THOSE who can remember the formation of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) will recall the expectations for an effective all-commodities lobby group representing Victoria’s primary producers.
The move for commodity groups to unite commenced in 1968 when the Victorian Farmer Union (VFU) was formed; in 1979 it merged with the Graziers Association of Victoria and United Dairy Farmers of Victoria to form the VFF.
The VFF quickly achieved greater recognition by governments for the sector out of its hard-won unity.
Des Crow was the VFF’s first president, with other notable leaders including Heather Mitchell, Peter Walsh and the current NFF president David Jochinke.
Much has changed since then with the industry undergoing farm ownership consolidation, resulting in reduced numbers of Victorian producers, now estimated around 30,000.
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But in recent years the VFF organization has experienced its own challenges in maintaining an administrative and financial course that satisfied different commodity groups.
This saw dairy farmers and chicken meat producers leave the VFF and form their own state bodies.
Membership declined by 1585 in three years to 3261 in September last year, now representing just 10 per cent of the state’s farmers.
Financial losses continued, to be over $4 million to 30 June 2024 and the former board considered selling the Farrer House headquarters in Melbourne, having drawn done heavily on the federation’s reserves.
Newly elected VFF president, Quambatook grain grower Brett Hosking, said his priority would be to restore members' trust and confidence in the VFF.
Victorian farmers face numerous challenges including surges in the cost of freight and the Fire Services Levy, water buybacks, mining intrusions, lack of consultation on transmission lines and renewable energy projects changing farming options.
With his deputy, Upper Murray cattle producer Peter Star, the new president and board will need to tackle these and other farmer issues, plus rebuild membership, restore confidence and the VFF’s viability.
While this will take time, VFF members and all Victorian producers will be keenly watching for the organisation to recover to represent producers and rural Victoria more effectively.
