Micro abattoir tour excites
The need for humane and accessible abattoir facilities has never been greater as producers are forced out of larger facilities and face ever-increasing costs of transporting their animals. Last week’s meeting and tour with the Murray Plains Meat Co-Operative (MPMC) was well attended with everyone being brought up to speed on how the project is progressing.
Top young alpaca judges to rank the herd at national finals
Australia's most promising young alpaca judges have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals of the prestigious annual competition to be judged in October ... Grace Nesbitt, 18, from Illawong will be representing New South Wales in the alpaca young judges competition.
Farm incomes to fall due to drier conditions and lower prices: ABARES
After 2 record years, broadacre farm incomes are forecast to fall significantly in 2023–24 due to drier conditions and lower prices for agricultural commodities, especially livestock. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said that, at a national level, average farm cash income for broadacre farms is expected to decrease 41 per cent to $197,000 per farm in 2023–24, representing a fall in incomes back to levels seen 3 years ago.
A “mountain of supply” – counting numbers in Australia’s livestock market: Rabobank
Australia’s sheep, cattle and goat markets are being impacted by very high production numbers, compounded by already large volumes of meat in congested supply chains, according to agricultural analysts at Rabobank. For the sheep sector particularly, there is effectively a "mountain of supply at the moment" following two "extremely good seasons"...
Farmers losing confidence as government risks Middle Eastern gaffe: NFF
In a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, farming groups have expressed frustration and warned of irreversible harm to the agricultural sector and to Australia’s trade and diplomatic partnerships in the Middle East. Calling on the Prime Minister and Minister Watt to reverse its policy on the phase out of live sheep by sea, the groups said the ban was pointless, expensive and disruptive.
Cream of the crop dairy paraders rise to attention at national finals
Australia's most promising paraders of dairy cattle have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals ... William Dudfield, 20, from Somerset will be representing Tasmania in the dairy cattle young paraders. “I’ve been showing since I was three years old and I’ve been a part of the paraders since I was nine."
Australia’s top young Merino judges vye for national title
Australia's most promising judges of Merino sheep have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals of the prestigious annual competition to be judged next month. The competition brings together the best young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state to compete at the national finals.
Janmac sires breed suckers to hit market sweet spot
A large selection of impressive rams by Janmac’s homegrown sires will feature in the stud’s annual spring sale this year, highlighting the depth of the stud’s genetics. And having recently returned from Sheepvention, one of the largest sheep expos in the country, Janmac Poll Dorset and White Suffolk Stud co-principal Grant Hausler said weight and quality wise their sheep were "right on track".
Australian agricultural exports reach new highs: Rural Bank
Rural Bank’s Australian Agricultural Exports Report 2022/23 has found that export values reached a record high in 2022/23, driven by the 2022 winter crop. Australia’s top 13 export markets recorded year-on-year growth with the top 12 all achieving record highs, led by China, with Japan and the US retaining their places as Australian agriculture’s second and third most valuable markets.
Gun shearer tops circuit
Lockhart shearer Nicki Guttler has had a very busy 12 months on the NSW Sports Shear Circuit. She has been competing in the senior level against the men in 12 shows, coming first seven times, second two times, third two times and failed to reach the final in one event. All in all she was the top competitor at the end of the circuit by 28 points.
Farmers from the West heading to Canberra with a personal plea: NFF
Farmers and representatives from across the West are packing their bags and heading to Canberra on September 5 to speak directly to politicians about the Government’s proposed phase out of live sheep exports … Australia’s live export industry is worth some $1.3 billion and generates around 10,000 jobs, many in remote areas.
Buloke Times editorial: Shearers 2
This is a follow-up to the previous piece about the shortage of shearers. The numbers of Australian-based shearers have diminished by 30 per cent in the last decade, partly due to the drought, the pull of the mining sector, and Covid 19 restricting arrivals. New Zealand shearers also had a pay rise in 2018. In May 2023, at the end of the earlier editorial, the hope was expressed that the shortage would be relieved by progress with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM). Provision had been made for a pilot round of a small number to be trained as shearers in southern NSW. That plan will not now go ahead.
