Hot topics as varied as animal activism, artificial intelligence, the debacle of Telstra's 3G network shutdown, and the next generation of agriculture, were all up for debate at this month’s NSW Farmers Annual Conference at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.

With delegates also supporting a motion to introduce a “first farm buyer’s scheme” – similar to the current first home buyer’s scheme – it was clear that young farmers were the key to the future of our food and fibre industries, NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin argued.

“First home buyers get support, and so it’s only fair that the same is available to those buying their first farm, too,” Mr Martin said.

“Our food security depends on our farmers – but if they can’t get their foot in the door of some farmland, and fast, we won’t have any left,” he added.

Technology was also central to the first day’s debate with farmers calling for new legal protections around artificial intelligence and farm data, as well as laws banning “anti-agriculture activists” from publishing illegally-obtained images or details of farms online.

“Animal activists are threatening our homes, our businesses, and our biosecurity – and we simply cannot stand by and let this happen.

“Meanwhile, technological breakthroughs like artificial intelligence, which are being built into agriculture at breakneck speed, could bring some big gains, but also big risks,” Mr Martin believes.

Delegates also endorsed a ban on the transfer of waste from Sydney's waste management facilities to rural areas, and supported a motion calling for greater scrutiny of the finances of local councils applying for special rate variations.

Other motions passed at the event included calls to:

• restore mobile coverage to pre-3G shutdown levels, at a minimum, in NSW;

• introduce dollar-for-dollar grants to fund feral pig control;

• boost large-scale government investment to eradicate pests and weeds;

• introduce a legislated right to repair agricultural machinery;

• create affordable insurance products for young farmers;

• remove emergency service levies and stamp duty from farm insurance policies;

• pause the adoption of native vegetation regulatory maps, until proven “accurate”.

Elections were also held for a number of Board positions, with Peter Wilson re-elected to serve as NSW Farmers Treasurer, and Glen Andreazza, Shane Kilby and David Young elected to the NSW Farmers Board.