This spending would of course need to be bound by some sort of criteria. It would have to foster growth in rural and regional NSW and further shore up what is an already successful agricultural sector. 

The money we are talking about is the proposed Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.

This fund contains $4.154 billion. And there’s no doubt that it is enough to make a difference. A significant difference. 

While talking about the state Budget this week NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen spoke about the fact the money could be used to create internationally competitive freight and logistics networks. 

The money could allow the development of systems that link food producing regions to ports and markets. 

Mr Schoen also said there was certainly an opportunity to grow the value of agriculture to $100 billion by 2030. 

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GROWING crops is always a risky business. Landholders are faced with tough seasons, frosts, fire and pests. 

Just getting from start to finish in a growing season can be a gamble. 

With the frost from last year, and 2015, fresh in many people’s minds and the fact that this year is shaping up to be a dry one the issue of insurance is coming to the fore.

Multi-peril crop insurance allows landholders to take “ownership” of some of the risks they take.

And the risks from paying out inputs, diesel, time, seed, fertiliser and weed control products, are enormous. 

Kikoira farmer Mark Hoskinson raises a legitimate issue when he suggests that multi-peril crop insurance could be made more accessible to people.

Farmers are not asking for subsidies, like some of our northern hemisphere neighbours receive, but rather a tool that is in reach.

Unfortunately the cost of multi-peril insurance is not something achievable for everyone but it could certainly negate some of the uncertainty in agriculture. 

Research, water, and weather forecasting winners in the budget