Old MacDonald sold the farm: so what's the future for agriculture?

Turnour, Jim

Abstract

When most Australians think about farmers, one image still springs to mind: a family in Akubras and Blundstones, battling the elements with a Blue Heeler by their side. That's still the image invoked by politicians when calling for more financial support for farmers, including for a new drought package discussed inside the Coalition party room yesterday. Yet that traditional farmer family is fast being replaced by corporate agriculture, as Deloitte recently explained in their report Positioning for Prosperity. It described "agribusiness" as a forgotten hero of Australia’s economy. So it is timely that the Abbott government is developing a new agricultural competitiveness policy, with an issues paper now available for public comment until 17 April.

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The Conversation

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12 February 2014

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The Conversation Media Group

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