INDUSTRY representative body, GrainGrowers Limited, has reported a $7.7 million jump in its investment portfolio to $134.8M for the financial year ended June 30.

In its recently released Annual Financial Report, GrainGrowers activities during the financial year resulted in a profit after tax of $7.2M, up from the FY24 result of $4.2M.

Total comprehensive income for the year included $8M in unrealised gains on the investment portfolio, up from $4.5M in FY24, alongside realised gains of $3.4M, compared with $2.6M the year before.

GrainGrowers’ expenses for the year were $7.559M, down slightly from $7.691M in FY24.

Most of these costs were employment-related expenses at $4.47M, followed by $1.48M for projects.

The financial report also referenced specific expenses for the year, notably payments to politically-aligned causes and $220,000 for National Farmers Federation membership.

The political-related expenses included $30,000 for annual membership to the Federal Labor Business Forum, which allows for GrainGrowers attendance at various Labor events, and a further payment of $2520 was made to the forum during the year for attendance to other events.

Another $11,000 was paid to the National Party to attend various similar political functions during the year.

In the financial report, the organisation commented that “these expenditures further complement GrainGrowers advocacy and policy agenda”.

Investment portfolio breakdown

Management of GrainGrowers’ investment portfolio continued to bring gains for the organisation during FY25.

Most of these gains came from a $5.238M jump in the value of investments categorised as “units in unlisted Australian Infrastructure fund” to $47.768M.

This is the organisation’s second-largest investment classification, under “units in unlisted Australian managed funds”, which also rose in FY25 from $56.92M to $58.505M.

GrainGrowers credited “proactive management and long-term asset allocation” behind the success of its investment portfolio.

GrainGrowers’ chair Rhys Turton

“This strategic approach has effectively positioned GrainGrowers’ portfolio to navigate through financial market volatility in the year and has enabled the portfolio to gain from the financial market recovery in the final quarter of the current fiscal year,” the report said.

In the accompanying Annual Report, GrainGrowers’ chair Rhys Turton said the organisation continued a policy of disciplined financial management.

“GrainGrowers financial position remains strong and together with a disciplined spending policy, we continue to effectively represent and serve over 15,000 members nationally,” Mr Turton said.

“Our grower relations and thought leadership work ensures we provide a robust ideas ecosystem that can solve emerging and future issues while still exploring opportunities for immediate growth and innovation for the industry.

“As examples, projects and initiatives undertaken include our comprehensive and industry wide Grain Sustainability Framework and Inputs of the Future report including the active exploration of biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).”

GrainGrowers’ priorities

The Annual Report identified key areas of focus for GrainGrowers during the financial year.

GrainGrowers chief executive officer Shona Gawel said “one of the biggest issues” was the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority review of paraquat and diquat.

She said there was a “huge amount of resourcing dedicated to this critical issue”.

“Knowing we needed data to underpin our response, the grower survey we ran received over 1120 responses,” Ms Gawel said.

“In addition to the submission response, we also focused on ways to engage with the broader community.

“GrainGrowers ran a community awareness campaign with a fantastic video featuring growers across the country about how they safely and responsibly use tools like paraquat and diquat on their farms.”

Ms Gawel said the organisation had focused its efforts on six key issues for the industry to focus its resources and skillset.

“As a grower representative organisation, there is a desire at times to “be and do all things”.

“We have a committed team who take pride in being of use to our growers.

“However, GrainGrowers has found that we can create the most impact by prioritising and subsequently have focused on six key issues: carbon and climate, farm business, farm inputs, grain freight and supply chains, trade and market access and biosecurity.

“This gives us capacity when emerging issues arise.”

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