Supermarket retailer Coles on Friday recalled a packaged thick beef burger product line over concerns about gluten content.

The 500g MAP packs of Coles Thick Beef Burger patties, carrying a use-by date of 17.02.14, were sold in Coles and BI-LO stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory.

According to the Coles website, the product is being recalled due to an undeclared allergen (gluten) which it says could pose a ‘health risk’ for customers with a gluten intolerance or coeliac disease. Products with other date codes are not affected.

A slightly different version of the notification appears on the NSW Food Safety Authority website, which suggests the recall is associated with inaccurate declarations on the label, not in the product itself.

In a national advertisement published in metropolitan press on Saturday, Coles advised customers who are gluten intolerant, not to consume the patties but return them to their nearest Coles or BI-LO store for a full refund.

Customers seeking further information can contact Coles Customer Care on 1800 061 562.

• While they are rare and inevitably represent only negligible health risk, Beef Central publishes Australian food safety recalls relating to red meat products as a matter of routine.

Today is the final day for members of the public to provide input into a Senate Committee review of a Bill calling for the development of an Australian Reconstruction and Development Board within the Reserve Bank of Australia.

The deadline for submissions is the close of business today.

A central theme of many of the 23 submissions received so far is that the difficulties producers are facing to survive this drought are a symptom of a deeper root cause: the long-term decline that has occurred in the profitability of farming and grazing operations.

The authors of numerous submissions talk of still receiving prices within the same basic range for a tonne of wheat or a deck of bullocks that they were receiving in the 1970s, but now having to stretch the same prices to pay production costs that had risen many, many times over.

Submissions describe farmers in their 60s and 70s now feeling ‘worn out and burnt out’ but unable to retire, because they cannot sell at a price they need to repay debt and fund their retirement.

Many submissions predict a looming mass exodus of farmers in the short to medium term, either through no financial choice, or by their own personal will while they still have some equity left to salvage.

Some point out that many caught up in the debt malaise include the “more progressive and innovative operators”, those who have made decisions to grow businesses, update machinery and make improvements to their properties, the kind of people without whom industries stagnate and do not progress.

One farmer wrote that the conventional advice is to put something away in the good years for the bad years.  “In 35 years of farming, I have never had enough good years to put any away. All I was able to do was pay off the debt accumulated during the droughts.”

Another wrote: “The current drought is simply the final nail in the coffin, following years of poor returns exacerbated by the live cattle export ban imposed by the Federal Labor Government. While we all pray for rain to save our cattle, if returns do not improve, there will be no saving the northern cattle industry.”

A large number of submissions say the ARDB would help to stabilise the current situation and avert a looming wave of fire sales while more appropriate debt structures and better polices were formulated to enable farm gate returns to improve and long-term profitability to return.

One young farmer said he believed Senators considering the ARDB should ask themselves one question: “do we want farmers in Australia? If the answer is no, then come out publicly and tell us all. If it’s yes, get the ARDB up and running. This should be the first of many steps to get agriculture back to there it once was.”

Similar sentiments were expressed in another submission: “If you believe in “Aussie food for Aussie people by Aussie farmers, the ARDB bill is essential. If you are happy to import food from uncertain places, then do nothing.”

One cattleman said an ARDB would help to give Australian farmers a fighting chance to compete on an international playing field that was ‘anything but level’: “Whether it is tariffs, cheap labour, subsidies, exchange rates, illegal chemical practices in competitor countries, poor quality, truth in labeling, the story is the same. Australia loses. Industry in this country needs some policy changes that favour and support growth and sustainability. The ARDB gives Australians that chance.”

Of the 23 submissions lodged so far, the only submission that opposes the content of the bill is one submitted by WA agriculture minister Ken Baston.

In his submission Mr Baston said the WA Government made a decision in January 2011 that it would not provide a carry-on loan scheme as a lender of last resort to farmers based on three reasons:

• The Government would be required to assume risk that commercial lenders have rejected, with financiers referring risky clients so as to both limit their own exposure and avoid adverse publicity of debt recovery;

• Level of arrears and bad debt are often substantial and can be exacerbated if future seasons are also adverse; and

• Last-resort loan schemes are distortionary and encourage unviable activity, artificially holding up land prices and delaying orderly restructure and adjustment.

Mr Baston said the approach in the Bill was not consistent with the ‘risk management and preparedness approach’ of the intergovernmental agreement on national drought program reform signed by all state ag ministers in May 2013.

• To read submissions or to upload a new submission on the Australian Parliament House website click here
   

A NEW era in heavy vehicle operations, including most livestock transport, comes into effect from today, under the long-awaited National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) legislation.

The new Heavy Vehicle National Laws will come into force in all States except Western Australia and the Northern Territory, delivering changes in the laws affecting livestock transport operations – particularly where state boundaries are crossed - and the way transporters interact with Federal and State governments.

On balance, the livestock transport industry expects the NHVR changes to be positive, harmonising laws from state to state, meaning heavy vehicle laws will be the same in all participating jurisdictions.

The NHVR will become a one-stop-shop for a range of services that were previously delivered by separate state and territory road transport authorities.

In participating states, permit applications must now go through the NHVR, which will liaise with all other road authorities on operators’ behalf. Previously, separate applications had to be made, where more than one jurisdiction was involved.

An online journey planner can now be used to assist in the application process and allows the operator to keep up to date with progression. Importantly, the new process promises to provide clear reasons for decisions, and will provide operators with some new review and appeal options.

National notices will be issued and requirements to carry documentation will be reduced, where possible.

Another change will see the advent of an improved National Work Diary for operators, however the existing work diaries remain current for another six months.

Other key changes include:

• a new AFM scheme, to be trialled during 2014.
• Mutual Recognition: inter-state recognition of inspections and defect clearances.
• Fees for services will be nationally uniform.
• Penalties will be nationally uniform.
• Enforcement: Authorised officers will be working for the NHVR under service agreements. There will be national training packages and more consistent application of the law.

Some elements of transport operations will not change. These include driver licencing; registration; HML; dangerous goods permits; livestock loading schemes and police will all remain under state and territory jurisdiction.

Additionally, there will be many ‘local productivity initiatives’ that will be allowed to continue.

Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association chief executive Mathew Munro said depending on the current laws in each state or territory, there would be some location-specific changes for operators to look out for.

“However, some changes will affect everybody. For example, the new law requires all drivers of heavy vehicles operating under any NHVAS accreditation module to carry a copy of the operator's accreditation certificate and an induction approval document,” he said.

“In response to concerns raised by industry about the practical implications of this change, the NHVR has advised authorised officers to apply discretion and issue warnings as opposed to an infringement. If drivers are issued with a warning and disregard it, they are likely to be subject to further enforcement action, however.”

Mr Munro said the ALRTA was working with the NTC to find a legislative solution to this as soon as possible.

Examples of more welcome changes brought about by the reform process include a 1-tonne mass transfer allowance to a tri-axle, nationally consistent rules for counting time and recognition of permits/accreditation when determining the severity of OSOM breaches.

Mr Munro said livestock loading schemes, which currently vary from state to state, would remain state based.

“The new legislation provides some opportunity to address some other issues, such as Chain of Responsibility, and national penalties for example. But it’s not all finished yet. Consistency and enforcement of penalties is going to be a big one, and will be an ongoing challenge for the regulator, because all the states will be providing their services to the regulator under service agreements.”

“The degree to which the regulator is able to exercise effective control over authorised officers is something we would like to see, but we’ll have to wait and see how that translates on the roadside. The officers will have to undergo consistent training, so it will take a little time to filter through,” he said.

