2014 RGA Annual Conference Agenda Sowing the seeds for an agricultural success story

Conference

Dinner & Drinks

Registration 9.00am Lunch 12 noon Conference: 12.30 - 5.00pm

Drinks from 6.15pm Dinner commences at 7.00pm Spoons Riverside Restaurant Horseshoe Bend, 125 Monash Dr, Swan Hill

Thursday 7 August 2014

Friday 8 August 2014

Thursday 7 August 2014

Registration 8.30am Annual Conference - reconvenes 9.00am - 11.30am Swan Hill Town Hall 53 McCallum St, Swan Hill

Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Inc PO Box 706, Leeton NSW 2705 T: (02) 6953 0433 F: (02) 6953 3823 E: [email protected] W: www.rga.org.au

Platinum Sponsor

BR&C Agents was founded by Malcolm Brady and Ian Runciman in 1987. Back then, the livestock and merchandise markets were dominated by long-established, national businesses. Many thought the pair’s move from being well-known and respected independent agents, to branching out and establishing their own business, was extremely risky, even foolhardy. But BR&C Agents is testament to what can be achieved when you combine entrepreneurial ambition, competency and a single-minded focus on helping clients realise the full potential of their farming efforts. This success has been fuelled by welcoming the very best people in their fields into the BR&C family. Today, BR&C Agents employs over 35 staff, has offices in Swan Hill, Mildura, Ouyen, Broken Hill and Barham, and is the leading rural service business in north-western Victoria and southwestern New South Wales. BR&C’s portfolio of products and services includes:  Agronomy;  Livestock;  Merchandise;  Real Estate;  Insurance; and  Water trading with our partner Ruralco Water Brokers. The agronomy department is one of the cornerstones of the BR&C business. It employs exceptionally dedicated agronomists with strong local connections and knowledge. BR&C’s agronomists pride themselves on delivering all aspects of advice on crop and pasture production, with the explicit aim of agronomic excellence and financial sustainability for their clients. BR&C Agronomy offers a range of options including:  On-farm visits;  Paddock inspections for weeds, pests and diseases including chemical recommendations;  Advice on rotations, fertiliser requirements, new crops;  Pasture management and production advice;  A full range of chemical, fertiliser and seed options;  Fertiliser recommendations from soil and tissue tests; and  VRT application maps for fertiliser using ‘cut & fill’ maps and NVDI imagery in-crop.

Corporate Sponsors SunRice is a $1 billion global food business and one of Australia’s leading branded food exporters. With sales, marketing and operations spanning the globe, we supply domestic markets and more than 60 countries with diverse and nutritious food products, from table rice, flour and snacks, to rice meals and companion animal and livestock products. Our proud history dates back to the establishment of a single rice mill in the Riverina region of New South Wales in 1950. Today, SunRice is a vertically integrated business, operating across the entire value chain, including stateof-the-art processing, packing and value adding food plants, as well as an animal feeds division, a dedicated rice research company and a sophisticated local grain storage network. For more information visit www.sunrice.com.au

Rabobank Australia is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 110 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 42 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of close to 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia is one of the country's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the Australian food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 61 branches throughout Australia.

Murray Valley Lasers has been involved with the agriculture and mining industries for over 25 years. Hydraulics, Lasers and GPS Equipment have been at the core of our business. Here at Murray Valley Lasers, we manufacture and supply a wide range of products that you have come to know and trust. Such products include: O'Bryan HD Series, LaserBlade Series, Laserplane, Spectra Precision, Trimble, Survey and GPS Guidance, AutoPilot, Hydraulic Hoses and Fittings, pumps, motors, valves and Fuchs Oils. We are at the cutting edge of the market, supplying products to earthmoving and building contractors, irrigation and broad acre farmers, civil contractors and surveyors.

