Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) led a delegation of members to meet with federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud MP today to discuss the sustainability of the agriculture sector in the face of spiraling input costs and concerns regarding input supply security.
With diesel prices hitting record levels and farm input costs across the board rising significantly, QFF and its member organisations were pleased to take the opportunity to meet with the Minister to not only voice their concerns but more importantly to initiate discussions on how industry and government can work closely together to find solutions.
QFF chief executive officer, Jo Sheppard said that member feedback clearly demonstrated the growing concern of farmers who cannot continue to bear the brunt of spiralling input costs.
“Fuel, fertiliser, chemicals and many other inputs are sourced from overseas. Over the last 2 years we have seen the costs of these increase by, in some cases, 150%. Most consumers have not yet seen the impact of this as farmers have absorbed many of these price increases, however this is not sustainable.”
“This latest increase in fuel prices will have an impact on every aspect of production and is compounding the problem of already rising input costs. Farmers are concerned with the price hikes but also concerned with the future security of supply of many key farm inputs.”
“Over the last few years, we have seen massive increases in the costs of fuel, fertilizers, electricity to name a few with no requisite rise in farmgate prices or retail.”
“Our farmers have been absorbing the bulk of these costs. It’s simply not sustainable.” she said.
“If you accept that ‘Australia runs on trucks’, it’s easy to see how these fuel spikes are going to play out. Every delivery of fertiliser, seed, stock etc will increase. On farm, the costs of operating machinery increases. And, getting produce to retailers and consumer increases too.”
“We are all being impacted by the increased cost of fuel.”
QFF is calling on the federal government to work with industry to find and progress ways to provide farmers with surety and security of supply of fuel and other volatile inputs.
“There are many variables in farming, but the sector has been innovating for many years to build its capacity to manage risk. A reliable, cost-effective supply chain is critical to the future of agriculture.” she said.
“We need the federal government to work closely with industry to help shore up the supply of fuel and other key inputs, so that farmers have a secure and stable environment to operate in, costs can be contained, and we can continue to do what our farming sector does best in producing high quality, food, fibre and foliage.”
“QFF and its members appreciated the opportunity to meet with Minister Littleproud to raise these concerns and discuss several ways forward. And while it was heartening to hear the federal government believe that fuel supply is secure and prices will stabilise, QFF will be continuing discussions with the Minister’s office to progress initiatives that will support the development of input cost management issues and security of input supply security on other items such as fertiliser as a matter of urgency.”
ENDS
QFF Media Contact:
Laura Bos, Communications & Media Manager, M: 0417 615 463