Hannaford Stock & Land » crops

Over the Fence – 9th June 2010

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:43:19 +0000

Further to the devastating news from Japan in relation to the foot and mouth disease outbreak, some of the figures that are emerging are quite startling.
Over 200,000 animals have been destroyed since March, with a 150,000 of those being pigs. Apparently one of the country’s prized Wagyu herds is still intact. This certainly brings back the absolute need for our quarantine authorities and federal government to lift their game to the highest priority. One would not wish to think about the devastation that could be reaped upon our National herd. Just the economic cost, with figures between 9 and 12 billion, plus the International reputation to our clean, green, disease free food would be irreparable.
The fact that the Government is refusing to provide an additional $260 million per year, recommended by it’s own quarantine review panel, makes you wonder where their real priorities are in this time of throwing money around in all directions…….except ours.

Over the Fence – 17th February 2010

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:12:53 +0000

It is a good sign that the rural industry is really starting to hurt and following on from the protests in Canberra over land rights, is the Forum to be held in Armidale on Feb 27th. This is in regards to the performance of our red meat industry organisations, being led by the Bindaree Beef Pty Ltd.
With costs of close enough to $10 per head, just in levies, many in the industry are asking ”are we getting any bang for our buck?”. The main concerns appear to be of the use of Peak Councils, Red Meat Advisory Councils and other organisations such as the MLA which appear to be eating up funds at an alarming rate with little to show in return. An example being the blowout of the MLA’s budget from $96million to $160million whilst in real terms, cattle prices are 20% lower than those paid twenty years ago.
Another fact being that the per-capita beef consumption has continued to decline at a long term rate of 1.7% per year.
Is it a fact that we have too many fingers in the pie with very little results showing any marked increase in sales or consumption?
Any people wishing to go this forum, please contact me at the office, as I feel we need to get these questions answered or maybe reformed.

Over the Fence – 14th October 2009

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:20:26 +0000

It was interesting reading this week an article on the importance of Agriculture not only to the Australian economy but also to the number of people employed either directly or indirectly because of it. Australia’s 208 billion dollar Agricultural sector feeds more than 60 million people worldwide and employs more than 900,000 people.

The main reason I am more than interested in this latest splash of figures is that my constant whinging about Commodity prices and lack of return to the producers certainly doesn’t read well for the future as the world’s population grows.

Once again the loss of young farmers from the Land and the carrying on of that “Bred-In Practical Knowledge” will make a huge impact in the future to our Industry as the years progress. Maybe a little bit of forward thought by our Politicians, Supermarkets and Public in general, who have access to some of the best produce in the world, is needed to secure the future of Food Production in this country.

Over the Fence – 3rd September 2009

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:31:39 +0000

Looks like a masterstroke for Angus breeders across Australia with the coupling of McDonalds to the Angus Association of Australia. The release of the “MacAngus” as a premium quality larger burger will certainly help associate the breed with higher quality meat, hopefully.
A little bit interesting in that although being sold as a CAAB – verified Angus beast, I did notice that to qualify in this programme that the sire had to be Angus and that there was an allowance for the dam to be an Angus cross cow.

The only thing that could sink this programme of course would be if someone puts a “Roo in the Stew”. Still a master marketing stroke for the Angus breed.

Its great to see that another part of the grazing industry is kicking extremely large goals and that of course is Aussie Lamb. Figures just released for the last quarter show a surge of 9% increase, which represented 40,928 tonnes that were actually shipped. The biggest growth was of course in the South East Asia and China areas that lifted their intake by 15%. The whole process still comes back to consumer demand, which is rising at a rapid rate, and the saleyard prices are most certainly showing that. An excellent return for farmers with lambs, which is great.

Over the Fence – 19th August 2009

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:41:03 +0000

The thing that has really worried most of us, in the primary production game, is the difference in price at “Farm Gate” and price at Supermarket level.
Even though we have had enquiries by the ACCC, into such staples as meat, fruit and vegetables, it seems that prices are still running at 3 times the inflation rate.
Within this investigation, there did not appear to be anything that was forcing these prices up. The huge disparity from gate to supermarket certainly has not been explained to us.

Maybe the argument that Australia has only the eleventh highest inflation rate for the year should make us feel better, or make sure we don’t move to those other ten countries.

The other stories, especially those in the fresh fruit game, who have been outspoken with major suppliers, and suffered huge downgrading of their product or lengthy settlement of their accounts, are fairly well known throughout the industry.

Without sounding too idealistic I don’t think any farmer expects more than a reasonable percentage of the profit all the way along the food chain. He is the one that has outlaid the money for the land, grown the produce and paid the wage and diesel bill. Maybe some of these enquiries could show a little bit more intestinal fortitude.