What do the lives of young farmers tell us about public policy? Ann Clarke Bradley Morgan

1. Kicking the Dust: The Past, Present and Future of Young Farmers in the Mid North of South Australia What do the lives of young farmers tell us about public policy? Ann Clarke Bradley Morgan

2. Purpose of Tonight • Summary of Data Collected from Interviews • Confirm • Feedback / Discuss • Next Steps • Ethics

3. Background to Information • 20 In depth interviews • 16 Males, 4 females • Purpose of Interviews • Data Saturation • Social Determinants of Health chosen as a basis to questions as it highlights the complexity of young farmers’ lives in relation public policy. • Age range of farmers interviewed 22 to 34 years

4. Study Area

5. Demographics Type of Farm • Cereals – wheat, barley, peas, lupins, canola, hay, oats/vetch, legumes, Lucerne, clover • Livestock – Sheep/lambs, Cattle, Feral Goats, alpacas • Pecans • Wool • Tourism • Machinery Parts • Vines • Wine Size of Farms • Ranging from 1000 acres – 36,000 acres • North of Carrieton - Bangor – Wirrabara – Hallett – Jamestown – Belalie -Mannanarie – Tarcowie - Peterborough (and everywhere between)

6. Summary of Data

7. History • All farms are generational up to fifth generation • Many farms were built and established by their families and they continue to farm the property • Others have moved to farm in their current region from other farms • Some farms have been expanded or experienced significant expansion - particularly by their parents and some expansion by themselves • This generation – many farmers are the last family members left (this generation) on the farm (Most siblings have left the farming profession – and statistics indicate that young farmers entering the profession are declining rapidly)

8. Reasons for Becoming a Farmer • Everyone needs to be fed • Working with family as a kid • Expected of me • Guilt from family • Partner • Tradition • Fresh air • Open spaces • Love the environment • Enjoy tractors, motorbikes • Lifestyle • Family Background • Always wanted to be a farmer • “Bred into me” “In my blood” • Been to the city and did not like the city • Passionate about farming • Love everything about it • Custodians of the land • Busy

9. Parental Support • Most parents supportive of whatever we wanted to do • Some encouraged to do farming • Some expected/assumed to take it on • Some parents recommended that they should do a trade before they came back

10. Economic/Business Issues • Most multi-generational farms rely on input from parents to complete necessary business work eg. BAS, Tax, Payroll etc. • Most young farmers are actively involved with bookkeeping and planning • All young farmers used accountants/financial advisors or book keepers for assisting with bookkeeping • Most try to budget but there is a recognition of difficulties because of the variable seasons, drought and price variations

11. What are main expenses and have you made any money? • Many young farmers are making no money relying on off farm income, investments and carry on finance • Last few years have been difficult to make money due to dry seasons, high input costs and variable prices • Making money or profit is getting harder all the time • Cropping is the biggest expense with emphasis on fertilizer costs, fuel costs, spray and chemical costs • Pastoralists are different with the main expenses of infrastructure, fencing and fuel • Not much money being made from cropping – sheep meat has made some money and wool prices have low • Meeting the interest costs has also been of major concern

12. Do you have enough income to meet your needs and do you receive any Government assistance? • A majority are not receiving enough income from the farm to meet their own personal needs • Majority of partners are working off farm to supplement incomes • Majority of farmers have off farm work • Half of the young farmers are receiving either interest rate subsidies or weekly income support. The rest are either in the process of applying or have chosen not to apply as they don’t want the Government to be able to control their circumstances.

13. Drought • Young farmers reported decreased yields affecting viability and sustainability • Decreased income • Increased workload • Increased costs for purchasing stock feed • Ongoing problems with water resulting in cartage of water for stock and additional expenses with purchasing water (dams dry, lowering water tables).

