Call for accreditation of rural consultants

This was a major topic of discussion at Ag Institute Australia's 'Responding to Change' event held at Bungaree Station at Clare last Thursday, where about 60 ag professionals and industry figures thrashed out key issues in the industry.

National president Mike Stephens said the challenging conditions farmers were operating in made it even more important for them to have full confidence in the advice they received.

In 2012, the institute set up a national accreditation scheme for professionals in the agriculture and natural resource sectors, but there have been few takers.

"What we're trying to do is get acceptance by government and industry bodies that accreditation is important," Mr Stephens said.

"At the moment, anyone can hang a shield on their wall and say they're a farm management consultant or ag consultant.

"They might be selling very dubious products or might be giving out advice with no evidence or science behind it."

Mr Stephens said the industry needed to think about risk in a way they had not before.

"When I started my career in the 1960s, $100 worth of land produced $100 worth of product," he said.

"According to ABARES figures, today $100 worth of land produces $10 worth of product. We've gone from having a 1:1 land-to-product value down to a 1:0.1 value in 50 years."

Mr Stephens said although farm management deposits had risen from more than $400 million to $3.2 billion between 1999 and 2013, they accounted for only one per cent of agricultural turnover.

"FMDs are one of the best ways of drought-proofing a business, yet they are largely ignored," he said.

Mr Stephens said farmers needed solid advice during these tough times, and with declining terms of trade.

* Full report in Stock Journal, April 3, 2014 issue.