Farm Tender

Australian Fodder Industry Association - Become a AFIA member today

Contact Details

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John McKew

Australian Fodder Industry Association

0438182600

101B/757 Bourke St, Docklands, VIC 3008

Benefits of AFIA membership

By supporting AFIA you’re ensuring that the Australian fodder industry continues to grow whilst being profitable and sustainable.
 
Click here to fill out the membership application form

AFIA member benefits include: 

 The Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) is the national peak body for the Australian fodder industry, connecting all sectors of the supply chain from seed to feed. 

Since 1996, AFIA has been the independent voice of the fodder industry, working tirelessly to ensure our members have every opportunity to grow their businesses.

Our vast network of members make-up:
Fodder & Silage – contractors, growers, transporters/carriers, exporters, traders, processors,
testing laboratories, agronomists.
End-users – dairy, livestock and other intensive industries and suppliers to these industries.
Sponsors – hay & silage machinery manufacturers/dealers, chemicals, packaging including wrap & twine,

seed suppliers, hay shed manufacturers and insurance brokers.
 
Click here to fill out the membership application form

AFIA Membership Benefits:

Save money on major industry events:
•    AFIA’s National Fodder Conference
•    AFIA’s Regional Fodder Festivals
•    AFIA coordinates the annual National Hay Safe Day

Networking:
•    AFIA runs forums and events for members to actively network, engage and learn. Meet your peers, share businesses stories and learn something new to take back to your business.
 
Access to leading industry data:
•    We actively collect industry data and provide to our members on a regular basis - Weekly Hay Report.
•    AFIA coordinates research and development initiatives to enhance the productivity and profitability of the industry.
•    Supplying industry information, updates and developments in the seasonal ‘Focus on Fodder’ magazine, e-Newsletter and online via the AFIA website (www.afia.org.au) and social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

AFIA Advocacy:
•    Actively promote of value of the fodder industry and our members.
•    Acting as the media spokesperson on key fodder issues.
•    Key advisor to government, regulators and industry stakeholders on major issues - transport, quality, research and development, innovation, safety, drought and export market access.
•    Coordinate forums to collectively discuss important fodder industry matters.
•    Work closely with Australian fodder exporters and AgriFutures Australia to deliver the Australian Export Fodder Five Year Plan.

Professional development:
•    AFIA coordinates programs to support member businesses i.e. AFIA Work, Health & Safety program.
•    We work to develop best practice and consistency of feed testing laboratories.
•    AFIA supports the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals through the Gen Ag initiative.

Become a member of AFIA today and gain access to our national network of fodder industry professionals. If you are a grower, contractor, exporter, researcher, service provider or end-user with a business that relies on the Australian Fodder Industry, this is the network that will help you grow your business.
 
Click here to fill out the membership application form
 

What do AFIA members say?

"AFIA keeps me up to date with all the latest in fodder industry technology and market intelligence, as well as being the only dedicated network for fodder industry professionals in Australia." - Jarrod O'Sullivan, AFIA Member, O'Sullivan Farms, Elmore Victoria.

"If your business is in fodder then AFIA is for you!" - Steve Woods AFIA Member, WA

"AFIA is about individuals involved with hay and silage doing business and learning together" - Stuart Judd, AFIA Member, QLD
 

Membership Application & Price

Membership Type.        Membership Fee*     
Primary Producer         $425
Corporate                      $590
Associate                      $260
End-User                       $260
Gen Ag / Student          $260
International                 $536
Exporter.                       TBA

*Please note that all memberships expire on the 31st of August each year. If you are applying for a new membership after the 1st of April please contact the AFIA office for the correct rate.

*Membership fee includes GST. Renewal falls on September 1 each year.

Associate Members: Nominate a Primary Member below.
Exporters: Please contact John McKew on 03 9670 0523 or email john@afia.org.au
Primary Producer: discount applies to AFIA events for member and spouse; one vote per individual).
Corporate: discount to AFIA events for 2 people; one vote per membership.
Associate: includes full Primary Producer membership entitlement excluding voting rights and must be employed by the same financial entity as the Primary Producer nominee. Please nominate a Primary Member below.
End-User: cannot transfer membership from the Primary Producer category and must be a recognised end-user (i.e. dairy, beef, sheep, equine or horticulture producer); no voting entitlement.
Gen Ag / Student: must be 18-30 years of age to be a Gen Ag member; must be currently enrolled in a field of agricultural study at a recognised institution to be eligible for Student membership; no voting entitlements.
International: applicable to international (i.e. non-Australian) associations/bodies; no voting entitlements.
Exporter: must be a registered Australian fodder exporter/fodder export levy payer; fees are based on the annual metric tonnes of Australian fodder exported; one vote per exporter membership. Please contact John McKew on 03 9670 0523 or email john@afia.org.au
 
Click here to fill out the membership application form
 

Board of Directors

Frank McRae - Chair
M: 0428 737 403
E:fmcrae@auswestseeds.com.au 

Frank has 40 years experience with dryland cropping, lamb and beef production. He has spent 29years with NSW DPI as an Extension Agronomist and Technical Specialist Cereals. In August 2010 Frank joined Auswest Seeds as a Product Development Manager for pasture and forage crops.

