National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said the day, synonymous with the ‘I love farmers’ logo, was a chance to celebrate, inspire and learn.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re in a high-rise or a header, this is a day for all Australians to come together to celebrate our incredible food and fibre,” he said.
“It’s a day for farmers and people in agriculture to showcase what they do and to start conversations with kids and the wider community about what they do.
“But it’s also a day for all Australians to engage with the farming world, to learn more, and celebrate our farmers the incredible food and fibre they grow.”
This year’s theme ‘Grow you good thing!’ is also the catch cry the NFF hopes people will get behind.
“Many farmers are facing a below average growing season and livestock prices have tanked,” Mr Jochinke said.
“Shout outs of ‘Grow you good thing!’ from the community will go a long way.”
Meanwhile, the NFF’s Keep Farmers Farming message has landed at the Canberra Airport with billboards, plus digital advertising, sending a clear message to Federal Parliament to reject water buybacks.
NSW sheep and grain farmer Michael Chalmers, pictured on the billboards, is deeply concerned about the government’s proposal to allow water buybacks from farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin.
“Further water buybacks would potentially have devastating effects on our farm business and our local community,” he said.
NFF chief executive Tony Mahar called on parliamentarians to support farmers, rural communities and the river by saying no to the bill to change the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and no to water buybacks.
“The basin produces 40 per cent of Australia’s food and fibre and buybacks will take some of this away,” Mr Mahar said.
“Together, we have achieved staggering improvements to the river system’s health, with additional water flowing through the system enough to fill Sydney Harbour almost five times over each year.
“This bill terminates bipartisan support for the plan and flies in the face the communities and environmental experts who back the plan.
“Farmers are here for environmental wins — a healthy river system is a healthy food bowl. Buybacks are not the pathway to improving the health of a river system.
“Let’s pursue smart options like eradicating carp, creating fishways and addressing bank erosion, not destructive buybacks that will reduce farm production and drive up food prices.”
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