Agriculture reforms spark concerns for small farms

Several food and farming groups across the state are petitioning the government to explain why small-scale farming will be subject to the same permit processes as much larger operations under the reforms.

Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said the reforms aimed to cut red tape.

But Food Fossickers president and Masons of Bendigo owner, Sonia Anthony, said the changes in their current form could make compliance measures too onerous and costly for small producers.

“Unfortunately, we might see that people might just not go into farming, or walk away, which would be really terrible,” Mrs Anthony said.

She said many small-scale producers, in this region particularly, used regenerative farming practices and treated their animals ethically.

Belinda Hagan, owner of free-range pig farm McIvor Farm at Tooborac, also believes the proposed changes could discourage small-scale operations.

Mrs Hagan said regulations needed to be modernised, and she was not opposed to education and ensuring farmers abided by proper practices, but the process needed to be simple and cost-friendly.

There was a gap in the proposed reforms, she said, that did not provide for farms like hers. 

“They’re very much trying to put square pegs in round holes,” Mrs Hagan said.

She said the potential impact on farmers could also restrict consumer choice.

But Ms Pulford said the proposed reforms would reflect the government’s support of both larger and smaller producers.

"The proposed reforms remove the requirement for very small scale pig and poultry farms to apply for planning permits, or provide a streamlined application process for slightly larger producers,” she said. 

“We want to provide certainty for pig and poultry producers about how many animals they can farm before they require a planning permit.”

More information on the proposed changes can be found at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website.

The petition can be found at Change.org.

The state government is taking feedback on the proposed reforms until Tuesday, November 14.