Electricity tariffs in Australia have a complex configuration that affects the capacity of farmers to choose the most suitable option. While changes to tariffs structures and rates have impacted the profitability and competitiveness of agricultural businesses.

Graduates will be employed for 15 months to assist the delivery of extension services through their host organisations, supported by mentoring from experienced advisors and a tailored training program.

To address workforce issues experienced in the agriculture industry, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) in partnership with Jobs Queensland will deliver a Queensland Agriculture Industry Workforce Plan.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation has partnered with the Queensland Government to deliver the Queensland Agritourism Grants Program offering a 50 per cent co-contribution up to a maximum of $25,000 to match farmers’ funds.

The effects of climate change on the long-term viability of farm businesses across the state are a risk that must be managed. Climate adaptation for agriculture centres on continuous improvement in the capacity of farmers to deal with a changing climate, and ensuring the necessary tools are available. Increasing the knowledge and understanding of climate change leads to more resilient farmers and their businesses. Increasing the resilience of the sector through better climate modelling and management tools is imperative for its long-term sustainability.

Digital, or smart farming, and precision agriculture involve the integration of advanced technologies into farming practices to increase production efficiency and the quality of agricultural produce. Smart systems rely on connectivity and the sensors capable of capturing the real time, daily, weekly, and monthly data on variables such as energy, climate, and water.

The Energy Savers program aims to help farmers reduce energy costs by supporting the accelerated adoption of improvements in on-farm energy use.

Through extensive natural disaster recovery and natural disaster resilience experience, QFF identified a gap in the risk management tools available to landholders. Agricultural industry-specific insurance is an exciting prospect for our sector in its ongoing journey in managing risk. QFF is at the forefront of this exciting new industry and is working with industry members and the insurance industry to develop appropriate products and improve the understanding of insurance and its use as a risk management tool.

Decentralised and dispatchable energy resources (DER) are poised to make a considerable impact on regional electricity networks. The Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) will conduct market research to identify the emerging appetite for local DERs across Queensland’s Renewable Energy Zones, and insights that improve the planning, utilisation, and affordability of integrating DERs on regional grids.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation has partnered with Cotton Australia, Reaqua and Constructive Energy to consider whether microgrids can offer benefits to agricultural electricity consumers as well as networks.

QFF is a leader is natural disaster recovery and resilience projects, working on state and national project to assist farms reduce the impacts of and recovery from natural disaster events.

The NuWater Project is an irrigation plan to pump recycled water from South East Queensland, improve Moreton Bay water quality for all South East Queenslanders and increase agricultural production across the Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs.

Queensland Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department of Energy and Public Works, is preparing a landholder toolkit and guide to upskill and assist landholders as they respond to and negotiate with energy industry representatives about accessing land for renewable energy projects.

Electricity is an important input for irrigated agriculture, however rising costs have constrained New South Wales and Queensland growers and impacted their profitability, competitiveness and on-farm operations. There is a progressive commitment among Australian farmers to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

This Rural Jobs & Skills Alliance (RJSA) of industry members and government provides leadership and advice to government, service providers and other organisations on employment, skills, industry training and workforce planning issues on behalf of Queensland’s agriculture industries.

Agriculture is the most diverse job market of any sector in the economy with outstanding growth opportunities in an increasingly prosperous global market that values safe, ethical and sustainable produce.