Agribusiness

New NSW Farmers leader urges farmers to work together for strength

Sheep Central, July 15, 2015
NSWFaremrs president Derek Schoen

NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen

NEW NSW Farmers leader Derek Schoen will punctuate his presidency with inclusiveness, the Corowa mixed farmer said this week.

Mr Schoen was  elected to lead the NSW Farmers Association for the next 12 months at the organisation’s Annual conference at Luna Park, North Sydney, on Tuesday.

Mr Schoen said agriculture has been good to him and he now has an opportunity to give something back.

“I don’t subscribe to the adage that leadership is a lonely business – my presidency will be punctuated by a commitment to inclusiveness.

“We must work together to strengthen our voice, to advocate for the future of farming and we must work together to forge a future for agriculture that enlivens our history of hard work on the land.”

Mr Schoen was the association’s vice president in 2014-15 and is well known as its Cattle Committee Chair for the past three years. Recently he has been active in gaining support for the Senate inquiry into competition in the red meat processing sector.

Mr Schoen runs mixed livestock and cropping properties in Corowa and on the New England Tablelands with his wife Leanne, son Merc, and partner. The operations include dryland winter cropping — wheat, barley, oats, canola and lupins — as well as prime lambs, wool and beef cattle.

He succeeds Fiona Simson from the Liverpool Plains who stepped down yesterday after completing a maximum four year term.

Mr Schoen is a member of the Corowa and District Landcare and Riverine Plains Farmer Group, president of the Redlands Bush Fire Brigade and former deputy mayor of Corowa Council.

Source: NSW Farmers

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