The Grains Council of Australia says a significant portion of the extra $15 million funding for the Advancing Australian Agriculture program should be allocated to specific projects aimed at future industry development and drought-proofing grains-dependent livestock industries.

GCA President, Keith Perrett, said grain producers would expect their industry, which represents around 25% of all agricultural production, was recognised during the current plethora of campaign promises.

“Prior to the election being called, the Grains Council submitted a draft proposal to the government for funding of an important initiative directly linked to the grains industry strategy launched at Grains Week 2004 back in March. The proposal was for funding of a feed grains action group (FGAG) policy implementation program”, said Mr Perrett.

“The Single Vision industry strategy research identified feed grains and the grain industries partnership with intensive livestock producers as being a priority over the next 5 years, as demand for grain for feeding livestock increases by about 50%”.

“Funding should be directed to implementing some of the lessons we learned from the 2002/03 drought. Our proposal is for a properly resourced feed grain secretariat. By developing and putting into operation the predictive tools and models that have been developed to better manage feed grain stocks, livestock and grain groups will be able to work more cooperatively”.

“Extra funding from the Advancing Australian Agriculture program should also be directed toward the full implementation of the Single Vision grains industry strategy, which aims to position the $10 billion Australian grains industry for the dramatic changes that will be taking place in the food industry over the next 20 years”, Mr Perrett said.|

“Other industries are receiving support for implementation of strategic plans and to help them prepare for rapid changes in the domestic and global food and fibre sector”, he said.

“In the Single Vision regional forums, grain producers across Australia were telling us they are feeling neglected in this election by both the Coalition and Labor, particularly since the confusion and controversy over the Iraq – AWB payment default. No grain producer is worse off over this issue than they were 6 months ago, but damage has been done to their confidence”.

“A positive commitment to helping to fund the direction of the grains industry over the next 20 years, and to develop strong partnerships with related industries, would start to re-build growers confidence“.