14. Responsibilities, Decision Making and Living and Working in the Same Place • The majority of decisions on the farm are made by the partners in the property (predominately consisting of mum, dad and siblings). • Most young farmers reported that they had control and influence over decision making. • There were some reports of difficulties and some conflict between the decision makers, however these situations were not affecting the viability of the property at this time. • All young farmers were working in a cooperative generational business • Most young farmers enjoyed living and working on the property - there was the occasional mention of the need for a break from the property • Some families reported it as being very positive being able to share the work with other family members • Some young farmers also reported the positives of being able to access the environment with their young children eg. taking them for walks, rides in vehicles to look at sheep, picnics.

15. Working hours and off farm work? • Majority of young farmers work between 60-70 hours per week with the minimum of 45-50 hours and with several working in excess of 100 hours per week. • 17 young farmers work off farm to supplement the farm income : contracting work general, shearing and shed hands, tourism. • 18 young farmers reported that their partners all normally worked off farm, however 3 partners were expecting or recently had a new baby and two of the young farmers are currently single.

16. Isolation • Most farmers say they don’t feel isolated. • Some say that they do feel isolated but are happy to accept that as part of the reality of modern day farming. • A few say they do feel lonely and isolated • The majority of young farmers have access to small towns nearby and interact with other farmers locally and visit their friends.

17. Stress in Farming • Half of the young farmers reported that farming is not that stressful and the stressors are expected in farming (it was felt it was normal stress associated with farming) • Half of the young farmers talked about the stress of the weather and others said they tried not to stress over things out of their control • Two young farmers mentioned a lack of control over commodity prices as being stressful • Some mentions of a lack of money and debt was also of concern and causing stress • Four young farmers talked about the uncertainty of farming causing stress (including many mentions about the visual impact of crops struggling to make it)

18. Stress in Farming • A couple of mentions where made of feeling stressed over the long term commitment associated with farming – often linked with large debts • Some young farmers talked about concerns with organising the number of tasks of farms and doing those tasks – multi skilled nature of being a farmer • A sense of feeling stressed at busy times like shearing, harvest and seeding • Family stress – One quarter of young farmers reported some difficulty and conflict in the relationship with their fathers and closely associated other family members involved in the farming business

19. Supports if a young farmer was stressed • All young farmers reported they had someone they could talk too if they were feeling stressed • The majority of young farmers who had either a wife, husband or partner reported that they felt able to talk to them about their stress • The majority mentioned that they could talk to their parents or brothers and sisters for supports for stress • Several young farmers reported that they talked to their mum when feeling stressed • Friends played an important role in support for stress with half of all young farmers seeking their support

20. Health Services • Four young farmers reported visiting a local doctor if required • More than half do not attend doctors and would only attend if absolutely necessary • Some of the reasons put forward for non attendance at health services include; they feel uncomfortable, do not have confidence in professionals, health strategies have not been useful in the past, they analyse the problems but there is no practical support, language barrier of GP’s, and they don’t want to be told off or blamed. • A few young farmers felt the medical services were helpful and if they needed help they felt that they could get it.

21. What do you enjoy about farming? • Lifestyle • Environment with open spaces • Freedom • Being my own boss • Flexibility to be able to take a day off when needed • Enjoyment of the day to day tasks on the farm especially the variety that farming offers • Young farmers like to be busy and work hard

22. What meaning do you get from farming and what are the important values around farming? • Family values are an important part of farming • Resilience and working hard (often spoken about in terms of tolerance) • Growing good crops and producing good stock for sale • Pride in that farming is a family thing • Identity in that young farmers have a strong sense of who they are and where they belong • The importance of working with the environment

23. What would they do instead of farming? • Would be in agriculture related industries such as farmhand, contractors, shearers, roustabouts • Mechanics, engineering and boilermakers • Tourism industry • Landscaping and gardening

