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.
Red meat industry makes huge headway in reducing greenhouse gas emissions: MLA
A new research report released by CSIRO and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has shown that the Australian red meat and livestock industry has reduced its net greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent since 2005. Using information primarily from the 2020 Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to the red meat industry were 51.25 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent GHG in the year 2020.
4,100 have their say on phase out of live sheep export by sea: DAFF
The independent panel appointed to consult with stakeholders on the phase out of live sheep exports by sea will complete its public consultations this week. The panel was appointed by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt to provide advice on how and when the Australian Government can give effect to a phase out of live sheep exports by sea.
Around the paddocks
Brett Jewell of Kaniva said, "Our sowing program is nearly done with about 100ha to go, haven’t got much in the ground this week due to the wet weather, but we won't send that away. Canola and beans are up and the first of the wheat is coming through now. We have double-knocked most of the weeds this year which has done a great job but has required a lot more time on the sprayer."
Australia’s reputation will suffer under live sheep ban: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation has warned a consultation panel assessing the phase-out of live sheep exports that Australia’s status as a favoured food exporter will suffer should the ban proceed. In a submission to the consultation process, made public on 20 June 2023, the NFF has named broader trade impacts among several reasons the phase-out plan must be scrapped.
Canberra creates farmer confidence collapse in WA: NFF
Startling findings from two different surveys have highlighted the devastating impact the proposed live sheep export ban is having in Western Australia, according to the country’s peak farm body. Data released from Rabobank shows that while confidence edged higher nationally, WA bucked the trend recording a further dip into negative territory.
Sheep reproductive facility for Allora
Arolla Pastoral Company’s James and Carla Pidgeon hope to fast-track the production of genetically superior sheep. Works are underway on a sheep reproductive facility at Allora designed to fast-track Queensland’s supply of genetically superior lambs while creating four direct jobs and 11 indirect jobs for Queenslanders as a result of the project.
Meat Business Women – Gender Representation in the Meat Industry 2023
The independent, global Gender Representation in the Meat Industry 2023 report draws on international data from more than 50 major meat organisations ... Australia's OBE Organic - whose MD Dalene Wray is herself a notable woman in the meat business - featured as a case study in the report ... ARR.News asked some questions about women in the meat business of Dalene and Laura Ryan, Founder and Global Chair of Meat Business Women.
Fee rise funds major upgrade
South Australia’s biggest saleyards, the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE), is set to increase the footprint of its undercover cattle section by 40 percent in a multi-million-dollar upgrade. An expanded roof, a revamp of the unloading ramp area and truck wash modifications form part of the improvements that will see around $2 million spent at the facility.
NSW Farmers set target for EID
The state’s peak agricultural body says mandatory electronic identification tags for sheep should cost no more than $1 per tag, setting a clear target for state and federal governments ... farmers were still worried about how much the scheme might cost their businesses, and made it clear there must be financial support to implement traceability reform.
GPS Tagging to reduce the risk of sheep theft
A new technology has been made available to Australian farmers to help reduce the risk of stock theft ... James and Bec learned about the tags at a gathering organised by another victim of stock theft, Kevin Butler.
Sustainability scorecard released for Australian sheep and wool industry
The second Annual Report of the Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF) was released last week at a launch event at Anlaby Station in South Australia revealing the broadest range of data to date on the performance of the Australian wool and sheepmeat industry. One of the key priorities of the Framework is to reduce the industry’s net greenhouse gas emissions.
The shearer shortage
Editorial. There is a certain romance about shearing. But, as in so many professions, there is a world-wide shortage of shearers. If you go back 30 years, there were some 10,000 working shearers. Today, there are 2,000 in the industry. But the Covid pandemic has done the industry a good turn, inasmuch as it has enabled young people out of a job to do the necessary training for a well-paid occupation, which shearing – while hard work – undoubtedly is.
Dear Prime Minister,
John Hasell, President, WAFarmers. I write on behalf of the Western Australian farmers and service businesses that rely on the live sheep trade to support their families and communities. A trade that for purely political reasons your government has decided to end on the logic that it has lost its social licence to operate.
Rural Bank Insights: May 2023
Rural Bank Insights provides a monthly commentary on production and pricing trends for Australian agriculture, providing producers with a timely overview of current trends and an outlook for the coming months ... Cattle, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep, wool.
Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement: A new era for Australia-UK trade: MLA
Prime Ministers Albanese and Sunak met in London on 5 May 2023 and announced the long-awaited entry into force date of midnight 31 May 2023 for the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA), following the expected completion of UK domestic processes ... The A-UK FTA, which was agreed in principle in June 2021 and signed on 17 December 2021, will see Australian beef and sheepmeat/goat meat access to the UK liberalised over a transition period.
Autumn break buoys outlook amid lower agricultural commodity prices: NAB
Australian agricultural commodity prices took another downward turn last month with the NAB Rural Commodities Index* now 19.7 per cent below year-ago levels. Lower beef, lamb, canola, dairy and wool prices saw the Index fall 3.6 per cent month-on-month, according to the bank’s April Rural Commodities Wrap released on 26 April 2023.
Mulesing merino lambs on downward trend
Kristin Murdock. The AWI Merino Husbandry Practices Survey contacted 1203 Merino producers from the MLA member database to ask about specific Merino management practices. Results recently released showed a downward trend in mulesing. Ewe lambs mulesed fell from 63 per cent in 2019 to 52 per cent in 2021. Mulesing in male lambs showed a similar decline from 54 per cent to 44 per cent.
Internationally recognised scientists confirm benefits of red meat and livestock production: MLA
Nine scientific research papers published ... in the world-renowned journal Animal Frontiers have confirmed the critical role red meat and livestock play in society, arguing that animal agriculture is key to the challenges around climate change and global food security.
Austin shears over 500!
What a fantastic effort shearing 503 xb lambs in a day by young lad Doltan Austin. Simply put, that’s one lamb every 57 seconds of a standard eight-hour shearing day. Jason “Chippa’ Gordon said, “I have been a student of shearing exploits for many years and I can’t recall a feat ever achieved like this in the area.”
Digitised greenhouse gas calculator launched for producers: MLA
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has launched an online, web-based greenhouse gas (GHG) calculator based on the Sheep and Beef Greenhouse Accounting Framework (SB-GAF) tool for Australian sheep and beef producers. The digitised version of the SB-GAF tool is based off the freely available excel version of the tool available on the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC) website to ensure consistency across the sector.
