The importance of agriculture to the Australian economy should never be underestimated.
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According to the National Farmers’ Federation, there are more than 130,000 farm businesses across the nation – an 99 per cent of them are family owned and operated.
On top of that, each of those farmers is responsible for producing enough food to feed 600 people – 150 here in Australia and 450 overseas.
From an economic point of view the agricultural sector produces about 3 per cent of our gross domestic product to tune of almost $50 billion.
The federation also points out that Aussie farmers are at the frontline of delivering environmental outcomes on behalf of the Australian community, with most actively undertaking natural resource management.
Being among the world’s best agricultural producers doesn’t come easy, though, and a large portion of that success can be traced back to Tocal College here in the Lower Hunter Valley.
The college is getting ready to mark its 50th anniversary next year and continues a proud tradition of preparing men and women for a life on the land.
Each year it caters for between 100 and 120 students in a variety of courses from farm management to wool classing.
And one thing it can take pride in is that many of its students find their way to full-time employment long before they have completed their course.
That’s a part on the back for Tocal principal Cameron Archer and his hard-working staff who continue to keep Maitland, and the Lower Hunter, on the map as one of the leading agricultural education sites in the country.
