Cattle disease, fencing, and fertiliser were on the agenda for the Guyra branch of the NSW Farmers’ Association, which had its annual meeting this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The branch provides a forum for farmers to discuss issues that concern them, such as government regulations at local, state, and federal levels, and to learn about agricultural topics.
"It's a way of getting to the politicians as a little farmer,” Vice Chair Jenni Jackson said.
Related stories:
The meeting covered motions to go to the annual conference in Sydney in July, including avoiding international bans on products using the weed-killer glyphosate; and investigating a cure for the cattle disease theileriosis, which has become prevalent in the area.
They also proposed that the NSW government put inclusion fences around national parks, to keep dingoes and wild dogs off properties; and review the management and structure of Local Land Services, as many farmers feel their fees are misspent.
Other motions included volume-based loading of livestock trucks to bring NSW into line with Queensland and South Australian practices, and make abbatoirs more competitive; and stopping road maintenance groups and construction workers spreading noxious weeds in rural areas.
The branch’s successes over the past year have included setting up clinics for Q fever, a flu-like disease spread to humans from livestock, and protecting the position of working dogs on farms.
12 people, including Liberal politician Scot MacDonald, attended the meeting at Rafters. The executive were reinstated: Callan Schaefer as Chairman, Mrs Jackson as Vice Chair and publicity officer, Bill O’Halloran as Secretary, and Sally White as Treasurer.
Several members are also active at a state level. Mr Schaefer is on the Sheepmeat Advisory Committee and the Animal Welfare Committee, Mr O’Halloran is on the Sheepmeat Advisory Committee, and James Jackson is on the board and also Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee.
The meeting also appointed delegates to go to the conference in July, where they will help advisory committees approach politicians.
The branch’s next meeting will be held in August, after the conference.
“If any farmer ever does have problems,” Mrs Jackson said, “then feel free to come to our meetings and express their concerns. If legislation is affecting one farmer's productivity or animal health, it's probably affecting somebody else too. If they want to get heard by the politicians, come to our meetings, or speak to our chairman, or speak to someone on the NSW Farmers to have changes made.”
