Cuts to agricultural research and farm extension jobs are hitting at multiple levels this week as the Victorian government and federally-funded CSIRO take the knife to their budgets to implement staff redundancy strategies and cost savings.
The NSW Government is already on the back foot defending what is seen as a deliberate dumbing down of its farm research and extension services, at a time when world food shortages and climatic challenges have farmers worried about how they will cope.
CSIRO is cutting back on its agriculture and food production research as it attempts to save $63 million in the next four years.
On Tuesday, Victoria's Department of Primary Industries announced it would restructure operations, close five rural sites, including Kyabram Irrigated Research Institute, and cut 70 agriculture, science, extension and corporate services jobs.
Victorian Farmers Federation president, Simon Ramsay, said particularly concerning was the closure of research stations.
"Pressures facing Victorian farmers have never been greater," he said.
"Drought, climate change, distorted world markets and community pressure to reduce the environmental footprint of feeding Australia all demand significant research and extension efforts."
* Extract from a full report in The Land, August 7 edition.
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