With three generations of farming in Australia under the belt, the hopes for continuing the family tradition are strong.
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For Kirsten Dal Broi, farming is in his blood. He attributes his passion as something given to him by his Nonno, father and brothers.
“Originally we had a lot of rice farms, but we diversified into grape farms in the early nineties ... the anticipation for what I was going to do after school was pretty much already set.”
“I get to work with my father, and if my son chooses to when he grows up, this will be here for him, and for my daughters if they wanted to as well.”
It’s clear he gets a lot of satisfaction from his work.
“With the rice, its good to know that you're feeding people,” he said.
“Watching the grape vines grow through it’s different stages – in the space of two months they go from looking like dead sticks to beautiful and green and lush, it’s amazing.”
We are a lot stronger than they think, and the problem is we are not being valued at what we are worth.
- Kirsten Dal Broi.
As a grape grower in the Riverina, one of Australia’s stronghold of wineries and grape farms, he attributes keeping on top of the competition to adapting with change and demand.
“We like to try new management practices where you can, replacing older vines with newer more desired varieties.”
“Then with rice - rice is easy, it's just plant the variety, look out for it, and let Dad do the water!”
Kirsten is also a board member of the Riverina Wine Grape Marketing Board, which he says gives him a first-hand understanding of arising problems, as well as a chance to help other farmers with solutions.
“As grape growers, we can complain as much as anyone else, but if you don’t know what the inside operations are, it's hard.”
He says the biggest problem facing every farmer now is political interference, especially with water.
While the worldwide shortage of grapes continues, with a local demand increasing as well, Kirsten says it’s a perfect opportunity for Australia to seize on to expand internationally.
“I would hate to see this opportunity pass by.
“Our government should be putting systems in place, not downgrading the home product’s value.
“We are a lot stronger than they think, and the problem is we are not being valued at what we are worth.”
This article is part of National Agriculture Day celebrations. For information go to www.agday.org.au.