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Queensland to offer farmers bargaining lessons to reduce their farm gate losses

Queensland farmers will be offered practical workshops to upskill them in the art of negotiating with the supermarket behemoths.

Apr 17, 2024, updated Apr 17, 2024
Farmers have been offered bargaining lessons to reduce their farm gate losses.. (Photo: Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash).

Farmers have been offered bargaining lessons to reduce their farm gate losses.. (Photo: Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash).

Premier Steven Miles says an industry led farm gate price monitoring scheme will be trialled across the top 20 products from farmers and growers.

The financial performance, weekly wholesale price and retail price data of farmers will be monitored under the scheme, in a bid to give farmers information and skills to effectively negotiate better deals with Australia’s supermarket giants.

A federal Senate inquiry into supermarket prices is ongoing and has heard that supermarket giants are paying well below market value for goods to primary producers.

The Queensland premier says workshops for farmers will be held in each major growing region and a production cost best practice model will be established for growers to better understand profitability and risk.

“When I met with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation and fruit and vegetable growers they told me farm gate pricing needed to be more transparent,” Mr Miles told parliament on Tuesday.

“My government will work with growers to capture, analyse and monitor wholesale and retail pricing across fresh food products, and we’ll develop a best practice production cost model for Queensland farmers.

“It’s about equipping farmers with the information and training to get the best deal for themselves, their families and their farms.”

Industry heads have welcomed the government’s pledge to supporting farmers and growers.

The Farmers Federation says its a tangible option that will help drive change for farmers.

CEO Jo Sheppard says food security both in Australia and globally is rising and it’s essential governments work with growers.

“Market transparency and fair trading terms need to be improved to ensure the future viability of farmers and everyday Australian’s ability to access and afford Australian food,” she said.

“We must work to support a sustainable future for food and fibre production for the benefit of future generations.”

The state government’s supermarket pricing inquiry has had its submissions deadline extended to April 19.

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