The Victorian Grower Group Alliance

1. The Victorian Grower Group Alliance Presentation to Ghanaian Agricultural Extension Professionals Delegation Melbourne, 21st February 2014 Tony Kent VGGA Coordinator Task Advisors Pty Ltd| Postal: P.O. Box 278, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, AUSTRALIA Mobile: +61 418 101 788  |  Tel/Fax: +61 3 9458 2559 |  Skype: tony.nails.kent |  Email: tonykent@taskadvisor.com.au

2. Overview • The origins of grower groups in Australia. • Why have Grower Group Alliances emerged? • The Victorian Grower Groups Alliance

3. “Grower” groups in Australia (i) • Long tradition of farmers working together to address common concerns: • Formal and informal groups, local community to national, • Farmers’ unions (apolitical ), representative political parties, marketing cooperatives, buying groups, farm bureaux, soil conservation, vermin & noxious weed control groups, catchment management, environmental conservation, district fire brigades • Increasing acceptance of an adult education/learner centric model of extension coincided with increasing use of local groups by agencies as a preferred vehicle for farmer education & extension of new practices: • From the 1960s, district & enterprise-based farm management discussion e.g. dairy, grains, grazing, wool, pigs • From the 1980s, some focus on business management skills e.g. FarmFacts, FM500 • From the 1950s to commodity marketing e.g. Prime Wheat Association, SEPWA, Best Wool, • Farm conservation practices e.g. Landcare, catchment protection, Potter Farm Plan, Farm Advance

4. “Grower” groups in Australia (ii) • As withdrawal of corporate and government services from regional areas gathered pace, the decentralised, community-led model for service delivery was grasped by policy makers and community leaders • Family & community support services • Financial counsellors & farm debt lobby groups • Health services , farm safety • Small Towns Study late 1980s – LOCAL LEADERSHIP CRITICAL • Today: • Most industry/private benefit advice and training is delivered through commercial networks e.g. input suppliers, consultants, and NFP grower/industry-led groups, aka “grower groups”. • Services delivered include training, extension projects & applied R&D • This approach is now institutionalised into the fabric of rural Australia. Many grower groups have been operating for 20+ years.

6. Why grower group alliances? • Do individual group have the scale, capacity and resources to effectively deliver on the expectations of membership and stakeholders? • While groups compete for grants, sponsorships and sometimes members, they have many common needs and interests outside the competitive space and much to gain from cooperative action in agreed areas. • Existing models in SA Ag Excellence and the WA Grower Group Alliance now in its 12th year of operation.

7. VGGA members & industry coverage

8. VGGA Origins • 2008 discussions between DEPI & number of Victorian groups led to 2009 conference. • DEPI agency view (then) that a single grower network covering all grain-producing regions of Victoria would be better able to deliver statewide projects in the absence of DEPI field extension services. • DEPI seed-funded creation of a Victorian alliance, with expectation this would gain industry and other support and perform a range of functions previously undertaken by agency.

9. The VGGA Mission • To improve the research, development, and extension outcomes for farmers in its members’ regions through cooperation, collaboration, and communication between member groups, within and between regional D&E networks, national rural research programmes, and centres of excellence.

10. VGGA now • Incorporated association of 7 member groups with independent chair and part-time coordinator • Guiding principles – no competition for funds with member groups, equal say regardless of size (see notes for details), facilitate cooperation between members. • Regular meetings of all members represented by Chairs and EOs. • Strong interaction and project/operational cooperation now between members’ organisations Sharing of research equipment and field machinery sharing and significant financial and in-kind support for joint applied R&D and extension projects. • Members pay annual fee which tops up DEPI grant and pays for projects and coordination. • DEPI remains engaged through nominated executive contacts • 2010-11 capacity review and risk assessment of VGGA member groups completed. Members agreed on priorities to be addressed on their behalf by VGGA • Led to VGGA project: Improving Grower Groups’ Capacity & Risk Management. • Phase 1 underway targeting Improving OHS Systems & Proceduresat member groups. • From mid-2014, GRDC project funding for 2nd phase of Deepening relationships between staff of member groups.