“This is not really the end of the journey: it’s the start of a longer journey.”

Both national licensing and national registration are not part of today’s process, but are issued flagged for discussion by respective Transport Ministers, Mr Munro said.

That consultation process on registration might commence later this year.

A change of particular interest to beef producers, will be the opportunity for a producer themselves to apply for an access permit.

Previously, the stock owner would contact the transport operator, who would firstly determine whether an access permit was required to get to the property, and if so, make an application themselves. Now a producer can make that online application to the regulator for a permit for a particular type of vehicle (such as a B-double configuration on a road not designated for B-double use), and choose whichever operator they want that fits the B-double type. The same permit can also be used for multiple loads under the same criteria, or exchanged between operators in the event of a breakdown or some other reason why the first operator was unable to pick up the load.

This would provide a greater degree of flexibility, certainty and simplicity, Mr Munro said.

The new NHVR laws have been up to 20 years in the making. The original concept was for model heavy-vehicle laws for uniform adoption across all states, but the problem was that states tended to adopt them to varying degrees, and have since continued to make small changes. Nor did the original concept include a national regulator.

AgForce harbours cocnerns over fatigue work diaries

Queensland lobby group AgForce said despite a number of clear advantages that will accompany the legislation, it remained concerned as to the negative implications of a 100km trigger point for the completion of fatigue work diaries.

“We have supported many of the aspects of the legislation from the outset and are hopeful it will largely reduce administrative burden and transport costs for the agriculture industry,” Ian Burnett, AgForce general president, said.

“The fact that only one permit will now be required for trips between states, excluding Western Australia and the Northern Territory, will also bring considerably more ease to the transportation of rural freight.

“In saying that, we remain greatly disappointed with the inflexibility shown to primary producers in Queensland with the reduction of the trigger radius, for the requirement of truck drivers operating fatigue related vehicles to keep a fatigue work diary, from 200km to 100km.”

Mr Burnett said the reduction was at odds with the goal of reducing red tape and promoting productivity.

“The implementation of the 100km radius shows there has been little, if any, consideration of the distances primary produces in large states travel to simply reach their closest town,” he said.

“This decision has no safety benefit to drivers or communities and surely common sense says a trip to town to collect supplies and equipment should not be regulated under fatigue laws.”

Mr Burnett said AgForce now looked forward to engaging with the NHVR further on this issue and to developing a strong working relationship to continue to promote greater rural productivity.

“AgForce has always had a very good relationship with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and we look forward to fostering such a relationship with the national regulator.”

• General information on the new process can be accessed here.

• Readers are advised that DAFF was more than a week late in releasing January’s monthly export figures this afternoon, February 10. It blamed IT issues.

The relentless drought-driven surge in beef slaughter has seen January beef exports reach an all-time monthly record, going close to 70,000 tonnes for all markets.

Compare this with January last year, when Australia exported a little over 55,000 tonnes, and on face value it sounds like a ‘substantial' increase of around 15,000t, or 27 percent.     

But look at the sequence of January exports over the past five years a little more closely, and the sheer enormity of the current production cycle is laid bare.

Last year’s January export volume of 55,147t was in fact itself a record volume for the month, while the immediate past four years (2010-2013) January exports average has been just over 47,000t.

That means latest January exports completed ten days ago are in fact more than 48pc higher than that four-year average number.

Three main factors have driven the January volumes to stratospheric new highs:

• The obvious: Prolonged dry conditions continuing to push cattle to market. Reference this morning’s weekly Eastern States kill report on Beef Central for more on this.
• The slightly less obvious: Conversely, January is often the slowest month for Australian beef exports, being typically plagued by slaughter stock access problems caused by road closures and paddock access difficulty driven by rain and localised flooding. That has obviously been just a distant memory this year.
• The least obvious: Underlying strength of international demand for Australian beef has been an absolute godsend during the recent period of record turnoff, in finding homes, at good prices, for abundant Australian beef. Favourable currency movement has obviously helped that, with the A$, currently sitting around US89c, about US13c (or 14pc) below where it sat this time last year.

Looking at last month’s export destinations in detail:

US: Trade to the US in January reached 13,832 tonnes, down from 17,700t in December, but almost 2000t higher than time last year, as the US runs into a big red meat supply shortfall, and skyrocketing wholesale prices. Other competitive export destinations are ‘robbing’ the US of its traditional supply of manufacturing beef out of Australia.  

Japan: Japan took 15,486t of Australian beef in January slipping about 1500t on this time last year, and well back from December shipments of 22,800t.

The economic environment remains sluggish, while stock levels are reportedly high, which on top of competition from the US, combined to hinder demand, which is likely to remain the case for the coming months.

Again, vigorous competition from other export destinations continued to be the main reason for the year-on-year decline in Japan, and there is growing evidence that Japan no longer has the capacity to exert the buyer influence and dictate terms over the Australian beef market that it has done over the past 15 years. This may yet emerge as one of the most significant turning-points in competition dynamics for Australian beef seen in recent history, in Beef Central’s view.

Korea: The start of another calendar year, and the start of an even yet more onerous tariff disadvantage to Australia in trying to compete in the South Korean imported beef trade. Tariffs on Australian beef imports since January 1 have again slipped further behind, in comparison with those applying to US beef under the US/Korea Free Trade Deal.

The difference now stands at more than 8pc, and will continue, at least until Australia’s own FTA with Korea is fully-ratified by both governments.

In the meantime, our exports for January to Korea reached 10,214 tonnes – way down from 16,200t in December, but considerably better than the 8000t trade this time last year, when Korea was liquidating its own herd.

China: For once, exports to China took a short breather during January, reaching just over 10,000t. That’s the lowest monthly figure in 12 months, comparing with 14,000t for December last year, but still dramatically higher than January last year, (4437t) when the market was still beginning to emerge.

One of the factors in the decline last month, was the passing of Chinese New Year – traditionally a high-demand period for ‘luxury’ proteins like beef. Most beef had to have passed through customs by around January 24 in order to make this year’s festival, which fell on January 31, trade sources said.

China’s ban on chilled exports out of Australia continues, with January’s entire shipments – 7575t boneless; 851t bone-in; and 1563t in carcase form – being entirely frozen.

Russia and the former CIS states: Russia continued to disappoint, taking just 269 tonnes of Australian in January, collapsing from 1289t in December and 811t this time last year.

Last calendar year’s total beef imports by Russia were the lowest since 2004, totalling 579,000t – back 7pc on the previous year. The restrictions placed on US and Mexican beef in early 2013, combined with the significant and continuous increase in chicken and pork consumption in recent years, contributed to the decline in Russian beef imports during the year. 

In early 2013, Russia banned beef imports from the US and Mexico over the use of Ractopamine, which saw the total combined export volume to Russia for both countries fall from 51,000t in 2012 to 369t in 2013. The consequent gap in supply, as well as the reduction in Australian and Uruguayan shipments during 2013, assisted Brazil and Paraguay to increase their market share. Russian beef imports from Brazil rose 24pc in 2013, to 308,000t, giving Brazil a 53pc market share.

Meanwhile, Australian imports in 2013 declined 21, respectively. Tthe Australian frozen beef that would usually be destined for Russia was increasingly shipped to countries such as China and Saudi Arabia during 2013.

Indonesia: There were further positive signs in the Indonesian beef market, with exports last month of 4003 tonnes, almost four times the level of trade seen this time last year, and not too far off trade in December, as import permit issues start to subside.

