South Australian farmers to vote on new Primary Producers SA group to represent all primary producers

TOMORROW is a significant day for rural South Australia - members of the SA Farmers Federation will vote on forming a new group to represent  primary producers.

TOMORROW is a significant day for rural South Australia - members of the SA Farmers Federation will vote on forming a new group to represent primary producers.

A 75 per cent yes vote is needed to move to the new Primary Producers SA model, representing grain, livestock, dairy, horticulture, wine grape and pork producers.

Under the plan, devised by former premier Rob Kerin, all farmers will be represented in a new organisation being watched by farm groups across Australia.

Mr Kerin says in a letter to members the meeting is significant for the future of rural SA.

"A strong united voice is very important to government, but we also need to communicate strongly to the community about the importance and contribution of primary production," Mr Kerin says.

The aims of Primary Producers SA include providing a voice for all primary producers.

"This is a desirable change from the present situation where SA producers are represented by a number of organisations," Mr Kerin said.

"In the past 15 years, several groups have left the federation and formed commodity organisations."

The various groups had worked co-operatively in the past 12 months to develop a new farm organisation to represent all farmers, he said.

It is also proposed to include associate members of other like-minded organisations such as irrigator groups.

The council would set policy on all cross-commodity issues and would not interfere in the issues specific to one commodity member.

Mr Kerin said that, if successful, the new Primary Producers Council would consist of one representative from each of the six member groups and an independent chairman appointed by the council.

"They are all looking forward to working together at giving primary producers a united and strong voice into the future," Mr Kerin said.

"They all agree that the contribution of primary production in SA has been under-respected by governments and the community and see the need to address this issue."

The new group would be funded by membership fees of the six members and through sponsorships and commercial arrangements. Assets of the SA Farmers Federation would transfer to Primary Producers SA.