A wise nation supports its productive citizens.
When common sense is added to science, we should have applied science. To achieve the best outcomes for our future we need more of our young people studying agricultural science, contributing to the decision making process and being empowered with the knowledge to meet the demands of a hungry world.
Agriculture is the third highest contributor (behind energy and transport) to Australia’s Green House gas production. But we should not be seen as a soft target. We need to stand up and make all Australians and the global community aware of our advances in production technology and environmental management, and our contribution to world food and fibre production. We stand amongst the world leaders in agriculture, but we need to assure the world that, as responsible farmers and global citizens, we still strive to improve.
We are developing our animal and plant genetics, and we are committed to managing the natural environment for current and future generations. We have done cattle care, are qualified to handle chemicals, and introduced NLIS across Australia.
We have come a long way; it was not an easy journey. We lead the world in livestock traceability and management systems, and our livestock handling and transport system is a world leader.
As productive people contributing to the ever growing needs of the world in which we live, we also need the support of government. The big challenges faced by us all require statesmanship and vision, and an acceptance by our leaders that renewable energy is the place where action on climate change is called for.
Our visionary farmers in the MIA are developing many water-saving systems. Off stream water storage would be one place where governments could make a valuable contribution and a thirty-year plan to develop reliable long-term water storage could secure irrigators’ needs.
All this takes money and, while mining is still providing revenue, this is the time to take some big steps toward our future.
The important thing for us as farmers to do is to stay within the decision making process. Walking out makes a statement but it also cuts us off. There is science that we can use as well as our production values; we need our own people with the scientific knowledge to stand up for us at negotiations far into the future.
Rosemary Clark
Urbenville
