Our History
Queensland Agricultural Merchants Inc. was founded in 1955, and was originally registered as the Queensland Produce Merchants Association. In 1966 the name was changed to the Queensland Produce, Seed & Grain Merchants' Association until Incorporation (Certificate of Incorporation No. 2502 was issued on 13 March 1987). It became the Queensland Agricultural Merchants Inc. on 16 March 2004.
The Association was formed in an endeavour to obtain selling rights for grain sorghum, domestically and for export. A poll of growers was conducted in 1958 and the proposition was lost. In 1963, growers were asked to support a voluntary pool in Southern Queensland with a Board to remain in Central and North Queensland. This too was lost.
A Sorghum Fighting Fund was organised in 1957/58 and the sum of £1,810/15/0 was raised by members of the free trade. This amount paid for the salary of an organiser for eleven months (£487) and Holden car (£928/11/6). Traveling, vehicle maintenance, stationery and printing ran to a sum of £335/3/6, leaving a credit balance of £60.
Permission to sell Southern Queensland sorghum was finally obtained in 1969. This was the first of many subsequent battles to obtain equal marketing rights for members of the free trade.
Achievements
There would be little argument that nearly all of the gains achieved for the free trade have resulted from the efforts of the Association that came into being in 1955. It was a difficult environment for the free trade because the Boards controlled the sale of wheat, barley and sorghum, and the Queensland Graingrowers' Association (QGGA) occupied a dictatorial position in so far as the Queensland grain industry was concerned.
They were largely helped by a long tenure from National Party-Liberal governments, and it wasn't until the Goss Government came to power that we succeeded in having Mr John Philp appointed to the Board of Bulk Grains Queensland (BGQ). In October 1990, the Association had met with Mr Ed Casey, who occupied the position of Shadow Minister for Primary Industry before the election. He could see the merit of having a merchants' representative on the Board of BGQ. Mr Casey promised that if he became Minister, he would see to it that the Association was represented and he kept his word. There was opposition from some growers because they and QGGA believed they were the industry.
The Association was formed in an endeavour to obtain selling rights for grain sorghum, domestically and for export. A poll of growers was conducted in 1958 and the proposition was lost. In 1963, growers were asked to support a voluntary pool in Southern Queensland with a Board to remain in Central and North Queensland. This too was lost.
A Sorghum Fighting Fund was organised in 1957/58 and the sum of £1,810/15/0 was raised by members of the free trade. This amount paid for the salary of an organiser for eleven months (£487) and Holden car (£928/11/6). Traveling, vehicle maintenance, stationery and printing ran to a sum of £335/3/6, leaving a credit balance of £60.
Permission to sell Southern Queensland sorghum was finally obtained in 1969. This was the first of many subsequent battles to obtain equal marketing rights for members of the free trade.
Achievements
There would be little argument that nearly all of the gains achieved for the free trade have resulted from the efforts of the Association that came into being in 1955. It was a difficult environment for the free trade because the Boards controlled the sale of wheat, barley and sorghum, and the Queensland Graingrowers' Association (QGGA) occupied a dictatorial position in so far as the Queensland grain industry was concerned.
They were largely helped by a long tenure from National Party-Liberal governments, and it wasn't until the Goss Government came to power that we succeeded in having Mr John Philp appointed to the Board of Bulk Grains Queensland (BGQ). In October 1990, the Association had met with Mr Ed Casey, who occupied the position of Shadow Minister for Primary Industry before the election. He could see the merit of having a merchants' representative on the Board of BGQ. Mr Casey promised that if he became Minister, he would see to it that the Association was represented and he kept his word. There was opposition from some growers because they and QGGA believed they were the industry.