You could brand me as one of the sceptics who saw this weekend as a bit of a talk fest - an opportunity for people to cook up a lot of feel good ideas, but no real movement on them after the weekend.

But I've been pleasantly surprised.

The burst of good, practical, achievable ideas put forward by delegates in the future of rural and regional industries and communities committee have been the empitome of vision.

Delegates who have spent a lot of time and money getting to Canberra haven't come with a list of funding wishes or gripes with government - they've come armed with a sense of responsibility for the future, with a genuine commitment to contribute to some excellent debate on the future direction of the country - their country.

I'm actually disappointed the committee will only have the opportunity to put only one or two ideas directly to the Prime Minister, because there were certainly several with incredible merit which tackle some of the big challenges facing agriculture which would provide the industry with immense opportunity.

What really converted this sceptic though was the surprise drop-in of the Prime Minister who quietly took his seat beside Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, and scribbled notes as he listened to nearly all the ideas developed during day one in the rural stream.

The fact he chose to listen to the rural ideas, rather than sit in on environment, or the economy, or education, should give farmers heart.

The Prime Minister made it clear to delegates yesterday that he saw food security as one fo the big issues facing Australians and the broader global economy, but he also sees Australian farmers as being part of the solution.

Tony Burke has also seemed genuinely impressed with the debate.

My big idea is that Mr Burke and Mr Rudd keep this rural committee alive, and work and consult with these delegates on a regular basis to keep the ideas active, and see more like them developed.