24. How do you think mining will affect farming? And what work would you do if you were not farming? • Increased land prices due to demand for small blocks and housing • Less incentive for young people to be farmers • Very hard to get skilled hired help for farms and cannot compete with the high wages in mining • Provides more young people with employment opportunities in mining and they have the option of returning back to rural areas • Depressing for the farm industry • Most young farmers said they would not go into mining as they do not want to be away from their families or the farm • On the positive side it has provided some young farmers with the opportunity to gain income to bring back to the farm • Young farmers are hoping to see improvements to rural infrastructure as a result of mining

25. Education and Education Needs • All young farmers have participated in a number of formal qualifications including certificates in Agriculture with TAFE and/or University • Half of the young farmers have completed either Certificate 2 or 3 in Agriculture - on farm training courses at TAFE • Some young farmers are currently undertaking the Diploma in Agriculture • Some young farmers reported the value of learning from experience in farming including learning from other people about the hands on skills needed in farming. • Some young farmers reported that they would have liked to have done a trade qualification before coming back on the farm, however they also recognised that the learning they had from participation in farming straight from school was valuable. • An attitude of lifelong learning was very evident amongst young farmers. • Education needs: shorter courses at more convenient times. Courses for suggestion were marketing, computer skills and small business management.

26. What are your social outlets and do you have regular time off? • Most young farmers participate in sport as a social outlet • Main socialising occurs at home or at the pub with family and friends • Some farmers are involved in farmers groups • Time off farm varied for all farmers – some had no regular time off of the farm for holidays, others reported taking a regular break for 1-2 weeks a year • Most farmers worked on weekends – with an occasional day/weekend off • Most farmers reported hoping to have more time off • There were occasional reports of sport participation decreasing due to declining numbers of young farmers, and irregularity of mining workers 4 days on/4days off.

27. Succession and Inheritance • All but two families have discussed the issues surrounding succession and inheritance. • Some young farmers feel confident that the succession is sorted out • Five young farmers have utilised assistance around succession and are still facing some family and policy difficulties trying to sort things out • There is fear for young farmers around losing their livelihood and around paying out other siblings – also difficulties with expansion as paying out siblings will result in no money available for further expansion and consolidation.

28. Policy Do farmers have a fair go? • Three quarters of the young farmers do not feel supported by the Government however they also recognise that their population is small and that farmers and farming groups are not lobbying government sufficiently for their needs

29. Policy Compliance Issues • Young farmers recognise the need to comply with different legislation around safety in the workplace, however the costs involved with this are too high including both storage options and training costs for courses as well as the time involved with this training (with many courses having a “use by” date). • Young farmers recognise the need and importance of safe workplaces

30. Policy Trade and Marketing • Most young farmers reported that there is a lack of transparency around trade issues for example price setting, trade arrangements, “who is getting the money’ (with many vested interests in farming) • Some young farmers expressed frustration about “vested interests” as they relate to what farmers eventually receive for financial rewards for their work and commodities

31. Policy Global Impacts • Globalisation is recognised by young farmers as having a direct impact on their lives • Young farmers feel that Australian farmers are very self reliant and efficient as opposed to those countries in the EU and US who are currently paid subsidies to farm • Young farmers recognise that this places them not on a “level playing field” as far as competitiveness around commodity prices • Young farmers are aware that global productivity and demand is affecting the prices that they receive • Young farmers highlighted the need for the Government to be more aware that some products we are currently importing are “doing us out of markets and income” eg. Saturating our local markets • Some young farmers recognised opportunities for marketing products themselves collectively and individually overseas • Many young farmers recognised that globalisation impacts on fertiliser and fuel prices in particular

32. Policy Local Policy Concerns • Young farmers are very concerned with water issues both the lack of available water highlighted by the ongoing droughts, the current state of the River Murray, dropping water tables and the lack of available stock water • Some young farmers mentioned concerns around environmental issues • A lack of rural infrastructure was mentioned with the state of local roads highlighted as needing attention. • There was some concern that as a result of the recent droughts that some farms may be relying on ongoing Exceptional circumstance payments and interest rate subsidies which may be prolonging an unviable situation