Gold Sponsors Bayer CropScience offers leading brands and expertise in the areas of crop protection, seeds and plant biotechnology, and non-agricultural pest control. As the world struggles to keep up with feeding a hungry planet, our spirit of innovation and curiosity means we don’t stop searching for better solutions that help increase yields, strengthen crop resilience and improve food quality on an ever decreasing amount of arable land. On and off the farm, we’re working with our customers, our business partners and the wider community to improve the security of our food and fibre supplies and our overall quality of life.

Riverina Local Land Services delivers services that add value to our local industries, enhance natural resources, protect industries from pests and disease, and help the Riverina community respond to emergencies like flood, fire and drought. Riverina Local Land Services works in partnership with industry, communities, Landcare, farmers and Aboriginal groups to create healthy and resilient Riverina landscapes. Professional staff assist industry, farmers and farming groups to increase the productivity, sustainability and profitability. Your Local Land Services office can be contacted on 1300 795 299 or email [email protected]

Snowy Hydro operates the 4100 megawatt (MW) Snowy Mountains Scheme, the 300MW Valley Power and 320MW Laverton North gasfired power stations located in Victoria and the electricity retailer, Red Energy. Snowy Hydro is a leading supplier of price risk hedging contracts to other National Electricity Market (NEM) participants (retailers and other generators) who are seeking protection to limit the price risk they face in the NEM.

Gold Sponsors The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) invests in and manages R&D that meets industry and government priorities for a profitable, dynamic and sustainable rice industry. RIRDC’s investment has helped the rice industry to radically improve its water use efficiency and has supported the development of commercially viable rice varieties. RIRDCmanaged research continues to seek environmentally friendly pest controls, to develop technologies for soil selection, and to assist in the creation of a knowledge environment across the rice industry. Through innovation, RIRDC and the Australian rice industry are contributing to a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector. For more information visit www.rirdc.gov.au.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is an expertise based agency whose role, in cooperation with basin states, is to support the management of water resources of the Murray−Darling Basin in a way that best meets the social, economic and environmental needs of the Basin and its communities. We lead the planning and management of Basin water resources, and coordinate and maintain collaborative long-term strategic relations with other Australian Government, Basin state government and local agencies; industry groups; scientists and research organisations. We undertake a number of functions:  prepare, implement and review an integrated Murray–Darling Basin Plan  construct and operate River Murray assets such as dams and weirs  advise the Commonwealth Minister for Water on the accreditation of state water resource plans  manage water sharing between the states  measure and monitor water resources in the Basin  gather information and undertake research  engage and educate the community in the management of the Basin's resources. For more information visit www.mdba.gov.au.

2014 RGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AGENDA 7August 2014 9.00 a.m.

Registration opens

10.00 a.m.

Centenary Event - Takasuka Road (formerly Forest Road), Vinifera Bus departs Town Hall at 9.30am and returns by 11.30am

12 noon 12.30 p.m.

Lunch Welcome and official opening

Welcome, Mr Les Gordon, President, Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Official Opening, Councillor Michael Adamson, Deputy Mayor, Swan Hill Rural City Council Mr Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Counsellor, Embassy of Japan

1.00 p.m.

“Jõ Takasuka, Pioneer Rice Grower”

Guest Speaker: Dr Gary Lewis Dr Gary Lewis is recognized as the leading authority on the history of Australian co-operatives. His many books on the subject include: An Illustrated History of the Riverina Rice Industry; The Growers Paddy: Land, Water and Co-operation in the Australian Rice Industry to the 1990s; and The Democracy Principle: Agricultural Co-operatives in Twentieth Century Australia. Dr Lewis is also a novelist, his most recent work, Wounded: a Great War novel inspired by his father's experience as an AIF infantryman in World War One. He lives in a rural community near Canberra.

1.40 p.m.

“The making of an agricultural success story” - the history of rice R&D

Dr Laurie Lewin 1.50 p.m.

Official launch of the new rice variety, YRF 209

2.15 p.m.

Afternoon tea – networking with sponsors

2.45 p.m.

