Australia‘s National Farmers Federation NFF will vote this week to change its constitution and allow international corporations to become full members. Traditionally a farmers’ body, the NFF has recently lobbied government on behalf of seed, fertiliser and pesticide companies. A combination of the drought, international financial instability and scandals involving quasi-government organisations such as the Australian Wheat Board has made farmers cautious about aligning their interests with other organisations. Several state farmers associations have left the national body, feeling it has lost its way. Head of the National Farmers Federation, David Crombie, said that farmers will not lose their majority ownership of the NFF.
