A diverse policy agenda — including topics such as drought measures, inland rail, farm trespass, solar farms, truth in milk labelling, water management and even electric vehicles — was the highlight of last week’s 2019 NSW Farmers Association Annual Conference.
More than 300 farmers travelled to Sydney, where NSW Farmers Association president James Jackson said the array of topics reflected the diversity of food and fibre produced in NSW.
‘‘I have called into a lot of farms in recent months that have shown that agriculture in NSW really is a broad church,’’ Mr Jackson.
‘‘All of those farmers have shown the resilience and innovation needed to sustain a farm business during drought, and this has inspired the conference theme this year of ‘Healthy Farms, Healthy Businesses and Healthy Farmers’.
‘‘Farms, communities, businesses and farmers all need to be healthy and vibrant for a prosperous future for regional NSW.’’
The conference also featured a host of guest speakers, Q&A panels and a range of mental and physical health checks from groups like the Australian Men’s Shed Association, Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, St John’s Ambulance, Hearing Australia, Active Farmers, R U OK Day and the McGrath Foundation.