Sponsor presentation—“The changing face of rice”

Alleena Burger, Senior Agronomist, BR&C 2.50 p.m.

“Thinking differently about farm profitability”

Guest Speaker: Mr Geoff Akers Mr Akers is a dairy farmer from Tallygaroopna in Northern Victoria and Chairman of Dairy Australia. He has extensive experience in dairy research, development and extension. He worked for Victoria’s then Department of Agriculture (Target 10 and Operation Mid Lactation) and at the Kyabram Research Institute. He spent four of six years on the Murray Dairy Board as Chairperson and two years on the National Dairy Alliance Board. He has also served as a Director of Australian Dairy Farmers Board, a Central Councillor of the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria and is a former Chair of the Victorian Farmers Federation Water Council. He is also a former Director of the Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project.

3.30 p.m.

Panel session

It is 2025, the rice industry is producing 950,000 tonnes annually and is profitable. The industry is producing average yields of 13 tonnes/ha with average water use of 9 ML/ha. Australian grown rice has access to all key international markets and SunRice products are sought after domestically. How did we get there? Mr Rob Gordon, CEO, SunRice Mr Peter Kaylock, rice grower and Nuffield Scholar Mr Jeremy Morton, rice grower Dr Laurie Lewin, RIRDC technical advisor to the Rice Research & Development Committee

4.40 p.m.

Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment 5.00 p.m.

Conference adjourns Reconvenes for AGM reports 9.00am Friday 8 August 2014, Swan Hill Town Hall

Annual Conference Dinner 6.15 p.m. Pre-dinner drinks 7.00 p.m. Conference dinner Spoons Riverside Restaurant, Horseshoe Bend, 125 Monash Dr, Swan Hill

2014 RGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AGENDA 8 August 2014

8.30 a.m. Registration and refreshments 9.00 a.m.

Reconvene Conference and welcome

Welcome, Mr Les Gordon, President, Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia

Procedural matters

9.05 a.m.

Apologies Adoption of standing orders Appointment of scrutineers and timekeepers Minutes of the 2013 Annual Conference Business arising from the minutes

Presidential Report (including Water Committee Report)

9.15 a.m.

Mr Les Gordon, President of the RGA and Chairman RGA Water Committee

Farm Business Report

9.30 a.m.

Mr Andrew Bomm, Policy Manager 9.40 a.m.

Sustainability Report

Mr Neil Bull, Environmental Projects Manager 9.50a.m.

Rice Research & Development Committee Report

Mr Peter Kaylock, Rice R&D Committee 10.00 a.m.

SunRice Report

Mr Gerry Lawson, Chairman, SunRice 10.15 a.m.

Rice Marketing Board for the State of NSW Report

Ms Robyn Clubb, Chair, Rice Marketing Board for the State of NSW

10.25 a.m.

Honorary Councillor nominations

10.30 a.m. Administration Report Mrs Ruth Wade, Executive Director 10.35 a.m.

Financial Report

Presentation of the income and expenditure statement, balance sheet and auditor’s report for the period 1 July, 2013 to 30 June, 2014 Determination of membership subscription for 2014/2015 (Recommendation from Central Executive) Motion: That RGA membership fees for 2014/2015 be increased by 5% (to an appropriate rounded $ figure) for single memberships and pro rata after that for each membership category, as provided in the following example: Current rate

Proposed new rate

(incl GST)

(incl GST)

$465 +$85

$490 +$90

Young rice grower m’ship

$85

$90

Retired grower m’ship

$85

$90

$210

$220

+$150

+$160

Single member package Each additional member

Associate Corporate member Each additional member

Determination of Presidential allowance and sitting fees 2014/2015 (Recommendation from Central Executive) Motion: That the Presidential allowance and sitting fees be increased by 3% (CPI) and that the mileage rate be increased to reflect the current ATO rate. Determination of Central Executive sitting fee and travel allowance for 2013/2014 (Recommendation from Central Executive) Motion: That Central Executive sitting fees for 2014-2015 remain the same as for 2013-2014 and that the mileage rate be increased to reflect the current ATO rate. 10.45 a.m.

