National Farmers’ Federation membership revenue rises

National Farmers’ Federation membership fees have jumped for the first time in a decade.

MEMBERSHIP fees to the National Farmers’ Federation have jumped for the first time in a decade, hitting more than $2 million.

It comes as the peak farming lobby delivered a modest surplus for 2018-19, off the back of more than $1 million in revenue from government grants and its biannual farming conference.

Figures from the NFF’s latest financial report show it lifted membership fees for almost every state farming and commodity group, accounting for $2.17 million of its $4.8 million total income.

The Victorian Farmers Federation paid $300,000 — up from $290,000 — while NSW Farmers’ fees jumped $40,000 to $330,000. Australian Dairy Farmers’ Federation fees’ increased about $14,000 to $149,410.

Cotton Australia was the only commodity whose fees have continued to decline, from $67,843 in 2017 to $51,782 last year.

NFF vice-president and VFF president David Jochinke said membership to the peak body was good value for Victorian farmers.

“We need to make sure we are all part of a bigger purpose … sometimes we get outcomes and sometimes we don’t but the main thing is the farmer’s voice is getting heard,” Mr Jochinke said.

“Sometimes the wins are in the longer game than the short — for me the real proof is are we making it easier for our members to engage and are we talking about the issues they’re talking about.”

NFF chief executive Tony Mahar said the board had agreed to a fee rise after minimal or no increases in the past decade. Mr Mahar also attributed the increased member revenue to a number of new associate members, including Australian Organics and the NFF Horticulture Council.

The next largest earner is listed as “NFF Projects” at $673,984.

Mr Mahar did not provide a breakdown of those projects but said it included “a range of projects it undertakes in collaboration both with Government and the private sector” such as agriculture leadership, diversity in agriculture, and international trade development.

Federal Department of Agriculture figures show it gave the NFF $968,400 in 2018-19. The NFF also made $575,720 from its biannual Congress, about half of which went back into paying for the two-day event in Canberra last year.

Overall, the NFF posted a surplus of $329,856, following a deficit of $126,761 in 2017-18.