It’s time we gave all Australian farmers a pat on the back

I’ve always had a strong connection to farming – but I’m not a farmer. Like many other Australians, I have family ties to the land. I also married a farmer’s daughter and, as the CEO of the Sydney Markets Limited, I came to understand the pressure farmers and growers are under as they work to provide food and fibre for the nation.
I often wonder how many people fully appreciate the role farmers play in this country. There’s a common perception that farming is only about people in rural communities; well I’m here to tell you that’s wrong.
Whether you live in the smallest country town or one of our biggest cities, farming is integral to all our daily lives.
If you disagree, imagine for a second how you’d be impacted if our farmers went on strike. What would you eat? Where would your fresh fruit and vegetables, your dairy products, your fish, meat, poultry, eggs, grains and fibres, your takeaway hamburger, come from? Maybe you’d like to crack open a cold beer or a glass of wine to drown your sorrows, think again – the malt, hops and grapes also come from a farm.
Then again, it’s not just things we consume that come from our farmers. Think about wool, cotton, leather, paper and timber. There are so many other fine quality products that our farmers grow and harvest that we too often take for granted.
I am proud 2012 is going to be the Australian Year of the Farmer. It’s a celebration of what farmers do for all Australians.
Farming is a very diverse and exciting industry. It combines things like economics, engineering, environmental management, science, plumbing, labouring and building.
Our farmers and agriculture service industries are leading the world, constantly addressing issues like climate change and food security. Our farmers produce more − while using less of the environment’s resources. In 2010, our farmers used 7.3 per cent less land than they did 60 years ago, but are producing 220 per cent more product and use 50 to 80 per cent less water than before.
The year will acknowledge the hard work and innovation of the many Australians involved in the farming industry, from the farm gate, forest or estuary to consumption. An exciting calendar of events and activities is being finalised to celebrate all things farming, reinforce the relationship between rural and urban communities and help educate children (and adults) on the important role farming plays in this country. We hope the year will also serve to enthuse youngsters about the wealth of careers available in agriculture and related industries.
I was talking to a teacher the other day and he said to me the most common response to a simple question like “where does milk come from?” is “the supermarket”. To me this sums up exactly why a year that specially recognises farmers is needed.
Farming is a partnership between rural and urban communities. For farming to remain sustainable, people living in our cities need to understand their role in the partnership. They need to take the time to find out where their food comes from, to understand the exciting careers available in the farming and agricultural sectors, and the crucial role farming plays in Australia’s economic and social fabric.
It boils down to all of us remembering our farmers are integral to our future. And that our farmers’ future is in our hands.
Geoff Bell,
Managing Director
Australian Year of the Farmer