What is NEFF?
NEFF is a group of farmers in the north east agricultural region looking to support each other as they develop new farming activities that will lead to a viable future for their individual business and the north east agricultural region (NEAR). The region NEFF covers is made up of 3 grower groups, 4 shires, 803 growers, and covers 1407960 hectare
Why is NEFF needed?
Climate change, environmental impacts, cost squeeze, social expectations and changing industry structures are just some of the key drivers placing increased pressures on our farming businesses and our communities Although we are world leaders in productivity in dry land farming, new farming models and systems are needed to meet these challenges and enable us to survive into the future.
What do we hope to achieve?
NEFF hopes to build on the good work undertaken by farm improvement groups and take farmer co-operation and collaboration that one step further. We want to strengthen the network of farmers across the NEAR so that we can support each other as we develop sound business cases for new farming methods and systems. We want to promote a ‘thinking outside the square' approach to find new ways to address the challenges and opportunities of farming in the NEAR.
How are we different to current Farm Improvement Groups?
Current farm improvement groups have focused on issues around ‘in paddock' productivity. NEFF will adopt a global view of farming, fostering support for developing sound business cases for developing new farming activities, enterprises and models. We are very keen to ensure that what we establish ‘adds value' to the work of existing farm improvement groups.