The National Fodder Conference is back!
There is excitement building amongst Australia’s hay and silage producers and all those along the fodder supply chain, as the industry prepares to gather in Toowoomba this month after three long years for its national conference.
Hosted by the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) the event kicks off with a welcome function on the evening of Monday 25 July before launching into a two-day conference with a bustling and full trade hall and culminating in a post-conference tour.
“The event is a welcome return to normal business for the industry, and will appeal to anyone whose business includes fodder, from growers and contractors to traders and end-users,” said Paula Fitzgerald, AFIA’s Chief Executive Officer.
The event features a full two-day program which includes presentations from leading hay producers around the country, an update on the oaten hay and national oat breeding program, and the National Hay Quality Awards.
“One of our keynote speakers is David Jochinke, Vice President, of the National Farmers’ Federation, and he will outline the NFF 2030 Campaign, a bold vision for the industry to exceed $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030,” she said. “This target has fantastic implications for the fodder industry, with around one third of all Australian commercial scale farms involved in making hay or silage each year.”
Interactive panel discussions on topics ranging from healthy humans = healthy business, innovation, future fodder, and regional communities promise to deliver a diverse and interesting event. There will also be sponsor presentations, product launches, a ‘new kids on the block’ session talking to fodder industry newcomers and two ‘nuts and bolts’ sessions focused on tips for securing and retaining skilled staff and cyber security for businesses.
“The trade hall sold out quickly, with exhibitors snapping up booths, keen to show their wares and talk to people face-to-face after a long period impacted by the pandemic,” she said.
“The post-conference tour is always a highlight with our members and this year looks no different with a state-of-the-art robotic nursery, a lot feeding operation, cotton farm and gin, and an evening in Chinchilla all part of the plan,” she said.
“We are really looking forward to a great week of catching up with friends, colleagues and the wider fodder community to discuss the exciting developments and innovations in the sector, and of course, the challenges we all face together in rural Australia,” she said.
The National Fodder Conference will commence with a Welcome Function at 5pm on Monday 25 July 2022 at the Empire Theatre, 56 Neil Street, Toowoomba. The full program is available online: https://afia.org.au/events/#fodder-conference
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All National Fodder Conference attendees will be required to follow Queensland Government COVID guidelines which are available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19