Electrical and electoral prices too high

There is no doubt that electricity prices will be a major factor in the outcome of the Queensland State election. The jury however is still out on how various parties will positively address this integral issue for regional and rural Queensland.

Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) President Stuart Armitage said that despite assurances from politicians over several years of downward pressure on electricity prices, there has been no reprieve and the time for downward pressure is over  immediate price relief is needed now.

The ongoing energy crisis continues to have viability and profitability ramifications for Queensland farmers, who over the past decade had experienced electricity price increases of at least 130%. For some, the cost of this basic need and critical farm input has risen by 300%. Over the same period, CPI has increased by just 21%.

Farmers are fed-up with the lack of action and are looking for those candidates and political parties willing to do what it takes to reform the current broken electricity system.

Modern, intensive farming businesses rely on a range of energy-intensive activities for irrigation, heating, cool rooms and packaging sheds to produce high quality food, fibre and foliage. Reliable, affordable electricity is a must for farmers to keep the doors open so they can continue to employ people and support Queensland communities.

Government programs addressing energy efficiency and demand management have been an important resource for helping Queensland farmers to identify, learn and implement energy efficiency practices and changes to their businesses.

These programs must continue and must evolve to factor in linked activities, address broader productivity issues and provide implementation incentives. But they must also be ramped up so more farmers can benefits, and they have only dampened the unsustainable price increases imposed on farmers, Mr Armitage said.

This election QFF is advocating for the following sensible and practical actions to realise our vision for a vibrant and thriving agricultural sector providing food, fibre and amenity to all Queenslanders: read more

Reef Report Card confirms farmers progress & successes

The standout modelled results include a reduction in average annual loads of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) by a further 5.5 to 25.5 per cent in the Burdekin, and 4.1 to 9.6 per cent in the Fitzroy.

Queensland farmers Federation (QFF) President Stuart Armitage said that the 2016 Report Card offered a constructive update on the progress of many aspects associated with improving the health of the Reef, even though agriculture was the only sector measured and factored in to the Report Card results.

Queensland farmers from various industries are engaged in programs that are implemented over a number of years. The Report Card is just one way of measuring their progress.

Not all the activities undertaken during the reporting period are included, so these results are considered a conservative estimate of the progress our sector has made.

The Report Card mentions results from the various industry Best Management Practice (BMP) programs. Industry BMP programs are making significant progress towards changing practices to protect the Reef with farmers contributing $1.55 for every $1 invested by government.

In sugarcane alone we have seen a 60 per cent plus increase on the number of farms achieving Smartcane BMP accreditation since the 2015 Report Card.

Over 62 per cent of banana farmland across north Queensland is now BMP accredited, and many more growers are currently working towards this goal.

Graziers in the Reef catchments are also embracing the BMP process with 1,722 properties covering nearly 10 million hectares undertaking assessments on their practices as they work towards BMP accreditation, Mr Armitage said.

Agriculture is essential to regional Queensland sustaining over 40,000 jobs and contributing more than $5 billion of economic value at the farm gate alone (Reef catchment area total).

QFF continues to take a lead role facilitating the Reef Alliance partnership. The Alliance consists of the agriculture sector, Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups and WWF and shares a common goal of securing the future of the Reef. read more

Issues paper for northern Australia insurance inquiry

24 October 2017

The ACCC has today released an issues paper for its inquiry into the supply of residential building, contents, and strata insurance in northern Australia. The Australian Government directed the ACCC to undertake a wide-ranging inquiry due to concerns about affordability and availability of insurance in the region.

The ACCC will be hosting a series of public forums so consumers can share their concerns directly with the ACCC. The forums will be held in November and December this year in Townsville, Cairns, Darwin, Alice Springs, Karratha, Broome, Rockhampton, and Mackay.

These forums will allow us to hear directly from people in northern Australia about their experiences of the insurance market, ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

The ACCC is investigating why insurance premiums have increased substantially in northern Australia over the past few years. Our Inquiry aims to identify the barriers that prevent consumers from accessing affordable, appropriate, and comprehensive insurance.

As a formal inquiry, we will use our compulsory information gathering powers to access information directly from insurers. This is something other inquiries have not been able to do. We are also seeking consumer and industry input on price, policy coverage, and any barriers to consumers getting a better deal, Ms Rickard said.

The ACCC is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders on a range of issues, including:

• Insurance pricing, the key cost components of insurance, and insurer profitability
• The competitiveness of markets for insurance in northern Australia
• How consumers interact with insurance markets including any barriers to consumers making well informed choices
• Other regulatory issues relevant to the insurance industry
• The role that mitigation can play in improving affordability.

