Retiring GPA chair and WA grower Barry Large in 2023.

GRAIN Producers Australia will need to seek other sources of revenue, with the exit of Grain Producers South Australia and NSW Farmers set to hit the national body’s cash flow next financial year.

GPSA announced its immediate withdrawal from the GPA on March 2, and was followed by NSW Farmers’ on March 31.

GPA’s annual general meeting late last month revealed the organisation recorded a deficit of just over $128,000 for the year ended March 31, a slight improvement on the deficit of more than $132,000 recorded in the year to March 31, 2025.

Revenue rose to $841,810 in 2025-26, up from $748,296 in 2024-25, driven by an almost $100,000 increase in service agreements and an $84,000 rise in project income.

Affiliate fees increased by $27,000 to $259,800, while there was a drop of almost $18,000 in levy revenue to $89,630.

Despite repeated deficits, GPA retains $720,462 in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year and has total equity of $831,288.

GPA company secretary Michael Milne told the AGM that the latest deficit was not planned but was due to several high-priority issues that occurred during the year, mainly the paraquat and diquat review.

“There were some expenses that we had…one of those was APVMA reviews-pesticide access, which cost a considerable amount of money, but it was so important to members that we went ahead and did that work,” Mr Milne said.

“There was also the R&D levy review that we were involved with.

“They’re the two main areas where expenditure was more than we had planned.”

He noted the revenue gap that would result from the departure of the two state farming organisations.

“There was also the resignation of GPSA and also NSW Farmers as members of GPA which is going to make the next year a little bit more difficult with that revenue or the income that we’ll no longer have from those two members.

“We’ve certainly discussed that and we’re looking at other ways of raising funds et cetera, perhaps associate memberships and those sorts of things.”

The recently released financial report does not provide a breakdown of individual membership fees, which can vary from year to year.

A source told Grain Central that GPSA most recently paid $55,000 in affiliate fees, while NSW Farmers paid $50,000.

The figures have not been verified by either organisation.

Keeping focus national

In his report, retiring chair Barry Large expressed his disappointment at the loss of the two members.

“[I]n the past 12 months, we’ve had two members withdraw due to slow change; this, no doubt, is disappointing that the big picture is lost,” Mr Large said.

“I’ve always been taught it’s easy to throw rocks at glass houses.

“The perception of being slow is not correct.

“We have been challenged and we’re keen to get it right.”

Mr Large said GPA had not had a “full muster” of members in its early years and that the “loss of members … was not new”.

He said that “keeping a national focus for growers [was] key”, despite the departures.

“We have invited the members who have left to be part of our internal biosecurity committee.

“We know incursions do not stop at state borders.

“We congratulate NSW for being part of the big picture.”

Mr Large said the past year had brought key achievements and changes for the organisation.

“Our funding stream is a challenge but we continue to work on it with some success.

“The key is that we must look at every opportunity to show value for investors to participate.”

He noted the departure of chief executive Colin Bettles and the appointment of his replacement, Duncan Bremner.

He thanked southern region director Andrew Weidemann and Mr Bremner for their work on the paraquat and diquat review and for helping to achieve approval for ZP50 mouse bait.

Mr Large said the final outcome on the review of the size of the levy paid by growers to part fund the Grains Research and Development Corporation was not  ideal, but said the “process continues”.

“This was the big one; we did our best to understand the legislation, the process.

“We’re listening to our members, we’re trying to let growers decide, but forces out of our control try to derail this process.

“GRDC continues to grow and no investment will control this.”

Mr Large stepped down from the role at the AGM, with Moree, NSW, grain producer Matthew Madden elected as chair.

Independent director Mitch Hooke also retired from the GPA board after 11 years as a director.

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