Communications and Member Engagement Report

Mrs Elizabeth Stott, Communications and Policy Officer

10.55 a.m.

Constitutional amendments

Amendment 1: Background: Following a significant decline in RGA membership due to extended drought throughout the early 2000’s, the RGA Constitution was amended by Members in 2009 to reflect the difficulty in Branches reaching the threshold of financial members required to elect Central Executive Delegates. The amendments related to the formula for election of Central Executive Branch Delegates and Section 6.3 of the Constitution was changed to enable a smaller number of financial members to elect the Delegates (i.e. one delegate for each 50 members of the Branch). Prior to the 2009 changes, delegates were elected to Central Executive on the basis of one delegate for each 75 members of the Branch as at 30th May that year, taken to the nearest 75. There have also been changes in the way delegates are appointed to the Rice Research and Development Committee (RRDC) by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) since 2012. It is important that there be a formal link between the RGA and the RRDC and one way to ensure this would be to provide for the Chairman of the RRDC to be automatically elected to Central Executive. With rice production now returned to a relatively stable level, and most people who are likely to grow rice having done so in the last three seasons, RGA membership has stabilised and there has been discussion about the size of the current Central Executive Delegates. There are currently 24 delegates and this is a large executive group for an organisation the size of the RGA. Recommendation: That Members approve the following amendment to Clause 6.3 (a) of the Constitution: COMPOSITION OF CENTRAL EXECUTIVE (a) Subject in the case of the first members of the committee to section 21 of the Act, the Central Executive is to consist of: Delegates from the Branches of the RGA plus the Chairman of Ricegrowers’ Limited (or their delegate), the Chairman of the Rice Marketing Board for the State of NSW (or their delegate), and the Chairman of the Rice Research and Development Committee (or their delegate). The Branches of the RGA shall elect by ballot from their members at their annual general meetings, delegates to Central Executive on the basis of one delegate for each 75 members of the Branch as at 30th May that year. For example: 1-75 financial members will entitle a Branch to one delegate; 76-150 financial members will entitle a Branch to two delegates; 151-225 financial members will entitle a Branch to three delegates; 226-300 financial members will entitle a Branch to four delegates; 301 plus financial members will entitle a Branch to five delegates; Each Branch shall elect alternate delegates at the annual general meeting. The Chairman of Ricegrowers Limited (or their delegate), the Chairman of the Rice Marketing Board for the State of NSW (or their delegate) and the Chairman of the Rice Research and Development Committee (or their delegate) will be entitled to automatic election to Central Executive and will be excluded from determination of a Branch’s entitlement. Central Executive shall have the power to accept additional delegate/delegates to Central Executive as elected by a new Branch of the RGA.

Amendment 2: Background:

In 2012, Central Executive determined that the format of Annual Conference should be changed to provide for an industry conference one day followed the next day by an annual general meeting (AGM) as required under section 26(6) of the Associations Incorporation Act 1984 (the Act). This format has worked well and allows for the conference to showcase the RGA and the rice industry to a broad audience and the AGM to transact the business required by the Constitution. The Constitution does not currently provide for a separate conference and AGM and actually uses the terms interchangeably. The RGA is therefore required to link these events to ensure that we comply with both the Constitution and with the Act. In practice, the conference is convened and adjourned on the first day and the AGM reconvened on the following day to ensure that the legal and constitutional requirements are upheld. The RGA notes that it is required to convene an AGM of its members before 31 August each year and must continue to do this in accordance with the Act. However, this requirement constrains our ability to run a separate industry conference at any other time of the year or at a different location to the AGM. Issues: If the Constitution was amended to separate the two events - or to clarify the purpose of the AGM - it would be more practical. Central Executive would have the flexibility to determine what industry events should be held and where and when those events are held without being constrained to hold them after the end of the financial year and before 31 August each year. Recommendation: That Members approve the following amendments to Section 14.1 of the Constitution: 14.1

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS – HOLDING OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:

14.1.1

The RGA will convene an annual general meeting of its members (the AGM) before 31st of August of each year.

