As the State Government prepares its 2026 budget, there is a clear opportunity – and responsibility – to place primary industries back where they belong: at the centre of SA’s economic future.
Agriculture remains one of the state’s foundational industries.
It underpins region- al communities, drives exports, supports thousands of jobs and generates economic activity far beyond the farmgate.
Yet too often, agriculture is discussed separately from broader economic, infra- structure and investment strategies.
Primary Producers SA believes long-term growth depends on genuine partnership with primary production.
The recent Primary Industries Roundtable convened by Premier Peter Malinauskas in Mount Gambier was an important step in bringing the government and industry together to discuss the pressures and opportunities facing regional SA.
The challenges are significant.
Recovery from prolonged drought, rising input costs, supply chain uncertainty and competition for land and water resources are placing enormous strain on producers.
At the same time, regional SA is being transformed through renewable energy development, mining expansion, infrastructure investment and population growth.
These bring opportunities, but also put pressure on land use, workforce availability, housing and long-term regional planning.
What agriculture needs most is certainty.
Farm businesses make investment decisions over decades, not election cycles. Whether you’re investing in water infrastructure, expanded production, new technology, or planning succession, confidence depends on stable and predictable policy.
The proposal to bring forward the end of the moratorium on fracking in the South East highlights why consultation and engagement with agriculture is so important.
Regardless of differing views on the issue, significant policy changes affecting agricultural regions cannot occur without building trust, providing certainty and properly considering the long-term implications for farming businesses, communities and investment confidence.
Agriculture cannot simply be expected to adapt to broader economic change.
It must be part of the core economic conversation from the outset.
That means stronger investment in regional infrastructure, water security, freight efficiency, telecommunications, workforce attraction and research capability.
It means ensuring planning frameworks properly recognise the strategic importance of agricultural land.
It means governments working with industry, not in isolation from it, to deliver practical policies that support resilience, productivity and long-term growth.
Importantly, the roundtable reinforced the need for more coordinated and united advocacy in the agriculture sector itself.
Primary industry organisations may represent different commodities and regions, but all prioritise stronger regional communities, sustainable economic growth and confidence for future investment.
There is real value in industry speaking with a collective voice when engaging government on these issues.
The state budget presents an opportunity to move beyond short-term responses and towards a long-term vision for regional SA.
If we are serious about economic development, then we must be serious about agriculture not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar of SA’s future prosperity.
This column was written by PPSA Chair Professor Simon Maddocks and originally appeared in the 28 May 2026 edition of Stock Journal.
