National Farmers' Federation

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) is an Australian non-profit membership–based organization that represents farmers and the agricultural sector in Australia.[1] Historically, NFF was a key player in a number of industrial relations disputes, including Australia's infamous waterfront dispute; the shearing wide comb dispute; and the Mudginberri dispute.

National Farmers' Federation
National Farmers' Federation Headquarters in Barton, Australian Capital Territory.
Founded1979 (1979)
Location
  • Barton, Australian Capital Territory
Key people
  • Fiona Simson (President)
  • Tony Mahar (CEO)
Websitenff.org.au

The current president of the National Farmers' Federation is Fiona Simson since November 2016; the organisation's chief executive officer is Tony Mahar, since April 2016.

Key policy priorities

The NFF's key policy areas include farm business and productivity; access to markets; digital connectivity; natural resource management; biosecurity, health and welfare; education and training; and workplace relations.[2] The NFF has been involved in a number of major policy debates in Australia, including most recently, the backpacker tax, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, carbon tax, foreign investment, drought policy reform and livestock exports.

In February 2013, the NFF released the first Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. The blueprint is a strategic plan for the Australian agricultural sector and its supply chain, setting out its future direction. The blueprint is the first cross-industry plan for the sector, developed by the sector. In 2013, the NFF moved into the legacy phase of the blueprint: turning the blueprint document into action. The blueprint was developed with the support of Westpac, Woolworths and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with Westpac and Woolworths continuing their support into the legacy phase, along with new partners Bayer and Syngenta Australia.[3]

In December 2015 the National Farmers Federation launched a new program to use digital technology to improve agricultural efficiency. The program comprises three components:[4][5]

  • An online platform that will provide "a single source for ... food and agribusiness news ... weather and market information, blogs, commentary" as well as "a stronger more unified public voice",[4] scheduled to be available in May 2016[5]
  • The National Farmers' Digital Agriculture Service, an online service for data collation[6]
  • Sprout, an incubator program to identify and support new ideas in agribusiness developed in partnership with financial services group Findex[4][5]

Background

The NFF was formed in 1979. NFF policy is set by the NFF Members' Council, which comprises the presidents of the NFF's 31–member organizations[7]

NFF's members are the state-level farmers' organizations, national commodity councils, and other affiliated members. According to the NFF charter, state-level farmers' organizations represent the interests of the agricultural sector in their respective states. Issues related to individual commodities or interstate/national farming concerns are represented by relevant national commodity councils. The NFF focuses on those policy issues that affect all farmers, regardless of location or commodity. These include such issues as farm business and productivity, access to markets, natural resource management, biosecurity, animal health and welfare, education and training and workplace relations.[8]

NFF membership

The NFF's 31–member organizations are:

Office bearers

President

The following people have served as president of the National Farmers' Federation:

Name Term start Term end Term of office
Sir Donald Eckersley OBE197919811–2 years
Michael Davidson OBE198119842–3 years
Hon. Ian McLachlan AO198419883–4 years
John Allwright AO198819912–3 years
Graham Blight199119942–3 years
Donald McGauchie AO199419983–4 years
Ian Donges199820023–4 years
Peter Corish200220063–4 years
David Crombie200620103–4 years
Jock Laurie201020132–3 years
Duncan FraserApril 2013November 2013 years
Brent Finlay[10]201320163 years
Fiona Simson[11] 2016 present current

Chief executive officer

The following people have served as chief executive officer, or another appropriate title, of the National Farmers' Federation:

Name Term start Term end Term of office Title of office
John Whitelaw197919855–6 yearsExecutive director
Andrew Robb AO198519882–3 years
Rick Farley198819956–7 years
Wendy Craik199520004–5 years
Anna Cronin200020055–6 yearsExecutive director/chief executive officer
Ben Fargher200520115–6 yearsChief executive officer
Matt Linnegar201120142–3 years
Simon Talbot[12]201420161–2 years
Tony Mahar2016present3–4 years

Award of Honour

The NFF Award of Honour recognizes people who have made an important contribution to the NFF and the farming sector. These include:[13]

Name Year awarded
Bill de Vos AM1987
Jim Tehan AM1988
David Partridge1990
Roy Smith1993
John Mackenzie1999
Alick Lascelles2000
Graham Blight2002
Hon. Ian McLachlan AO2004
Geoffrey Crick2009
John Underwood
Alex Arbuthnot AM2012

NFF Congress

The NFF has run its National Congress four times, in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. The two first Congresses focused on modern farming, and adapting to the changing agriculture environment. In 2012, the Congress was around understanding, and capitalizing on, the food and fibre boom. The theme for the 2014 Congress was 'Producing Our Future'.[14]

The next Congress will be held in 2016.

Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund

The Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund was created in 1985 to provide financial, legal and professional assistance to farmers. The fund was created out of Mudgenberri dispute in 1985, funded in part by farmers and in part by non-farming businesses. The AFFF is governed independently of the NFF, and is controlled by a board of trustees, three of which are independent trustees.

The current trustees are Hugh Nivison (chairman); Peter Reith; Donald McGauchie AO; Brent Finlay; Duncan Fraser; Fiona Simson; and Tony Mahar.

See also

References
  1. "National Farmers' Federation". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  2. "Policy & Issues". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  3. "Blueprint for Australian Agriculture". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  4. "NFF Digital Transformation". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  5. "Prime Minister Turnbull announces new initiatives to revolutionise agriculture". National Farmers' Federation. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  6. "PM announces digital farming initiatives". Sky News. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. Internet, Chirp. "Our Members | National Farmers' Federation". www.nff.org.au. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  8. "About NFF". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  9. "Membership of National Farmers' Federation". About us. WoolProducers Australia. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  10. Internet, Chirp. "Brent Finlay re-elected as NFF President < Latest News | National Farmers' Federation". www.nff.org.au. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  11. Internet, Chirp. "NFF Board | National Farmers' Federation". www.nff.org.au. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  12. Internet, Chirp. "NFF welcomes new CEO Simon Talbot < Media Releases | National Farmers' Federation". www.nff.org.au. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  13. "Members' Council". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  14. "National Farmers' Federation 2012 National Congress". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
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