My Accountant (pictured left) said…

“while I’m gone don’t

do anything stupid!”

…As far as I am concerned,
IF he can’t be contacted, he
can’t be consulted. Right?

Purchase a subscription to Cattle Country Magazine
online during the 27th – 30th of July
AND we’ll give you
25% more for your money!

(i.e. Purchase a 1 year subscription and we’ll add one extra edition or a 2 year subscription and we’ll add two editions to your purchase)

There, that will teach him to go on holiday without his phone!

Click the “SUBSCRIPTION” button above make your purchase before Norm finds out.

Among the key speakers will be Paul Morris, Deputy Executive Director of ABARE, and Dr Ian Johnsson, General Manager, Livestock Production Innovation, MLA.

On Wednesday afternoon the three livestock industry CRCs (Beef, Sheep and Poultry) based at UNE will show the delegates their latest research.

For more information, go to: www.asap.asn.au.

The seminar, at the University of New England, is included in the program of the 28th Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production being held at UNE from Monday 12 July to Thursday 15 July.

Jointly funded by Meat and Livestock Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information, this trans-Tasman symposium aims to open communication between technology developers, researchers, funding bodies and producers. Participants will discuss current and future work involving technologies for spatial tracking of livestock and dynamic monitoring of the grazing environment.

“A coordinated approach to research and development will help ensure we get practical outcomes for our livestock industries,” said the organiser of the symposium, Dr Mark Trotter, from the CRC for Spatial Information and the Precision Agriculture Research Group at UNE. “The interest in GPS-based monitoring of livestock and their environment has exploded in the past few years. We’re now seeing commercial monitoring technology being developed for producers. The developers need to know what the industry really needs, and the industry needs to be ready for it.”

The symposium will begin at 11am in Lecture Theatre 2 in UNE’s Education Building. “There is no registration cost, and anyone interested is encouraged to attend,” Dr Trotter said. Information on the latest tools for tracking livestock and monitoring forage resources, and new techniques for converting raw data into meaningful information and decision-support systems for producers will be presented.

For more information, contact Dr Mark Trotter, Precision Agriculture Research Group, UNE, on 0447 441 841 or e-mail mtrotter@une.edu.au.

The Kalkarindji (Lot 87) Agreement, between the Northern Territory Government, Bernard Pontiari Japalyi on behalf of the Jiyil and Yilyilimawu Gurindji Aboriginal people and the Central Land Council (CLC), enables the Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation to provide additional housing for health workers in Kalkarindji.

The agreement, negotiated by the NT Government and the CLC, allows for a Crown Lease Term to be granted to the Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation for a 924sq m block, which is potentially convertible to freehold title over the land.

The registration by the Tribunal today is the final step in the legally-binding ILUA process. The final ILUAs, between indigenous groups and others with interests in a particular area, agree on the use and management of land.

The Tribunal’s NT manager Tony Shelley said that almost a quarter of the registered ILUAs in Australia were in the NT. Nationally 440 ILUAs have been registered with 228 in Queensland.

“The large number of ILUAs registered in the NT reflects that these agreements are continuing to benefit indigenous people, government, and other land users around the Territory,” he said.

“This type of agreement can be developed to suit the needs of various parties with different types of interests, and all the land issues can be worked through.”

The Tribunal’s role in the ILUA process is to provide registration and agreement-making services to people and groups who want to formalise how land is to be used, while also respecting each other’s rights, interests and aspirations.

The Tribunal also registered the Territory’s 99th ILUA today, an agreement between the NT Government’s Department of Lands and Planning, the Northern Land Council and Jessie Brown, Ivy Brumby, Marie Dowling, Gary Manbulloo and Amy Marrapunyah on behalf of the Dragoman People and Sally Mumbin, Denise Williams and Bill Harvey Snr on behalf of the Wardaman and Jawoyn People, for a cultural precinct in Katherine.

Guest presenter Suzanne Solvyns spoke on the affect of the prion diseases such as CJD and variant CJD (loosely known as Mad Cow Disease) and the affects these horrendous diseases have on sufferers and their families.

“Any politician who witnessed the video footage, presented by Suzanne of patients suffering from CJD, could not allow beef into Australia from BSE-affected countries with a clear conscience,” Mr Bellinger said

David Byard from Tasmania spoke about the amount of money the consumer pays for beef, and that the price of cattle has not increased in the last twenty years, while the Supermarkets are making massive profits.

Mr Bellinger said, “I pointed out a few areas that are having drastic affect on beef producers’ profitability, including the NLIS white elephant. NLIS has cost the Industry over half a billion dollars, for no tangible benefit to the Industry. The undemocratic meat industry structure I also explained, and how corruption and unaccountability have not worked to the benefit of most beef producers”.

“We were delighted to have Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA, as a guest speaker. He spoke about the similarity of the problems both the US and Australian beef producer faces. The information he presented included graphs, which were riveting and emphasized the point that by the closing of Canada’s borders meant a price increase in price for American beef producers. He also mentioned the detrimental affect on Industry by having too few processors, which leads to many problems for the producer, including lack of pricing competition”, said Mr Bellinger.

Mr Bullard congratulated us in our efforts to prevent the importation of beef from BSE countries and totally supports the ABA’s stand on this issue.

As a result of the Forum the ABA and R-CALF have agreed to form a closer relationship, to counter the predatory action of multinational meat processors and retailers controlling the market place. Cattle producers/ranchers in both countries are experiencing a drop in their share of the consumer dollar as multi-nationals hunger for increased profits at the expense of farming communities.

