Green and red tape
AgForce Cane is calling for a full repeal of bureaucratic regulations that do not improve the environment. These include:
- Agricultural Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) provisions to all current and future agricultural activity
- Mandatory minimum practice agricultural standards
- Farm nitrogen and phosphorus budget requirements
- Environmental authorities for new or expanded cropping or horticulture activities
- Regrowth and remnant vegetation restrictions on land clearing
- Nature Conservation Act restrictions on existing agricultural land
Quality assurance in science
AgForce Cane is calling for an Office of Scientific Quality Assurance, who is responsible for conducting replication trials on all foundational environmental science. The Scientific Quality Authority would cost $4 million per year.
Incentivising practice change
AgForce Cane is calling for an incentive program to be implemented to encourage practice accreditation for sugarcane farming.
The program would cost approximately $60 million/pa and incentive payments could be structured as $2/tonne Cane.
Investing in farm research
AgForce Cane is calling for a $10 million research investment fund.
Expanding skilling opportunities
AgForce Cane want the Queensland Government to invest in the future of farming by expanding the agricultural TAFE courses offered at Toowoomba to other locations including Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, and Maryborough.
The TAFE courses that need to be delivered in more regional locations include:
- Certificate III in Rural Operations
- Certificate III in Agriculture
- Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology
- Diploma of Agribusiness Management / Diploma of Agriculture
Encouraging the next generation of farmers
AgForce Cane is calling on the Queensland Government to ramp up the existing programs and extend the existing First Home Owner incentives to farm ownership.
Specifically, the Queensland Government can support young farmers by providing:
- Stamp duty concessions on farm and machinery purchases or transfers to encourage investment
- Cash grants of $75,000 for new farmers who buy their first farm or invest in a substantial portion of the family farm
- No interest loan terms to enable young farmers to establish their operations.