STATE farmer organisations have backed the calls by AWB’s general manager of commodities Mitch Morison to move to protect Australia’s reputation as a quality producer of wheat.
Last week, Mr Morison said there was a desperate need for quality control within the wheat industry, saying that all participants in the production chain needed to realise the importance of creating a strong brand for Aussie wheat.
Both the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and the Western Australian Farmers Federation (WAFF) have come out in support of Mr Morison’s calls, saying that better co-ordination throughout the wheat supply chain is needed to maintain Australia’s international reputation.
The support from the two groups, which have traditionally had divergent opinions on many grains-based issues, is testament to the widespread feeling that action is needed in the wheat industry to fill the industry-good functions that have not been filled since the single desk was dismantled.
VFF grains group president Russell Amery said action was needed to prevent Victorian growers from focusing solely on low quality, high yielding wheat.
Mr Amery said that growers were talking about reacting against a system that did not reward them for producing quality lines.
"After a second harvest under the liberalised wheat marketing system, there remain many issues which have not been adequately addressed by either the broader grains industry or the Federal Government," Mr Amery said.
"Very few companies send price signals on quality and there is no consistency in the information that is sent."
Meanwhile, WAFarmers grains section president Derek Clauson said he was working on creating a body to promote Australian wheat internationally.
Mr Clauson said he had raised the issue with Federal Minister for Agriculture Tony Burke and had also contacted the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) about a role in the area.
"To develop and maintain vital export markets, any promotional body would be required not only to have an impeccable reputation, but also the necessary expertise and financial capacity," he said.
Mr Amery said the move to establish a set of protocols and a industry promotional body would benefit the whole industry, not just growers.
"A number of grain buyers have expressed concern that they are finding it difficult to meet customers’ requirements," he said.
"This is in turn impacting on the return to growers - especially for the higher quality grain segregations.
"This season many growers will be considering yield over quality traits, unless they are given correct information regarding which wheat varieties they will be paid a premium for."
He said more work needed to be done, especially on receival standards.
"Although an industry body such as Grain Trade Australia does work to set receival standards there is still a long way to go," he said.
"The VFF Grains Group strongly supports the need for a grain classification council with long term funding.
"This is the best way to ensure market signals are sent back to plant breeders and seed companies required quality traits, such as higher test weights, from new varieties."
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