Funding to support Victoria's farming future

The Victorian Farmers Federation is set to receive funding to promote the future of the state's profitable agriculture industry.

Peter Walsh, Victoria's agriculture and food security minister, announced that the Victorian Coalition government would provide $240,000 to the Victorian Farmers Federation over two years.

The plan for these funds is to encourage young people in the region to view agriculture as a potentially "fulfilling and important career path" for them to follow.

"Last year??€™s Parliamentary Inquiry into attracting and retaining young farmers showed we need communities, educators and the agriculture industry to work together to improve the image of agriculture as a career," Mr Walsh said in a statement released on April 16.

Mr Walsh believes that the next generation of farmers will aid Victoria's agricultural industry to reach its 2030 goal of doubling food and fibre production.

Victoria is the largest exporter of food and fibre in Australia already, raking in a record $9 billion in 2011-12; that's 29 per cent of the country's total farm exports, according to Victoria's Department of Environment and Primary Studies.

This generous donation to Victoria's - and Australia's - growing agricultural industry will primarily go towards creating a new Victorian Farmers Federation careers adviser position.

The formation of such an office, and the reasoning behind it, has been warmly welcomed by Peter Tuohey, the Victorian Farmers Federation president.

Mr Tuohey believes that boosting the agricultural industry's appeal will help to secure its future.

"We need to do all we can to promote the fact that agriculture delivers profitable, strong and enjoyable careers," he said

At Elders Insurance, we also believe in planning for a more secure future.

By organising crop insurance or farm insurance, you will be better prepared to deal with whatever the future has in store and protect your agricultural livelihood.