National Farmers' Federation

Key policy priorities

The NFF's key policy areas include farm business and productivity; access to markets; digital connectivity; natural resource management; biosecurity, health and welfare; education and training; and workplace relations. The NFF has been involved in a number of major policy debates in Australia, including most recently, the backpacker tax, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, carbon tax, foreign investment, drought policy reform and livestock exports.

In February 2013, the NFF released the first Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. The blueprint is a strategic plan for the Australian agricultural sector and its supply chain, setting out its future direction. The blueprint is the first cross-industry plan for the sector, developed by the sector. In 2013, the NFF moved into the legacy phase of the blueprint: turning the blueprint document into action. The blueprint was developed with the support of Westpac, Woolworths and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with Westpac and Woolworths continuing their support into the legacy phase, along with new partners Bayer and Syngenta Australia.

In December 2015 the National Farmers Federation launched a new program to use digital technology to improve agricultural efficiency. The program comprises three components:

Background

NFF's members are the state-level farmers' organizations, national commodity councils, and other affiliated members. According to the NFF charter, state-level farmers' organizations represent the interests of the agricultural sector in their respective states. Issues related to individual commodities or interstate/national farming concerns are represented by relevant national commodity councils. The NFF focuses on those policy issues that affect all farmers, regardless of location or commodity. These include such issues as farm business and productivity, access to markets, natural resource management, biosecurity, animal health and welfare, education and training and workplace relations.

The NFF was formed in 1979.

Membership structure

NFF policy is set by the NFF Members' Council, which comprises the presidents of the NFF's 31–member organizations:

Mr Brent Finlay, a mixed grazier from Stanthorpe QLD, became President of the NFF in November 2013.

President

The following people have served as president of the National Farmers' Federation:

Chief executive officer

The following people have served as chief executive officer, or another appropriate title, of the National Farmers' Federation:

Award of Honour

The NFF Award of Honour recognizes people who have made an important contribution to the NFF and the farming sector. These include:

NFF Congress

The NFF has run its National Congress four times, in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. The two first Congresses focused on modern farming, and adapting to the changing agriculture environment. In 2012, the Congress was around understanding, and capitalizing on, the food and fibre boom. The theme for the 2014 Congress was 'Producing Our Future'.

The next Congress will be held in 2016.

Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund

The Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund was created in 1985 to provide financial, legal and professional assistance to farmers. The fund was created out of Mudgenberri dispute in 1985, funded in part by farmers and in part by non-farming businesses. The AFFF is governed independently of the NFF, and is controlled by a board of trustees, three of which are independent trustees.

The current trustees are Hugh Nivison (chairman); Peter Reith; Donald McGauchie AO; Brent Finlay; Duncan Fraser; Fiona Simson; and Tony Mahar.