We live in challenging times and there are days when it feels as though nothing comes easily for our sector.
Drought continues to shape the reality of regional communities across South Australia, while the recent algal bloom has stretched government’s capacity to respond to multiple crises.
On top of this, the unwelcome news that Varroa mite has made its way into our state – most likely from a Queensland source – is yet another reminder of the biosecurity risks we face as producers.
These events dominate headlines and occupy the bandwidth of policymakers.
They also risk overshadowing the many positives our industry has to share.
Yet, even in the face of adversity, we must remind ourselves and others of the extraordinary role that agriculture and regional communities play in sustaining South Australia’s economy and way of life.
The release of our State of the Industry Report, More than an Industry, earlier this year was a milestone moment.
Launched by the Premier, the report set out not only the scale of agriculture’s economic contribution but also the social and cultural value of our communities.
The message was clear: we are not just an industry of products and services – we are about people, resilience, and place.
That message is all the more powerful when amplified by the communities who live and breathe it every day.
That is why, of all the responsibilities I hold as Chair of Primary Producers SA, my most rewarding role is serving as a judge for the Agricultural Town of the Year awards.
This year we received more than 90 nominations from across the state – a record response that speaks to the pride South Australians feel in their regions.
Narrowing those entries down to the finalists of Kimba, Keith and Lameroo was no easy task.
Each of these towns embodies the ingenuity, spirit, and resilience that define rural South Australia.
Travelling to meet these communities over an intense few days of judging is always a privilege.
We hear firsthand why people choose to live where they do, how they are adapting in the face of challenges, and why agriculture is central not only to their local economy but also to their identity and future.
In those moments, the statistics and reports come to life.
You see the determination of people who are proud of their place and optimistic about their future, despite the obstacles in front of them.
The Premier recently told the Regional Development Forum that there is no more resilient or innovative a group, ready to adopt change and advance productivity, than our farmers; and that as a government, “we choose to back them in.”
I could not agree more.
The latest ABARES forecasts, showing national agriculture on track to exceed the $100 billion target by 2025/26, prove that our industry continues to deliver even in the toughest of conditions.
But perhaps the most powerful evidence lies not in figures or forecasts, but in the stories of our Ag Town nominees.
They are the living proof of what it means to be more than an industry – communities that inspire us, sustain us, and remind us why agriculture matters to every South Australian.
This column was written by PPSA Chair Professor Simon Maddocks. An abridged version of this column first appeared in the 25 September 2025 edition of Stock Journal.
