General News
8 April, 2026
Farmers now at ‘breaking point’
RISING input costs, surging fuel prices, and critical shortages of fertiliser are pushing horticultural farms to breaking point, threatening jobs and the state’s long-term supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.
This was the message from Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers last week as the organisation called on the Federal and State Governments to provide immediate support.
Chief executive officer Scott Kompo-Harms said growers were being hit from all sides, with years of rising costs compounded by a lack of clear government action.
“Growers have been dealing with rising costs for years, and now these additional pressures are hitting hard,” he said.
“Without clear, immediate government action, every day increases the risk to crops, jobs and Queensland families.”
QFVG is calling for the Federal Government to provide immediate disaster relief funding to primary producers to offset the cost of freight and rising input costs, and the Queensland Government to extend targeted payroll tax relief, to help growers manage soaring costs and keep farms operating.
“Growers cannot wait while government agencies argue over responsibility. Both levels of government must work together and act immediately to support growers, protect jobs, and safeguard Queensland’s food supply,” Mr Kompo-Harms said.
Recent reports highlighted the scale of the challenge. Many growers were running out of fuel for tractors, trucks, and packing machinery, forcing them to ration equipment, stop machines, or divert trucks to petrol stations to conserve on-farm storage.
Fuel shortages were already affecting labour and productivity.
“If we don’t have fuel for tractors, we can’t harvest. Without fuel for local trucks, we can’t bring produce to the packing shed. And without fuel for longer-haul trucks, nothing reaches Brisbane,” one grower said.
The crisis is not just immediate – it threatens the long-term viability of Queensland’s horticulture industry and the state’s food supply, says the QFVG.
If fuel shortages continued, growers risked missing critical planting and harvesting windows.
One Queensland grower warned: “If no fuel is available, the fruit will not be harvested, the company will go bankrupt, one hundred or so staff will lose their jobs, apples will not get to the major supermarkets.”
Mr Kompo-Harms said fuel shortages, rising input costs, and supply chain uncertainty were not theoretical problems for Cabinet debate. They were putting real people, real jobs, and real food at risk.
“Growers have been patient, but patience is running out,” he said.
“Enough talk – it’s time for action. Immediate, practical government support is the only way to keep farms operating, workers employed, and fresh produce on Queensland tables,” he said.
Meanwhile, AgForce says the Federal Government’s decision to halve the fuel excise and suspend the heavy vehicle road user charge does little to address the immediate challenges facing Queensland producers.
AgForce general president Shane McCarthy said while the measures may provide some relief to consumers and parts of the transport sector, they fell short for agriculture.
“This announcement does little to support our sector,” he said.
“Producers already receive the fuel tax credit, and while we recognise the importance of the transport sector, these measures are more likely to benefit end users than farmers - particularly when producers have already seen freight costs increase by 30-40%.”
Mr McCarthy said geographically isolated producers were being left behind.
“There is nothing in this package that specifically supports producers in regional and remote areas, who have limited supply options and no ability to pass on rising costs,” he said.
He also warned the impact of halving the fuel excise may not translate into meaningful savings for producers. “History shows these reductions are not always fully passed through the market. Increased demand can offset the price drop, while producers may see their rebate reduced – meaning little to no real benefit at the farm gate,” Mr McCarthy said.
