● ● ● ● 1 Telling the farmer’s story By SALLY much work there was to do. WHITE It found nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of city dwellers never made it to HEN Landcare was launched the countryside and about 69pc visit- in a small Victorian country ed rural Australia less than once a Young farmer Wtown in 1985, it was little year. more than an idea. The research, conducted by TNS, brings ag to city But it sowed the seed for something found city dwellers on average spent big – a movement that would not just just 3.5 days a year in rural areas – go nationwide but spread beyond although encouragingly more than AFTER spending the past few years studying Australian borders. half said they would like to visit the a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at It’s a story Forbes farmer Philip country more often. Monash University, Elizabeth Reid (pictured) Bruem likes, not just because of what “The Australian Year of the Farmer is combining her university knowledge and Landcare stands for but because he’s campaign aims to enhance the ties agricultural life experience in an effort to hoping to one day be able to relate a between city and rural communities bridge the gap between metropolitan and similar success story about the in a celebration of Australian farm- rural Australians. Australian Year of the Farmer ing and, in doing so, communicate to Growing up on a 570 hectare sheep and (AYOF). all Australians the importance of cropping property, Moroco East Station at It’s almost six years since Mr Bruem farming to our economic and social Deniliquin in the NSW Riverina, 24-year-old found himself lamenting the growing fabric,” Mr Bruem said. Elizabeth, a fourth generation farmer, divide between city consumers and While many people recognised understands the importance of farmers for agriculture with friend Geoff Bell, agriculture was a big industry, few food security. now AYOF’s managing director. As part of the Year of the Farmer travelling appreciated just how big that contri- road show, Elizabeth’s key focus is to Frustrated by the lack of apprecia- bution was either domestically “encourage young people to stay on the farm tion of farmers’ contribution and (“Australian farms and related indus- and to raise the profile of Australian farming”. determined to do something about it, tries account for about 27pc of “I will also be highlighting food security and they began exploring the potential GDP”) or on a global scale (“The the importance of our Australian farmers.” for an event that would highlight the average farmer grows enough to feed A keen communicator, Elizabeth said importance of agriculture. 600 people a year, 450 of them over- her “free range childhood” and That idea for an “event” turned into seas”). time travelling domestically and a full year of events and a plan to have Nor did many people realise internationally has enabled her 2012 gazetted as “Australian year of Australian farmers were global lead- to “broaden my horizons and the farmer”. ers in their own right, particularly in see the best of both worlds.” “No formal application was areas like water efficiency. She said her experiences required – you just had to get on with “We have a history of top class inno- inspire her to “be a it and organise it. So we did,” Mr vation and invention that continues communicator between Bruem said. to set our farmers apart,” he said. the city and rural With their plan having now come to “Many of our farmers do not just Australia.” fruition, for Mr Bruem, the AYOF follow best practice, they create it.” Elizabeth will spend the chairman, it’s full steam ahead. But for Mr Bruem, the year isn’t next 12 months travelling Last month nine LandCruisers just a 12-month program. with the road show and began a year-long roadshow that will says she was lucky to While the next 11 months will be given this roll cover more than 56,000 kilometres be critical in reaching out to city con- straight out of and visit more than 320 events across sumers and getting some airplay for university. the country where they will help farming’s story, he’s hopeful it will be spread farming’s story. just the first step on the road to bet- Mr Bruem said the roadshow was a ter recognition of the importance of we’re seeing tells us our efforts are “Promote the role our farmers play as ment is a major contributor to key element in their mission to raise agriculture Australia-wide. gaining momentum.” environmental managers, creating Landcare practices emphasising sus- awareness about the contribution “Of course it’s a very big and Mr Bruem sees many parallels and delivering sustainability through tainable productivity, demonstrates farmers made to the economy. important big step,” Mr Bruem said. between Australian Year of the best practice management”. just one obvious benefit for this Research conducted ahead of the “Just getting the year off the ground Farmer and Landcare. The fact farmers manage 60pc of strong partnership between Landcare AYOF launch reiterated just how has been a huge leap and the support One of AYOF’s core objectives is: Australia’s land, and farmer involve- and Australian Year of the Farmer. Initiative rewards for carbon-friendly farming Comment by Minister for climate and build resilience in the coverage under the carbon price Agriculture, Fisheries and land sector. mechanism which means farmers will Foresty, Senator the Hon Already eligible carbon farming not pay for their direct emissions. JOE LUDWIG activities have been approved and the On-farm and personal fuel use will number of activities eligible for cred- also be permanently exempt from the THE Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) iting will continue to grow as the carbon price. is a landmark for farming in Australia, market expands. To further support farmers, the gov- offering new ongoing sources of rev- Under the initiative, piggeries can ernment is also investing $1.7 billion enue to help farmers and rural com- now be credited for the capture and of the revenue raised through the car- munities survive the tough times and flaring of methane; local councils can bon price on a Land Sector Package, prosper during the good years. earn credits for the capture and com- one element of which is the CFI. The Government is securing a sus- bustion of legacy landfill gas, and This will assist the agricultural sector tainable future for Australia by landholders can be credited for car- by improving productivity and devel- implementing a carbon price to assist bon taken up by reforestation with oping low emission technologies. in reducing pollution while investing native species. Two additional new programs in a clean energy future. Savanna fire management is anoth- under the Land Sector Package will This will help look after our envi- er activity that is in the final stages of fund research and practical demon- ronment and our communities, now approval. strations to increase the range of eli- and into the future. The government, industry and gible activities and enable more The CFI, which was officially researchers are actively developing farmers to reduce emissions and earn launched on December 8, 2011, is a further methods which will provide income through the CFI. Senator Joe Ludwig, Mike Moodie from Mallee Sustainable Farming and Colin key part of this and will allow farmers more opportunities for Australian Filling the Research Gap will fund Hunt, Merrinee, Victoria. Photo: Sunraysia Daily to generate carbon credits through a farmers and land managers. research into abatement technologies range of activities, including revegeta- The CFI is just one part of the gov- and Action on the Ground will about participation in carbon farming. sustainable future for our nation and tion, manure management, fertiliser ernment’s plan to protect the inter- demonstrate emission abatement The design of the Extension and these programs represent real invest- management, reduced livestock emis- ests of our great farming nation projects on real farms. Outreach program is being carefully ment in the land sector and demon- sions and improved rangeland and through the Clean Energy Future The first rounds of these programs considered to ensure it complements strate our commitment to support- cropland management. Land Sector Package. are now accepting applications for the existing extension networks ing rural Australia. The initiative has been specifically Our plan for securing a Clean funding. around Australia. Farmers have a strong history of designed to encourage greenhouse Energy Future will ensure agriculture Another component of the Land The program will be rolled out innovation and are world leaders in gas abatement activities that lower in Australia remains prosperous and Sector Package, the Extension and across Australia in 2012, providing adopting new farming techniques inputs and improve farm efficiency. sustainable into the future. Outreach program, will provide farm- farmers with the knowledge to partic- and practices and the CFI will help By supporting these win-win prac- As part of this important economic ers and land managers with access to ipate and profit from the new revenue ensure the future productivity and tices, carbon farming will help farm- reform, agricultural emissions have the advice and expertise required to streams being unlocked by the CFI. profitability of Australian agriculture ers deal with the impacts of a variable been permanently excluded from make informed business decisions The Government is committed to a and rural communities. 2 ● ● ● ● Reducing inputs and raising hope N SOUTHERN Tasmania, Land- The issues farmers are confronting care is helping farmers review their have always been there, in Mr Ifarming practices with an empha- Hardwick’s view, but the changes sis on health – of land and people – were so incremental that farmers after a long battering by drought.