Your RGA team advocating for you. December to February

Behind the scenes

RGA wrote a submission on the importance of Research and Development Corporations in Australia and the way this system is currently structured. We were also involved in the National Farmers Federation submission with other key industry stakeholder groups. 

Charleton Glenn & Ainsley Massina have submitted a funding proposal to extend the RGA Leadership program to become a 'Community Capacity Building' program from 2020-2023. The proposal aims to access funding through the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 2), to implement a three tiered program aimed at the future leaders of the rice industry and local communities. 

The RGA Productivity and Industry Affairs Committee is working with AgriFutures Rice Advisory Panel on how to consult with RGA members on R&D allocation of funds over the next 6 months. 

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has alerted the RGA / SunRice to recent discovery of ‘Fall Armyworm’ which is an exotic pest to Australia. More information will be communicated in the following weeks. 


December, Grain Harvest Management Scheme Consultative Committee teleconference
Charleton attended the teleconference on RGA's behalf, discussion items included; 2018 / 2019 FY Reports (available on NFF website), Compliance for 2019 Financial Year, Grain Review, Truck Book.

December, National Farmers Federation Drought working group teleconference
Charleton Glenn attended the NFF Drought working group teleconference where the committee had a discussion and catchup about current RIC loans and draft drought document being put together by the NFF. 

December, Meeting with Queensland University of Technology researchers to discuss Natural Capital policy development.
In December Neil attended a meeting with Evan Hamman and Felicity Deane from the Queensland University of Technology law faculty to discuss Natural Capital Policy development. The aim of the policy is to see farmers rewarded for the ecosystem services they provide to the broader community. Neil highlighted the need for a program that is easy to comply with and maximises engagement. Evan and Felicity have agreed to visit the Riverina in March to gain feedback from some of the regions rice growers.

LOOC-C
While in Canberra Neil was invited to the launch of the underdevelopment CSIRO app that can assist farmers to calculate their farms capability to sequester carbon. Pronounced ‘Look-see’, LOOC-C is a software tool that allows land managers to quickly assess the GHG abatement options for a specific land area, including estimates of abatement quantity such as Australian Carbon Credit Units. By supporting an assessment of specific paddocks or farm areas, LOOC-C helps producers discover and evaluate their options for participating in a project through the Emissions Reduction Fund and other markets. If farmers are interested they can participate in the ongoing development of the App. For more information CLICK HERE

December 2019, Graeme Kruger, RGA Executive Director meetings: 

Attended Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG) engagement with Senator Malcolm Roberts (One Nation).  Also discussed alignment of policy positions and messages for State and Federal Government where possible. Took feedback regarding key messages to be raised at NFF Water Committee meeting leading up to MINCO.
Attended the Rice Industry Field day, hosted by Peter and Renee Burke following their winning the SunRice Grower of The Year award.
Presented at a public hearing from the Senate Select Committee on the Multi-Jurisdictional Management and Execution of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Attended a NFF Water Committee meeting to advocate for and assist with the drafting of a letter to MINCO outlining issues and concerns.  Key points from RGA Water Committee and engagement with the MRSG where accepted and included.  This meeting also provided an opportunity to engage with the Water Ministers Water Advisor and Chief of Staff.
Intensive lobbying via phone calls and emails, pressuring State Government to stop DPIE submitting water sharing/resource plans to MDBA by 31 December deadline, pending further stakeholder consultation on proposed changes. This effort together with others, lead to the deadline being extended to June 2020.
Attended a Rice Industry meeting in Sydney hosted by AgriFutures to discuss Commonwealth matching funds, R&D priorities and funding.

January, Rice Crop Protection Working Group
Charleton attended the discussion about current season, projected delivery to SunRice. RCPWG to put together a list priorities for the next 12 months re: chemicals to follow up and potential research objectives. 

