IT has been another huge year in farming, with the industry battling some highly controversial and challenging issues.
Live export was possibly the hottest topic in 2024, with proposals and allegations surrounding paraquat a close second.
While it is important to keep our members informed about the (sometimes depressing) issues which may impact their farms, families and/or communities, it wasn't all bad news this year.
Kondinin Group's independent research reports continue to be highly valued among our members, with our May report on High horsepower tractors, July report on Grouper bins and June report on Carbon Calculators among the most popular in 2024.
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Articles relating to farmer health, safety and wellbeing also continue to attract high interest. The Importance of protecting agriculture's aging workforce and Is farmer wellbeing declining? (spoiler alert- it's not) were within the top five most read articles this year, with Apple safety features that could save your life also among the most popular.
Other top stories for the year were Ford's announcement of its new Ranger Super Duty with 4.5 tonne towing capacity and the launch of New Holland's CR10 combine harvester. Kondinin Group members were also interested to read about other new releases, including GrainKing's 300 tonne Nyrex Maximus, the Toyota Tundra and Case IH's new AF series harvester range.
LIVE SHEEP EXPORT BAN PROVOKES STRONG INDUSTRY RESPONSE
The year had barely begun before live export became a headline (and not just within the farming community).
It started with the return of the MV Bahijah in late January, which sparked heated debate and "blatant lies" about the livestock on board and industry in general. The story continued into February, as the exporter and government considered options. During this time some politicians pushed for an end date of the trade and others called for (now former) agricultural minister Murray Watt's dismissal over the incident. The MV Bahijah debacle finally came to an end in April, after the livestock safely arrived in Israel. But the live export saga was far from over.
The very next month… the Federal Government set an end date to the live sheep export trade, despite data revealing animal welfare has significantly improved on live export ships over recent years. In response to the announcement farm leaders walked out on Watt during an industry budget breakfast and passed a vote of no confidence in the Government. Meanwhile, fears grew for the live cattle trade and farmers starting pushing back hard against the shutdown.
Rallies in Western Australia continued into June with an overwhelming response, but Labor carried on with its plan to end live sheep exports. In July the legislation hit the Senate and passed, delivering a body blow to sheep producers and further intensifying fears for the cattle trade. But the industry kept fighting.
It continued to fight as the Australian Prime Minister fobbed its concerns off with tasteless live export "jokes" and cheap jabs at the "keep the sheep" slogan, while failing to deliver any of the funding or support promised for the transition (with nobody willing to take on the job of "advocating" the live sheep trade shutdown on Labor's behalf).
Farmers in WA warned the Government its decision to end the live sheep export trade will have long lasting and dire consequences. These are already being felt, with estimates the WA sheep flock is shrinking at a rate of 20 per cent annually.
But the industry has not given up hope... and the fight to save the trade continues.
OTHER POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
While the live sheep export trade shutdown took centre stage this year, there were several other controversial political issues also attracting significant attention.
The WA Government came under fire late last year after proposing tough new gun laws, which would see farmers limited to owning 10 guns and an overhaul of the property letter system. This story continued in 2024, with the proposals attracting considerable pushback. A petition in late April, calling on the state's Legislative Council to support law-abiding firearm owners, attracted over 30,000 signatures. While this public pressure prompted the WA Government to amend its Firearms Bill, it carried on with the legislation, which was passed in June. At this time around 14,000 firearms had been handed in under the its firearms buyback scheme, which has since increased to almost 40,000. The new regulations have just been released, with some unexpected changes.
Kondinin Group's commentary and opinion pieces relating to hot political issues, including live sheep export, the impact of Trumps return as the US president, China's use of coercive diplomacy and its impact on Australian agriculture, and the likely winner of the next Australian election, were also among the most read articles of the year.
ACCUSATIONS FLY FOLLOWING RELEASE OF PARAQUAT PROPOSALS
Stories surrounding paraquat were close behind those relating to the live export trade when it comes to the most read topics for 2024. Paraquat hit the news hard with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) proposals to cut back rates and many farm uses of paraquat and diquat announced in late July. Concerns about potential impact the changes may have on herbicide resistance and the future of sustainable farming methods soon followed.
In September, Parkinson's Australia cited the APVMA's proposal for stricter regulations when calling for a complete ban on paraquat, following an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Landline story, which alleged there is a link between exposure to paraquat and the development of Parkinson's Disease.
In response to two articles reinforcing these claims, APVMA pushed for ABC to issue a correction, accusing the broadcaster of publishing false and misleading information. Grain Producers Australia (GPA) joined the regulator's condemnation of the ABC soon after.
At the end of October, a survey of over 600 grain growers highlighted the potential impacts of the proposed changes, saying paraquat and diquat restrictions would take South Australian farming back decades. The story continues, with a final regulatory decision expected in May next year.
HERE'S A CUTE KID AND HER EWE, LILLY
Just in case you want to head into the Christmas period with a feel-good story, we are signing off for the year with the second place entry of the Ag Day photography competition.
This photo entitled "Grow ewe beaut one" was taken by Tamara Ward from Tincurrin in WA and features her daughter "Miss E" with hand-reared ewe, Lilly. Ward said Lilly had a rough start to life, but with lots of love and encouragement grew into one of the biggest and healthiest ewes on the farm. Even though Lilly now lives in the mob and has produced three lambs (so far), she always seeks out Miss E when in the yards for a cuddle and pat, with the bond between the two having grown over the last four and half years.
SEE YOU IN 2025
We are now taking a short break for the festive period, and will be returning from 3 January 2025. Merry Christmas to all our members and followers. We look forward to bringing you the latest news, independent research, practical information and more uplifting stories in the new year.
~ The Kondinin Group Team