Middle East: The Middle East region continues to be another strong export success story, taking 3626t of Australian beef in January – almost identical to December, and 10pc better than this time last year. Saudi Arabia was easily the strongest component, taking almost 1300t.

EU: Exports reached 1296t in January, up about 50pc on this time last year, but 300t short of December trade.    

Beef producers are being asked how they recognise and manage emergency animal disease, as part of a new James Cook University research project.

JCU researcher Dr Connar McShane is conducting Farm Biosecurity Practices and the Management of Emergency Animal Disease, as part of a joint project between JCU and Charles Sturt University.

The research is targeting beef producers in the northern and southern beef zones, and specifically producers in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region.

Dr McShane said emergency animal diseases were diseases that threatened the biosecurity of the Australian livestock industry.

“Such diseases include foot and mouth disease, which if it was introduced to Australia would impact our ‘low risk’ disease trade status and thus have a significant impact on Australian beef exports,” she said.

“This research will help us understand how and where producers obtain their information for management of emergency animal disease and whether they use these knowledge sources.

“Outcomes will have implications for policy development and enhance our ability to protect Australia’s beef industry from diseases.”

Producers in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region were sent surveys at the end of January via post and will receive a reminder letter in the second week of February.

The survey asks producers to volunteer to participate in interviews as well.

The interviews will be face-to-face and Dr McShane will meet the producer at a place convenient for them, for example, on a farm. 

“We are looking for 40-60 producers to participate in the interviews. Interview participants go into the draw to win 1 of 10 Coles-Myer gift vouchers worth $50.”

The project is funded by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries and results will be presented in a report to DAFF.

Source: James Cook University

 

The first shipment of Territory buffalo is scheduled to sale from Darwin to Vietnam today, marking the start of an exciting new export market for Northern Australia, according to NT chief minister Adam Giles. 

“Buffalo are an iconic Territory animal and it’s exciting to see them headed to Vietnam for the first time,” Mr Giles said.

“Final negotiations on this project were held during my visit to Vietnam last year and I am thrilled to see more than 200 farmed buffalo setting off to Hai Phong City so soon.

“Vietnam is already the second largest importer of Northern Territory cattle behind Indonesia but it has never been an export destination for buffalo before now.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the Territory’s live animal export industry to diversify its customer and product base.

“These Vietnam-bound buffalo were mostly sourced from a domesticated herd at Swim Creek station on the Mary River Flood Plains.

“Down the track there will also be huge opportunities for Indigenous communities to harvest buffalo from wild herds on Aboriginal land.

“Only the Country Liberals Government is supporting Indigenous economic opportunity and fostering job creation right across the Territory, including the bush.

“Exploring new markets for Territory products like buffalo will be a key focus for the Giles Government as we look to maximise our development potential in the North Australia Century.

“Two thirds of the World’s middle class will live in Asia by the year 2030 and this rapidly growing population urgently needs to find new, secure sources of food. Northern Australia has a huge role to play in meeting this demand.

The new health protocol for feeder and slaughter buffalo was finalised in January this year after lobbying by Mr Giles during his official visit to Vietnam last October.

“This has made it possible for exporters to establish approved supply chains and begin exporting buffalo to Vietnam,” Primary Industry Minister Willem Westra Van Holthe said.

“On conservative estimates, the Territory buffalo industry could supply around 1000 head per month to live export, drawing from 100,000 animals in the wild and 10,000 farmed animals.

“Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries personnel will provide Vietnamese importers with technical advice and assistance in animal management, nutrition, animal handling and feedlot management prior to and following shipment of buffalo from the Territory.”

The Northern Territory has previously exported buffalo to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines.

Source: NT Chief Minister's office

The combination of very-large to near-record seven-day throughput in the three biggest beef producing states has pushed the Eastern States weekly kill to another all-time record.

The National Livestock Reporting Service logged a tally of 163,933 head for the seven days ended Friday across the five Eastern states – Qld, NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania.

That’s the highest number ever seen since this report was launched in 1998, easily surpassing the previous record of 161,930 head set back in early December.

The result graphically illustrates the plight that most of Eastern Australia is now in, season-wise, with most export and domestic abattoirs killing at their physical capacity to try to keep up with cattle supply. Weekend and double shifts can come at a cost penalty, but it is the only way processors can find to get on top of the backlog.   

Last week’s kill was 16 percent higher than the week before, although the previous week was impacted by the Australia Day Monday holiday. This time last year, the Eastern States kill had reached just 108,000 head, as the slaughter season started slowly, before gradually gaining momentum as the year progressed and things got drier.

Queensland’s kill last week, at 81,480 head, wasn’t far off the state’s record, and represented the highest throughput since a very large week back in July. The figure was 18pc above the previous holiday-shorted week, and 23pc above this time last year.

The kill in NSW also soared to 39,104 head last week – the state’s fourth highest tally seen on the past 12 months – and representing a 13pc rise on year-ago figures.

In Victoria, the tally of 29,407 went close to last December’s record of slightly over 30,000 head, and was a full 23pc above kills seen this time a year ago.

South Australia and Tasmania, where the seasonal impact is much more moderate, both recorded fairly typical kills for this time of year. South Australia, at 9289 head, was +4pc on a year ago, while Tasmania (4653 head) was 1pc behind last year.

Big cow turnoff continues

Females are again making up a considerable proportion of kills in the two states where gender figures are recorded by NLRS. In Queensland last week, the figure reached 45pc, and in NSW, 44pc.

Perhaps masking that a little, however, has been the big inflows of cows out of NSW into southern Queensland plants, which started around November last year, and continues at a high rate.

It’s being caused partly because of lack of killing space in closer NSW plants, but also because direct consignment rates are making the prospect worthwhile. There appears to be little difference in cow rates between Qld and NSW currently, whereas normally at this time of year, NSW money would be at least 10c/kg in front.

One large SEQ export processor spoken to this morning said his plant was sourcing large lines of cows from as far south as Coonamble, and Tamworth.

Not surprisingly, weights in cows are light and continuing to slip, and there’s a lot more slash-pack cows than good cows coming through. A lot of cow consignment weights are averaging 220kg or less, down 30-50kg or more on what would normally been seen at this time of year.  

Lighter cows cost the processor the same amount of money to fabricate as a heavy cow, but fortunately the strength of the international grinding beef meat market is helping offset that.    

A pointer to the longer-term impact of the drought came from one processor spoken to by Beef Central this week, who noted the large proportion of ‘empties’ coming through in the cow kill, as cows down in condition last year never got back into calf.

That may be a portent to likely calving rates later this year, which will see the drought impact echo on into 2015.

The trend in pregnancy rates in slaughter cows is easily picked up in foetal blood extraction, for pharmaceutical use, which takes place at many larger plants.  

All processors spoken to this morning said they remain under the pump in terms of keeping up with supply, despite some of the biggest early-season kills seen in history, since January.

One plant had heavy bookings now in place out to mid-March. In most cases, prices are being offered only a couple of weeks forward, because circumstances could change dramatically given the first sign of rain.    

Grid prices remain unchanged

Queensland meatworks grid prices among large export sheds have been basically unchanged over the past four weeks.

Typical public grid offers for SEQ slaughter this morning were around 330-345c/kg for 0-2 tooth heavy grassfed steer, 320-340c/kg for 4-tooth, and best cows anywhere from 285c-310c/kg. Lighter cows are obviously being priced more severely. In grainfeds, we found 100-day YG steer at 365c, and 70-day MSA steer at 350c, for boning groups 1-8.

