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11 Jan 2010 WEEKLY BULLETIN January 11, 2010

LESSONS FROM A DRY DECADE
Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) last week noted some significance in the fact that eastern Australia’s driest decade ended with a 10-day deluge that came from one of the longest rain events in recent times (being the remnants of Cyclone Laurence that formed on December 14 near Darwin). For much of Queensland these were the first rains of any consequence since mid-June, an equally extraordinary 180-day dry that was quite a test for many farmers. And not all areas received equal treatment in this most recent rain event. The driest areas of the inner Darling Downs and Burnett received more uneven and lesser falls and farmers there still need a monsoon low to bless their skies for a week or more. For most farmers there is nothing new in all this, just the ongoing challenge of managing farm production in a highly variable climate. However, there has been some important trends over the last ten years that are significant for both farm operators and policy makers. The first is that a lot more is now known about weather and climate in comparison to ten years ago. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has greatly improved its weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities. While there is still much to be done in terms of better weekly, monthly and seasonal forecasts, as well as gaining a better understanding of weather/hydrology links for water management, progress is being made. Importantly these improving “climate tools” are critical for farmers in developing better risk management strategies. But more needs to be done and this is best progressed with farmers and scientists working closely together to ensure practical matters are addressed. Australia will only remain internationally competitive in food, fibre and foliage production when climate policies and programs are aligned with the production practicalities. This is where governments have failed completely by not implementing better drought programs. QFF sees a new window of opportunity with these good rains to prompt politicians to act on the needed changes in drought and climate programs. A good starting point would be with last year’s Productivity Commission’s sixteen recommendations to reform Australia’s national drought policy and programs.

STATUS OF MAJOR STORAGES
The Christmas wet period has yielded some excellent although patchy rainfall resulting in a promising finish to summer crops and good water profiles for the start of the calendar year. With regard to long term benefits of the rain it is yet to have an impact on SunWater storages in the Burnett but storages in the Condamine Balonne catchment are receiving good inflows. The upper and mid Burnett catchments dams are still low with Cania, Wuruma and Bjelke-Petersen Dams still at less than five per cent this week. Paradise Dam which supplies the lower Burnett is at 55 per cent and Fred Haig Dam is at 24 per cent. Callide Dam in the Fitzroy Basin further north is at six per cent but there has been good flows in the Dawson improving storage levels in the weirs. The Breardmore Dam at St George is now full and could spill with further inflows. Leslie Dam is at 11 per cent and will need further rain to provide runoff and improved flows in the Condamine. Coolmunda Dam in the Macintyre catchment is also still at 11 per cent. SunWater dams in other parts of the state are well above the 50 per cent level. Major dams which SEQWater has responsibility for in SEQ and the Mary catchment are also well over 50 per cent except Moogerah Dam at 42 per cent and Atkinson Dam at 30 per cent.

QLD RURAL SKILLS & DEMAND REPORT 2010-2011
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries has released the Queensland rural skills and training demand report for September 2009 which aims to assist the Department of Education tailor vocational training packages for the 2010-2011 year. The report identifies that a greater effort is required to “sell” the benefits of training to all involved in the sector and to build a training culture that can meet the needs of workers and industry into the future. The report also identifies 16 key skilling priorities, many of which focus on communications and flexibility in building skills and capabilities. Feedback is welcome either to Peter Perkins or direct to the author Di Edelman on 3239 3252. For more information, click here.

ABARE 2010 CONFERENCE – WHAT WILL BE THE OUTLOOK FOR AUSTRALIA?
The 2010 ABARE Outlook Conference will be held on March 2 and 3 in Canberra. With the recent economic challenges faced by Australia and the world, the focus of the Conference will question the outlook for Australia. Industry stakeholders from around Australia are encouraged to attend and explore the issues for Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry and natural resource sectors. Keynote sessions include an economic overview with Murilo Portugal of the IMF and Bill Evans of Westpac, future directions for trade with Robert Thompson, from the University of Illinois, plus sessions on farm performance, climate change, water and irrigation and key commodities. For more information go to www.abare.gov.au/outlook.

NFF COPENHAGEN ADDRESS
National Farmers’ Federation President David Crombie last month presented an address at the Climate Change Conference, held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The address was delivered on behalf of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP). Below is a brief extract from the address.
The world’s farmers stand ready to act on climate change. National issues and emissions targets have dominated the discussions thus far, however, the main game for farmers is ensuring there is a strong focus on the positive role agriculture can play.
So what needs to be done? Firstly, the Kyoto rules give an inaccurate picture of agriculture’s contribution to global warming. The current rules treat agricultural emissions like a power station. They take no account of the natural agricultural carbon cycle.
Secondly, Article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol makes it difficult for farm bio-sequestration to be acknowledged and rewarded.
Under this article, there are liabilities for natural processes such as droughts and bushfires – processes beyond farmers control.
This goes against the core principles of the Kyoto Protocol. That is, to bring about a reduction in human induced climate change.
Thirdly, while the rules remain, the only real option for farmers to reduce their carbon footprint is to reduce food production – a perverse outcome as the global population moves towards 9 billion. Finally, we need to shift the focus from crisis management to risk management.
For a full transcript of the speech, go to www.nff.org.au.

MEMBER NEWS

HORTICULTURE EMPLOYERS FACE UNCERTAINTY UNDER NEW AWARD
Queensland’s peak horticulture industry group, Growcom, last week said that the last-minute release of the new Horticulture Industry Award 2010 (HIA 2010) has left employers in the industry facing a period of uncertainty with the prospect of increased costs. The HIA was released two days before Christmas and came into force on 1 January 2010.
Growcom Industrial Relations Manager, Donna Mogg, said that the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) had given employers very little time to absorb the content of the new award. Employers had just seven days, including the Christmas period, to come to grips with the new arrangements. “The HIA 2010 imposes a range of new provisions and additional costs on Queensland growers,” Ms Mogg said. Growcom will be working hard to ensure that all employers and employees understand what the changes mean. Growcom provides a comprehensive workplace relations service to its members, and will be running an extended series of Workplace Essentials Seminars around Queensland throughout March.

HARVEST WORKERS MUST REPORT CASH INCOME: CENTRELINK
Growcom has advised that harvest workers who are customers of Centrelink are reminded that they must report their cash income collected during the summer harvest season. Centrelink Rural Services Manager, Rosemary Britton, said the annual summer fruit harvesting season was a busy time, with many new workers visiting rural areas to work, and also local, existing Centrelink customers picking up extra employment through harvest work. "It's an exciting time of year and it's also a good time to remind customers of their obligation to report their income to us,” said Ms Britton. Cash economy operations are often conducted by Centrelink in conjunction with growers and other employers, and customers who don't report their earnings could end up with a debt. Centrelink has a legal obligation to recover any money incorrectly paid, and where necessary can deduct debts from future payments.

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