CHANGES to the running of the peak farming industry body are expected to give a voice to all, according to the SE regional chairman of the SA Farmers Federation Jack England.
"It's a revamped structure," Mr England said. "We're trying to get back to a model where everyone is represented."
At a special meeting in August last year at Lucindale, farmers were writing off the SAFF, responsible for the protection of the State's farmers and their interests, claiming it was "dead and buried".
But Mr England said this week: "SAFF is still rolling on. "We've got enough funding to keep going into this year," he continued.
But a restructure is well on the way.
Former State Premier Rob Kerin was employed to devise a more suitable model than the old SAFF structure to represent the industry. SAFF was membership-based and producers could choose whether they wanted to be a member and pay the subscription fee.
But the benefit of the body's work applied to all, not just those paying members.
"The real problem is membership," Mr England said. "Bit by bit people realised they were getting the benefits anyway without being a member."
Over time with membership numbers dwindling, membership costs went up and it got harder and harder to get people to pay and join.
Under the proposed new system, instead of paying a membership fee there would be a levy - for example 10c per head of livestock in the case of livestock producers.
"It means everybody pays and we won't have that disunity," Mr England said.
He explained the levy was "not a compulsory levy" and could be claimed back.
Mr Kerin's proposed model will change more than just where funding is coming from - giving each commodity group within the industry their own voice with an overarching body at the top.
"Think of it like a Christmas tree," Mr England explained. "At the top you have the overarching body - the Primary Producers Council - and beneath that you have the various commodity groups."
Mr England has a vested interest in the livestock group, just one of the commodity groups set up.
"Grains have already been set up with Grain Producers SA, dairy has been set up, then you have the various orchardist and viticulturalist groups."
The livestock group covers all interests in regards to livestock except for pork and poultry - both of whom have their own body.
SAFF attempted a similar revamp some years ago, which was only narrowly voted down.
Mr England is confident this time will be different. "This time people can see it makes sense," he said.