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.

Great talking with a few of the old timers the other day, about all things Rural, bureaucrats and international trade. My constant whinging about the lack of quality decisions made by our bureaucratic establishments who are controlling our Beef Industry is made up of the following. The flurry of overseas beef imports from countries with BSE problems, the demands of the bureaucracy in regards to our land management and the basic lack of knowledge by our “Masters” of the practical abilities to survive in today’s agricultural industry.
Then it was suddenly like a little light going on amongst the three of us, as if we had found the overwhelming problem to all the above issues. As one old fellow said to me, “the biggest trouble with most of the people who have their degrees, sharp suits and fairly extreme wages, is that not one of them in their lifetime would know how to grow a blade of grass, let alone manage things like animal health, fencing, pasture development and the ever present bank manager”.
Quick as a flash I replied, “We ought to get one of you blokes to have a crack at these top jobs”. It was as if I had dropped a grenade, as they headed to all corners of the earth, mumbling under their breaths “I haven’t got time for all that bureaucratic rubbish” !
Maybe this is our real problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

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.

Isn’t it great to see a few smiles around the area from local graziers again even though we are in the toughest part of the year feed wise for stock the fat market is now starting to provide some good returns for cows , bulls and bullocks. Have had reports of close to $1000 for good quality ages cows lately, not a bad return after they have done their job. The other part of the cattle market is starting to show prices heading in the right direction is the feeder market, with quotes this week of $2.15 for quality vendor bred cattle. The diminishing Australian dollar certainly isn’t hurting us in any way regarding exports.

The importance of supplementary feeding of cattle over this month and the next will certainly come to the fore, as the low protein levels and available quality of grasses will be of not much value to the stock. Lets hope a little early rain in spring to get the clovers and summer grasses going.