Exposing false claims about farmers is one of the key goals of theupcoming National Farmer Rally in Canberra, with consumers urged to stay alertto fake news from activist agendas.
NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chair Bronwyn Petriesaid the environmental credentials of the agricultural sector were not beingaccurately portrayed by special interest groups and activist agendas, whocontinued to peddle fake news to influence politicians.
"Claims that land clearing is out of control in agriculture are simply wrongand counterproductive to what should be a unified effort to care for ourenvironment," Mrs Petrie said.
"There is clear evidence that partnering with farmers improves conservationoutcomes - such as the fact that forest cover in NSW has increased every yearsince 2007 - but this being is ignored by those who simply want to sell amessage.
"We continue to see unfounded reports that farmers are recklessly clearing landby including vegetation management approvals, regrowth control, responsibleremoval of invasive species, land covered by non-woody vegetation, landaffected by drought and disasters, and even land used for roads in figures on'land cleared for agriculture', which is simply inaccurate and untrue."
Anti-farming policies driven by false claims such as these would be the focusof the National Farmer Rally, Mrs Petrie said, and it was critical the rightinformation was used to make the right decisions for the environment.
"Ill-informed activist agendas have gone too far and threaten to preventfarmers from protecting the environment as they produce the food and fibre thatfeeds the nation, as well as our export markets," Mrs Petrie said.
"We know exactly how important the environment is, but building biodiversityand protecting our landscape needs to be done in partnership with farmers, orelse practical solutions simply won't be achieved."
