Details of agricultural co-ops forum announced

13 July 2016

In April, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Federal government’s $14.9 million education pilot aimed at improving farmers’ access to information on setting up and running co-operative businesses.

The Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program is a national two year program and will provide expert advice and information for up to 2000 farmers and 100 farmer groups across the country. The BCCM has advocated for federal funding for education aimed at improving farmers access to information on setting up and running co-operative businesses since 2014.

The program, was launched at Northern Rivers dairy co-operative Norco by The Hon. Barnaby Joyce and the Member for Page Kevin Hogan. The program was one of the measures announced in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper last year.

As part of the program, three national forums will be held to share knowledge and promote partnerships between farmers, farm advisors, agencies and other stakeholders. The first of these forums will be held on 29-30 August 2016 at Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, NSW.

Find out more about the forum.

There is no registration fee for the forum aimed at informing attendees on co-operative farming and how to get involved in the pilot program. The two-day event will include informative sessions on issues varying from governance, collective bargaining, and capital raising. Keynote speaker is Jack Wilkinson from the Canadian co-operative, The Co-operators Group, who will outline how co-ops have benefited rural Canada.

Register for the forum.

For further information on the upcoming forum including registration details and how to inquire about travel assistance, view the interactive forum flyer or contact the program team. A detailed brief on the forum is available here.

More information

Read the BCCM’s media release.
Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announces funding to help farming co-operatives.
Listen to BCCM CEO, Melina Morrison, discuss the pilot program with ABC Country Hour (from 6 mins).