Australia: SAFF will soon give all of the state's barley growers their say on barley pricing

The South Australian Farmers Federation (SAFF) will hold a special meeting in early February next year to give all of the state's barley growers their say on barley pricing and the single desk, ABC net communicated on December 8.

The announcement comes after two days of debate over low barley prices in South Australia, where growers are receiving an average $25 a tonne less than colleagues in Western Australia and Victoria.

Some growers have accused the local farmers' federation of fence sitting and not listening to their concerns. But president Jeff Klitscher says this meeting will give the organisation some direction on barley pricing.

"The SAFF board is not convinced that we've had the answers and we've done extensive stuff, so I think given a little bit of time for the first week in February we'll be able to come up with some of the things ... most of the things people want us to know," he said.

General manager Carol Vincent says the federation wants to talk to key players so the industry can become more transparent. "[What] the farmers federation must do is, and I think they've done that, is the board has shown leadership by being prepared to actually listen to all growers, not just SAFF members, and take growers demands to the new government when it's in place," he said.

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