Travelling throughout Tasmania, and indeed to South Korea and Japan on a recent trade delegation, it is clear why Tasmanian farmers are viewing their future with increased confidence.
Tasmania is ideally placed to supply Australian and international consumers and markets with fresh, high quality produce through a proven safe production chain.
To win over and retain markets we must produce premium food and beverage products year-on-year that meets, and even exceeds, expectations and enhances Brand Tasmania. The Hodgman Liberal Government has always backed our farmers and primary producers and the recent Rabobank survey showing our farmers are the most confident in the nation is welcome news.
It was extremely pleasing to see farming confidence at its highest level since late 2015 and especially in the dairy sector, where farm-gate margins have improved through 2017. Rabobank said that 73 per cent of Tasmanian dairy farmers expected improved agricultural economic conditions in the year ahead, up 22pc on this time last year.
All farmers surveyed looked to increase (66pc), or maintain (34pc) the level of investment in their farm businesses in the coming year with irrigation and building livestock numbers the highest priority with emerging technologies also an important investment focus.
There is no doubt that 2016 was a tough year with extreme weather events and unpredictable global markets and many farmers, and farming landscapes, are still recovering. The Tasmanian Government will always stand side-by-side with our farmers during the tough times.
We understand the uncertainty, frustration and isolation felt by some throughout these challenging times, which is why we have worked closely with our farmers and agricultural stakeholders to respond.
But farmers and farming communities are resilient and have bounced back buoyed by strong markets for beef and lamb, cropping and resurgence in wool prices.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has just marked our 3rd anniversary in office and we are proudly Building Tasmania’s Future with a strong Agri-Food Plan – Grow, Make and Protect, delivering on a wide range of initiatives targeting the key drivers of growth being investment, productivity and careers. Since coming to Government, five new irrigation schemes are on track to deliver an additional 27,700 million litres of reliable water to communities from Bothwell, to Swansea, Scottsdale, Evandale and Smithton. We have improved bio-security to protect our relative pests and disease free status.
This includes doubling the dog-detector teams to twelve, who operate on the front-line to intercept quarantine risk materials at airports and sea ports and practical infrastructure like the new Powranna Truckwash.
We’re also making it easier for our primary producers to get on with the job by reducing red tape on things like dam works approvals, crop protection permits and reform to make it easier to grow industrial hemp. Ultimately all this leads to more jobs in regional Tasmania and stronger regional communities.
It is extremely rewarding that our long term plan is working and has been embraced by the farming and agricultural community and that they share our confidence and enthusiasm in Tasmania’s future as a premium produce powerhouse.
