APRIL GRAIN GRABS

April has been a significant month for the grains industry, with activity on-farm ramping up alongside a period of sustained engagement from Grain Producers Australia on the issues shaping this season.

We have seen a number of important developments within GPA itself, including the appointment of Duncan Bremner as Chief Executive Officer. This marks an important step in strengthening the organisation’s capacity to represent growers at a time when the operating environment is becoming more complex and more demanding. HERE

At the same time, conditions on the ground have driven much of our focus.

Mouse activity has been building across key grain growing regions, particularly in Western Australia and increasingly in South Australia, and this has required a coordinated response. GPA has been working closely with industry partners and regulators to progress an emergency permit application for access to ZP50 bait, while also encouraging growers to provide on-ground evidence following the use of ZP25. That information is critical in demonstrating what is happening at a paddock level and ensuring regulatory decisions reflect real conditions. HERE

Supporting growers with timely information has also been a priority. Through targeted online sessions and direct engagement, including recent discussions with South Australian growers, GPA has worked to connect research insights with practical on-farm decision-making as pressure begins to build during seeding.

Alongside this, input security has remained a consistent concern throughout April.

The fire at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong served as a timely reminder of the fragility within Australia’s fuel supply system. While the immediate impact on supply was limited, the incident reinforced broader concerns about the level of reliance on both domestic infrastructure and imported inputs, particularly at a time when global tensions continue to influence fuel and fertiliser markets. HERE

GPA has continued to advocate for practical measures to address these risks, including strengthening domestic production capability and supporting investment in on-farm storage to improve resilience across the supply chain.

There have also been some important policy developments during the month. GPA welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to delay full cost recovery for export regulatory services, which provides some relief for growers heading into a critical period. We also acknowledged steps taken to support fuel supply in key regions, recognising the importance of maintaining access to essential inputs during peak demand.

Beyond these immediate issues, GPA has maintained its broader focus on ensuring growers are represented in national discussions that affect the grains industry. Whether that is through ongoing work on chemical regulation, biosecurity preparedness or longer-term industry priorities, the aim is to keep the grower perspective central to decision-making processes.

What has been clear throughout April is that growers are managing a combination of pressures rather than a single issue in isolation.

Seeding decisions are being made in an environment shaped by mouse activity, input costs, supply uncertainty and seasonal conditions, all at the same time. That makes it more important than ever that the systems around the industry, from regulation through to supply chains, are working effectively.

GPA’s role is to stay focused on those realities, advocate where it counts and ensure growers are supported with both a strong national voice and practical, timely engagement as the season unfolds.

As we move further into the year, that focus will remain firmly on the issues that matter most on farm.

Barry Large

GPA Chair

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