Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Henty
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Yiradhu Marang

‘Good day’ in the language of the Wiradjuri people, the Traditional Owners of this land. I pay my respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.

Thank you for your welcome. It is always wonderful to travel beyond the “sandstone curtain” and to connect with the many achievements, the successes – as well as the challenges – of rural and regional communities. 

If there were ever any doubt about the importance of those challenges, just last week the Australian Government released its long-awaited, landmark National Climate Risk Assessment report, which predicted that the climate risk to primary industries and the food system will increase from a current “moderate-high level" to “high to very high” by 2050.^[1] 

One sentence particularly jumped out, indicating that “Farming communities are at the frontline of climate change impacts.” It went on to say: “Water security is a major concern, with increased competition for water having the potential to impact agricultural productivity (and) community livelihoods.”

“Building resilience in farming communities through adaptation and support is (therefore) critical to ensure their sustainability and wellbeing in a changing climate.”

None of the information I have quoted will be news to anyone in this room. It certainly wasn’t news to former Deputy Prime Minister and local Member Tim Fischer back in 2009, who spoke openly about and, I understand, wrote about the threat of climate change in a letter to the Henty Field Days committee. 

There is no doubt the impact of rainfall variability and extreme heat on this region is already being felt with the persistence of the “green drought”.

With agriculture a major economic driver for our state, contributing more than $24 billion to the economy and employing more than 75,000 people in NSW,^[2] it is critical that farmers and producers are supported to ride through tough times, to remain on the land and to encourage the next generation.  

Australia, like much of the western world, is undergoing what has been called the ‘fourth agricultural revolution’, the digital revolution.^[3] ‘Precision agriculture’ is having one of the most pronounced impacts on agricultural production since the industrial revolution. It is expected that in the next decade Artificial Intelligence, robotics, gene editing, drones, sensors and vertical farming will further drive efficiencies. 

Research^[4] also suggests that the majority of Australian farmers are adopters of digital technology tools to assist in resource management and soil, climate and yield forecasting. This will also have huge impacts on businesses that service our farmers and producers and, indeed, the retail industries within communities.

Today, farmers have one eye on the weather and another on their screen. But like anything ‘not knowing what you don’t know’^[5] in an area of rapid change is perhaps the biggest challenge to the continued growth of the industry.  

That is why Henty Field Days is so important – it connects those who work the land, who know it like the back of their hand, with those who conduct study and research, who develop and deliver the science and technology tools for the industry to be productive and sustainable in a dynamic and changing environment.^[6] 

And the statistics here speak for themselves: 

·       This year showcases more than $200 million worth of the latest in agricultural and machinery products

·       Last year’s event generated $72.2 million in visitation and sales, with $17.8 million contributed to the regional economy and $11.5 million to Greater Hume economy 

·       There is a $9.2 million indirect and consumption benefit to the community, including facilitating 60 jobs

·       27 community groups are involved with the Field Days, either operating food sheds or providing services such as parking cars, cleaning amenities, parcel pick up services; and 

·       Approximately $400,000 is taken back by communities into regional areas through fundraising efforts. 

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, of which I am proud Patron, has also long supported and connected regional and rural communities and the next generation of farmers and producers. The Rural Achievers program, The Land Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Women program and the ongoing education, training and scholarships offered by the RAS Foundation, complements the work done to promote agriculture and innovation here at Henty Field Days. 

The importance of this region as the ‘foodbowl of our State’ is well-recognised. As far back as 1917, the Henty Observer reported on a testimonial dinner for local wheat farmer Mr Headlie Taylor, inventor of the Taylor Reaper Header Harvester. On that occasion, the local Councillor made a speech, saying that: 

“(Henty) could grow almost anything … For wheat we ranked among the best … Our wool was as fine as could be produced anywhere.” 

He went on:

“However, there is one thing Henty produce(s) (and beats a country like America at producing), and that was an inventor.”^[7]  

In that vein, I would like to finish with a toast, as was made on that occasion. With a special thanks to the Board of seven Directors, co-operative members and staff of Henty Machinery Field Days, and the many “good people” here: farmers, producers, Ag Tech innovators, businesses and community members who contribute to its success:

To the “Success of Henty District.”