Support Aussie farmers: buy Australian this Christmas

With less than one week remaining until Christmas, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has joined the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in calling for Australians to buy local produce this Christmas.
NFF President Jock Laurie is encouraging shoppers to show their support for Australian farmers by buying local produce for the festive season.
“Australia is world-renowned for our healthy, fresh, available and affordable food – from meat and grain products to dairy, fruit and vegetables and locally made wine and beer,” Mr Laurie said.
“Buying home grown products goes a long way to supporting our nation’s food and fibre producers. This Christmas, give a gift back to our farming sector by buying Australian grown produce,” Mr Laurie said.
Mr Laurie’s comments come following the release of the ABARES Agricultural Commodity Statistics report for 2011-12 this week, which gave some early Christmas cheer to the farm sector, confirming that the value of farm exports increased by 14.5 percent in 2011-12 to $36.4 billion.
“This year, the Australian Year of the Farmer, has been a positive one for our nation’s farmers. While some farmers across the country have done it tougher than others, due to unseasonal conditions and below average rain, across the board farm production has increased by around four percent over the year. And this year, for the first time in 10 years, no part of Australia is considered ‘in drought’.
“I started this year by saying that Australian agriculture has a very positive story to tell, and that there has never been a better time to be a farmer. Now, as the year draws to a close, I reiterate that Australian agriculture has tremendous opportunities ahead. In fact, just last week, ABARES predicted that 2013 will be another strong year for our nation’s farmers.
“Yes, there are challenges ahead for agriculture – that’s exactly why the NFF exists – but we can’t lose sight of the fact that so long as the world needs food and fibre, the world needs farmers.
“So this Christmas, while you’re filling your shopping trolley or tucking into the Christmas ham, spare a thought for our hard-working Aussie farmers,” Mr Laurie said.
Fast Farm Fact: The ABARES Agricultural Commodity Statistics 2011-12 Report shows that in 2011-12, the average Australian consumed 104 litres of milk, 32 kilograms of beef, 25 kilograms of pork and ham and nine kilograms of lamb.