Eastern States Weekly Kill disclaimer:

Readers should be aware that there are some discrepancies between NLRS’s reported weekly kill numbers and the true commercial operations. A number of substantial processors do not provide weekly statistics for the report. In Queensland, Nolan’s at Gympie does not offer its figures, leading to a potential under-reporting of the Queensland weekly kill by about 2000 head. In Victoria, the list is longer, including MC Herd, Wagstaff, Ralphs and others. In percentage terms, Victoria is likely to be the most ‘under-reported’ state, sources tell Beef Central.

The main reason for non-reporting seems to be ed to reservations about NLRS market reporting methodology. Despite the omissions, the underlying trends seen in kill numbers nationally, and state- to-state, are considered to be reliable.  

THE Australian national meat judging team arrived home from the US on the weekend, bringing home a swag of awards medals from three important US meat judging contests and some experiences that would make any University student envious.

The enthusiastic and talented you students making up the team included Hamish Irvine from University of Sydney, Frederick Broughton from University of New England, Nick van den Berg from University of Adelaide and Tamara Heir and Laura Kemmis from Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga.

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the launch of Australia’s Inter Collegiate Meat Judging Association, which started in 1990.

The 2014 national team’s month-long meat and livestock industry tour of the US included participating in three meat judging contests against US colleges. As a team, the Australians placed no lower than fifth place in all categories of all of their contests, setting a very high standard.

At the National Western competition in Denver, Colorado, they were placed third overall and won the category for judging placings.

Individual award highlights included Nick van den Berg placed as the fourth and seventh highest overall individual at the National Western (Denver) and South Western competition (Fort Worth) respectively. Laura Kemmis achieved fourth and fifth highest individual in beef judging at the same contests.

Tammy, Fred and Hamish were also successful in securing a great display of ribbons over a number of categories.

Australian coach, Emma Hegarty said this year’s students were a great group who worked very hard. “They put a lot of effort to everything we did, whether it was long training sessions in the abattoir or representing their country at the many industry visits and tours we did,” Emma said.

Meat & Livestock Australia’s Demi Lollback, who also assisted in the coaching role, was overwhelmed by the extent of the tour itinerary.

“This was a trip of a lifetime for the team. The students have just had a very exclusive insight into the US industry that not many people ever get to do,” she said.

Aside from the contests, the team spent a month covering nearly 10,000km across ten US states visiting industry organisations. The trip gave the students a complete paddock-to-plate insight from ranch and feedlot visits to processor tours of beef, pork and lamb facilities, including the three major US packers – JBS, Tyson and Cargill.

Among the stopovers were visits to the National Cattlemens Beef Association, meat science faculties of seven major Universities as well as meeting with Global Animal Products in Amarillo who provided the team with a personal flight over their feedlots.

The visit to the USDA Meat Animal Research Centre (MARC) in Nebraska left a strong impression on team-member Nick van den Berg.

“The research centre runs 7000 breeding cows, 3000 ewes and produces 700 litters of pigs a year. The variety and integration of their research projects had me and the whole team astounded at the work being undertaken,” he said.

The Australian team will be guests at the 2014 Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging program to be held in Wagga Wagga on July 8-13, inspiring the next intake of young meat judging enthusiasts. Meat & Livestock Australia and Australian Meat Processors Corporation were the major sponsors of the Australian team.

Beef Central publishes an occasional list of significant recent appointments, departures or achievements occurring across the red meat supply chain, both private sector and government. Details for submissions for future listings are provided at the bottom of this article…. 

Patrick Underwood takes on senior Elders live export role

Elders has taken another step towards replacing some of the experience lost from its livestock export division last year when seven executives left to join rival Ruralco, with the recent appointment of  well-known Northern Territory cattle industry identity Patrick Underwood to a senior live export management position. It is believed Mr Underwood will head up the company's short-haul cattle exporting division NACC (Northern Australian Cattle Company) but this has yet to be confirmed. Mr Underwood is the son of NT cattle industry pioneers Terri and John Underwood who owned the large VRD aggregation Riveren and Inverway until its sale last October to vertically-integrated Indonesian cattle feeding and meat processing company Santori. Mr Underwood has also previously served as chief executive officer of the Northern Territory Livestock Exporters Association (NTLEA), and as the manager of livestock services for Meat and Livestock Australia/Livecorp’s Live Export Program in Asia and Australia. In these positions Mr Underwood worked with the recently appointed head of Elders’ trading division Cameron Hall, who recently returned to the company’s senior executive ranks after serving as Livecorp CEO for six years and then as general manager of agency operations for Landmark for just over a year. In 2003 Mr Underwood was named the live export industry's Young Achiever of the Year. Mr Underwood told Beef Central yesterday that growth in demand from Indonesia and China, combined with emerging prospects from China, had laid the platform for an exciting period in the northern cattle export industry. “As far as being in the trade, it is like winding the clock back three or four years and rolling the sleeves up, it is a race for cattle or ships rather than all squabbling over the same one customer in Indonesia, so it’s a good time to be back and I’m excited to be involved,” Mr Underwood said. The big challenge for all exporters this year, he said, would be to find the big numbers of cattle required. “That is where Elders is well placed, with a network of agencies spread around the country,” he said. “At the end of the day Elders has the existing business and the very strong name in Asia, they’ve got most of the big clients in Indonesia, they trade on a higher quality of animal than others I believe, and they are really focused on providing the best cattle to the best clients.” Mr Underwood added that after having been on the receiving end of poor prices as a producer in recent years, it was a nice change to see prices at current levels. “I have been at the other end of it the last four to five years, so it gives me real pleasure to be able to go around and pay some of the money that is out there at the moment.” Elders is expected to announce further appointments to its live export division in coming weeks.

Peter Brazier joins GDL Stud Stock

Former long-serving Landmark stud stock specialist Peter Brazier has joined the stud stock team of Southern Queensland livestock agency network and Ruralco partner Grant Daniel Long (GDL). Mr Brazier worked with Landmark for 26 years until his position with the rural services company was made redundant in November last year. GDL managing director Peter Daniel said he contacted Mr Brazier immediately upon hearing he was leaving Landmark last year and was excited to have been able to secure his services for GDL's stud stock team. Mr Daniel said Mr Brazier will play an integral role in GDL’s plans to expand its presence in the stud stock area. Mr Brazier will be based in Dalby, joining stud stock auctioneer and salesman Mark Duthie and stud stock manager Harvey Weyman-Jones. “It is pretty exciting news for us,” Mr Daniel told Beef Central. “He is without doubt one of the most experienced stud stock auctioneers in Queensland, someone everyone knows far and wide. It expands our presence and profile within the stud stock sector and it also shows our commitment to the industry.”

More Elders staff to Ruralco

Ruralco has continued to expand its regional livestock team with the recent appointment of several experienced agents to its branch network throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory, a number of whom have been recruited from rival Elders, including well-known names Mike Garland in Katherine, Tim McNamara in Roma and Peter Ryan in Moura. The latest round of departures follows the defection of seven key live export staff from Elders to Ruralco in late September last year.  Ruralco was taking a low-key approach when approached by Beef Central this morning for confirmation of all recent staff recruitments. Northern operations manager Dick Cameron said the company preferred not to provide a list and did not wish to make a big issue of the recent staffing developments. “It is certainly is true that we have been able to attract some very high quality people in recent times, but we don’t want to get into a (public) sledging exercise, that is not our game,” he told Beef Central. In November last year Ruralco also announced that former Landmark managing director Richard Norton had also joined its executive team. 

