NSW Farmers gears up for annual conference

Feral animals, regional airlines, farm data and artificial intelligence are just some of the key topics on the agenda as NSW Farmers gears up for its Annual Conference which is being held this month. 

More than 250 farmers are set to descend on Sydney’s Rosehill Garden Racecourse on July 22 and 23 to decide what policy positions the state’s peak farm body will advocate for at the highest level.

The organisation’s President Xavier Martin said there was no shortage of threats to farming to be addressed in this year’s debate.

“Feral animals are running amuck, the renewables transition is moving at lightning speed and deteriorating roads and rail are putting a handbrake on productivity – and that’s just to name a few of the challenges farmers are facing right now,” Mr Martin said.

A broad range of options to address key industry challenges – such as grants for feral pig control programs, or a legal right to repair farm machinery – are up for discussion, with NSW Farmers to advocate for solutions endorsed by members at the Conference.

“From anti-agriculture activists and artificial intelligence to aggressive weeds and excessive green tape, this Conference is our forum to decide how we should fight the biggest threats to our industry, so farming can still have a future,” Mr Martin said.

“Whether it’s targeted action for biosecurity, fairer tax regimes or support to get young farmers in the game, for every problem farmers have a solution, and we can’t wait to hear what they’ve got to say.”