Latest news

The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) and Ricegrowers Limited (SunRice) lodged our joint submission in response to the ACCC Murray-Darling Basin (Basin) water markets inquiry - interim report on the 30th of October. Read the submission HERE. 

Click here to read the RGA's latest media releases.  

The RGA has membership representation in Australia's Agricultural peak bodies and organisations, read their latest newsletters here:

National Irrigators' Council Update (link)

NSW Irrigators' Council News- (link)

Future Farmers Network Weekly Update (link)

AgriFutures Newsletter - November -(link)

Rice Extension newsletter - Winter (link)

National Farmers Federation Media (link)

H2OX (link)

Murray Darling Basin Authority Weekly Update (link)

Murray Irrigation Newsletter November (link)

Diary Update

Listed below  are some of the RGA's recent, significant engagements with Federal and State Ministers, Government Departments, Peak Bodies, and other major stakeholders
As well, the RGA are actively involved with the following organisations, meeting regularly and advocating on behalf of their members.

• Murray Regional Strategy Group
• Murray Region Regional Leadership forum hosted by Regional Development Australia
• Murrumbidgee PHN, Empowering our Communities Steering Committee (EOC)
• Murrumbidgee Water Sharing Plan Stakeholder Advisory Panel
• NSW Murray Water Sharing Plan Stakeholder Advisory Panel
• NFF CEO's 
• NFF Water Taskforce 
• NSW Irrigator’s Council Strategic Food Security Response Taskforce – Chair Rachel Kelly
• SunRice

October

Stop of Target Spraying (SOS) Riverina Valleys Meeting. Neil Bull attended the SOS meeting where the use of EPA funding to run a range of workshops across the region was discussed. 

Neil attended the NFF Sustainable Development Committee meeting, the committee discussed the NFF submission to the EPBC act review. 
Graeme Kruger participated in a discussion with TAFE in Leeton regarding AgSkilled training priorities for rice growers.

Graeme attended an NFF Trade Committee meeting to discuss whether the NFF should advocate for the Australian Government to initiate WTO dispute action against recent tariffs on Australian commodities.
Rob Massina, Graeme & Rachel Kelly participated in a workshop with NSWIC and NSW DPI Water to discuss our response to the ACCC Water Market Review as part of their stakeholder engagement.

 RGA Water Committee meeting

The RGA staff held a strategic planning day in Griffith to review the strategy and consider how to be more effective, it was also a great opportunity to have a much needed face to face interaction with the team.

Erika Heffer attended a Charles Sturt University Industry Co-creation Workshop on Courses in Agriculture and Related Fields. In this workshop stakeholders focused broadly on agriculture and related industries and workshopped the industry challenges and skills needs for graduates and professionals across a range of areas into the future.  

Graeme attended the Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG) AGM to consider an amendment to their constitution following a review and planning process. Geoff Moar the new Chair indicated that he was keen to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor and was looking for more professionalism from the organisation.

Graeme attended the NFF Trade Committee.  The following matters where discussed – WTO dispute action, Foreign Investment Review Board, Investor-State Dispute Settlement, EU and UK Free Trade Agreements, India and International Engagement Strategy.

Graeme attended a zoom meeting hosted by MRSG with a presentation from Tim Horne on the Disallowance Motion in NSW Parliament.
21st-22nd Rachel attended National Irrigators AGM and general meeting.  Jeremy Morton was elected as Chairman of the Board.

Murray Local Land Services and SunRice Sustainability Steering Committee Meeting. This meeting set the work plan for the next period of the LLS, SunRice sustainability reporting project.

RGA Board Meeting

Graeme attended a planning meeting with Irrigated Research and Extension Committee (IREC) to discuss organisational review. 

Rob was interviewed on his Finley property by Nadia Daly from the ABC 7:30 Report. He spoke about the importance of the rice industry to communities, keep an eye on the television to see the final product. 

Rob and Graeme gave a presentation to the Board of Murrumbidgee Irrigation.

 Graeme and Rachel participated in a discussion with Telstra and SunRice to discuss ideas being considered by Telstra for a Water Hub.

 Charleton Glenn attended a vesting meeting with SunRice to discuss NSW Productivity Commission ‘Green Paper’. 

September

Michael Chalmers,Rob, Graeme & Rachel participated in a workshop to discuss the joint RGA SunRice submission into the ACCC Review into the Water Markets.

Graeme and Rachel attended the NFF Water Committee meeting.  

Rob, Michael, Graeme, Rachel attended video conference hosted by the MDBA who provided an update on trends in water use relative to the Sustainable Diversion Limits in the southern Basin.