Austrex expands in Darwin

Livestock exporter Austrex is expanding its presence in Darwin with the appointment of Warrick Barrett and Steve Gross. The pair will take over from David O'Hare who is leaving Austrex after 10 years, and will finish at the end of February. Mr Barrett, who was previously the Elders branch manager in Katherine, will fill the role of Northern Export Manager for Austrex in Darwin, with an initial focus on an operational level in the execution of shipments. Steve Gross, who brings more than 30 years of experience with companies such as SEALS, Wellards and previous roles with Austrex to the position, will be Austrex' Northern Regional Livestock Buyer in Darwin. Austrex director Jake Morse said that with demand for northern cattle increasing Austrex was looking to increase its focus on execution and to build on its relationships in the north. "It is a very positive move for Austrex in terms of our position in the north," he said. Warrick started with Austrex in Darwin on January 2 and Steve starts on March 1. 

New AMPC chairman

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation board has elected Stephen Kelly as its new chairman. Former chairman, Gary Hardwick, did not seek another term, having served in the role since April 2010. Mr Kelly, (general manager, corporate and industry affairs with Nippon Meat Packers) has been deputy chairman for the past four years and joined the AMPC board in 2007. David Foote from Brisbane’s Australian Country Choice has been elected deputy chair.

Vale Ron Jordan

Former meat processor, exporter and the inaugural chief executive of the Australian Meat & Live-stock Corporation, Ron Jordan passed away recently, aged 90. A gentle and engaging individual, Ron had a long and distinguished career in the Australian meat industry starting in the 1950s at the Midcoast Co-Op at Macksville in NSW and later at Conkey & Sons, Cootamundra (between the late 1950s and 1963). He ran the TA Fields abattoir in Orange in the ‘60s before joining the Australian Meat Board in 1967 and being posted to London as the AMB’s Marketing Officer. He returned from London to take up a position with K.N. Harris in Pyrmont in Sydney, a major domestic wholesaler who also ran an export boning operation. In 1977 he took over as CEO of the newly formed AMLC bringing strong commercial credibility to the new statutory organisation. He retired from that position in 1984 but not before he left a significant legacy as one of the original authors of the first Handbook of Australian Meat in the early 1980s, the document that today’s AusMeat Handbook of Australian Meat (HAM) ) is based on.

FPE builds presence in Queensland

One of Asia-Pacific's leading suppliers of food processing equipment and solutions has appointed a new Queensland territory manager. Food Processing Equipment (FPE) has appointed Greg Bulluss to the position, in a move designed to further enhance FPE's commitment to servicing this valuable region. Mr Bulluss joins the company with wide experience in the meat, further-processing and general food industry. Most recently he has worked for heat and serve meal manufacturer Lite n’ Easy. Prior to that he was shift manager at Kilcoy Pastoral Co’s abattoir in southeast Queensland, and operations manager with Teys Food Service in Brisbane. Director Brian Carey established FPE in 1983 with just one agency line. Today FPE represents more than 20 well-known international brands, including Marel, Bettcher and Townsend, and employs more than 30 staff in Australia and NZ. FPE is best known for its experience and expertise in supplying the abattoir sector of the red meat industry with processing equipment, packaging equipment and related lines.

Vale Duncan MacGillivray

South Australian businessman and brewer Duncan MacGillivray died recently, aged 66. He was perhaps best known for the creation of the iconic Two Dogs alcoholic lemonade, but the agricultural entrepreneur was followed in more recent times for his advocacy for Kangaroo Island Pure Grain, set up in 2009 to get premium prices for the island’s GM-free crops. Those who were involved in the meat industry in the 1970s and 80s however will remember Duncan as a larger-than-life meat trader associated with companies like Charlick Investments, Sanger International and Norwest Beef Industries. He was prominent in a number of entrepreneurial sales of Australian beef to new non-traditional markets encouraged by the US beef quota diversification scheme at the time. One of these included the sale of 38,000 tonnes of beef to Egypt as part of a consortium of a number of companies.

Texas rancher named NCBA president

Texas rancher Bob McCan has been elected US National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president, during the association’s Cattle Industry Convention board of directors meeting. He succeeds Scott George, who visited Australia last year. McCan encouraged NCBA members to join him in leading the US beef industry and the association - to an even stronger future. “It is a great honour to be elected to lead NCBA for the next year. A strong future lies ahead of us with endless opportunities for US cattlemen and women,” Mr Can said. “There are many issues that need our attention, and my goal is to bring unity to our efforts to address them. In addition, I look forward to meeting cattlemen throughout the country to hear their concerns and work to make our industry as successful as it can be.” The new NCBA President Elect is Philip Ellis of Wyoming, while Tracy Brunner of Kansas is NCBA’s new vice president.

• Send your significant industry personnel movements, milestones or achievements for inclusion in this occasional column to:  cath@beefcentral.com      

Weekly NLRS report comment:

Yarding 5739, change 1089

Numbers yarded lifted 20pc on the previous sale. A number of restocker buyers were in attendance but only a few were operating, with light weight yearling steers unchanged in price week-on-week. Extra local feedlot buyer competition help boost prices by 2c/kg for medium weight yearling steers. Heavy feeder weight steers were mixed in quality and prices declined 2c/kg on average. It was a very subdued market for both light and medium weight heifers, with very little competition from restockers or processors, plus lotfeeders were very selective when purchasing suitable medium weight yearling heifers.

Light weight yearling steers sold to 181c and averaged 171c, unchanged in price, while D muscled lines made to 160c and averaged 137c, down 13c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed topped at 178c and averaged 173c, up 2c, while plainer lines averaged 147c, down 9c/kg. Those returning to the paddock hit 178c and averaged 174c, up 5c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed reached 175c and averaged 169c, down 2c, while more Brahman sorts averaged around 162c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to feed hit 133c and averaged 121c, down 32c, while those to processors made to 134c and averaged 125c/kg.

Those to restocker buyers hit 130c and averaged 123c, down 13c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed sold to 143c and averaged 131c, down 14c/kg.

Plain store conditioned cows sold to 86c/kg, with a couple of pens to 100c, although most averaged between 71c and 78c, down 6c/kg. The medium weight 3 score cows sold to 122c and averaged between 104c and 113c/kg.

Weekly Roma Store Sale press report:

A total of 5739 head of cattle were penned at Roma’s Store Sale on Tuesday.

Weaners under 220kg topped at 181c/kg and averaged 144c/kg, while weaner
steers in the 220-280kg range reached 181c/kg and averaged 147c/kg. Steers in the 280-350kg range reached 178c/kg and averaged 157c/kg, and steers in the 350-400kg range reached 178c/kg and averaged 167c/kg. Feeder steers in the
400-550kg range topping at 175c/kg and averaging 167c/kg.

Sheales Pastoral Co, Mahrigong, Winton, sold Santa steers to 181c/kg for 234kg to return $425/head.

Bruce Smith, Coleraine, Mitchell, sold Santa-cross steers to 178c for 347kg to return $618.

R & E Cloherty, Reben Downs, Injune, sold Santa steers to 176c for 306kg to return $539.

Livistona Grazing, Palm Vista, Taroom, sold Droughtmaster steers to 175c for 402kg to return $705.

D & J Harland, Roma, sold Angus-cross steers to 175c for 381kg to return $668.

J & B Russell, Willara, Augathella, sold Charolais-cross steers to 175c for 355kg to return $621.

Mt Rourke Pastoral Co, Dahlia, Winton, sold Droughtmaster steers to 174c for 405kg to return $706.