14.1.2

The AGM venue and date shall be determined by the Central Executive.

14.1.3 a) b) c)

In addition to any other business which may be transacted at the AGM, the business of the AGM is to include the following: to confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting and of any special general meeting held since that meeting; to receive from the Committee reports on the activities of the RGA during the last preceding financial year; to receive and consider the statement, which is, required to be submitted to members under section 26(6) of the Act.

14.1.4

The election of office bearers of the RGA will not occur as part of business conducted at the AGM, but will occur at the first meeting of the Central Executive after the AGM.

14.1.5

The RGA shall appoint members to an AGM each year. These members shall be composed of delegates elected from each Branch on the basis of one (1) delegate to every ten (10) financial members thereof, together with members of the Executive. Every financial member of the RGA, although not a delegate, shall have the right to attend the AGM as an observer.

14.1.6

The President of the Association shall be the Chairman at all AGMs, or at any extraordinary general meeting of members of the Association. Should the President not be available, a VicePresident in order of seniority shall take his/her place.

11.10 a.m.

General business

11.30 a.m.

Conference & AGM close

Post Conference Tour 11.45 a.m. Registered tour participants should make their own way to the Pioneer Settlement Museum (Monash Drive) for the Post Conference Tour (light lunch provided at 12.00 noon for participants). 3.30 p.m. (approx.) Tour concludes

Custom Sponsors Established in 1928, the Rice Marketing Board for the State of NSW (RMB) is the regulator for the rice industry in New South Wales and its role is to administer the Rice Marketing Act 1983. The Act outlines the three objectives of the RMB:  to encourage the development of a competitive domestic market for rice,  to ensure the best possible returns from rice sold outside Australia,  to liaise with and represent the interests of all NSW rice growers in relation to the Board’s functions and objects. To fulfil these objectives the RMB supports the efficient marketing of rice, encourages industry research, administers the licensing of domestic buyers of NSW rice, and appoints a sole and exclusive exporter of NSW rice. It also liaises and represents the interests of all NSW rice growers. For more information (02) 6953 3200.

visit

www.rmbnsw.org.au

or

phone

AustSafe Super is the industry super fund dedicated to rural and regional Australia, with over 25 years assisting employers and their workers in agriculture. We have more than 135,000 members and 14,000 employers who trust us with their retirement savings. As an Industry SuperFund, we’re run only to benefit members which means competitive fees, strong performance and no commissions paid. Our dedicated local Regional Manager, Michael Wynne, lives and works in regional NSW and understands the business needs of employers. “It’s my job to make paying super as easy as possible for employers and create better retirement outcomes for their workers,” Michael said. Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) is one of the largest private irrigation companies in Australia. Our core business is to deliver irrigation water and provide drainage services to a diverse and highly productive region, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). To help ensure the sustainability of our region, we are working to improve water efficiency through infrastructure refurbishment and modernisation, innovation and improved business management. We promote a balanced approach to the management of the irrigation scheme, where environmental and productive outcomes can be achieved harmoniously. MI is proud to be one of the sponsors for the 2014 RGA Conference. We congratulate the RGA on reaching the important milestone of 100 years since the first commercial rice crop was planted near Swan Hill, and we look forward to continuing our close working relationship with you for the next 100 years and beyond.

Platinum Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Custom Sponsors

Silver Sponsors Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited Grizzly Engineering

Crop Care Australasia

Deniliquin Freighters

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Waterfind

Murray Irrigation Limited

Supporter Local Land Services, Murray

Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Inc PO Box 706, Leeton NSW 2705 T: (02) 6953 0433 F: (02) 6953 3823 E: [email protected] W: www.rga.org.au