33. Policy Local Policy Concerns • Some farmers spoke about frustration that unless they where in debt then it limited the Government support they could be eligible to receive and they felt that they had been penalised for not having a debt • Young farmers recognised that the Government appeared to have more focus on the mining industry than agriculture • Most farmers did not want subsidies they felt they would rather have fair and consistent prices for their commodities • Some concerns were raised about many of the current fees, registrations and there were also issues with the taxation system especially payroll tax and stamp duty • Many young farmers were aware of the need for superannuation and some had started the process of putting some money into super

34. Environmental Issues • Many young farmers raised concerns about water issues; these included concerns over the River Murray, a lowering water table, less catchment and run off of water for dams, decreased rainfall from drought. • Mixed views currently on climate change with some farmers convinced there are changes with others reflecting on past records and cycles and believing it has shown similar patterns in the past • The majority of young farmers in the cropping country use no till and direct drill farming practices others in pastoral areas focus on livestock • Some young farmers are involved with cell grazing, holistic grazing and rotational grazing. • Pastoralists were very concerned about the effects of locust spraying on the local flora and fauna

35. Environmental Protection • Most young farmers are involved with tree planting • Some young farmers felt they had to use lots of chemicals due to resistance of weeds and felt uncomfortable about using large amounts of chemicals • Some young farmers used contour banks to control erosion • Many young farmers were using saltbush to control salinity and to provide roughage for stock

36. Communication • The majority of young farmers report patchy mobile phone coverage with some having no mobile phone coverage at all over their properties • The majority of young farmers have satellite broadband for the internet • The majority of young farmers use the internet for banking, emails and commodity prices • Young farmers report that satellite internet is faster than dial up but much slower than they expected and in places does drop in and out.

37. Circumstances around leaving the farm • Half of all young farmers would consider leaving their farms if they could not make a living for themselves or their families – however this would be considered a last resort • Many young farmers reported they would consider leaving due to conflict and family relationship breakdown relating to the farm • Half of all young farmers said they would not leave the farm – unless they are in a “wooden box”

38. Advocacy and Farming Representation • Most young farmers are not members of the South Australian Farmers Federation or other advocacy groups • Most young farmers said that the SAFF lack strength, do not encourage the views of young farmers, are too expensive with their membership and do not offer any useful support for young farmers • Young farmers reported that they felt that leaders within SAFF are not representing their needs adequately to the Government or anyone else • A number of young farmers reported feeling powerless to influence decision makers regarding agriculture • The Government is currently not responsive to the needs of young farmers • Most young farmers said they would have to advocate for themselves however some felt not able to do this individually • Many young farmers felt there was a need to form a collective voice for young farmers and this may be an alternative organisation to SAFF

39. Public perception of farming • Young farmers feel that they are stereotyped by the general public • Some of these stereotypes include; slow, dumb, whingeing, rich, hicks • The public do not recognise the complexity of farming • The media has a strong influence on how farmers are portrayed

40. What is the future of farming? • Most young farmers say there is a future in farming and they are positive • Some concerns that were raised include; need to improve commodity prices, decision making will be governed by business like approach rather than family – devaluing the ‘tradition of farming’ • Many young farmers mentioned the need to diversify • Of further concern was climate change and its effect on farming with many mentioning the need to move away from cropping and more into livestock production (high input costs in cropping and lack of rain) • Many young farmers expressed concerns with a loss in farming population and a decline in farming culture

41. Why is there not many women in farming? • Many young farmers talked about the tradition of women not being raised to expect to be farmers • They also said that many young women are stereotyped into not being farmers • All young farmers supported the idea of women being involved in farming • Most farmers reported that women don’t want to be famers, preferring to go to Adelaide for work/study and other friends

42. Next Steps • Analysis of Information into themes • Comparison with other research and current policy • Written report for University, Country Health SA • Written Dissertation • Transfer of Knowledge to SAFF, NFF, PIRSA, Uni’s, Communities, farmers, media and other organisations with a vested interest in young farmers.