Frank has a Bachelor of Rural Science (Hons) – University of New England and a Graduate Certificate in Marketing – Charles Sturt University. Frank is a Director of the Bathurst and Orange Harness Racing Clubs and is Treasurer of Grasslands Society of NSW.

David Cossar - Vice Chair
M: 0428 915 228

E: dcossar29@gmail.com


David grew up on a family farm in the Charlton district. Since 1978, at the age of 24, David took over his first farm. In the early 90's David decided to work for Ridley Agri Products as a Sales Representative while leasing the property to the Charlton Feedlot. During this time, the soil quality was improved due to the addition of feedlot manure. The lease negotiations and a couple of bumper harvests allowed him to acquire more land and eventually return to the farm in 2001.

David has always been passionate about producing hay. With the improvement in soil quality, continued application of feedlot manure and dry springs hay became a preferred option in the early 2000's. David's commitment to and success with growing hay and silage has enabled further farm expansion despite drought and serious floods. 

Denis McGrath -  Treasurer
M: 0408 688 478
E: denis@seedvise.com.au
 
Denis has a Bachelors in both Agricultural Science and Business (Marketing) and throughout his career has been involved in agriculture with a focus on broad acre cropping, research and seed production. Currently Denis works as a consultant managing two major projects;

AEXCO Executive Officer (commenced 13th December 2010). Manage all aspects of the commercialization of the National Oat Breeding Program licensed varieties on behalf of the AEXCO shareholders.

End Point Royalty Steering Group Agent. Objective of the role was to improve the royalty capture systems of the major broadacre plant breeders / seed commercialization companies of Australia.

Other project work has been conducted for the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) and Malteurop.

Denis has also held Director positions on the board of Wrightson Seeds Australia, Pulse Australia, Agvise Pty Ltd and Seedvise Pty Ltd

Andrew Makin - Secretary
M: 0417 331 977
E: amakin@ipstretch.com

Andrew is the Sales Manager for the Agricultural Division of Integrated Packaging, a global leader in the stretch films and crop packaging industries. He is responsible for a large sales team across regional Australia and is about to celebrate his 20th year with the company.

Working in the rural industry for his entire career, Andrew has developed a wealth of related industry and practical experience. Particularly, he has a placed a strong emphasis on fodder conservation throughout all aspects of his work.

Previously, Andrew was a member of the Top Fodder Silage Steering Committee, responsible for educating producers on better silage production via the development of a training manual and educational course.

Suzanne Woods - Director
M: 0438 287 191
E: swoods@wn.com.au

Suzanne Woods has been involved in the agricultural industry for over 25 years. Suzanne has been running a mixed-farming business of livestock and cropping with her partner since the year 2000, in the Shire of Victoria Plains in Western Australia. Her cropping enterprise consists of 50% oaten hay and the remainder wheat, barley and canola. Small herds of cattle and sheep make up the livestock enterprise. Additionally, Suzanne operates a farm contracting business concentrating mostly on mowing, baling and carting hay and straw in nearby districts.

Suzanne extended her business interests in 2006 by purchasing a third share in an export hay processing facility. Hay Australia processes hay and straw from premises in the Victoria Plains Shire, WA and the Shire of Loddon, Victoria. The company sells hay into the domestic and international fodders markets and processes more than 80 000tonnes per year. Suzanne believes that her investment in Hay Australia has enabled her to develop a sound understanding of all aspects of fodder production, processing and marketing, which will assist in her role as AFIA board member. Other special interests include farm safety, gender equality and technological advance for productivity and efficiency and she perceives AFIA as being a key industry influencer in these areas.

Outside of her personal farming activities, Suzanne is an active leader in numerous local, regional, state and national groups associated with agriculture and rural communities. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. This has led to Suzanne developing a thorough understanding of the issues affecting rural business and how to manage corporate governance through leadership positions.

Cameron Angel - Director
M: 0438 356 355
E: cameron@fodderlink.com.au
 
Cameron’s passion for the agricultural industry stems from his extensive farming background. Currently Founder and Managing Director of Fodderlink, Cameron has also held a variety of other marketing and landholder liaison positions in his career. Cameron’s specific farming expertise comprises of knowledge of daily farm management practices, which has been developed as a landholder and fourth generation Grazier. Cameron also possesses a commercial mindset, acquired through working for large organisations and boasts extensive trading experience in rural commodities. This diverse skillset allows him to effectively engage with stakeholders and achieve desired business outcomes.

As a motivated self-starter, Cameron’s success in these roles has been achieved through delivery of hands-on management, communication, negotiation and influencing skills and the efficient utilisation of all resources.  He joined AFIA as a Board Director in July 2018.

Brad Griffiths - Director
M: 0439 822 957
E: B_griffiths@outlook.com
       
Brad is a passionate young farmer from Mallala, South Australia. Brad manages the family farm focusing mainly on cropping and hay and lives on farm with his wife and three children. Brad’s passion is for the hay and fodder industry. He has worked for some big contractors in the Mallala area and is now focusing on building his family business, which caters for both the export and domestic market with oaten hay being the main commodity grown.

Brad has recently travelled to America and Israel to learn about baling hay in high moisture climates and to work as a consultant for a hay inoculant company. He is currently part of the committee for his local football club and is the secretary for a local agricultural bureau. He joined AFIA as a Board Director in July 2018.