Year of milestones presents plenty of challenges

AS we turn out the lights on 2010, I think it will go down as a year of milestones.
The weather alone will see this year etched in the memory of many farmers.
Back in March, when I toured flood-affected regions with Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin, we were already on track for a remarkably wet year and some regions were in desperate need of a break in the clouds.
Few could have predicted that the rains would continue so strongly in winter and spring, that parts of the State would record its wettest year ever, that rainfall would be as much as four times above average, and I would again be touring flood regions with Minister Mulherin in December.
Unfortunately, farm incomes can be severely impacted by either drought or flood. This is the remarkable feature of the current “wet”, coming as it does after up to nine years of exceptional drought.
Spring 2010 proved particularly difficult. Crops were lost on a wide scale, infrastructure and roads were destroyed, grain quality was downgraded, sugarcane lost CCS or was left in the paddock, horticultural crops were badly damaged, and low sugar levels in pastures saw dairy farmers having to work extra hard to maintain protein levels in their cows’ milk.
Despite this challenge, agriculture continued to prove its value as a pillar of the Australian economy, and for the second time in recent years kept the national accounts from sliding into negative growth.
The national accounts for the September quarter rose 0.2pc thanks to 21pc growth in the value of agriculture, proving just how vital it is that governments at all levels develop policies that foster positive growth for the sector.
On the policy front, our primary focus has been at a State level focusing on key issues for our members: reef regulations and environmental management, water pricing, minerals and gas exploration and development issues, vegetation management, the Murray Darling Basin, biosecurity, and workplace health and safety.
We have continued to build constructive relationships across government and Departments and have been able to provide vital input and negotiation into key rural policy.
We are continuing to work with the government on strategic cropping land, and have provided important input into the Geothermal Energy Bill and the Water and Other Legislation Amendment both important milestones establishing what needs to be a better outcomes for farmers in their interactions with mining and gas exploration companies
We have also successfully secured some positive outcomes for irrigators with the Queensland Competition Authority review into water pricing, and also continue to highlight the important role that farmers can play as land managers to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Like all policy, it is a moving feast with these challenges. In some areas progress is measured in small steps and the debate is ongoing.
Nonetheless, I am proud of the significant wins we have achieved for our members and rural industries in Queensland in 2010.
At a Federal level, the turn of events on the political and policy front has been dynamic. It was only in late 2009 that Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull were opposing leaders and we seemed destined for a bipartisan emissions trading scheme.
All that changed quickly, but for farmers the challenges remain much the same and we can hopefully now see Canberra focus on policy rather than politics now that the Federal Election is complete.
This means that QFF will be scrutinising policy surrounding carbon pricing, the Murray Darling Basin, drought reform, and research and development.
For carbon, we still expect the government to not impose a financial burden on the primary production sector and to work with us so we can become part of the solution.
For the Murray Darling Basin Plan, we want an outcome that balances social, economic and environmental needs. For drought reform, we want the government to work swiftly to bring its trial work from Western Australia to the rest of Australia, and with research and development we will be expecting the government not to use the Productivity Commission as a smokescreen for gutting the funding from our vital rural Research and Development Corporations.
A State election is looming and the challenges that face the Government in Queensland in balancing the demand for income from mining and gas development while protecting our future ability in agricultural production will come to a head regardless of what the polls predict.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the readers a happy and prosperous new year.
I would also like to acknowledge those farmers who have given their time as representatives to QFF and our members.
Without them and our dedicated staff the task farmers face in having their voice heard would be insurmountable.