GOVERNMENT over-reach was impacting the agriculture sector, new president of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch Chris Holt said this week.
Mr Holt is already gearing district members to voice concerns about the State Government new emergency services levy that could see farmers hit with a 300 per cent increase on the old fire services levy.
The branch has called a special breakfast meeting for early next month to be briefed by Loddon Shire Council on the likely impact of the new levy councils are required to collect and pay to the Government.
He also singled out the lack of effort put in by Government over the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line project.
“In the rush to sign up to the net zero emissions agenda ... there are other countries moving away from that ... there seems to be no care (for farming communities) and they keep marching on,” Mr Holt said.
“One of the first places governments are looking to extract more is from farmers.”
Mr Holt said the challenge remained for farmers to be allowed to “grow (produce) and get a decent price”.
His strong stance on advocacy comes as new state president Brett Hosking has been critical of governments for their tax hits on farmers and ignoring calls for cash boost to fix country roads.
Mr Hosking wants the Government to pause the VNI West project immediately until they get the community and landholder engagement right. 
“We can’t stand idle and watch as prime agriculture land is irreversibly destroyed without consideration to the agriculture industry and the farming livelihoods at stake,” he said.
According to Mr Holt, who took over from long-time president Graham Nesbit this month, interest in farmer challenges and the need for strong advocacy was high among branch members.
“We have good attendances at out meetings and members are wanting to contribute to the future of farming in this district and to have a voice to curb what I call over-reach by government in what we do,” he said.