Australian Year of the Farmer campaign launch

The 2012 Australian Year of the Farmer campaign will be officially launched tomorrow. AYOF2012 board chairman, Forbes farmer, Philip Bruem, said the year-long celebration will address misconceptions about farming and focus on the way farmers have embraced innovation and technology to achieve sustainable growth and productivity. "We’ll be highlighting the broad range and fine quality of the produce our farmers grow and harvest and encouraging Australians to reflect on the origins of the food they consume and the fibre they use every day," Mr Bruem said.

"We also plan to focus on, and prepare for, the future of farming in Australia by creating awareness of career opportunities in agriculture and related areas," he added.  Australia’s Governor-General, Quentin Bryce AC, is patron of Australian Year of the Farmer, and well known sporting personality and farmer, Glenn McGrath, is an ambassador. Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 will be officially launched at the site of Australia’s first European farm, at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens, tomorrow, with a full calendar of events to be announced. 

Farmers fearless: Tom Vilsack

US secretary for agriculture Tom Vilsack heaped praise on farmers during a media interview last week in which he was asked about the death of Apple Inc founder Steve Jobs. “I think Steve Jobs and all the innovators and entrepreneurs of this country have been fearless and that’s when we operate at our best. I happen to be working in a field right now with the American farmer and rancher, who is fearless. They put a crop in the ground every day and we’re having a record year in agriculture. It’s part of a story that’s not told very often in the economy. Trade surpluses, job growth, record income levels. Because American agriculture takes a risk every day."

NSW cattle duffer jailed

Convicted Gulgong cattle duffer, Murray Douglas Dale, was sentenced in Mudgee Local Court ;ast Friday to 14 months imprisonment, with a nine month non-parole period. Mr Dale pleaded guilty to six charges of cattle theft and admitted to National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) breaches and falsifying documents. “Trying to dupe the NLIS database was Mr Dale’s undoing,” said NSW Department of Primary Industries director of agricultural compliance, Andrew Sanger.
“The NLIS database and National Vendor Declarations provided tracing evidence that was central to the case, tracing 111 stolen cattle worth more than $150,000. “The initial breakthrough came when Police rural crime investigators traced a draft of 41 Angus cows sold in April last year through the Dubbo saleyards to a Condobolin buyer. “Although NLIS was established for livestock tracing during an animal disease emergency, the success in this case shows additional benefits for livestock owners in helping to protect their stock from theft.”