The Nationals’ Melina Bath is shining a spotlight on Victorian farmers during National Agriculture Week.
National Agriculture Day 2024 is celebrated this Friday, November 15, and the theme this year is ‘grow you good thing’.
Ms Bath said that growing up on a dairy farm she learnt about the complexity and challenges of producing food from paddock to table.
“Every day our farmers use planning, innovation and hard work to grow world class food and fibre for us,” she said.
“Dairy, beef, lamb, pork, chicken meat, crops, eggs and wool, along with many niche agrifoods – we deliver so much diversity for domestic and internation markets.
“Victoria is Australia’s largest agriculture producer, accounting for 25 per cent or 1.9 million tonnes of goods.
“The sector employs 154,000 people, which includes in 69,000 in primary production and 85,000 in food and beverage manufacturing.”
Ms Bath said more than 21,000 farm businesses in Victoria are managing around 11 million hectares of land, that’s the equivalent to 50 per cent of the state’s total land area.
“It stands to reason that more than three quarters of Victoria’s agricultural operations and jobs are located in our regions.
“Our farmers truly are the lifeblood of our communities, as the essential work they perform clothes and feeds us.
“The Nationals continue to support, promote and value our primary producers and manufacturers in such a vital industry.
“Given the important contribution our farmers make to our vibrant communities, the wealth of our state and the nourishment of our residents, it’s time to say thank you for ‘growing our good things’.”
