Category: Media Releases

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Media Statement – Minister for Agricultural Industry Dev. and Fisheries – Mark Furner

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Media Statements

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Queensland’s Drought Program to be reviewed ahead of next big dry

The Palaszczuk Government has commissioned a review of the Drought Program, to improve resilience and assistance for farmers in future droughts.

Speaking in Charleville today, (26 Aug) Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner announced that an independent expert panel would conduct the review.

“Droughts are part of life in Queensland and our producers are very experienced with the big droughts and the big floods that often end them,” Mr Furner said.

“However even the most resilient and well-prepared producer and their community can struggle in a crippling and prolonged long drought such as this one.

“Since the current drought started to impact in 2013, the Queensland Government has allocated over $670 million in assistance.

“We have always supported our farmers and I assure embattled rural families that our current Drought Assistance Package will continue for the duration of this drought.

“However, with drought foremost in people’s minds, right now is the best time to work with industry and the community to review government, industry and community actions through this drought and to consider and recommend improvements for coping in future.

“All too often reviews have been conducted well after droughts are over and lessons are forgotten.”

Mr Furner said Ruth Wade and Charles Burke were appointed to run the review to identify potential improvements for future droughts in line with national drought policy.

“Ms Wade and Mr Burke have a strong industry background and understanding of the pressures of drought visits on rural communities, being former Chief Executive Officers of the Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) and AgForce Queensland respectively,” he said.

“The panel will hold forums in six regional centres and will seek written submissions through the drought program review website throughout September and October 2018. Details on how to make submissions will be online from mid-September.

“I encourage community members to attend these forums to have their say on what’s needed in future and to submit their thoughts online for the panel to consider.” read more

New Sugar Cane Variety for Burdekin

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NEW SUGAR CANE VARIETY FOR BURDEKIN

Please refer to SRA/Wilmar Sugar media release.

Regional Variety Committee meeting held on 21st June voted on the decision for limited release of trial variety KQ08-2180 with full disclosure on its smut history and status to growers when giving consideration to clean seed cane requirements. Information surrounding KQ08-2180 was posted to our webpage on 2nd July 2018. This variety has now been formally named and is the subject of media release.

This new variety is to be planted into mother plots this season and will become available to growers in 2020.

Les Elphinstone

Manager KCGOL

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QFF – Media Release

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QFF – Media Release
QFF welcomes offset move by other major banks

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has welcomed announcements from Westpac and ANZ that they too will now allow farmers to offset money held in Farm Management Deposits (FMDs) against their agricultural lending. QFF CEO Travis Tobin said the capitulation from Westpac and ANZ meant that farmers do not need to consider switching banks to access the improvement to this useful risk management tool and he congratulated Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud for successfully encouraging all the banks to get on board. “The offsets provision was an important part of the positive and proactive FMD reforms that passed Federal Parliament in early 2016 but until recently, Rural Bank was the only financial institution to offer farmers the opportunity to use their FMDs to offset their borrowings,” Mr Tobin said. “NAB, CBA and Rabobank recently followed Rural Bank’s lead after the Royal Commission hearings and constant pressure from Federal Agriculture Minister,David Littleproud and we commend his persistence on this issue.” “With all the major agri-lenders now offering FMD offsets, whether to switch banks or not is one less decision farmers will need to make. With drought pressures mounting, this will be welcome for many.” “Farmers and country people are tough, but this protracted drought is challenging for even the most resilient. QFF thanks the banks for backing rural and regional Queensland by giving farmers another tool to manage risk and plan for the future,” Mr Tobin said. Help is available to farmers and rural communities affected by drought, for details about assistance and support services or to lend a hand to those doing it tough see here: Support for drought affected farmers and rural communities. ENDS

Media enquiries: Kayla Plunkett – 0448 000 692

SRA Travel and Learning Awards

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Travel and Learning Awards: broadening the skills and capability of the Australian sugarcane industry

 

Applications are open for the Sugar Industry Travel and Learning Awards (STLA) through Sugar Research Australia (SRA).

The STLA offer successful applicants up to $7,500 for an individual award or $10,000 towards a workshop or event.

These awards encourage innovative thinking and activities that can clearly demonstrate benefits to the Australian sugarcane industry. The activity should be aligned with the outcomes and strategies of the current SRA strategic plan.

The STLA are part of SRA’s investment in building the Australian sugarcane industry’s knowledge and capability.

Dr Michael O’Shea, General Manager of the Research Funding Unit, said SRA was seeking applications for innovative learning ideas.

“The awards cover a range of possible activities that will deliver benefits throughout the Australian sugarcane industry,” Dr O’Shea said.  “This includes, for example, skills-development activities that could include visiting farm trials and assessing new farming methods, visiting the growing or processing sectors of other agricultural industries, conference or workshop attendance, and then sharing this information back with industry via an adoption activity.

“These awards are on offer to all industry participants, including growers, millers, and service providers including researchers.”

The Awards recognise that it is crucial that the Australian sugarcane industry continue to develop its skills and expertise, which includes looking at other industries and other countries to generate new ideas and innovation.

“SRA is committed to investing in research that can be adopted on farm or in the mill, providing a tangible outcome for sugarcane growers and millers. All applications will be assessed in that context of their benefit to the industry,” Dr O’Shea said.

Applications close August 31, 2018.

 

ENDS

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