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National Farmers' Federation
Founded1979 (1979)
Location
  • Barton, Australian Capital Territory
Key people
  • Hamish McIntyre (President)
  • Mike Guerin (Chief Executive)
Websitenff.org.au

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) is an Australian non-profit membership–based organisation that represents farmers and the agricultural sector in Australia. The NFF has been a key player in a number of industrial relations disputes, including the 1998 waterfront dispute.

As of July 2026 the president of the National Farmers' Federation is Hamish McIntyre since 2025; the organisation's Chief Executive is Mike Guerin, since March 2026.

History

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The NFF was formed in 1979.[1]

NFF was a key player in a number of industrial relations disputes, including the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute; the shearing wide comb dispute; and the Mudginberri dispute.[citation needed]

Key policy priorities

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The NFF's key policy areas include farm business and productivity; access to markets; digital connectivity; natural resource management; biosecurity, health and welfare; education and training; and workplace relations.[2] The NFF has been involved in a number of major policy debates in Australia, including most recently, the backpacker tax, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, carbon tax, foreign investment, drought policy reform and livestock exports.

In February 2013, the NFF released the first Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. The blueprint is a strategic plan for the Australian agricultural sector and its supply chain, setting out its future direction. The blueprint is the first cross-industry plan for the sector, developed by the sector. In 2013, the NFF moved into the legacy phase of the blueprint: turning the blueprint document into action. The blueprint was developed with the support of Westpac, Woolworths Group and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with Westpac and Woolworths Group continuing their support into the legacy phase, along with new partners Bayer and Syngenta Australia.[3]

In December 2015, the National Farmers Federation launched a new program to use digital technology to improve agricultural efficiency. The program comprises three components:[4][5]

  • An online platform that will provide "a single source for ... food and agribusiness news ... weather and market information, blogs, commentary" as well as "a stronger more unified public voice",[4] scheduled to be available in May 2016[5]
  • The National Farmers' Digital Agriculture Service, an online service for data collation[6]
  • Sprout, an incubator program to identify and support new ideas in agribusiness developed in partnership with financial services group Findex[4][5]

NFF membership

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NFF policy is set by the NFF Members' Council, which comprises the presidents of the (as of 2026) NFF's 33–member organisations[7]

NFF's members are the state-level farmers' organisations, national commodity councils, and other affiliated members. According to the NFF charter, state-level farmers' organisations represent the interests of the agricultural sector in their respective states. Issues related to individual commodities or interstate/national farming concerns are represented by relevant national commodity councils. The NFF focuses on those policy issues that affect all farmers, regardless of location or commodity. These include such issues as farm business and productivity, access to markets, natural resource management, biosecurity, animal health and welfare, education and training, and workplace relations.[8]

In 2026 the NFF's 33–member organisations were[7]:

  • AgForce Queensland
  • Australian Chicken Growers' Council
  • Australian Dairy Farmers
  • Australian Forest Products Association
  • Australian Livestock Exporters' Council
  • Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association
  • Australian Organic
  • Australian Veterinary Association
  • Australian Wild Game Industry Council
  • Beechworth Honey
  • CANEGROWERS
  • Cattle Australia
  • Cotton Australia
  • Farmers for Climate Action
  • Goat Industry Council of Australia
  • GrainGrowers
  • NFF Horticulture Council
  • NRM Regions Australia
  • NSW Farmers
  • NSW Irrigators' Council
  • Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association
  • Pastoralists' Association of West Darling
  • Primary Employers Tasmania
  • Primary Producers SA
  • Queensland Farmers Federation
  • Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
  • Seafood Industry Australia
  • Sheep Producers Australia
  • Soils for Life
  • Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association
  • Victorian Farmers Federation
  • WAFarmers
  • WoolProducers Australia

Office bearers

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President

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The following people have served as president of the National Farmers' Federation:

Name Term start Term end Term of office
Sir Donald Eckersley OBE197919811–2 years
Michael Davidson OBE198119842–3 years
Hon. Ian McLachlan AO198419883–4 years
John Allwright AO198819912–3 years
Graham Blight199119942–3 years
Donald McGauchie AO199419983–4 years
Ian Donges199820023–4 years
Peter Corish200220063–4 years
David Crombie200620103–4 years
Jock Laurie201020132–3 years
Duncan FraserApril 2013November 20130 years
Brent Finlay[9]201320163 years
Fiona Simson[10] 2016 2023 7 years (first female president)
David Jochinke[11] 2023 2025 2 Years
Hamish McIntyre[12] 2025 Current

Chief executive officer

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The following people have served as chief executive officer, or another appropriate title, of the National Farmers' Federation:

Name Term start Term end Term of office Title of office
John Whitelaw197919855–6 yearsExecutive director
Andrew Robb AO198519882–3 years
Rick Farley198819956–7 years
Wendy Craik199520004–5 years
Anna Cronin200020055–6 yearsExecutive director/chief executive officer
Ben Fargher200520115–6 yearsChief Executive Officer
Matt Linnegar201120142–3 years
Simon Talbot[13]201420161–2 years
Tony Mahar201620249–10 years
Troy Williams[14]March 2025July 2025<1 year
Su McCluskey[15] September 2025 March 2026 <1 year Interim Chief Executive
Mike Guerin[16] March 2026 Current Chief Executive Officer

Award of Honour

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The NFF Award of Honour recognises people who have made an important contribution to the NFF and the farming sector. These include:[17]

Name Year awarded
Bill de Vos AM1987
Jim Tehan AM1988
David Partridge1990
Roy Smith1993
John Mackenzie1999
Alick Lascelles2000
Graham Blight2002
Hon. Ian McLachlan AO2004
Geoffrey Crick2009
John Underwood
Alex Arbuthnot AM2012

NFF Congress

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The NFF has run its National Congress four times, in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. The two first Congresses focused on modern farming, and adapting to the changing agriculture environment. In 2012, the Congress was around understanding, and capitalizing on, the food and fibre boom. The theme for the 2014 Congress was "Producing Our Future".[18]

Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund

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The Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund was created in 1985 to provide financial, legal, and professional assistance to farmers. The fund was created out of the Mudgenberri dispute in 1985, funded in part by farmers and in part by non-farming businesses. The AFFF is governed independently of the NFF and is controlled by a board of trustees, three of whom are independent trustees.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "About us". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Policy & Issues". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Blueprint for Australian Agriculture". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "NFF Digital Transformation". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Prime Minister Turnbull announces new initiatives to revolutionise agriculture". National Farmers' Federation. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "PM announces digital farming initiatives". Sky News. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Our Members". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "About NFF". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Internet, Chirp (11 November 2015). "Brent Finlay re-elected as NFF President < Latest News | National Farmers' Federation". www.nff.org.au. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Murphy, Brigitte; Reading, Kristy (21 June 2024). "Liverpool Plains farmer Fiona Simson the first Australian appointed vice president of World Farmers' Organisation". ABC News. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Our Board". National Farmers' Federation. 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  12. ↑ Davidson, Stacey (17 October 2025). "Queensland farmer Hamish McIntyre elected new NFF President". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Internet, Chirp (23 September 2014). "NFF welcomes new CEO Simon Talbot < Media Releases | National Farmers' Federation". www.nff.org.au. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "National Farmers' Federation chief executive resigns after four months". 28 July 2025.
  15. ↑ Davidson, Stacey (28 August 2025). "NFF appoints Su McCluskey as Interim Chief Executive". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Davidson, Stacey (22 March 2026). "New NFF CEO Mike Guerin starts with clear focus on unity and delivery". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Members' Council". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "National Farmers' Federation 2012 National Congress". National Farmers' Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Home". Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
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