TOP NEWS
Election 2014: VFF sets agenda
A $250 million upgrade and standardisation of Victoria’s regional rail freight lines is at the top of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s 2014 election wish list.
VFF President Peter Tuohey announced today that regional Victorians needed crucial transport upgrades to improve efficiency of the rail network.
“We want to see the Coalition commit its next $500 million of its Regional Growth Fund to infrastructure that helps create jobs in agriculture,” Mr Tuohey said. “And Labor needs to make similar commitments.”
“We need plans from both sides of politics, which deliver rock-solid funding for regional infrastructure, which is crucial to guaranteeing farmers’ capacity to grow the state’s economy and regional jobs,” he said.
The VFF is also calling for:
- Increased funding for front-line DEPI agricultural services.
- Fairer Rural rating, staring with a Parliamentary inquiry into rural rating.
- $500,000 to fund the National Centre for Farmer Health
- Further support for the Goulburn Valley fruit growers and SPC Ardmona
- Aerial baiting of wild dogs
- Simplified native vegetation clearance laws
- Granting farmers greater rights in the face of Coal Seam Gas developments
- Continued support for young farmers and encourage more young people into agriculture, by:
- Reinstating the First farm Grant of up to $10,000 for business planning and development
- Increasing the young farm loan scheme to a pool of $30m (Currently at $22.5m)
- Greater protection of the Right to Farm.
Read the full media release here
In this edition
News
Events
Pic of the Week
Red tape victories
VICTORIAN farmers have gained four major wins in the battle to unravel red tape that stifles the state’s food and fibre production.
Acting Premier and Minister for Sate Development Peter Ryan announced this week the State Government would lift a raft of onerous regulations.
Read the full media release here
Ballarat - Australia’s carnation capital
FLOWER growers in Australia’s carnation capital are delivering millions of blooms to couples celebrating their weddings across the nation this season.
Read the full media release here
VFF Livestock Advisory Groups established
CONTINUING to enhance engagement with producers remains a key priority for the VFF Livestock Group in 2014, with Sheep, Wool and Beef advisory groups formed.
Read the full media release here
Wimmera Branch Meeting
The VFF Wimmera Branch will be holding a meeting on Monday, 3 February from 5pm.
Paul Daniel from
Ag In Compliance has been invited to speak on Occupational Health & Safety on farm and will focus on the company's online induction product, “Ag Induction Manager”.
When: Monday, 3 February from 5pm
Where: White Hart Hotel, Horsham (TBC)
2014 Grains Group Social Dinners
The VFF Grains Group will be holding their annual social dinners across the state throughout February and March.
VFF President Peter Tuohey, VFF Vice President David Jochinke and VFF Grains President Brett Hosking will attend some of the dinners to catch up with growers post-harvest.
Yarrawonga - Wednesday, 5 February
Pyramid Hill - Thursday, 6 February
Manangatang - Tuesday, 11 February
Werrimull - Wednesday, 12 February
Murrayville - Thursday, 13 February
Donald - Wednesday, 19 February
Nhill - Thursday, 20 February
Inverleigh - Wednesday, 5 March
Lake Bolac - Thursday, 6 March
All meetings start at 6.30pm.
For more information or to RSVP contact VFF Member Services on 1300 882 833 or email
members@vff.org.au
YAPs Social Night
Join YAPs for a casual get together at the Dooen Hotel to celebrate post-harvest and welcome new students to Longy.
When: Friday, 21 Feb (TBC)
Where: Dooen Hotel
Time: 6:30pm
Cost: Drinks and meals at cost
All welcome.
For more info please contact Ailsa on
agibson@vff.org.au or (03) 9207 5563
IT transition at VFF
We are excited to be changing over to a new IT environment at Farrer House, as of 4pm today.
The new ‘cloud based’ solution will help improve our capability for registration of events, training and other VFF activities.
There is the possibility of disruption to services over the next week.
If for any reason you cannot contact us by email, please contact VFF Member Services on 1300 882 833
New heights for AWI
In a world first, AWI employed leading Coptercam to film sheep from new heights.
The resulting spectacular footage shows how a mob of sheep move like a flock of birds across a paddock.
The project was part of the Fibre of our Nation project and has captured footage that will be used to promote the natural fibre, the people, animal and the landscape in which it is grown to audiences around the world.
For more information contact Marius Cuming at AWI
marius.cuming@wool.com
The use of drones also hold significant interest on farm for checking water points and lambing mobs etc in remote areas.
Watch the YouTube video
here
Eat lamb this Australia Day
In the words of Lambassador Sam Kekovich "If we argued less about gonski and talked more about chopski our nation's future would look much brighter!"
Check out MLA's Australia Day ad,
Generation Lamb here.
