Welcome
In September 2007 the Institute for Land, Water and Society, in collaboration with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Charles Sturt University, held a forum on cross boundary farming. The organisers of the forum were Ingrid Muenstermann and Troy Whitford. . Both were concerned that climate changes, reduction of natural resources, and increasing commodity prices were adversely influencing the farming sector. As land becomes less fertile and water more scarce, it may be necessary for Australian farmers to rethink farm management.
The objective of the forum was to stimulate discussion whether cross boundary farming could benefit contemporary Australian farming. Most forum participants thought it would, however, the system has to be initiated by the farming community itself, the government should not or could not intervene in this issue. Therefore cross boundary farming would be a grass root’s approach.
Rationale
Changes in climate reduction, natural resources and commodity prices adversely influence the farming sector. As land becomes less fertile and water scarce it’s necessary Australia rethinks how it manages its farms.
Historical Background
Individual ownership of land has strong ideological foundations in Australia and stems, in part, from the traditional British view of land being tied to wealth. For much of the early colonial period land was allocated to individuals as payment or reward. The view of land as a commodity and a means for social mobility has subsequently re-enforced the importance of individual ownership. Individual ownership of land has seen the practice of establishing clear boundaries between land and each working or managing their own portion in isolation from other farm enterprises.
The natural conditions of the Australian environment lends itself to the creation of large pastoral estates. But early colonial governors tended to encourage rural development on the basis of European “yeomanry” akin to small immigrant farmers who had settled Britain’s American colonies. Despite the differences in climate and conditions governors throughout the colonial period and governments into the 20th century had continued to resume and subdivide land into smaller farms. The logic behind breaking up large estates was the belief that the family unit was the soundest basis for farming. This notion has become entrenched in the Australian rural psyche. But it had not escaped occasional scrutiny. During the 1940’s Agricultural Sociologists Samuel Wadham repeatedly argued that the “one man farm” or the “one family farm” was neither efficient nor cost-effective. While he then favoured larger commercial styled holdings others who agreed with Wadham sought alternative solutions.
At various points a number of different farming models have been debated. They include, collective farming, communal settlement, share farming. But it was co-operative farming which was seen as the most viable alternative as it was able to blend sharing resources with the individualistic nature of the family farm. The idea of sharing resources and farming equipment had been tried in a number of districts. In the late 1940’s a group settlement in Demark, Western Australia were operating on a co-operative basis. The project was described as a compromise between family farms and large scale commercial entities. The idea of co-operatives was also supported by interest groups such as the NSW National Council of Farmers.
Some factor’s which have contributed to the failure of further developments in co-operative farming have in part been due to governments subsidising the farming sector. Throughout the colonial period and in the early to mid twentieth century successive governments have subsidised and protected primary industry. This has meant the farming community has for a substantial part of Australia’s history not been faced with the need to make significant changes to the traditional family farm model. Current farm welfare measures like Exceptional Circumstances funding also continues to perpetuate the notion that the family farm unit is the most effective means of production. Such measurers do not encourage farmers to re-think farm models and only palliatively supports their current situation.
The importance of this Research
An investigation into cross boundary farming is both timely and appropriate. Current environmental conditions have caused significant debate about the allocation of natural resources such as land and water. Trade liberalisation has meant less support from government to “prop-up” smaller farm enterprises through subsidies and protective tariffs. Both those factors have significant implications for the way farming will be conducted in the future. In today’s current context a re-evaluation of co-operative or cross boarder farming is now required.