Graeme gave a presentation to other AgriFutures Levied Industries about the levy review process conducted by the rice industry.

Water Committee Meeting
Graeme attended an AgSkilled 2.0 Steering Committee Meeting.  The focus of the meeting was to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding. 

 Neil attended a NFF Sustainable Development Committee Meeting. Topics of discussion included: EPBC act review and the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Trial project.

A number of staff attended the NFF 101-Masterclass #3.  The topic was - The legislative process, presented by the Commonwealth Department of the Senate, which was the third and final session of the Masterclass Series.  It was delivered by presenters from the Department of the Senate who provided a 101 on the passage of legislation through the Federal House of Representatives and the Senate – including the purpose of each stage, referral to committees, what can happen and how to monitor progress. 

Rob, Michael, Graeme & Rachel participated in a workshop to discuss the joint RGA SunRice submission into the ACCC Review into the Water Markets.

Graeme participated in an interview with a consultant who is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of the AgriFutures Rice Program.

Neil Bull attended the Sustainability Academy. SunRice, Local Land Services Sustainability workshop to review to provide feedback on the Rice Sustainability Framework.

Ainsley Massina organised a session for the RGA Introduction to the Rice Industry leadership program Alumni. The young group of growers had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with Fiona Simpson and Tony Mahar from National Farmers Federation. In preparation for the discussion the group were asked to familiarise themselves with the 2030 Vision and Road Map for Agriculture, the focus of the conversation was on the role leadership will play and how we as growers can contribute to the ambitious target to exceed $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030.  The session commenced with Tony and Fiona presenting on the NFF’s roles and responsibilities, it was then opened up to the participants to ask questions. To ensure the group made the most of their time with Fiona and Tony, the group had pre-prepared the questions they would ask, thank you to Cameron Robertson, Tom Doyle, Maggie McDonald and Donald Willox for taking on the responsibility of asking the questions. This was a great opportunity for these future leaders to engage with key agricultural leaders. Thank you to Jane Harris from Regional Leaders Australia for facilitating the session – it was a dynamic and informative 1 hour.

Graeme attended a meeting hosted by NSW Irrigators Council (NSWIC) on the ACCC Water Markets Inquiry - Guest Speakers: Mick Keogh & Bruce Mikkelsen.

Rob attended a joint meeting of RGA Deniliquin and Berriquin Branch meetings - presentations from SunRice Directors and Grower Services.

 RGA Coleambally Branch meeting - presentations from SunRice Directors and Grower Services.

Rob and Graeme attended a joint meeting of the RGA Yanco and Mirrool Branches which had presentations from SunRice Directors and Grower Services.

Rice Extension hosted the SunRice Grower of the Year Awards, the winner of the 2020 SunRice Grower of the Year was Peter and Erin Draper.

The winner of the Port of Melbourne Highest Yield for C20 Award was Brett and Louise Turner, who grew 25ha Reiziq in the MIA which yielded 15.56t/ha. This was a massive134 percent above the five-year industry average and the second win in a row for the Turners.  Special mention in this category was also made of:

•  Stuart Gannon and Nathan Hehir, with 58ha of short grain variety Opus in the Eastern Murray Valley, which yielded 11.61t/ha - 128% above the five-year average.
• Clint and Scott Shields, of Denora Enterprises, with 21.5ha of long grain Topaz in the Coleambally Irrigation Area, which yielded 11.13t/ha - 137% above the five-year industry average.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Rob, Graeme, Rachel attended a meeting with Claire Miller NSWIC CEO to discuss RGA Water Policy priorities.

Ainsley brought together past participants of the RGA Introduction to the Rice Industry leadership programs, to reconnect and extend on their learning. The focus of this workshop was to deepen the participants understanding of personality traits, work their feedback and listening skills and enhance their presentation skills. Each participant had the opportunity to practice these skills throughout the day and identify ways in which they will be part of the vision for agricultural over the next 10 years. The group enjoyed a dinner with the Senator Perin Davey and RGA President Rob Massina.

Rob, Rachel and SunRice attended a joint meeting with Sir Angus Houston, MDBA Chairman, CEO and senior staff from the MDBA and Department of Agriculture Water and Environment.

Rachel attended a NSWIC discussion on the ACCC Water Markets review.

Neil and Erika attended a Murray Landcare Collective Meeting. This meeting discussed the new Commonwealth Government Parliament Friends of Landcare and received updates from Murray LLS, all of the Landcare Producer group’s across the Murray region and a NSW Landcare update.

Go to the RGA Website to learn more about your team