The National Farmers Federation and its members are encouraging all Australians to join in celebrating the International Year of Family Farming during 2014.
According to the news article featured on Beef Central, Brent Finlay, a family farmer from Southeast Queensland and president of the National Farmers Federation, said family farms are and will continue to be the heart and soul of agriculture in Australia.
“About 99% of Australian farms are family owned and operated – and this year, the United Nations-declared International Year of Family Farming, gives us the opportunity to celebrate the enormous contribution these farmers make,” Mr Finlay said.
“Australia’s 157,000 farmers not only produce 93pc of Australia’s daily domestic food supply – the clean, healthy, fresh food that Australian families enjoy – they also contribute $38 billion in export income to the economy and manage some 59pc of Australia’s land. This year, the focus on our farmers via the International Year of Family Farming will help us tell their story and raise awareness of agriculture’s contribution.”
Further, the National Farmers Federation will be celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The Federation was formed in 1979 with the aim of being the united national voice for all farmers in Australia.
The NFF will host its biennial conference, the NFF National Congress, in Canberra in October 2014 in order to celebrate both occasions. The conference will be focused on community values, attitudes and expectations related to Australian agriculture and farming.
In order to enact the Blueprint for Australian Agriculture, which is the most innovative and ambitions programs aimed at ensuring a strong future for the agricultural sector, the National Farmers Federation will continue its successful collaboration with the agricultural industry and the wider supply chain.
The NFF will also continue to work with the Government on the development of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
“We look forward to working with our members, farmers and all within agriculture to celebrate the International Year of Family Farming, and to develop both our National Congress and the Blueprint for Australian Agriculture,” Mr Finlay said.
