Mr Burke did not show a lot of acumen when he removed the single desk wheat export marketing system. However, he had enough guile to keep away from wheat farms on FarmDay.

As a farmer who hosted a family, I would recommend this event to other farmers who believe we need to bridge the misinformation gap. New friends, better awareness, fun, understanding of the love of our land and just a good time was the outcome of our FARM DAY OUT. It is only one string in the bow but it is important to be involved for the benefit of this country. If agriculture has a bad image we will not be around long because of the extra imposition from govt regulations. The QLD government and ultra greenies need to realise that farmers are not vandals and if they would only consult with respective industries they would understand better. I challenge Qld politicians and any ultra green people to particapate in next year's FARM DAY event and show they care and not hide behind closed doors.

What a sick joke Burke has developed into. Not only has his Government slashed rural investment and destroyed our only means of competing in a corrupt world wheat trade, they are now going to give $460,000,000 away overseas to help foreign farmers in the name of Aiding those less fortunate. KRudd and his mates continue to spend and spend and give away stacks of money whilst the industry that will pull Australia out of depression is being stripped bare. The only thing Burke can do is spend a few minutes on a farm and say he understands rural people. This is as reported in the farmonline pole the worst ag minister Australia has ever been blessed with. God help Australia as nothing will save farming with this crew.

Minister Burke you are a disaster for rural communties, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Smiling while you rip the guts out of our rural sectors, what a joke. The Rudd government should be ashamed of themselves.

I'm tired of watching camera loving politicians visiting farms and nodding their heads with an understanding type of expression on their smug faces. They promise to assist farmers and then return to their ivory towers to scheme up some other plan to keep us as peasant farmers. As far as giving away handfuls of cash to less fortunate foreign farmers, I think they need to look over their own back fence and they might see some of Australia's finest farmers floating down the creek. The nation won't wake up to whats happening until most of the food producers of this country are gone and we have to pay the "less fortunate" foreign farmers for ALL of our daily dietary requirements.

There is absolutely no doubt farmers face many many hurdles in trying to run a profitable farm business. Governmental decisions are possibly one of our biggest. However, I do believe we live in a democratic country - this means that the people have the power to elect their representatives. The truth is that the rural vote is quite minor in the scheme of things - therefore to ensure the future of our agricultural industry we must ensure that we have an urban population that understands, values and supports farmers. I know of no other program currently that helps city people to understand the business of farming on such a positive and engaging level as that of FarmDay. So, here is an opportunity to do something practical to change the status quo - offer to host a family for FarmDay. You may argue that it is too small a program to be effective, or you are too busy, or your farm isn't looking right, or it's the wrong time of year etc etc - but this weekend more than 350 city families have learned that farmers care for their land and animals, that they are passionate and effective in producing a quality product, and that farmers and farming are important to Australia. Our research shows that 98% of families that participated in FarmDay go home and change their buying habits to buy more Australian produce. What could we achieve if we had the support of 5000 famers - all of whom hosted a city family for FarmDay???