J & J Creevey, Lucknow, Augathella, sold Charolais-cross steers to 174c for 291kg to return $507.

S & H Wilkin, Everbroke, Roma, sold Charolais-cross steers to 172c for 440kg to return $758.

H & D Dickson, Waipiro, Wallumbilla, sold Droughtmaster steers to 170c for 360kg to return $614.

Brian & Lis Murray, Yarrum, Roma, sold Cross Bred steers to 168c for 498kg to return $837.

R Paterson, Ingle Downs, Roma, sold Brahman steers to 164c for 398kg to return $653.

E & C Rolfe, Nindinna, Roma, sold Charolais-cross steers to 160c for 298kg to return $477. The Charolais-cross heifers made to 140c for 342kg to return $479.

Heifers in the 350-450kg range reached 143c/kg and averaged 127c/kg. Heifers in the 280-350kg range topped at 142c/kg and averaged 122c/kg. Heifers in the
220-280kg range topped at 136c/kg and averaged 118c/kg, while heifers under  220kg topped at 136c/kg and averaged 106c/kg.

DC Diamond Pastoral Co, Lucky Downs, Yuleba, sold Charolais-cross heifers to 143c for 379kg to return $543.

Broadmere Grazing Co, Broadmere, Taroom, sold Charolais-cross heifers to 142c for 330kg to return $470.

B & N Bauer, Arlington, Augathella, sold Charolais-cross heifers to 136c for 238kg to return $325.

Bangor Cattle Co, Bangor, Mungallala, sold Charolais-cross heifers to 135c for 283kg to return $382.

Tom Darlington, Wongabell, Surat, sold Droughtmaster-cross heifers to 134c for 246kg to return $331.

Cows over 500kg sold to 121c/kg and averaged 111c/kg, while cows 400-500kg topped at 122c/kg and averaged 90c/kg. Cows in the 300-400kg sold to 108c/kg
and averaged 73c/kg.

Cows and calves N/A.

Bulls up to 400kg reached 164c/kg and average 113c/kg.

A team of six crack independent retail butchers has been selected to represent Australia in a Tri-Nations Butchery Competition to be held mid-year in the UK.

The tri-nations concept has grown from an earlier Australasian competition involving Australia and NZ, with a team from the UK involved for the first time last year in an enlarged three-way contest.

The Australian team, drawn from five states, has been selected and managed under MLA’s Butcher’s Guild program, previously known as the Red Meat Networking Club.

The Tri-Nations Butcher Challenge is designed to promote and encourage the uptake of best practise retail butchering to drive productivity, sustainability and profitability in the independent butchery sector. Competition will be judged on a wide range of butchering, preparation and presentation skills, with heavy emphasis on value-adding.

The Australian team represents a nice balance between experience and youth. Team-members include:

• Michael James, Carina North Meats, Brisbane, Qld
• Gary Hine, The Naked Butcher, WA
• Adam Stratton, Tender Value Meats, NSW
• Trevor Hill, Bruce’s Meats, South Australia
• Matthew Papandrea, Joe Papandrea Quality Meats, NSW
• Tom Bouchier, Butchers of Distinction, Victoria.

The candidates were selected via previous contests. For example Trevor Hill represented in the bi-nations contest in NZ last year, while Matt Papandrea is a former AMIC NSW state apprentice of the year. Tommy Bouchier performed extremely strongly in the Mystery Box retail competition in Victoria last year, while Adam Stratton is well known as an experienced and progressive retail butcher.

The team has already gotten together for a couple of practise sessions, and is confident about its prospects.

July’s competition will be conducted over a two-hour period, with teams given a side of beef and a full lamb carcase as base ingredients. Teams will be able to provide their own seasonings, spices, marinades and garnish to produce a range of finished products designed for a modern retail butchery outlet.

Competition gets underway at the prestigious Yorkshire Show on July 2.

• A supporters tour and study tour of UK retail is being organised, facilitated by EBLEX and the UK Q Butchers Guild.   For details go to http://www.australianbutchersguild.com.au/Home/Feature-1-Tri-nations/Invitation-to-Attend

Team members in profile

Published here is the first of six profiles on the Australian team members for the Tri-Nations Butchery Challenge. The remaining profiles will appear on Beef Central in in coming days.

Adam Stratton, Tender Gourmet Butcheries, NSW

Sydney butcher Adam Stratton thrives on innovation, as his multi-award winning butcher shops demonstrate.

Adam spent a lot of his childhood in his uncle’s Sydney shop, where he dreamed of one day owning his own business. He completed his apprenticeship and after a stint working in senior levels in the supermarket industry, eventually achieved his ambition in 2000.

Adam now runs three ‘Tender Gourmet Butchery’ stores at Hornsby, Brookvale and Bondi, plus a factory to supply sausages to Thomas Dux and selected Coles stores.

He has honed his skills on two previous Tri-Nations Butchery teams, bringing home gold both times.

The latest Tender Gourmet Butchery business opened at Bondi in November, and in the first weekend alone, 750 customers passed through the doors to try his sausages, grassfed beef and delicious shepherd’s pies and pastries.

One of the highlights at the new Bondi shop is the dry aged beef showroom. “We have brought theatre to the business,” Adam said. “The beef carcases are hanging in a room lined with Himalayan pink rock salt bricks. The lights reflect off the salt bricks, creating a pink glow, as they draw the moisture out of the meat. Our customers love it, especially the real ‘steak men’ who can’t wait to tell their mates about it.”

Adam’s innovative gourmet sausages – think san choy bow, Moroccan lamb and raisin (judged best sausage in Australia in 2011), and Mexican beef – have won many accolades, earning him the title of Australia’s most awarded butcher.

Innovation is one of the business’s hallmarks.

“If someone had told me when I got my first shop 13 years ago, that I would one day be selling gourmet pies and pastries I would have told them they were dreaming. Back then, it was all about steaks and chops, but now I go through 40kg of puff pastry each week in just one store,” Adam said.

“I reckon I’m a butcher, a baker and a chef. It’s a sign of the times – people expect more from their food. They want to know where it came from, how it was produced, and they are often time-poor so they want meal options that are easy to cook but still visually appealing and delicious.”

Social media is an increasingly important part of Adam’s interaction with customers.

“I’m very active on social media,” he said.

“I use Facebook and Twitter profiles to run competitions and promote our new store and new products. I do some traditional forms of advertising, such as print and radio, but the biggest form is word of mouth. We also often cook barbeques out the front of the shops, which are really popular – we sold 50kg of our ‘Bondi burgers’ a day in the week we opened the new shop, they were a big hit.”

So, what’s the next innovation for the business?

“I’m always thinking of new ways to connect with customers and educate them about meat. Now that we have the new facilities at Bondi, I want to host a ‘wine evening at the butchers’. One of our guys will break down a carcase, while explaining the different cuts and their uses, and guests can ask questions about where the meat came from, how it was produced, and how it should be cooked.”

The energetic butcher is a familiar face on news programs such as A Current Affair, where he provides a positive perspective on industry issues. He is also committed to mentoring young butchers and hosts regular master classes.

Adam stays at the top of the game with regular trips around Australia and overseas, to check out the techniques and products of other leading butchers.

“I also look outside Australia. I heard about Turdukens (a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken) in the US and now we sell 1200 at Christmas-time.”

The world’s single largest beef customer, fast food giant McDonald’s, bounced back from a disappointing final quarter last year to post encouraging January sales growth across two of its three global regions.

