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Australia's new grain body a step closer
23.04.2010 14:39 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Grain growers could soon be represented by a new national grain body after WAFarmers and the New South Wales Farmers Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding this week to establish National Grains Australia (NGA).
The NGA will be an apolitical body and will seek membership to the National Farmers Federation (NFF).
Other state farming organisations will also be invited to join but the Grains Council of Australia has not been involved in the proposal.
A spokeswoman for WAFarmers said other synergies with the NFF will be sought and the NGA would seek to enable participation from growers who are non-members of a state farming organisation.
A possible way to do this is to mirror the GRDC research advisory committees for the northern panel that have input from all growers and are managed by NSW farmers, the spokeswoman said.
NGA aims to provide Australian grain growers with a strong advocacy service to fill the current void.
NGA will be an efficient body as it will use the existing services of state farming bodies resulting in a better service for growers at a low-cost structure.
It will provide strong communications to and from growers, who are both members and non members of their respective state farming organisation.
One of the greatest benefits of this model as opposed to the Grain Producers Australia is that growers are not subject to another voluntary levy.
WAFarmers also said that, to date, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association had shown little interest in the proposal.
More details about the NGA are likely to be released once discussions with appropriate government ministers, state farming organisations and other stakeholders have taken place.
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