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Mildura Weekly : Friday August 1 Vol 8 No 39
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18 NEWS MILDURA WEEKLY FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2014 FOUR young farming enthusiasts are embarking on a mission to promote the importance of the nation’s grains industry. Grain grower Daniel Fox, PhD student Rebecca Thistlethwaite, grains analyst Jessica Kirkpatrick and agriculture student Diana George were the winners of the Grains Research and Develop- ment Corporation-sponsored grains sector section of the 2014 Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions program. The four will promote their passion for the grains industry when visiting schools throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria over the coming months. Jessica Kirkpatrick is a 19-year- old university student, grains ana- lyst and stud sheep breeder whose family has been farming near Beaufort, Victoria, for 150 years. With aspirations of a career as a grains agronomist, Jessica is studying a Bachelor of Agricultur- al Science in Wagga Wagga. Diana George is based near Nevertire in New South Wales, with her family running a dry- land cropping operation along- side small herds of Angus cattle and Dorper sheep. Diana is in her final year of a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England. Rebecca Thistlethwaite is based at Narrabri, New South Wales, where she is undertaking her PhD with the help of a GRDC Postgraduate Scholarship to study plant breeding and genetics at the University of Sydney. Daniel Fox, whose family has been farming in the Marrar dis- trict of New South Wales for more than 80 years, recently graduated from Charles Sturt University with a double degree in science and education, and is now back home on the family farm. GRDC’s capacity building program manager Kathleen Al- lan said the 2014 Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions ini- tiative provided valuable profes- sional development opportuni- ties for young people in the grains industry, and increased awareness among school children of the im- portance of agriculture and the range of career opportunities in the sector. “The GRDC is very support- ive of programs such as Art4Ag- riculture which draws positive attention to the grains industry and highlight the career paths it has to offer, as well as providing a chance for young people to de- velop their confidence and capa- bilities,” she said. “Building skills and capacity within the grains sector is a key focus of the GRDC, which recog- nises the need to encourage more young people to choose a reward- ing career in this vibrant and pro- gressive industry.” Young Farming Champions are being enlisted to help ensure consumers have confidence and trust in modern farming practices. They will be involved in the Art4Agriculture Archibull Prize – which engages primary and secondary school students in agricultural and environmental awareness through art, design, creativity and teamwork. Participating schools will be provided with a blank, life-sized fibreglass cow for students to cre- ate an artwork on, or to use as the subject of an artwork which fo- cuses on the theme: ‘What does it take to feed and clothe your com- munity for a day sustainably?’ Each school will be paired with a Young Farming Champi- on, who will share their farming journey and work with students throughout the duration of the project. More information about the Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions program is available by visiting www.art4agriculture. com.au . Young champions paint ‘bright picture’ of grains industry • Winners of the GRDC-sponsored grains sector section of the 2014 Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions program are Diana George, Jessica Kirkpatrick, Rebecca Thistlethwaite and Daniel Fox. VFF defends ‘right to farm’ THOUSANDS of Victorian farmers are at risk of being forced to apply for planning permits to keep producing food and fibre according to the Victo- rian Farmers Federation. In what the VFF sees as an act of “bureaucratic madness,” the Shire of Campaspe has demanded local beef producer John Watson apply for a planning permit to continue operating his farm. Mr Watson’s family has been farm- ing on the outskirts of Echuca for 90 years, and has been running about 1500-2000 weaners on their 310 acre property for the past eight years. Campaspe Shire officers are de- manding the Watson family obtain a Planning Permit to run the weaners on their property, arguing the family is en- gaged in ‘intensive animal husbandry.’ The State’s planning laws (Victo- rian Planning Provisions) define inten- sive animal husbandry as ‘land used to keep or breed farm animals, including birds, by importing most food from outside the enclosures.’ Victorian Farmers Federation presi- dent Peter Tuohey said the Campaspe Shire was treading on “dangerous ground” by demanding the Watsons obtain a permit, when the real issue was the Council’s failure to deal with urban encroachment. “It looks to me like the Shire is try- ing to exploit a loophole in the plan- ning laws to curb the Watsons’ right to farm and push them out,” he said. “The Watsons have a pre-existing right. They were there long before the Shire allowed Echuca households to build within 100 metres of the farm. “If Campaspe can exploit this loophole, then what does it mean for other farmers who import the majority of their livestock’s feed? “The Shire of Campaspe’s interpre- tation of ‘intensive animal husbandry’ would capture a huge number of dairy farms and others who import most of their feed. “The real danger is that we end up seeing this planning law used to stifle the growth of Victorian agriculture.” The VFF is examining the Victorian Planning Provision definition of in- tensive animal husbandry, and will be seeking clarification from the Victorian Government on whether the definition needs to be tightened or amended. “The irony is the Shire of Cam- paspe’s own Municipal Strategic State- ment says that ‘agricultural produc- tion, based on intensive irrigated areas and large tracts of dry land farming, combine to form the largest industry in the Shire,’” Mr Tuohey said. “Yet here are Shire officers trying to stifle agriculture’s growth. “The VFF is calling on the Shire of Campaspe to see reason, and find a solution that recognises the Watsons’, and all farmers’, rights.” The Land Living on Vinnie Rodi with Making More Possible Yes! 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