“We had an excellent roll-up of concerned producers, who went home armed with new information about their Industry. Attendees offered their full support to the ABA and its policies for the betterment of all beef producers,” Mr Bellinger said.

The report, Australian beef: Financial performance of beef cattle producing farms, 2007-08 to 2009-10, was released today by ABARE’s Deputy Executive Director Paul Morris.

One of the consequences of herd rebuilding in 2009-10 is reduced sales of beef cattle. As a result, farm cash incomes are expected to fall by 18 per cent to $66,000 per farm in northern Australia, and almost 50 per cent to $31,700 per farm in southern Australia.

“The larger fall in average farm cash income in southern Australia reflects the impact of persistent dry conditions since the 2002-03 drought which has led to extensive destocking in this region,” said Mr Morris. “This destocking is expected to limit the recovery in calving numbers in 2009-10.”

The analysis of ABARE’s survey data also showed that producers who sold cattle directly for slaughter earned the highest farm cash income per hectare. The returns from sales to other markets - namely live exports, feedlots and other producers - varied between northern and southern Australia.

The analysis also found that while only a limited number of beef cattle producers used grain finishing prior to sale, on average these farms generated a much higher annual farm cash income per hectare than other producers.

In 2008-09, beef cattle producers also invested, on average, around $57,000 per farm on new capital. Cattle producers have maintained a high level of capital investment over the past decade, with the largest share dedicated to purchasing land. However, the proportion allocated to purchasing plant and machinery increased sharply in 2008-09, particularly in southern Australia.

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‘The grant provides an opportunity for exemplary farmers to travel overseas to meet other producers, customers and supply chain members. It is also a chance to explore new market opportunities,’ according to TQA Australia Managing Director Jane Lovell.

‘The Award is open to all Australian primary producers with a current certification to a third party audited food safety, quality assurance or environmental assurance scheme.’

Queensland strawberry grower Christina McPherson was the 2009 winner of the TQA Australia Global Insights Award, and used the grant to visit the European strawberry production hub of Huelva, Spain. Ms McPherson’s tour concluded with three days in the United Kingdom, following the path of Spanish strawberries into the supermarket.

‘Winning the Award allowed me to explore how the European producers tackle environmental issues, and how their environmental assurance schemes are providing them with a market edge,’ said Ms McPherson.

‘Programs such as WWF’s ‘One Europe, More Nature’ are working proof that business interests and food production can operate harmoniously with the needs of the natural environment.’

‘One of the lessons from my visit that I will take back to my strawberry business is to never underestimate the value of sustainable production. Short-term gains may not be realized, but longer term aspirations will be. Eventually, conscientious consumers will seek out and recognize responsible farmers.’

TQA Australia Global Insight Award application kits are available to download from the organisation’s website www.tqainc.com.au/award or by contacting the TQA Australia office on 1300 952 221. Applications close 30 August 2010.

Jake Phillips, 20, a 3rd Year Bachelor of Agriculture student has spent the past eight years working in the beef industry, since 2005 his own contracting business has specialized in show preparation and beef cattle husbandry. In recent years Jake’s business, JP Contracting, has helped his clients to considerable success in the show and sale ring.

Jakes efforts have been honored recently at the Channel 9 young achiever of the year awards, Jake was placed semi finalist in the Regional Initiative award in the 2010 awards. Jakes acknowledgements also include the 2010 Murray Grey Youth National Ambassador and the runner up in the SEMEX/MSU Angus society scholarship.

“It is such a great opportunity to be able to travel interstate and see so many different sides to the Australian Beef Industry” Jake said.

“ I feel so privileged to have my efforts acknowleged”

“The Beef Industry is full of opportunities for young people to get in and have a go” says Jake, the 2010 Murray Grey Youth President.

“My studies at Roseworthy and my dealings with producers across Southern Australia are complementing each other well at the moment” says Jake, the 2008 Senior Champion Herdsman at the South Australian Junior Heifer Expo.

“ The support that I have received from many members of the Beef Industry has been vital in the opportunities I have experienced”

Jake who grew up in the suburb of Torrensville, Adelaide, said his “passion for beef cattle must be genetic”. Jake started his education at Urrbrae High School before commencing his degree at the University of Adelaide in 2006. Jake deffered his studies in 2009 after taking out top prize at the South Australian Junior Heifer Expo, winning a study scholarship to North America for 5 months.

“My time in the US was amazing, I think there is a lot we can learn from the Americans, but there is also a lot we can teach” said Jake.

“I feel so privileged to be a steward of the Australian Beef Industry, learning from some of the old masters”.

“It is so exciting to see so many young people coming through with an interest in beef” Says Jake.

Jake along with Darren Koopman is also the student Co-coordinator of the Roseworthy Cattle Show team and says “I have enjoyed working with students of different backgrounds from all across Australia”.

Roseworthy College are preparing 13 steers for the Bendigo, Royal Adelaide and Royal Melbourne show this year.

“We have been fortunate to receive great support from industry leaders, such as compass feeds” says Jake

“We have handpicked a competitive group of mixed breed steers this year and all the students are looking forward to exhibiting them in the spring show season” says Jake, Coordinator of this years activities.

Upon finishing his bachelor of Agriculture Jake would like to work as a breeding program consultant and says “Id love to be able to take a teaching role of some description in the near future”.