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.

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.

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.

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