Mr. Bobby Miller:

The Deputy mentioned the Mercosur countries. We imported almost 1 million tonnes of feedstuffs from Mercosur countries in 2024. It was roughly the same figure in 2023. We are hearing a huge argument from the beef sector about this Mercosur deal. Tillage farmers have been dealing with Mercosur countries for the past 40 years. We hear about a 40% drop in tillage area. There is one reason it is dropping. Currently the beef sector is rightly challenging the Mercosur deal.

It is nearly 1 million tonnes. Of the maize that is imported, 80% is genetically modified. It is the same with soya. It is genetically modified. I am banned, as a tillage farmer, from growing that here. I will get fined for growing that here, yet that is my competition. There is no difference. When a farmer goes in to buy a bag of meal or a tonne of meal, there is no distinction between the two. The consumer does not know that either.