1. What is the NGR?

The National Grower Register (NGR) is an Industry initiative involving two leading grain companies: ABB and GrainCorp. These companies have joined forces to develop and implement a centralised, national registration system that is designed to give growers access to multiple grain handlers and marketers across Australia using a single delivery card. The two partners service 85% of Australia's grain growers and own 95% of bulk handling facilities in the Eastern and Southern states of Australia.

The NGR system has been developed to minimise paperwork and administration for growers and duplication of data records and details across the industry, thereby streamlining the processes involved in delivering and trading grain.

As NGR is purely a centralised registration system, any queries or communication regarding grain pricing, payment, pools, facility operation, quality control or classification will still need to be directed to your bulk handler(s) and/or marketer(s).

2. How does the NGR work?

The NGR card may be used to deliver your commodity to a bulk storage site or direct to the end user, exactly as the system operates currently. However, instead of requiring separate cards depending on which you sell to and where you deliver, NGR offers the potential for one stop registration and one card delivery. Contact and payment details recorded in the NGR database against the unique card number are provided to the marketer or trader purchasing your grain, along with the delivery details on the receival ticket. This is exactly the same process as is currently used. However, the key benefit will be the uniform data formats enabling rapid information transfer and less communication errors between organisations.

NGR cards will incorporate magnetic strips, bar codes and embossing. This means they will be compatible with all card identification machines being used at grain depots throughout Australia. Where needed NGR cards can be manually processed.

3. Does NGR replace our existing card/cards?

Provided you deal with NGR-registered companies, yes. In the eastern and southern states, NGR will replace the cards currently issued and used by ABB and GrainCorp, covering 95% of bulk handling facilities in those states and servicing 85% of Australia's grain growers. NGR offers the potential to replace all other delivery cards.

In WA their existing sole-card system with CBH Limited will remain for the short term pending a review after the merger with The Grain Pool of WA is implemented.

4. Will grain marketers and bulk handlers retain their existing registration cards?

The shareholding companies will adopt the NGR card as their delivery card on and from September 1st 2002. Other marketers, traders and handlers will be encouraged to also adopt the NGR card as the card of choice. However, this is a voluntary system and, at the outset, may not be adopted by all parties.

5. If my bulk handler only accepts the NGR card, how do I sell to AWB Ltd?

You may deliver using your NGR card and your bulk handler will ensure that mechanisms are in place to provide sufficient information to those marketers to ensure that you are paid for your deliveries.

6. Are my personal and business details secure under the NGR system?

All transactions with individual NGR partner companies are treated as completely confidential. NGR recognises that growers expect that their transactions with one trader will not be disclosed to any other company. Accordingly, NGR has developed a "best practice" privacy statement, established clear and concise security procedures for access and management and purchased sophisticated encryption and security software systems. These measures will ensure security is not breached.

7. Is my privacy protected if I register with NGR?

Privacy is of utmost importance to NGR. Your details will only be released by NGR to a marketer, trader, or bulk handler or other registered organisation with which you do business. The new Privacy Act prohibits companies from passing on databases to third parties without prior consent. However, NGR has also pledged not to on-sell the database to outside organisations. A copy of our Privacy Statement is available from the NGR website (www.ngr.com.au).

8. How much does registration with NGR cost?

There is no cost to farmers to register with NGR. Non shareholder organisations wanting to access data from within the system will be asked to pay a nominal joining fee and annual fees on the basis of the number of growers they are linked to. The two shareholder organisations will also be paying the joining and annual fees as Registered Parties.

9. Is registering with the NGR mandatory?

No, but any grain grower wishing to deliver or market grain through the partner or participating organisations will be required to have a card. Growers can still register and handle their harvest privately. Registration with NGR is voluntary although growers are being encouraged to use the new card because of the benefits it offers. NGR will reduce paperwork while still providing access to a range of competitive bulk handling and marketing services.

10. Can I track my deliveries?

The NGR system is a registration system, offering a one stop registration process and easy, simple yet secure access to growers' data for marketers and bulk handlers. It will not offer an ability to track deliveries. Delivery tracking is possible through some bulk handlers' web sites.

11. At times I have experienced problems with inaccurate paperwork about my deliveries which can cause problems with payments. Will NGR overcome these problems?

The NGR system is a registration system. It will not be able to solve all the issues relating to the payment chain. However, what it can do is reduce the paperwork associated with registration, reduce the potential for incorrect use of cards at point of delivery and standardise data communication processes.

12. Will NGR cover deliveries of all types of grain?

The NGR system will provide you with a card for delivery of all your commodities to any participating organisations.

13. Who controls the NGR?

The NGR is an independent corporate entity, formed as a co-operative initiative between ABB and GrainCorp. These companies are the shareholders of NGR. All other grain marketers and grain handlers throughout Australia are being invited to participate in the NGR system.

14. Who is funding NGR?

Funding to develop the National Growers Registration Scheme and its associated infrastructure has been provided by the NGR's shareholders, ABB and GrainCorp.

15. Does NGR control payments?

NGR is not a payment system. It is a system for registering contact and payment details and placing these details in a database. These details are only accessible to those organisations with which the grower under that registration number does business. Financial transactions between growers and these companies will still be done on an individual basis.

16. Will NGR speed up payments?

Streamlining the collection of delivery information will in turn enable details of transactions to be forwarded to grain marketers and bulk handlers more efficiently. Payments will still be handled by the individual companies. However, standardising and streamlining the data flow and the paperwork should enable financial transactions to be processed more quickly.

17. Will NGR force out smaller grain traders and reduce competition?

No. NGR aims to streamline the registration system already used by the majority of Australian growers. Growers still have the option of dealing with smaller grain traders and using those companies' registration systems. These grain traders are also being encouraged to become part of the NGR system.

18. How many cards can my business receive?

Initially, each business which registers with NGR will be entitled to three copies of each card. Additional copies of the cards will be available at a cost to the grower.

19. I don't treat my delivery cards with kid gloves. How durable will the NGR cards be?

The NGR cards will be of the same durable material as is used currently by most bulk handlers and marketers. However, if the worst happens, replacements are a phone call away.

20. How quickly can I get a replacement card if I lose or damage my card?

Over the harvest, a phone call today will generally have a card in the post within the week. During the rest of the year, this may take two to three weeks. Of course, as an interim measure, delivery can generally occur by quoting a card number.

21. Will I be permitted to deliver grain and register those deliveries if I have forgotten my card?

Yes, delivery can be made as an interim measure by quoting the card number.

22. I employ sharefarmers on my properties. They do the harvesting and deliveries and receive the payments. Can they register for my property in addition to/instead of me?

NGR offers the opportunity for multiple sharefarming arrangements to be registered and for share farmers and/or property owners to register the arrangement. However, any party nominated as part of the arrangement will need to verify the information by signature.

23. How can I find out more about NGR?

To help growers find out more about the NGR system, a toll-free information line and a website have been established. NGR Freecall 1800 556 630 is an information service available from 8.00am to 5.30pm EST, 5 days a week. During harvest, these hours will vary please check the web site for up to date hours. Access outside these hours will be via an interactive voice system enabling growers to leave contact details. All the details on how to register and how to use the card will be available via the NGR Call Centre. Growers can also visit the NGR website at www.ngr.com.au and download information and registration forms.