Government’s $20 million fuel campaign fails SA farm gate

Fuel suppliers are telling SA farmers trying to grow the nation’s food to take their fuel carts “and fill up at a servo”, Grain Producers SA chief Brad Perry says.

The Federal Government is spending $20 million telling Australians to use less fuel, but for grain producers, the real issue is getting it delivered.

On face value, the Federal Government’s message is sensible. In times of pressure and reduced supply, correspondingly reducing demand can help ease strain on the system.

But for grain producers across South Australia, that message risks missing the crux of the problem.

Because while Australians are being told to cut back, farmers are being told something very different.

Since March, when the fuel situation really began to bite, many South Australian grain producers have been told to get whatever diesel they can.

Across the state over the past six weeks, growers have reported delays to bulk diesel deliveries, reduced volumes, and growing uncertainty about when their next order will arrive. And while those delays are now starting to ease, the flow-on effects are  clearly evident.

In some cases, farmers were told there simply aren’t enough tankers available to meet both demand at service stations and on-farm fuel deliveries – which are critical at this time of year.

So instead of relying on bulk deliveries, the system agriculture depends on, South Australian grain producers were pushed back into the retail market.

Here’s a small snapshot from........

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