Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Cartwright on September 30, 2009 at 6:22pm

Good challenge Rowell
Now not making any excuses but not every one wants to milk cows, however it seems most think the sun only comes up in the morning to shine on Barnaby Joyce. So lets hope he might be one of the first to join and then be prepared to help not only us dairy farmers but all farmers, for his party will need to be a better performer than what it has been for many years now.
Only picked on Barnaby because I had a look to see who had the most members now. So dont come attacking me.
AMPA did have many thousands of members but with what it was formed for ie. to oppose deregulation of our industry.
When that occured over half of the farmers have been forced out of the industry in the market milk states and we have lost our share of members.
One can only ask of those farmers that were sucked in to accecpt the big carrot, oops meant "package' how do they feel now.
Any way Rowell thanks for your comment on the quality of debate on here and I think quality scribes will do more than numbers if they have nothing to say.
We will grow just like the acorn seed you see.

Permalink Reply by Rob Moore on October 3, 2009 at 11:11am

My great interest in dairing, trucking, wool growing and more recently beef producing is the fundamental urge to see fairness and equity in our supply chains. Personally I am never going to be wealthy but by taking the tough decisions we have always have enough and NO debt.
It is almost recreation to me to pit my experience(industry and wordly) against that of the faceless traitorous forces that seem to manipulate our respective Industries. I'm not scared of them- they don't control me. I studied engineering breifly at Uni-but not smart enough to complete but nevertheless enjoy the wheels within wheels, traction, leverage, action and reaction, planning and seeing things through to a conclusion.
The members are growing and I don't think it matters whether it is 7 or 70 that come up with a plan for the future so long as it is bullet proof and been second guessed and we have our own Agmates Senator running the Inquiryto present it to Parliment.
It is the same with the ABA- most of the people that we are trying to help are isolated and aren't computer saavy. DON"T FORGET the NFF is just a shell of half a dozen nobodies and look at the impact they have had!

Permalink Reply by John Cartwright on October 3, 2009 at 11:22am

Steve & Rowell
Glad to reply to your comments.
First must say this group is not the AMPA group . It was and is intended for all dairy farmers and its supporters to be able to have open discussion on all matters.
And I am pleased to say that in the groups short time it has active members from four states and one from america.
As for our numbers well apart from the polies who you would expect to have more, we are one of the larger and more active groups on Agmates.
Think about all the beef producers in australia,what about the grain growers, vegetable and fruit ,fishermen even the trucking industry. You would have to say pretty poor numbers coming from all of them as yet anyway.
So what I am saying is having 450 members in this forum, (based on what you said of the dairy farmers) when we all look to any of the polies for assistance and political support to our causes going to say. Well there is only a handful of them - if they are not interested in helping tremselves- why should i get involved.
Well I can only hope that if they are watching the discussions all over Agmates they will be hearing what grass roots persons are saying and way that up with the garbage the are being told from our so called peak body representatives.
I do not expect anyone to help us build our group.
And as for the acorn well we are growing and that is better than some of the dead wood that is supposed to be looking after our interests.

Permalink Reply by Rowell Walton on October 3, 2009 at 9:23pm

But guys we need numbers to have clout, now granted we are growing rapidly, but we all need and most of us are talking and pushing agmates as much as we can, I often send mails to all my email adresses, and I am disapointed when every body just does not jump in, like forming a political party , gathering the numbers its a big task..so lets give it our best shot?

Permalink Reply by John Cartwright on October 5, 2009 at 12:18pm

You are right Susan
I have led a great many to water but they get shy, and I do not know the answer as to how to get them to drink.
It could be a lot of country folk are not prepared to through a saddle on their computor and have a go, or it might be that some one might see their name or they think they do not have any thing new to offer.
But it is interesting how many can tell me what they saw on Agmates even though not a member.

Permalink Reply by Andrea Balcombe on October 5, 2009 at 12:37pm

You don't need to join agmates in order to read the postings and I am hearing from farmers who are just happy to read at present.

Permalink Reply by John Cartwright on October 5, 2009 at 7:38pm

Thanks Susan
I believe that acorn has just grown a new leaf.