Sales for McDonald’s European division climbed 2 percent for the period ended January 31, while the combined Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region, including Australia, saw year-on-year sales rise 5.4pc in January, after a slow last quarter last year.

The exception was the company’s US restaurant division, where severe winter weather was blamed for a 3.3pc drop in comparable monthly sales, versus year-ago results.

China contributed to the upswing in the APMEA region sales along with positive results in Japan, Australia and other markets. The positive results in Europe stemmed from solid gains in the United Kingdom and France, partly offset by negative results in Germany the company said in a financial statement.

The strong result in China reflected a shift in timing of Chinese New Year and lapping the residual effects of Chinese consumer sensitivity related to the prior year supply chain issues in the chicken industry, connected with avian flu.

Company-wide global sales, combining the three regions mentioned above, were up 1.2pc for January compared with last year, regarded as a solid improvement.

McDonald's is the world's largest foodservice retailer with more than 35,000 locations serving 70 million customers in 117 countries each day.

Australia is a major supplier of grinding beef to McDonald’s operations throughout the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere.

Queensland producers can now access up to 75 per cent of eligible costs for water infrastructure activities with the Australian Government’s contribution of up to $7 million to the Queensland Government’s Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.

Australian Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, and Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, John McVeigh, signed an agreement to increase funding for water-related infrastructure rebates announced in November 2013.

“The Australian Government is delivering on its promise to provide support for farmers, especially those affected by drought,” Minister Joyce said.

“This Water Infrastructure Rebate provides up to an additional 25 per cent of the expenses eligible applicants receive under the Queensland Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate.

“This contribution will assist farmers in Queensland to invest in infrastructure to supply water for a range of factors including emergency animal welfare needs that will build resilient businesses and help prepare for future droughts,” Minister Joyce said.

“Those who had previously applied for a rebate do not need to re-apply to access the additional funding. The Queensland Government will automatically re-assess their application as part of the new guidelines.

“Investments in new watering points and the installation of infrastructure such as piping, tanks, troughs and hoses will help manage pasture on properties and help keep stock away from sensitive watercourses.

“This is a tangible, on-ground and lasting investment in sustainable agriculture,” Minister Joyce said.

Minister McVeigh welcomed the extra $7 million funding from Canberra to boost the Queensland emergency water infrastructure rebates from 50 per cent to up to 75 per cent.

“The 364 farmers who have already got Queensland's emergency water infrastructure rebate, will receive the federal top up in their bank accounts tonight,” Mr McVeigh said.
“A further 180 applicants who have been recently processed for the Queensland rebate will receive payments for both the Queensland rebate and the federal top up this week.”

This means $1.86 million of the federal top up will be distributed in the coming days.

All successful future claims for the Queensland rebate will be automatically considered for the Australian Government's top up.

Minister McVeigh said the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate payment was proving a successful program for improving water supplies for drought-affected farms.

The Queensland Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate is delivered through the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

For more information on the Queensland Government’s Drought Relief Assistance Scheme or to apply visit www.daff.qld.gov.au/environment/drought/assistance/drought-relief-assistance-scheme-dras.

For more information on the Australian Government’s financial support for farmers visit www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/assistance/financial-support-for-farmers.
 

Assistance Commended in Worsening Drought

AGFORCE Queensland has commended the Queensland and Federal Government's on their response to worsening drought conditions and animal welfare concerns through the announcement of a funding boost for the state’s water infrastructure.

Under the new water infrastructure funding agreement actioned on Wednesday, primary producers will be eligible for an additional 25 per cent rebate for water-related infrastructure on top of what they can access under the Queensland Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate.

AgForce General President, Ian Burnett, said the funding would be welcomed by drought stricken primary producers, across approximately 70 per cent of Queensland, who were under pressure to secure reliable water sources for stock.

“In times of severe drought such as this providing a reliable supply of fresh water for livestock is critical to ensuring animal welfare,” Mr Burnett said.

“Establishing new water infrastructure can be both expensive and labour intensive, so at a time when there is already enormous financial stress on our primary producers this additional assistance is warmly welcomed.

“We also congratulate both the State and Federal Governments on recognising the severity of this current drought and collaboratively responding to the needs of both our farmers and the livestock they care for.”

However, Mr Burnett also reiterated the importance of further government response given the unique and severe nature of this weather event.  Some of the measures identified as suitable for such assistance were this week outlined by both the National Farmers’ Federation and AgForce Queensland.

“The severity of this drought has now pushed it to what should surely be considered a natural disaster,” Mr Burnett said.

“We urge Minister Joyce and Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, to recognise the long-term viability of the agriculture industry, and the critical contribution it makes to the economy, and to provide urgent in-event support.

“There is no doubt, in the long-term, we need a significant restructure of drought support, but for now we must also be mindful of the wellbeing of the vulnerable primary producers facing this insidious weather event.”
 

Sources: Federal minister for agriculture, Queensland minister for Agriculture, Agforce Queensland

Public approval for Government financial support to agriculture in drought remains at high levels, according to the findings of the latest weekly independent opinion poll conducted by Essential Media.

In its latest weekly poll, Essential Media surveyed levels of approval or disapproval to different types of Government financial support to industries.

A total of 83pc of survey participants said they approved Government support for agriculture – drought relief, while only 8pc said they disapprove.

Drought relief drew the strongest approval rating of all Government assistance measures surveyed.

Other types of support that drew majority (50pc +) approval ratings were health care – private health rebate (72pc); tourism – development grants (61pc); and food processing – production subsidies (55pc).

The only issue on which there was majority (50pc +) disapproval was the fuel rebate for the mining industry, of which 56pc of respondents disapproved.
 

Click on thumbnail below to view reponses in greater detail. For more survey results click here to visit Essential Media's website. 

The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling for fodder donations to feed fire-ravaged livestock.

More than 10,000 sheep and 1000 cattle have reportedly perished in numerous grassfires which have been burning north of Melbourne, near Shepparton and in parts of Gippsland since Sunday, which have also destroyed more than 50 homes. 

The VFF and the Victorian State Government are working together to deliver an emergency fodder drive for fire affected livestock owners.

Victorian minister for agriculture and food security Peter Walsh said the Victorian Coalition Government will provide funding and the VFF will co-ordinate the effort which will help stock owners in areas where fire had destroyed pastures and other feed supplies.

“The total loss and damage caused by the fires is not yet clear but we do know that a number of landholders have lost a large amount of pasture and it is essential they receive emergency supplies,” Mr Walsh said.

The areas most affected are Mickelham, Kilmore, Lancefield, Gisborne, Romsey, Wunghnu, Bunbartha north of Shepparton, Yarram, Buchan, Orbost, Bonang, Lindenow, Gifford and Morwell.

“Our priority is getting local donations of fodder on the ground as quickly as possible,” VFF president Peter Tuohey said.

“We’re also seeking agistment and will be establishing a register on the VFF website identifying who, where and what is available.

“I’d ask that people be patient at this time. We’ll be publishing details on where and how people can obtain fodder ASAP.

“In the meantime anyone with spare fodder in or around fire-affected regions should contact the VFF.”  

Anyone with fodder that they are willing to donate should contact the VFF on 1300 882 833.

Landholders with urgent animal welfare needs should contact the DEPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

The National Farmers Federation’s Trade Committee met yesterday at Parliament House to discuss strategies that will drive tangible outcomes for Australian farmers and the agricultural sector.

NFF president Brent Finlay said relationships between industry and government negotiators needed to be strong to ensure exchanges of information, views and priorities were aligned to deliver the best results.

