“We are focused on promoting sustainable agricultural practices and we are working closely with the Primary Industries Department, farm advisers and other experts to improve farm management,” he said.

“As an industry, we recognize that our rapid expansion It has led to some challenges in terms of community perception and our goal is not only to promote the positives of the industry, but also to address some of the concerns head-on, ”McPherson said.

McPherson said there were around 150 producers in this region.

The industry

“Our producers, their families and their employees are active members of this community. The vast majority of people in our industry are passionate about the need for grow sustainably and protect the environment for your children and future generations.

“We are very willing to address the genuine community concerns and working with regulators to address misbehavior. Like any industry, we want to eliminate producers who are not doing the right thing and, at the same time, allow good producers to get on with the business of growth. "

McPherson said the industry had shown that when government and regulators work with us, we can deliver real results, as demonstrated by the SafeWork NSW Award 2020 for our work of communicating to our producers their obligations to WH&S around COVID.

Basically, this region should be proud of an industry that not only generates significant dollars but also contributes to the health and well-being of all Australians.

It should also be noted that the industry is subject to significant regulation around many of its practices, such as land clearing, fair labor obligations, and the use of chemicals, including spray drift and buffer zones. .