The hits keep coming for grain growers after one of the toughest years in living memory, with congested and dysfunctional supply chains causing chaos across the state.
Many grain growers saw their crops wiped out or severely damaged by widespread rain and flooding this season, but those who have managed to salvage some harvest are now finding it hard to get their product to market.
A number of issues are facing farmers at receival sites across the state – grain from previous years still in storage, uncertain grade outcomes and severely discounted prices for their products, and gross difficulty getting access due to damaged roads.
The end result, according to NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin, was incredibly costly and disappointing for growers who have had their hopes of breaking even dashed.
“I’ve had people very emotional on the phone to me – we’re talking about losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars just before Christmas,” Mr Martin said.
“This winter crop was one of the most expensive they’ve ever grown, and there have been so many hurdles and challenges this season just to try and get something out of the paddock.
“To then find they either cannot sell that produce for a fair price, it’s just devastating and many will have a very pensive Christmas indeed.”
NSW Farmers has long called for serious scrutiny of the deregulated and dysfunctional grain trade in Australia, with issues of price transparency, fair value and supply chain access among the top issues of concern.
“Farmers are in the business of growing healthy plants and healthy animals to make food and clothing for people,” Mr Martin said.
“Ours can be a tough industry, but one that can be quite rewarding when everyone’s on a level playing field.
“What’s unfair is when marketeering or poor infrastructure tips the balance in favour of big business and multinational middlemen, and that’s why we have advocated for things like the Port of Newcastle container terminal, and an ACCC market inquiry of the grain trade.”
