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Tuesday 29 July - Thursday 31 July

2008 is a significant year for the Association, as we celebrate the NSW Farmers’ Association being the unified voice of all Farmers’ in NSW for 30 years. In line with other events throughout the year, the Annual Conference will reflect on our important history, celebrate our achievements and look towards the future. ’30 Years – One Voice’ is the theme for this years Annual Conference.

Highlights from Conference

• Tarcutta farmer Alan Brown and Booligal farmer Graham Morphett were elected Vice Presidents of the NSW Farmers’ Association.
• NSW Farmers’ Association President Jock Lauire joined NSW Department of Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald to launch Landlearn – a program that aims to better educate young children about primary industries production, click here to listen to the ministers address to conference.
• The winners of the Tertiary Scholarship Awards were announced, each being awarded a scholarship of $5000. Winner were Edmund Green (Nimmitabel), Pip Job (Cumnock), Jessica Lee (Larras Lee), Lachlan Rothwell (Mendooran), James Austin (Trangie), Ashlene McKay (Canowindra), Matt Schiller (Hay) and Kathrine Amos (Gunnedah).
• Annual Conference voted to lobby for the Federal Government to fund a program to deliver safeguards to grain growers in relation to grower payment and quality control.
• Delegates voted to lobby the Federal Government for Telstra’s ISDN broadband service to be maintained until an appropriate replacement service is available.
• Delegates voted to lobby the State Government to allow for free travel in regional and rural areas for pre-school aged children.
• Delegate voted to lobby the NSW State Government to obtain a program similar to the Victorian Government’s Young Farmer’s Finance Scheme. 
• Walcha farmer Jock Laurie was re-elected unopposed as President of NSW Farmers’ Association, and now enters an historic fourth year in the role, click here to listen to the president's address to conference.
• North Star farmer Richard Clark was re-elected as Senior Vice President of the NSW Farmers’ Association, and Nyngan farmer Charles Armstrong was re-elected as Association Treasurer.
• In his opening speech, Jock Laurie called on the Australian community to help agriculture find a balance to meet future food production demands - at a time when many in the farming community are facing an uncertain future.
• Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke announced the Federal Government’s Farm Ready program in his address to Annual Conference, click here to listen to the address.
• Delegates expressed the need for more research into carbon sequestration in the soil to quantify and value increasing soil carbon by all forms of pasture, cropping and forestry.
• Delegates voted to lobby State and Federal Governments to make agricultural freight a priority on the rail network and at ports.
• Over 500 people attended the Regional Food Fair, sampling fantastic produce from around the state.

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