National Fodder Network
National Fodder Network
Project Lead: Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA)
Australian farmers will benefit from a new national approach to managing feed shortages, with the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) leading a project to improve how fodder is coordinated before, during and after drought.
Supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the initiative will establish a national Fodder Community Network and digital platform to better connect producers, users and service providers across key agricultural regions.
Access to feed and fodder remains one of the most significant pressures on livestock producers during dry periods. When local supply tightens, it becomes harder to identify reliable sources, verify quality and move feed quickly to where it is needed. A fragmented system with limited visibility across regions adds to delays, cost and reactive decision making.
This project will address these challenges by improving visibility of fodder supply and demand, strengthening coordination across the supply chain and supporting earlier, more informed planning.
AFIA Chairman, Mr Gavin Schuster, said the project marks a practical shift in how the industry prepares for drought.
“This project moves fodder from a reactive crisis issue to a more coordinated national system,” he said. “By improving transparency, trust and collaboration across the supply chain, we can better support farmers to manage dry conditions and protect livestock.”
The project will be delivered in partnership with farming groups, industry organisations and government stakeholders, with initial pilot activities in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
Practical outcomes will focus on:
Better coordination between producers, end users and service providers
Clearer visibility of fodder supply and demand across regions
More consistent and reliable information to support decision making
Faster access to fodder during periods of shortage
Over time, the model is expected to scale nationally, supporting a more coordinated and efficient fodder supply system and strengthening the industry’s ability to respond to increasingly variable seasonal conditions.