Crops, cattle, sheep - have your say at Wagga forum

Come along and experience the benefits of open discussion between all areas of industry on issues facing farming in southern NSW at a free, innovative and interactive forum being held at Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 22 August.

The forum 'Crops, Rumps and Woolly Jumpers - Working together' is designed to enable farmers, particularly those involved in livestock and cropping enterprises, to address and draw attention to key issues affecting their business.

A six-member farmer panel has been specially selected to share their experiences at the forum covering a wide range of farming systems across the region.

Panel members are Rupert McClaren (Barmedman), Andrew Bouffler (Lockhart), Murray Scholz (Culcairn), Vicki Geddes (Holbrook), Bruce Thompson (Temora) and David Sackett (Borambola).

Sheep Connect NSW (a collaboration between NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Australian Wool Innovation Limited) and the EH Graham Centre (an alliance between Charles Sturt University and NSW DPI) are presenting the forum, which is being supported by Meat and Livestock Australia and EverCrop.

Forum convenor, Sheep Connect NSW Co-ordinator, Michelle Anderson, said the day aimed to promote discussion between the panel and the audience - a mix of local farmers, industry representatives and service providers.

"Before each panel member speaks, the scene will be set with a short film shot on site at each of the panel member‟s farms," she said.

The afternoon session involves two workshops. The first workshop addresses questions producers should think about when weighing up changing enterprises in a mixed farming system, while the second workshop looks at maximising production versus controlling input costs.

"Producers have been told for ages to increase inputs to maximise yield and production, but after 10 years of drought they are starting to think we can't control the weather or market prices, but we can control our input costs," Ms Anderson said.

"These sessions are addressing topics that producers grapple with on a daily basis and everyone thinks about often, but there are few forums that actually drill down and address these issues.

"We don‟t want participants to just sit and listen. We want them to get up and challenge ideas and really debate the issues that are important to them. The forum will also be the catalyst for tailoring future events because it will help us understand and meet producer needs rather than telling them what we think they need to know."

The forum is being held at Joyes Hall, Charles Sturt University, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga, from 8.30 am to 4 pm. RSVP by Friday 17 August for catering purposes by emailing your details to sheep.connect@dpi.nsw.gov.au or telephone (02) 6391 3871.

For further details visit www.sheepconnectnsw.com.au or contact Geoff Casburn on 0428 420 886 or Michelle Anderson on 0428 304 660.

Photo available from sarahc@sf.nsw.gov.au

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