Page 42 - 2021 Virtual Field Day

42 SPECIAL PUBLICATION Thursday March 18, 2021 .
VIRTUAL FIELD DAY

BY HAYLEY WARDEN to those farmers who sup- kets at the moment," Mr
ported me, I was successful
in getting on the board about
e global marketplace
GRAINGROWERS chair GrainGrowers and so as well‘‘ Hosking said.
"
Brett Hosking understands two to three years ago," Mr It is really with tensions in China is a
the challenges and issues Hosking said. little bit unsettling and also
facing primary producers "I was elected as chair of important that the ongoing impacts of COV-
only too well, after all, he is we keep track ID-19 and the di erence that
one himself. as farming, that has been my of issues on- is making to the way trade
e fth-generation job ever since." and commodities move
farmer from Quambatook, Mr Hosking says a lot of farm and that around the globe.
Victoria, joined the board of conversations in the industry growers remain "It is really important
directors in 2016. are revolving around envi- that we keep track of issues
He has been involved with ronmental issues such as informed. on-farm and that growers
the Australian grain industry sustainability, climate and Brett Hosking, remain informed.
for many years beyond the carbon emissions. GrainGrowers chairman PASSIONATE FARMER: GrainGrowers chairman Brett "When we do make a ma-
farm but admits farming is "It is very hard for a grower Hosking. jor market shift as we have
his rst love. to understand where they t away from China with barley,
Mr Hosking's previous in all of that and what their down these conversations things such as making sure for grain growers and their what we know is that taste
roles include those of Vic- contributioncanbe,"hesaid. and actually asking, 'whatare we can track our carbon out- ability to continue serving buds and the way in which
torian Farmers' Federation "As growers, we can all the opportunities for growers put on-farm or indeed our existing contracts as well our grain is used in di erent
(VFF) grains group president sense there is an opportunity and what do we need from carbon input and measuring as take advantage of export countries varies.
and vice-president. out there for us, but we're not government to make sure we what we are actually putting opportunities into emerging "So we need to make sure
"I had the opportunity to quite sure what it is. can take advantage of them?' back into the soil." market places. we are producing the grain
stand for the GrainGrowers "At the moment, a big part " ere is a lot of work go- International markets are " ere is also a lot going that actually matches the
boardofdirectorsandthanks of our work is about breaking ing on at the moment with also of signi cant interest on with international mar- country we are exporting to."
Grain

farmers'

voices

united

BY HAYLEY WARDEN

GRAINGROWERS is the
leading voice for Australian
grain farmers, representing
their interests on both the
national and international
stage and setting the agenda
for change on issues that will
bene t farmers now and well
into the future.
Formerly, the Premium
Wheatgrowers Association,
the organisation was formed
in Narrabri, NSW in 1958.
"Basically, it was a group of
growers and they were grow-
ing a high protein, premium
wheat product but they were
only been paid as though it
was any other type of wheat
and they got together and
thought, 'hey, if we work to-
gether as a team and market
our grain, we will actually be
able to attract a premium',
which is what they did," UNITING FARMERS: GrainGrowers assists and supports about 17,000 grower members across Australia.
GrainGrowers chair Brett
Hosking said. voice of growers is passed on we can provide it," Mr Hosk- the 17,000 growers we have
" at is what led to our when policy is being made ing said. across Australia then all of a
"A big part of our business
current system where grain and given that strength of the world, the pressures and‘‘ sudden those voices become
is segregated according to growers working together is making sure our growers We are able to make a real very loud and very real," Mr
its quality." for a common outcome that are informed about what Hosking said.
Mr Hosking said the or- they couldn't achieve indi- changes are happening in difference to the industry by having "When you add all those
ganisation e ectively works vidually," he said. growers who are engaged, who issues together across all of
in two ways to ensure farm- e second part is about market in uences, so they give us productive feedback, who those growers experiencing
ers and the regional com- capacity building and lead- can make decisions on their the same problem, they are
munities where they operate ership within the industry. farms as to how they are best we can also communicate back to actually quite signi cant.
are strongly represented and "It is about training up the going to be able to take ad- and who are feeding us the right "We are able to make a real
their voices heard. next generation of leaders vantage of those changes." di erence to the industry
e rst part is around our who will advocate for grow- A bene t of being a information so we can be their by having growers who are
advocacy and policy work. ers and who will help create member of GrainGrowers voice. engaged, who give us pro-
" at is around making a better industry for us all is having their voices com- ductive feedback, who we
sure growers are heard and and making sure they have bined for the betterment of Brett Hosking, GrainGrowers chairman can also communicate with,
listened to, whether that is the training, support, and the industry. and who are feeding us the
by industry or government, development along the way " ey get the opportunity them in their businesses they may seem to them when right information so we can
making sure the collective as early in their careers as to raise the issues that a ect every day, however small they are multiplied across be their voice."