Live sheep ban sets dangerous social licence precedent: GPA
Allan Marshall recently published an excellent article outlining the important role live sheep exports play in delivering multiple benefits, especially improved animal welfare and global food security ... So why does this closure of the live sheep trade concern Grain Producers Australia?
Optimising sheep health and maximising market specs at information day at Pepperton Farms
Gaining premiums from the processor, maximising genetic improvement and the latest in sheep handling technology will be on show for lamb producers at the Pepperton Farms information day on September 6. Hosted by the Trewick family, Pepperton Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks at Elmore from 10am to 3pm...
Minister, please explain social licence: John Hassell
John Hassell, President WAFarmers. Sheep farmers in Western Australia have been told by the Federal Labor Government that we have lost our social licence for live exports ... If it was a rash decision then it's time to reverse it and accept that the industry has done everything it has been asked for by the Government and should be allowed to continue. If not then this decision marks the end of agriculture in Australia as we know it and the Government should tell us.
Top honours at shearing championships in Bendigo
Local shearing and woolhandling stars from Nhill and surrounding districts shone bright at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show held in Bendigo over the weekend, clinching top honours in several categories at the Victorian State Titles ... Josh Bone made a triumphant return, securing first place in the Open Shearing State Title for the second year running. The Woolhandling side also witnessed thrilling victories, with Kirsty Pollock clinching the Open Woolhandling title and Sigourney Williams securing the top spot in the Novice category.
John Dalla’s shearing success in Scotland
Warooka’s John Dalla had another successful showing at this year’s World Shearing Championships ... An 11-time national title holder, Mr Dalla finished this year’s competition, held at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a fifth place in the individual event and fourth in the teams event ... "There’s nothing similar to the sheep in Scotland here in Australia, so it’s actually really difficult to train for."
Australia to strengthen grip as the largest sheepmeat exporter as flock reaches highest level since 2007: MLA
This year, Australia’s sheep flock and its breeding ewe numbers reached their highest levels since 2007 at 78.75 million and 46.14 million head respectively, according to the latest Sheep Projections update from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) ... Carcase weights in 2023 will remain 7% above the 10-year average.
Drought-resilient shrub goes east to support farmers in dry times: CSIRO
Sheep and cattle farmers are planting hundreds of thousands of an elite variety of Oldman Saltbush across Australia’s southeast this winter to supplement feed during dryer conditions heralded by a potential El Nino. Anameka Saltbush is a specially selected variety of the drought-tolerant native shrub, developed over 15 years by CSIRO.
ABARES report examines agriculture’s extensive sustainability credentials
New analysis released by ABARES examines Australian Agriculture’s extensive sustainability credentials—and the importance of demonstrating them to consumers and investors in the future ... “Compared to other significant agricultural producers, Australian farmers use less fertiliser, have better nutrient balances on their land and use more sustainable cropping practices”: ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville.
Australian agriculture mid year outlook 2023 – Seasonal, trade conditions, economic headwinds to shape outlook for 2H 2023: Rural Bank
Rural Bank’s Australian Agriculture Mid-Year Outlook 2023 report finds that favourable seasonal conditions and strong production over the first half of 2023 ensured strong winter crop establishment and pasture growth, particularly on the east coast, but despite a positive start to the year, softening commodity prices are now impacting Australian farmers following several seasons of strong prices.
Buloke Times editorial: Implications of banning live sheep exports
As reported, the federal Agriculture Minister had the awkward task of confirming that the government intended to phase out sheep exports, but would do so in an orderly way “after consulting the industry”, although no action would be taken during the current term of government. The government has appointed a panel, which is part of the “phasing out”. The result so far of its “consulting the industry” is that the industry, backed up by the 3,000 people and their families dependent on the export, is against the ban.
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