Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) unveiled its latest findings on agricultural concerns during the sold-out Farming Forever National Summit held in Canberra on September 2, 2025. The study, titled Australian Agricultural Insights, reveals that climate change remains the predominant issue for Australian farmers, with 57% identifying it as their greatest concern, an increase from 55% in 2023.
The summit gathered approximately 300 farmers, value chain representatives, and policymakers to discuss pressing matters affecting the agricultural sector. FCA, representing over 8,400 farmer members, conducted the survey with support from NAB, gathering responses from 618 farmers across various states.
Key Findings from the Survey
The survey results paint a stark picture of the challenges facing farmers today. Aside from climate change, which was ranked as the top concern, 16% of respondents cited bureaucracy as their second largest issue, while 15% pointed to rising costs. Extreme weather has significantly impacted farmers, with 93% reporting they have encountered at least one extreme weather event in the past three years.
Notably, 74% of farmers experienced unusual rainfall, a rise from 64% in the previous year, and 52% reported facing drought conditions, an increase from 39%. The number of farmers confronting unpredictable growing seasons also rose from 53% to 58%.
The survey indicates that 70% of farmers have already invested in emissions reduction measures on their farms, which include enhancing soil health, implementing rotational grazing, and adopting clean energy practices. Furthermore, 67% plan to expand these climate-smart practices, although many encounter barriers such as outdated infrastructure, insufficient trusted advice, and ambiguous government policies.
Support for Clean Energy Transition
A significant 80% of surveyed farmers expressed support for urgent updates to energy infrastructure and regulations to ensure they can benefit from the ongoing shift to clean energy. Additionally, 65% are looking to produce and store clean energy on their farms.
FCA CEO Natalie Collard emphasized the importance of listening to farmers and highlighted the survey as a reliable source of their concerns. “We listen to farmers, not Facebook comments,” Collard stated. She reiterated that the data aligns with findings from professional polling firms, confirming that climate change is indeed their foremost worry.
Collard further noted, “The results show an upward trend in those naming climate change as their number one concern, as well as those who have experienced drought, unseasonal rainfall, and unpredictable growing seasons.” She pointed out that these factors complicate farmers’ efforts to produce food sustainably.
The survey also revealed that 80% of farmers are calling for consistent frameworks for reporting emissions, and nearly 80% support local infrastructure upgrades to facilitate engagement with clean energy. Grants and tax incentives emerged as the most effective strategies to drive changes, according to 63% of respondents.
The survey’s findings resonate with broader concerns within the agricultural community, as highlighted by additional data from the Victorian Farmers Federation, where 63% of farmers identified “getting the transition to renewable energy right” as a significant concern.
In her closing remarks, Collard stressed the critical nature of addressing climate change, stating, “The key driver of climate change is coal and gas. Coal and gas make up the majority of Australia’s carbon pollution and air pollution. Using coal and gas to create electricity is optional; eating food is not.”
Farmers shared poignant sentiments through anonymous quotes from the survey, reflecting their worries about the future of agriculture in Australia. One farmer remarked, “Farming is becoming harder, with each event further reducing production capacity,” while another expressed concern regarding insurance coverage in the face of potential disasters.
The mean size of the farms owned by the surveyed participants was 3,780 hectares, representing a diverse agricultural landscape that includes beef, sheep meat, wool, grains, horticulture, and more. The sample was distributed across various states, including New South Wales (40%), Western Australia (36%), and Victoria (30%), among others.
The Farming Forever National Summit not only showcased the findings of the Australian Agricultural Insights study but also served as a platform for farmers to voice their concerns and advocate for necessary changes in policy and infrastructure to secure a sustainable agricultural future in Australia.
