THE BOARD of Grain Producers South Australia has announced it will immediately withdraw its membership from Grain Producers Australia.

In a letter sent to members on Friday, GPSA chair John Gladigau said this decision followed years of governance reform and an independent review on the topic.

The announcement comes as NSW Farmers also appears set to leave GPA, with its membership due to end on March 31.

Grain Central understands NSW Farmers gave GPA a period of notice before withdrawing, while GPSA left the organisation immediately last week.

Mr Gladigau said the board had not seen sufficient benefits for the SA grains industry to justify ongoing membership fees with GPA.

“GPSA has been a member since its inception and has contributed financially to support that national representation on behalf of South Australian grain producers,” Mr Gladigau wrote.

“We have consistently advocated for a credible and unified national voice.

“However, after sustained effort to support reform and improvement, the GPSA Board has concluded that the necessary progress has not been achieved.

“As directors, we have a fiduciary obligation to ensure that grain-producer contributions are invested in representation that is accountable, transparent and equitable.

“In the board’s view, continued membership could no longer be justified in the current circumstances.”

Mr Gladigau said that GPSA would continue to advocate for the state’s growers on national policy issues “through its membership via Primary Producers SA with the National Farmers Federation”, as well as working “constructively with governments and industry partners where alignment exists”.

“We recognise that unity within the grains industry remains important.

“However, unity must be supported by sound governance and mutual confidence.”

NSW Farmers to exit

Fellow state farming organisation, NSW Farmers, has given notice its GPA membership will end in about one month.

NSW Farmers grains committee president Justin Everitt confirmed that the organisation had earlier in the year handed in its resignation.

Mr Everitt did not name specific issues with GPA, but said there were “plenty”.

As the highest-paying members of GPA, both GPSA and NSW Farmers raised issues with the running of the grain levy review held in October last year.

These concerns included a lack of engagement between the groups and a perception their views were not adequately reflected in the final proposal, or how the survey was conducted.

He said this was only one factor in NSW Farmers decision to leave GPA.

“The GPA review did lack a lot of a business case and a lot of information that we really wanted in there, and it just wasn’t in there,” Mr Everitt said.

GPA statement

In response to GPSA’s letter to members, GPA published a statement saying it would represent growers across the country.

“While Grain Producers South Australia has advised it will no longer participate within GPA and state farming organisation arrangements, GPA’s mandate remains unchanged,” the statement said.

“Grain Producers Australia has recognised representative functions within national policy frameworks that provide for a clear and consistent grower voice.

“This includes formal engagement with government, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Plant Health Australia, as signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed representing on biosecurity matters, the National Residue Survey, participation in national consultation processes, and representing growers’ interests in key decisions affecting the sector.

“GPA will continue representing grain growers nationally, regardless of membership, and progressing priorities that support a profitable and resilient grains industry.”

Without GPSA and NSW Farmers, GPA’s membership consists of other SFOs, namely: AgForce Queensland, TasFarmers in Tasmania, and WA Grains Group and WA Farmers Federation from Western Australia, as well as unnamed direct grower members.

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