MARKET monopolies, rural rates, black-spots and coal-seam gas fracking lead the race as issues to be addressed at the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) state conference in June, to be held at Bendigo.
In the lead-up to the annual conference, the livestock group is trialling three pre-conference debates across the State to gauge the industry's most pressing issues.
First off the rank was a Benalla meeting attended by more than 50 local producers who debated issues surrounding the Senate inquiry into the red meat sector, mobile phone blackspots and poor-quality eartags.
In this week's meeting at Hamilton, which was attended by about 40 farmers, producers raised concerns about the impact amalgamation of shires would have on rural rates and concerns surrounding gas fracking licences issued in the Western District.
The third meeting will be held at Traralgon later this month.
"We have to change what we do and how we do it," VFF livestock president Ian Feldtmann said of the new pre-conference meetings.
"We're battling to get the next generation along and battling to get people to the livestock conferences."
Mansfield beef producer Mark Holcombe put forward a resolution at the Benalla meeting, which was unopposed by the 50 attendees, for the VFF to write to North East stock agents to see whether they would make a submission to the Senate inquiry into the red meat sector.
"Stock agents are working for farmers – they are employed and paid by farmers – but I am not sure whether they will step forward and participate in this debate," Mr Holcombe said.
"The farmers need them to and the industry needs them to step up and participate in this inquiry.
"Agents say they will support us but we need more than words; we need them to participate in the inquiry and represent the interests of farmers.
"They're big enough to support the case of farmers despite the backlash, because they are meant to represent us."
The Barnawartha saleyards boycott in which up to 10 processors ditched a February prime cattle sale over a post-weigh fallout remains a controversial topic among North East producers.
Before the VFF pre-conference meeting at Benalla, a closed meeting between producers, Mr Feldtmann and VFF policy director Peter Hunt discussed submissions to the Senate inquiry into the red meat processing sector.
There were reportedly 20 attendees at the closed meeting who were each expected to make submissions to the inquiry.
Mr Hunt said the content of the VFF's submission to the inquiry would address three key areas surrounding meat processors', livestock agents' and buyers' conduct.
"There are three key areas that the VFF are examining as part of its submission," Mr Hunt said.
"One: pre- and post-sale weigh, given it was a key issue for the 200 farmers who attended the Barnawartha meeting (last month)
"Two: the saleyards as an exchange in regard to the conduct and conditions of commission buyers and agents.
"And three: the impact of consolidation of the red meat processing sector, given that JBS and Cargill Teys now have 50 per cent ownership of the sector in Australia, and risks around regional monopolies and market power and competition."