National Ag. Day – Celebrating Farmers

2020 has been a challenging year but this National Ag Day we’re recognising the contribution farmers have made over the past 12 months to keep Australia’s food and fibre production as strong as ever.

NSW Farmers’ President James Jackson said today’s celebration is about better connecting Australians with agriculture and the people behind it.

“For a few years now we have been celebrating National Ag Day and it’s been encouraging to see the support it has been receiving from the community.

“I think Aussies have always appreciated the work our farmers do, and understand the challenges they face but this year as the world grapples with a global pandemic, consumers have appreciated more than ever living in a country with such a vast food bowl.

“Research shows Australians are now more likely to purchase locally grown food and fibre as a result of Covid-19. We were also proud to reiterate during the panic buying stage that farmers had their backs and we produce far more food and fibre than we need domestically,” Mr Jackson said.

NSW is home to 30 per cent of the country’s farms.

Farmers in NSW produce everything from beef, dairy, eggs, goats and pork, to poultry and sheep meat, alpacas, grains, fruit, vegetables, wool and oysters with the sector’s estimated output valued at around $15 billion.

Agriculture earns $1 in every $10 of export income for NSW, and with the tourism, services and international education sectors decimated by COVID, it will be strong export-focused industries like agriculture that will lead our State’s and Australia’s economic recovery in the months and years ahead.