Corowa producer takes on top role with NSW Farmers Association

The former NSW Farmers vice president and cattle committee chairman will take the reins from Fiona Simson.

Mr Schoen was elected to the position at the NSW Farmers Association annual general meeting at Luna Park in Sydney.

"Agriculture has been good to me and now I have an opportunity to give something back,” he said.

"I don't subscribe to the adage that leadership is a lonely business - my presidency will be punctuated by a commitment to inclusiveness,” he said.

Meanwhile, the plight of telecommunications service in regional areas was raised.

NSW Farmers telecommunication’s spokesman Anthony Gibson said that current internet availability was acting as a hand break on innovation and productivity growth in agriculture.

“Inability to access even the most basic internet services is a constant frustration for many of our members and is a constraint on business productivity,” he said.

The association has completed a submission to the 2015 Regional Telecommunications.

The review calls for an expansion of the roll out of fibre across the NBN network and a quality of service agreement between the Federal Government and the NBN to create a mandated level of service for those on fixed wireless and satellite services.   

Also on the agenda was the delivery of essentials by Local Land Services (LLS).

Guyra and Armidale District Councils both moved motions that sought additional technical skills and training for those delivering extension services.

Moree and Tenterfield District Councils highlighted that pest animal management had been a particular focus of frustration.

Mr Schoen said before the last state election the government committed a $1 million annual increase in funding for LLS extension staff.

“The aim of the funding was to continue to support agriculture and aquaculture, but we were disappointed to learn that this would have to be met from the Department of Primary Industries’ existing budget,” he said.

“It’s not an illusion,” he said.

“There is a lot more work to do and more government money needs to be spent,” Mr Schoen said.

“Farmers are growing impatient for better service delivery,” he said.