NSW Farmers has confirmed it will leave Grain Producers Australia from April 1, joining Grain Producers South Australia in stepping away from the national body. The Land reported that NSW Farmers said the decision followed “repeated attempts” to resolve issues, including concerns around the GPA grains levy review and an independent governance review. “Responsible investment of member funds for peak industry body memberships is a priority… [and] the difficult decision to resig

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are raising concerns across the grains industry, with the risk of rising fuel prices landing at a critical time for seeding. Grain Producers Australia Chair Barry Large told ABC Rural Report that increased volatility in global oil markets is already being felt, with growers watching closely as the situation develops. Mr Large said the conflict has reintroduced significant risk into key supply chains. “The escalating conflict involving Ir

A new “war surcharge” on container shipping to the Middle East is raising concern across Australia’s export sectors, with costs of up to $US4000 per refrigerated container expected to flow through supply chains. The Australian reported that the surcharge, introduced by major shipping lines including CMA CGM, comes amid escalating conflict in the region and applies even to cargo already in transit, leaving exporters with little ability to adjust pricing. Industry groups have l

In an interview with ABC WA Country Hour's Belinda Varischetti, Grain Producers Australia Chair Barry Large has reiterated the organisation's focus remains firmly on supporting grain growers and addressing the major issues facing the sector following recent commentary regarding State Farming Organisation membership. GPA Chair Barry Large said the organisation was disappointed by the decisions of two State Farming Organisations to terminate their membership, but said GPA remai

Moves by Grain Producers South Australia to leave Grain Producers Australia, with NSW Farmers set to follow, have highlighted ongoing tensions around governance, levy settings and national coordination. Grain Central reported that the departures follow years of engagement on reform and differing views on issues including the Grains Research and Development Corporation levy. GPA said its role remains unchanged despite the shifts. “Grain Producers Australia has recognised repre

Grain Producers Australia says it will continue efforts to review grower levies paid to the Grains Research and Development Corporation, despite the Federal Agriculture Minister declining its initial proposal. ABC WA Country Hour reported that the Minister has called for both representative organisations to work together and build a stronger business case, supported by broader grower consultation. GPA Chair Barry Large told Belinda Varischetti that while the outcome was disap

A grower survey has been put forward as the basis for a proposal to review levy settings applied to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), as reserves approach $1 billion. Speaking on 3CS radio, Andrew Weidemann said Grain Producers Australia (GPA) submitted findings from an independent survey of growers to the Federal Agriculture Minister to test appetite for change. “There was a 76% majority that wanted to see a change in the current levy rate because we ar

Rejection of Grain Producers Australia's (GPA) push to have the research, development and extension levy reduced has been announced by Federal Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins. GPA ran a poll of levy-paying grain producers in late 2025 which showed support for the move, however the Minister has asked for a joint business case from the two grains industry representative organisations GPA and GrainGrowers. The Land reported that GPA Chair Barry Large said the value-propos

Grain Producers Australia is calling for changes to assessment criteria that guides decisions of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to consider environmental and financial impacts. Countryman reported that these calls were being made as growers had faced losing key chemistries such as paraquat, diquat and glyphosate in recent years, without regulations allowing for considerations of impacts on the broader system. GPA Research, Development and

More widespread feedback is required for any levy change proposal to be successful according to Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins. News of the rejection of Grain Producers Australia's proposal following a poll of levy-paying producers in late 2025 was announced after the issue was raised in Senate Estimates. Grain Central reported on the outcome and spoke to GPA Southern Region Director and RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann. He indicated GPA would take on the Minist

Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins has reinforced the need for a business case from both grains representative organisations to support a call for reducing the grains levy. This confirmation comes after Grain Producers Australia conducted a poll of levy-paying grain producers in late 2025 which showed a majority of producers would like to see a reduction in the research, development and extension component of the compulsory levies. The Weekly Times reported on the Minist

Low grain prices are the cause of growers deciding to hold onto their grain in on-farm storage and wait for change. The Weekly Times reported that approximately 30 per cent of the 2025-26 grain harvest could still be on farms with growers weighing up prices against the need for income to put in their next crop. GPA Southern Region Director and Victorian grower Andrew Weidemann said the amount being held could be closer to 50 percent and a national inventory of grain stocks wo

Debate around the grains levy system has sharpened this week following confirmation the Federal Agriculture Minister has rejected a proposal to adjust the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) levy. The issue was raised during Senate Estimates, where Slade Brockman questioned whether growing GRDC reserves, confirmed at more than $728 million and expected to rise further, should trigger a reconsideration of levy settings paid by growers. Under the current system,

Reviews of chemicals by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) need to consider the wider environmental and financial implications of its decisions according to Grain Producers Australia (GPA). Country News reported that there are concerns from GPA that decisions that remove key chemical from producer toolboxes that could have flow on effects. GPA Southern Region Director and Research, Development and Extension Spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said

Grain producer budgets are being examined as low grain prices are prompting growers to hold onto their last season's grain. Farm Online reported that growers were looking for savings as the cost of production continues to increase and fertiliser is the first on the list according to experts. Grain Producers Australia Southern Region Director Andrew Weidemann said this was a major concern and one GPA continued to prioritise in its advocacy efforts. "We're seeing prices for inp

Lentil prices hitting low prices not seen for years is not expected to prompt a change of plans for grower plantings in 2026. The crop has largely experienced high prices for the past 5-10 years, which has resulted in large planting increases both in Australia and overseas. Queensland Country Life reported that the price drop, attributed to increasingly larger crop sizes globally, has many growers holding onto their lentils to sell at a hopefully higher price. Grain Producers

Australian growers have met maximum residue limits (MRLs) in 2024-25 at a rate of 99.6 per cent. This strong result, as reported by Grain Central, to the National Residue Survey (NRS) program is informed by sampling across bulk export terminals, container export packers, oilseed crushers, feedmills, flour mills, feedlots, and food processors and is funded by grower levies GPA RD&E spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said as a part of GPA’s representative role in oversight of the N

Market access requirements for maximum residue limits of chemicals have been met with flying colours as Australian grain producers show 99.6 per cent compliance. As reported by 2WEB radio in an interview with Grain Producers Australia Research Development and Extension Spokesperson Andrew Weidemann, this result is critical to maintaining market access and is a testamemt to good practices employed by producers. "The National Residue Survey is something that's funded by growers

Grower commitment to meeting maximum residue limit requirements has been reinforced following solid results in the 2024-25 National Residue Survey. Compliance was measured at 99.6 per cent, supporting the mechanism for grain exporters to retain market access requirements internationally. The program is funded by grower levies and involves samples being taken at export terminals, container packing sites, oilseed crushers, feedmills, flour mills, feedlots and food processors. G

The Federal Government's plans to recover the regulatory costs of agricultural exports has industry concerned the announcement is a cost shifting exercised. The new cost recovery arrangements are expected to collect millions of dollars from mid next year. The Weekly Times spoke to Grain Producers Australia Southern Region Director Andrew Weidemann, who said while there was little information released publicly ahead of the January 2026 public consultation, GPA has concerns. “T