hit farmers and instead channel funds into helping producers prepare for natural disasters, according to industry veteran Roger Fletcher.

“Something we don’t do a very good job of – and I think I’m going to get abused – but if I was in the Government tomorrow I’d say ‘there’ll be no more drought aid but we will support you getting ready for droughts’, he told yesterday’s NFF AgXChange conference.

“And I think that would be a huge difference to farmers; preparing for droughts. They’re therefore more comfortable for when drought comes. They’ve got product around. Support them on the other end.

“Drought aid is a very costly, a bad way to do it.”

********************

The first livestock producers on mainland Australia to introduce halter technology, or virtual fencing, gained an estimated 13% more land through the investment.

Emily Coggan told the NFF conference that her Queensland family farm estimates it has activated about 4000 extra hectares across its Western Downs mixed-farming enterprise.

“Land that we weren’t previous able to use. We’re talking about fencelines, roadways, between centre pivots, all those types of land that we previously couldn’t use,” said the former accountant, adding that the initiative was ‘”cost-competitive with the equivalent agistment fees.”.

The family initiated use of the Halter’s cattle collars on their breeders 12 months ago and are currently using 670 collars on breeders, with future plans to increase the herd to utilise the extra grazing  area.

Emily Coggan on stage with Smithfield Cattle Co’s Jason Shearer-Smith

********************

For young people in agriculture, foreign investment is not the problem, according to Merino producer Sam Neumann.

The Head of Livestock Transformation at TFI said: “It’s investment, right?

And that land will stay in agricultural production. The more intimidating factor is urban sprawl.

The South Australian said “we’re seeing encroachment on really good, productive land and you can’t compete with that – particularly when you’re a young producer – when you’ve got a domestic consumer who’s willing to pay $1m for a house-and-land package on 400 sq m. I literally can’t compete with him.

“And I think that’s one of the biggest challenges that we’re going to face.

How are we going to produce more and more, as we try to feed the nation, on less productive land or coming from a lower resource base.”

Sam Neumann, left, with NFF’s interim CEO Sue McCluskey

********************

And a last word from Roger Fletcher

Trade is vital to prevent invasion, according to meat industry veteran Roger Fletcher.

The MD of Fletcher International delivered his blunt warning: “If we don’t feed them, they’ll come and take our paddock.”

He continued: “I deal with a lot of dictators around the world. If they don’t keep their people fed, they haven’t got a job.”