GRAIN Producers Australia is urging growers to have their say on grain levies ahead of its poll on the matter closing tomorrow.

Launched by GPA in order to inform the representative organisation’s position, the poll has come about largely in response to Grains Research and Development Corporation financial reserves building to record levels.

Promoted as Your levy, your rates, your say, the poll is the first to ask growers for feedback on the levy system which collects 1.02 percent of their grain income.

“This will provide quantitative data to inform the review’s consultation processes for the final report in making a determination on outcomes,” GPA chief executive Colin Bettles said.

“Growers can also provide broader feedback and views on other matters relevant to the levy system, which are separate to the review’s quantitative question.

Following the poll’s closure, GPA will compile a final report summarising the review outcomes, which can then be shared with stakeholders, including state-based grower organisations.

Phone poll insights

Prior to launching the poll, GPA engaged Australian Regional Insights to conduct a national telephone survey to gather preliminary thoughts from grain producers about compulsory grains levies and rates.

Conducted September 17-22, it saw around 300 calls made, with findings as follows:

• Growers unaware of $730 million being held by GRDC in financial reserves: 76pc;
• Among those aware of the amount, 69pc would be comfortable with a levy reduction;
• 72pc unaware of how much they pay annually in compulsory grain levies;
• 89pc wanted a say on their levy rates, and 41pc wanted this to be annual;
• Overall desire for more education, information, and transparency regarding grain levies; and,
• 51pc aware of either levy components and/or rates, with only 30pc aware of both aspects.

Mr Bettles said those who have engaged in the telephone survey and/or the poll have provided valuable feedback, and more is welcome by tomorrow’s close.

“This engagement means growers have also gained greater knowledge and insights on how the system works.

“Participation numbers can always be better, and the response so far is typical of the overall challenges faced by the representative system with too much often left to too few.

“In the case of GPA, this extends to contributions by volunteer growers who provide national representation in support of industry-good functions.”

Figure 1: Support for growers having a say on their levy rates. Source: GPA-commissioned Australian Regional Insights September 2025 phone survey

Mr Bettles said growers were looking more closely at options available for their levies, and recognised current reserves offered an opportunity to optimise value and benefits.

“This focus is largely driven by the fact there’s currently $730 million in reserves for the research-and-development component of the grain levy, which has escalated significantly in recent years.

“This has fundamentally created a strong financial foundation on which to base proactive changes to benefit growers, industry and other shared beneficiaries, including the environment and national productivity.”

“Now’s the time for grain growers to have their say on the compulsory levies they pay, and how much they should pay on the different grains they sell post-harvest in future, to make the system fairer and more equitable.

“Apathy will only force government to intervene at some stage in future, especially with government co-contributions also rapidly escalating at record rates.”

This is outlined on the latest GRDC annual report.

Table 1: Key GRDC financial performance figures for 2015-16, 2020-21 and 2024-25. Source: GRDC 2024-25 annual report

“To maintain industry productivity, we need to optimise shared benefits of the levy system – not act with a sense of self-perpetuating entitlement over the taxpayer funding co-contribution that currently exists, for only one component of the whole grains levy system.”

Mr Bettles said GPA has formally corresponded with the Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and all stakeholders on the matter of levies, and attended official briefings and meetings.

Grain Central: Get our free news straight to your inbox – Click here