There is a short version of the issues paper covering the content most relevant to consumers. Consumers can respond to the short version online. The full issues paper, short version, and information about the public forums is available at: Northern Australia insurance inquiry.

Submissions are due on 21 December 2017 and can be emailed to [email protected] (link sends e-mail).

Background

The ACCC must submit reports to the Treasurer by 30 November 2018 and 30 November 2019. The inquiry is to be completed and a final report submitted to the Treasurer by 30 November 2020. read more

Queensland Farmer’s Federation –  Reducing Energy Use

Reducing energy use, bills and increasing on-farm efficiency

Over 60% of the 130 farms participating in the QFF Energy Savers program have or plan to implement part of the $3 million of annual energy cost savings identified in the energy efficiency audits across different industries. This includes 50 farms implementing energy efficiency projects and another 32 that are planning to in the near future.

QFF President Stuart Armitage said that despite the evident structural challenges with energy affordability in Queensland, farmers are not waiting around on the promise of eventual price relief.

“Farmers are implementing projects to improve and upgrade irrigation, refrigeration, lighting and installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems,” said Mr. Armitage.

“The biggest uptake has been by irrigators improving pumping systems. Crop requirements, climatic conditions, water licencing and irrigation channel conditions mean they don’t have the luxury of deciding when they pump water.

A recent survey of program participants found that over 90% of respondents felt that Energy Savers has raised awareness of on-farm energy management.

Most encouraging too has been feedback from energy efficiency suppliers that farmers are approaching them for improvements based of the case studies and information provided through the program.

The Energy Savers program has developed and published 45 case studies, including 5 videos covering a range of agricultural industries throughout Queensland all available on the Energy Savers website. These case studies and information have been presented at 50 events throughout the state’s agricultural regions.

“QFF continues to work with Ergon and the State Government to assist farmers move ahead with projects identified in the audits by providing advice and information to reduce barriers, such as understanding the technologies and accessing financing options,”  said Mr. Armitage. read more

Water Sampling Information – Nitrogen Impact

At our recent AGM an issue was raised by a grower in relation to outcome of RP20 Nitrogen Trials and in particular the positive around improved environmental footprint. Grower enquired as to avenues available to undertake surface water sampling in the Delta to determine individual farm nitrogen impact and to what extent. For any growers interested I have had discussions with BBIFMAC who have provided the following guidelines/procedures.

Sample collection: Growers can either take a grab sample of runoff at the end of the row once the water comes through or BBIFMAC sells KP samplers which if set up correctly automatically start taking a sample when the water first comes through and stops when the water stops. This is a more accurate way of taking samples as the amount of nutrient can vary throughout the runoff period however the KP samplers sell for $550. Farmacist and BPS have purchased several KP samplers from BBIFMAC and use them throughout the Burdekin. The KP samplers do need to be set up correctly and maintained properly and BBIFMAC suggests a trained person deploy them each time.

Sample storage: samples are best placed into an appropriate sample bottle (1L from lab supplier), making sure that the bottle is triple rinsed before used, and that gloves are used so that there is no contamination of the bottle neck or lid (the bare skin of fingers/hands can contain quite high levels of Nitrates which will contaminate the sample!). There should be no air gap in the bottle after being filled with the sample and it needs to be refrigerated or frozen immediately after collection (very important!). Samples sitting in the sun or in a hot vehicle will degrade very rapidly.

Sample analysis: samples can be sent off to a laboratory for analysis however this is costly (up to $150 depending on the analysis required plus freight), especially as they need to be transported cold! If just testing for    Nitrogen/Nitrate BBIFMAC can analyse the samples for $30/sample and can provide the appropriate collection bottles. Phosphorus and pesticides will need to be sent away to a lab. BBIFMAC can do this but it    will cost upwards of $150 per sample. read more

Report from Dale Last – Sugar Industry Amendment Bill

Media Release – Joyce calls for ongoing progress in sugar industry

(Click to view full size)

BDCG Bargaining Authority, Arbitration and CSAs.

 Members are advised BDCG solicitors will be provided with a copy of growers BDCG Bargaining Authority Forms this afternoon. The procedural processes of the arbitration are about to commence but it will be some weeks until hearings occur.

 From this point forward, information regarding the arbitration and negotiation with Wilmar can only be provided to those growers who have submitted signed Bargaining Authorities

 A reminder to all who have signed these Authorities – if you change your position and subsequently sign Wilmar CSA and Forward Pricing Agreements, you must advise us immediately and withdraw the Bargaining Authority.