Low Australian Dollar Helps, Hurts Farmers

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|14 October 2008

While the lower Australian dollar is helping farmers export goods, it’s hurting them at home. With most farm inputs such as chemicals, fertilizers, and fuel coming from overseas, farmers’ ability to buy them was diminished by the low value of the currency. Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said the falling dollar was providing welcome relief to some farmers; however: “Sales are only one part of the equation,” Mr Burke told question time. “Conditions will remain tough for Australia’s farmers for some time.”