By Hamish McIntyre, President National Farmers' Federation
Today is a landmark moment for Australian agriculture.
In 2018, we set a bold target to grow Australian agriculture into a $100 billion industry by 2030. At the time, some thought it was ambitious and some didn't think we stood a chance.
But farmers wouldn't be in this game if they weren't up for a challenge.
Today, we are forecast to reach that milestone four years ahead of schedule.
But it's important to remember, our target has never been just about chasing a headline number. It is underpinned by a detailed roadmap that places farmer wellbeing, sustainability and natural capital alongside productivity and profitability.
So, while we are forecast to achieve this significant target, we can't lose sight of the hard fact that there is still much more work to be done to reach the other goals set out in the 2030 Roadmap. These are equally important drivers of our industry's growth and prosperity.
This milestone didn't happen by accident. It happened because Australian farmers backed themselves.
My wife Mary and I started our farming business in 1999. I was working in agronomy and managing an irrigation development and together we saved enough to buy our first property. We didn't inherit a large operation, we had had to build it ourselves.
We were determined to grow it and diversify it, to create multiple income streams that would help us ride out the highs and lows that go hand-in-hand with agriculture.
Today our business spans irrigated and dryland cropping, feedlots, sheep, cattle, broiler chickens and rangeland goats.
In recent years we've faced enormous flood damage. We've experienced limited access to imported fertiliser. Those challenges reinforced something I feel strongly about, increasing access to local inputs, improving farmers' trade opportunities and making sure farmers are not burdened with unfair policy, taxes or red tape.
The mindset we've applied to our family farming business – to take the risk, adapt, innovate and diversify – is also the story of Australian agriculture and the 2030 Roadmap.
Today's achievement also comes despite drought, fires, floods, global market volatility and trade disruption. I've felt it in my farm business as has every Australian farmer across the country. Productivity gains, innovation and improved market access have done the heavy lifting, but we can never forget the "can-do, never-say-never" attitude from farmers to get us here.
We set the vision at the NFF. But farmers, industry partners and governments showed they were up for the challenge.
And we should acknowledge those who backed this ambition from day one.
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, then Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and then Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon all endorsed the $100 billion vision when it was first announced. That bipartisan support sent a powerful signal and has been continued by every Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister and Shadow Agriculture Minister since.
We could not have achieved this without strong collaboration from our members, governments of all colours, and from Telstra who backed the vision early and partnered with the NFF to bring it to life.
And I want to acknowledge those who went before me.
Former NFF President Fiona Simson, alongside former CEO Tony Mahar, helped create and drive this vision. Immediate past President David "DJ" Jochinke continued to build its momentum. And the staff at the NFF have also thrown their back into it. This milestone belongs to all of them.
But above all, it belongs to Australian farmers. They've done the hardest yards.
Reaching $100 billion will not be the finish line, but a significant stage in agriculture's trajectory.
It proves something important, that Australian agriculture is an industry where anything is possible.
You don't need to be born into it to succeed in it. Mary and I are living proof, having built our business step by step. Agriculture needs farmers, yes, but it also needs scientists, engineers, researchers, technology specialists, entrepreneurs and a cracking policy team.
For young Australians looking at their future, this is an industry of opportunity.
Now the task is to build on this success sustainably, competitively and with confidence. If we get the policy settings right by continuing to improve trade opportunities, strengthening local supply chains, investing in innovation and avoiding unnecessary red tape, there is no reason we can't go further.
Australian agriculture has shown what's possible.
Now, the hard work continues for farmers – and all of us in agriculture – to make sure we do make this forecast a reality, but also for the NFF as we start to develop the next chapter in this story.
