NEWS NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
North East Farmer, Page 1
September 2014
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1984
SEPTEMBER, 2014 PAGES 10-11
Hay & Silage
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
$1 at newsagents
PAGES 18-20
Livestock
PAGES 22-25
Henty
China FTA needed VFF and Dairy Council want open and free world trade
NEW ATTRACTION: Milawa Parelli instructor Rachel Clarkson will be demonstrating her skills at this year’s Henty Machinery Field Days to be held on Tuesday, September 23 to Thursday, September 25. The world-renowned natural horse training method developed by US cowboy Pat Parelli is set to be a new drawcard for the 51st annual Henty Machinery Field Days. Parelli instructors will demonstrate training to help solve ground and ridden problems, from pushy and stubborn to scared and unpredictable horses to create a willing and co-operative partner for recreation, work or competition. Demonstrations will be staged each day of the Field Days during the lunch break in the yard dog trial area. Fiona Darling, of Illabo, NSW, Kaye Thomas, Howlong, NSW, and Rachel Clarkson, Milawa, Victoria, will stage demonstrations each day during the lunch break in the yard dog trial area. The Parelli instructors will be available on-site at Henty to answer questions and help riders understand their horse’s personality. There will also be lucky daily prizes and giveaways at stand A18. See pages 22-25 for more information on Henty Machinery Field Days.
RUSSIA’S ban on Australian food exports highlights the need for the Federal Government to deliver a strong Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China according to the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and the Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC). VFF president Peter Tuohey said he trusts that the Federal Government will deliver an FTA with China that strips away tariff barriers that have previously hampered agriculture’s access to China. “Russia buys $400 million of our $38 billion in food and fibre exports,” Mr Tuohey said. “Compare that with what China could offer us in export growth under an FTA. “Australian grain, beef, sheepmeat, dairy and horticultural producers all stand to gain from an FTA with China, via the removal of import quotas and tariffs. “What’s happened in Russia just highlights the need for us to get strong FTAs in place that open up more mar-
BY JODIE FLEMING
jfleming@ nenews.com.au
kets for Australian exports, such as China. “The simple fact is China is the most populous nation on earth and we need to be growing the market for our farm produce with it,” he said. Australian Dairy Farmers president Noel Campbell said that Greater China (China, Hong Kong and Macau) is now Australia’s largest dairy market. “In 2013 Australia exported 138,000 tonnes of dairy product worth $552 million to Greater China - 19 per cent of total Australian dairy exports for the calendar year. “Sixteen million babies were born in China last year, and with a relaxation of the one child policy, that number is projected to increase to beyond 20 million babies annually in coming years. Continued page 8
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