January, NSW Irrigators Council deliverability workshop, Deniliquin.  
NSWIC is seeking members’ feedback to inform policy on the declining capacity of the Murray River and tributaries to supply increasing demand downstream of the Barmah Choke. MDBA phoned in to update progress on its investigation why capacity is declining and potential solutions. MDBA is concerned a delivery shortfall will risk downstream plantings and jobs. Solutions include policy and trade levers to protect the Choke, or building a bypass. Strong response that the latter was unacceptable. Workshop attendees supported trade/policy rules to protect the integrity of the Choke and socioeconomic stability in the mid-Murray irrigation regions. Market-based solutions, such as creating tradeable capacity shares, carry a risk of compounding the water market’s third-party and unintended impacts. The RGA water committee will continue to work with NSWIC on an appropriate policy position.

January, Drought Working Group
Charleton attended a discussion about upcoming workshop meeting in Canberra (March). Looking at RIC loans, current drought assistance and if the systems needs to be better at supporting farmers.  

January 2020, Graeme Kruger, RGA Executive Director meetings:
Attended the Deniliquin Town Hall meeting as part of the Interim Inspector General (IIG – Mick Keelty) inquiry into management of Murray–Darling Basin water resources.
Attended planning meeting with AgriFutures Rice Program Manager and General Manager Research.
Attended the Rice Advisory Panel via teleconference.  A key agenda item was the review of the Rice Breeding Program.
Attended an NFF Trade Committee meeting.  Key items on the agenda where EU and UK tree trade negotiations.

 February, Young Farmers Business Conference Dubbo 
The Rice Extension team sent 5 Young Rice Agri-professionals to the Young Farmers Business Conference in Dubbo! A fantastic whirl wind two days of networking and engaging with a range of speakers.
The contingent of farmers we took covered a wide array of the rice industry from farmers, industry professionals and supporting industries.
Sam Sleigh, Farmer (Jerilderie)
Harry Stonhill, Farmer (Jerilderie)
Amy Lolicato, Farmer, Landcare Coordinator (Moulamein)
Sam Glenn, Business Development Coordinator Asia/Europe, Singapore - Business Development (SunRice), Sydney
Charleton Glenn, Rice Extension Officer, Moulamein
The conference brought together over 250 young farmers and fishers from across Australia. The two day event featured conference tour, speakers, local produce and visit to Dubbo. From the conference our attendees went home with a better understanding of steps towards making business a reality, finances required to kick start their business, how to have the ‘succession planning’ conversation and a handful of new contacts from across NSW & Victoria.

February, Senate inquiry into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030. 

Rob Massina and Neil Bull presented to the Public Hearing of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources in Wagga. Representing RGA, Rob Massina said: "I really wanted to put forward our key points. Our first one is water and how that impacts the ability for rice to contribute to the 2030 goal, and trade, chemicals, environmental sustainability, climate and energy, and how governments interlink with policy to make that happen so rice can contribute to that goal." 

See the RGA's submission HERE

February, National Farmers Federation Drought Working Group Teleconference 
Charleton attended on RGA's behalf. 

February, RGA Half Yearly Branch Meetings

Rob Massina, Graeme Kruger, Claire Miller, Belinda Lambert, Charleton Glenn and Erika Heffer attended the RGA half yearly branch meetings in Wakool, Pretty Pine, Logie Brae, Coleambally, Leeton and Griffith from the 10th until the 12th of February.  

February 2020, Graeme Kruger, RGA Executive Director meetings: 
Took part in the NFF delegation to the Minister of Trade (Simon Birmingham) at Parliament House with Rob Gordon and Julian Luke from SunRice. This engagement provided our industry the opportunity to deliver key concerns relating to EU and UK trade. In particular market access, tariffs and quotas.  Rob Gordon presented on behalf of the rice industry delegation.
Attended all the RGA Half Yearly Branch meetings.
Participated in the NFF Murray Darling listening tour at meetings in Swan Hill and Deniliquin.  Swan Hill meeting was hosted by the RGA and the Deniliquin meetings where hosted by NSW Farmers.
Rob Massina and I attended EvokeAG 2020 with the RGA delegates who received complementary registration.
Attended National Irrigators Council (NIC) in Canberra.
Presented at the Rice Industry Leadership Program in Deniliquin.
Attended a Port of Melbourne stakeholder engagement meeting in Griffith.

 

 

Go to the RGA Website to learn more about your team