Tractors trundle into triangle

Whatever ya reckon.

yes ralph, you probably have a great deal of agricultural economics experience as we can see from the blisters on your arse from prolonged desk sitting.

urban dwellers are so blind to the realities of agricultural business. oz farmers are probably the least subsidised farmers on teh planet. and its a bit rich for urban folk who get all sorts of cushy subsidies.

face it, oz is a socialist state with a capitalist tax base supporting it.

which is ok, cos thats what we want. but its a bit rich when urban lefties bang on about subsidised farmers.

They can grow other things. They can grow spuds for the fresh markets.

Just because they are on contracts doesn’t mean that McDonald’s ‘owes’ them. McDonald’s are getting their goods where its cheapest. Unless farms get bigger, we can’t continue to compete with the likes of china.

It’s all very cut and dry as far as I’m concerned.

Unviable Farmers? you are on drugs Ralph. Many of thee guys were in fixed contracts with Mcdonalds and other large foddstuff producersand they have been producing to order for a period of years (at least seven – ten in many cases). This more often than not involves tailoring your crop so it meets certain critieria. in Maccas case for their chips, pulling the spuds out of the deck before they are ripe, cos thats the way Maccas wants it. They have given good service to their client, and in return they get done over. Not to mention the fact that is currently illegal to export spuds from Australia, due to a deal done by the Fed’s to appease Asian markets in the mid-90’s.

While I am fanging away here, the tractors will have cabs on them as many of these guys will spray a huge amount of chemicals (which are biodegradable) which are quite carcinogenic if breathed in straight from the tank.

Ralph, i agree the market is a good corrector. except when its distorted by cartels and duopolies. which is why we have an elected representative based government, to ensure that these oligarchies of merchants dont suck the very marrrow out of our bones.

i think that the farmers cause is sound, they dont appear to be asking for a handout, they want better representation of country of origin. i routinely look at labels on food, and am often surprised when what i think is an australian label has ‘product od thailand’ etc on it. i earn a good wage, so im happy to buy oz and pay that premium. i also buy imported food, mostly specialist products or things like german sauerkraut because i like it or because imported herring is far superior to the local product.

i also dont shop at coles or woolies (unless i have no other choice), i prefer the supabarn. for all sorts of reasons.

bring on better labelling, how do we lose.

These guys may benefit from meeting with the Australian Food & Grocery Council – they have been looking at this issue for some time and have some influence over some major food manufacturing companies – food for thought.

Ah! Ralph, your faith in the market fixing everything is endearing.

The tractors were carted on trucks between the major capitals.

I hate Dickson woolies – so cramped and its always full of weirdos.

I said in another post that I have no sympathy for these farmers. They’re just looking for another pork barrel.

I think you’ll find that most people who buy frozen and canned vegetables do so because of the price – not where it is made.

Remember these whiners are producing for the frozen vegetable market and McDonalds. Things are different for people who produce for the fresh markets. These farmers can get big, get out, or innovate and start growing fancy vegetables and package them smartly for the supermarkets, exports etc. Simple.

I’m fucking sick and tired of taxpayers money being pissed up the wall by helping to prop-up unviable farmers.

Vic I believe only eight tractors or thereabouts drove up from Tassie, and they had their go on Tuesday. These ones were mostly locals showing their support.
K

Well I don’t actually shop at big supermarkets – mostly cos I can’t stand the nightmare that is Dickson woolies.
But the small suburban supermarkets seem to have a lot of european tinned goods etc. The only company that I know is local (and struggling) is Golden circle. If I knew which were better I would buy more of them. Someone must have a list somewhere…

There’s a fair bit of tread left on the tractor tyres, despite them driving a thousand k’s or so on the road. I thought they had really soft tread patterns and wore down quickly on hard surfaces?

Seepi, the reason we don’t have better labelling laws is because the companies most able to source international produce are also the biggest and most powerful.

They don’t want it so we don’t get it.

Stop buying at woolies and coles if you have a problem with that (and a great many other issues)

All full cab tractors,

The big softies.

I think this protest makes so muich sense, and I cvan’t understand why anyone woulnd’t want to see better labgelling on food.
Does anyone know of a website where we can look up genuine Australian produce?