Agmates

Inverell Northern NSW farmer and ABA Chairman Brad Bellinger writes:

The decision by English and Irish Governments to protest against moves by the European Union (EU) to mandate electronic ear tagging for livestock, shows a vote of no confidence in the Scheme.

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“BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British and Irish lawmakers in the European Parliament launched a campaign on Tuesday against a rule that would make electronic tags for millions of sheep and goats across the EU compulsory from next year.

The MEPs complain that the tagging scheme will be very expensive and difficult to implement, particularly in hillside areas. Their campaign against compulsory tagging is also supported by French sheep farmers, industry sources say.”

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These two governments recognise the huge impost costs on the production section that NLIS imposes.

Clearly this huge cost is one which Australian Governments both Federal and State, either do not understand, or do not care about and conveniently forget that the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) has not sold one more kilogram of beef.

Australia’s trade negotiators at the Doha Round of the WTO have been relentlessly and naively critical of the level of subsidies that the USA and European farmers receive.

Now these countries must look on in amazement at why Australian Governments are prepared to burden their farmers with even higher regulatory production costs such as NLIS, further eroding their profitability.

Rather than NLIS giving us a marketing advantage in the world beef trade it is actually reducing our biosecurity and weakening our competitive edge, as our competitors abandon this ridiculous scheme.

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Have Your Say!

Australian Beef Association Chairman, and Northern New South Wales Farmer Brad Bellinger (pictured) writes:

The NFF expressing its dismay at the Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) decision to increase minimum & award rates of pay by $21.66 per week, illustrates its silver-tail allegiance and lack of understanding of the structure of Australian agriculture.

They have supported the big end of town, in the same way that they have worked with the supermarket duopsony, as it robs farmers with huge mark-ups on their products.

NFF staff should leave their sheltered Canberra cocoon and visit the country town offices of the Salvation Army, the Smith Family and the Rural Counselors to see what a mess the real farming community is in.

They should read the recent report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the Australian National University, and La Trobe University. This report shows the results of a survey of 8,000 people and illustrates the rural depression that has developed under the watch of the NFF.

The study reveals that drought’s effect has been worse than expected. It shows that 21 per cent of farmers in drought-affected areas have had to pawn or sell something in 2006, compared with 16 per cent of farmers in below-average-rainfall areas.

Four percent of farmers had to miss meals because of lack of money. This was 2006! the past 18 months has seen the problem become far more serious, as the record farm debt explodes.

The NFF needs to understand that most farmers don’t employ people - they look for part-time jobs to try and make their farm a viable one.

The supposed swing to corporate faming is also a myth as AMP, Prudential, Squire Group and others leave the industry and the AA Co appears to be struggling.

From the 1890’s shearers’ strike on, the Graziers Association obsession with holding down shearers’ wages got rid of shearers and farmhands; - it seems that NFF has learnt nothing. Their staff should be stuffed and exhibited as museum pieces.

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Have Your say! Do you think Brads criticism of the NFF is fair or do you believe that the NFF as the peak Australian Farm Body is doing a good job.