Mullaley farmer to lead farming state body

Mullaley farmer Xavier Martin is the new leader of Australia’s largest state farming organisation.

Mr Martin was elected NSW Farmers president on the first day of the organisation’s annual conference and thanked members for their support.

“It’s humbling to be elected president, and I look forward to maintaining the momentum on key issues such as biosecurity and productivity,” Mr Martin said.

“We are looking at ways to secure the future of farming, and a big part of that is giving members their voice at our conference.

“I look forward to seeing the result of these motions and working on progressing those issues with decision makers and industry groups.”

Mr Martin previously served as NSW Farmers vice president and spearheaded efforts to secure government support during the mouse plague.

Mr Martin takes the reins for the state’s peak farming body from former president James Jackson, of Guyra.

In his outgoing remarks, Mr Jackson said there is a great future ahead for Australian agriculture if governments and the public support the vital sector.

Mr Jackson reflected on his time in the role and identified a key challenge for the sector.

“Australia as a nation lags behind on backing farmers, with a government paper on food security this week revealing we have one of the lowest levels of agricultural support across the 37 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries – and when compared to major emerging economies,” Mr Jackson said.

“Australians have seen firsthand the impact of natural disasters and supply chain failures on food security this year, and we need a fresh focus on farming.

“Our farmers grow the food we eat every day and produce cotton and wool to clothe us, yet we as a nation are still undervaluing the important role of agriculture.”

Mr Jackson said the impact of this historic governmental disinterest in agriculture was being played out in the current biosecurity debate, with Varroa mite affecting our bees and foot and mouth disease on our doorstep.

“Being able to feed and clothe yourself is a basic human need, but our farmers are up against it with government policies that act as a handbrake on the sector.

“The fact that we are so productive despite our challenging climate and all the red tape we face is proof that Aussie farmers could make an even bigger contribution if they were allowed to.

“I have been saying for years that governments need to get out of the way and unleash the beast, and let us do what we do best – grow world-class food and fibre.”