THE EMERALD group will be at the forefront of any renewed farmer interest in co-operative marketing – with collaborations with grower-run co-operatives in three states.

Its marketing alliance with the Western Australian Farmers Federation (WAFF) will be its second venture in WA – it is already working with members of United Farmers Co-operative there.

In South Australia it has links with Free Eyre – an Eyre peninsula based operation and in Victoria it is allied with Southern Quality Produce (SQP) – a co-operative with strong ties to the region’s high rainfall cropping zone in the Western District.

Part of the attraction of working with the Emerald Group for the farmer groups has been the ability to set up products aligned to grower needs.

The new arrangement with WAFF, announced a fortnight ago, will offer a specialist wheat pooling product, managed by Emerald, specifically designed for and by WAFF members.

WAFF has this week sent out a newsletter to members asking for suggestions on what the pooling product will offer to growers to ensure it best meets their needs.

Another big boost pushed by WAFF is the communication between Emerald and the growers.

They say that improved direct communication between farmers and their marketers will play a big role in giving growers confidence with their marketing in the wake of the single desk being dismantled.

WAFF Grains Section President Derek Clauson, said WAFF had fought hard to sustain the benefits of formalised orderly marketing.

“The proposed alliance between WAFarmers and Emerald reflects the WAFarmers’ commitment to representing the interests of Western Australian farmers under the new industry structure.

He said the attraction of using Emerald to facilitate the pool was their empathy with growers.

“Emerald have proven they understand farmers needs and have emerged as the leading innovator in grains management in Australia,” he said.

Emerald Deputy Chairman Mike Chaseling said his company has a strategy of partnering with growers and their communities to ensure sustainable competitive returns.

“Emerald believes in our strategy of developing sustainable working commercial relationships with our customers who are Australian grain farmers.