Similar sentiments were expressed in Beef Central’s recent report, “Producers demand real results from trade agreements.”   

Mr Finlay said for the NFF, key priorities included the bilateral agreements being discussed with Japan, China and India, as well as regional agreements such as the Trans Pacific Partnership, involving multiple countries.

“These agreements need to be finalised and they need to produce the best outcomes,” he said.

Agricultural exports were important to both the agricultural sector and to the economy as a whole. By value, around 60 percent of agricultural production was exported to overseas markets in 2012–13 and agricultural exports added $38 billion to Australia’s economy, NFF argues.

“Gaining access to overseas markets continues to be challenging. We need to continue to push hard for outcomes. We want agreements that give us better than ‘business as usual’ outcomes. Trade agreements must be both good for farmers and good for the Australian economy,” Mr Finlay said.

For agriculture, market access is one of the key priorities. Improved access flows to profitability and returns for farmers.

“We need commercial outcomes which will be strengthened by cooperative and collaborative approaches between industry and government,” Mr Finlay said.

“We have a good working relationship with government and we will continue to work closely with Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb in getting a better deal for the agricultural sector, and the Australian economy,” he said.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has today released the detail of the proposed drought relief measures it wants the Federal Government to immediately adopt to address the severe drought situation being faced by many farmers and rural communities.

NFF President Brent Finlay says farm businesses need a fair shot at getting back on their feet and returning to the viable and productive businesses they are.

The proposed suite of drought relief measures, developed in recent months in consultation with State Farm Organisations and national commodity councils, was not about handouts, but rather asks for “a logical step forward to help viable Australian businesses during a very tough time”.

The NFF remained strongly committed to long-term drought policy solutions that drove preparedness for farm businesses in future, Mr Finlay said, but the current severe drought meant the agricultural sector, which generated $38b in export earnings for Australia every year, needed support now and outdated eligibility criteria was preventing access for many who deserve it.

The NFF is recommending that Government support be updated to include labour wage assistance, realistic eligibility criteria for existing programs, and the improvement of social services (to view the NFF's full drought relief policy document click here).

“Every farmer across Australia takes conditions like drought and other natural disasters into consideration in the operation of their business—they prepare and do their best to manage farms in weather outside of their control,” Mr Finlay said.

“This drought is simply a situation that the best planning could not prepare them for, and there are devastating effects on entire communities.

“We need to ensure drought relief—as would be the case with any natural disaster—supports these farmers, their families and communities. The provision of this assistance is a matter of priority for the Government to action immediately.”

The new policy comes as two State Farm Organisations, AgForce Queensland and the NSW Farmers Association, call for faster Government action on drought relief.

AgForce General President, Ian Burnett, said with approximately 70 per cent of Queensland, equating to 6500 rural properties, in drought, support from the Federal Government was now critical.

“Agriculture is a long-term viable industry which has achieved excellent productivity gains in the past and does not receive much direct assistance or tariff protection from the Government relative to our overseas competitors,” Mr Burnett said.

“We are one of the key pillars of the Australian economy, however we are now faced with a circumstance that is well beyond what could be reasonably expected of our primary producers to prepare for within their business modelling.

“We most certainly recognise the need for long-term drought policy solutions to encourage an even greater ability for our industry to prepare for such events however, given the brutality of this drought, our farmers are vulnerable with most not able to qualify for even basic emergency welfare assistance.

“We urge Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and his Cabinet colleagues to recognise the need to help enable our industry to move beyond this drought.”

NSW Farmers has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement that it will extend drought assistance to 21 new areas in NSW.

But it said the process had to be sped up.

“The government should see this as an investment in farming in NSW,” said NSW Farmers President Fiona Simson.

“Farmers have been preparing and managing through drought for more than 12 months.

“We have had reports that people have spent more than half a million dollars managing this drought. You wouldn’t spend that much unless you believe you can continue to make a business out of farming when the drought breaks.

“Farmers have been making the tough decisions in selling stock, not planting crops and buying in feed. It is good to see the state government has finally come to the party and made a decision.

“But it cannot rest on its laurels. This announcement means 52 percent of the state can receive assistance but the feedback from our members suggests more than 60 percent of the state is suffering drought.

“The government knows the current situation because we have been putting it in front of them for months. What we don’t want is another protracted process for getting measures approved if more areas move into drought.

“Some of the areas such as the far west unincorporated area had additional information collected two months ago - why should it take that long for a decision?

“The government needs to make the drought triggers and process transparent so all farmers can understand how these decisions are made.

“Part of the issue is that farmers are not being given and acknowledgement of the situation they are in. Four years ago it was called a drought, now the government wants to avoid the word. Call a drought a drought and let people know what the criteria are for being in drought.

“Farmers and the farmers in the north west and announced these in-drought measures. But we must realise that the battle for our farmers is not over yet. They are still living it every day,” Ms Simson said.

• To view a two-page summary of the National Farmers' Federation proposed drought package click here, to view the full proposed drought package document click here

Wagyu infused entries proved their ability to perform under shortfed programs, claiming the carcase section of the 2014 NSW Beef Spectacular Feedback trial completed recently.  

A pen of five Wagyu X Angus steers bred by Stanbroke Beef proprietors, the Menegazzo family on their country near Swan Hill (Vic) topped statistics in the competition’s carcase section, based on meat quality attributes and yield indicators.

The Menegazzos’ entries were the only Wagyu-infused cattle in the competition, which this year attracted 128 teams of five steers comprising 16 breeds and their crosses from 78 vendors in three states.

The 640 competition steers were assembled at Teys Australia’s Jindalee feedlot at Temora, NSW, where they underwent a 112-day grainfed program before processing.

Entries were processed in January at Teys Australia’s Wagga Wagga plant for the company’s Certified Australian Angus Beef, Teys Riverine Premium and Teys Riverine Tender Cut brand programs.

The Menegazzos’ Wagyu x steers gained maximum points for marbling, ranging from 3 to 5 and averaging 3.6 on the Ausmeat marbling score scale. They also scored maximum points for carcase weight and fat colour.

As well as being the highest scorers in the carcase division, the five steers rated second best in the competition for compliance against the Teys Riverine Premium brand specifications.

In overall standings, the Menegazzo entry stood in 19th place among the 128 teams, finishing mid-way for feedlot performance in 60th spot.

“This is quite an outstanding result for the breed considering it had only one entry, and is selectively bred for much longer feeding regimes,” said the Australian Wagyu Association’s Executive Officer Graham Truscott, said in a statement.

“For milk tooth steers to hit a marble score of 5 after only 112 days on feed is extraordinary, and shows what can be achieved using Wagyu genetics,” he said.

In addition, the pen finished in the middle of the field when it came to feedlot performance with an average daily weightgain of 2.1kg and nil health treatments.

“It might encourage more Wagyu breeders to enter feedlot and carcase trials,” Mr Truscott said. “The premium prices they have been receiving for their Wagyu purebred and crossbred steers and heifers have been a more attractive option than what is on offer in competitions.”

The Menegazzos’ F1 steers were all sired by Stanbroke Beef’s ‘Ring Tank’ sire-line Fullblood Wagyu bulls, chosen especially for F1 crossbreeding work in co-operator Angus herds. The competition steers were out of Stanbroke’s own Angus cows. The siblings to the competition steers are normally fed about 350 days at the Stanbroke Beef feedlot near Chinchilla for processing for the company’s Diamantina Wagyu brand programs.

Diamantina Wagyu is sold into a range of higher-end food service and retail markets in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Angus overall winners

The 2014 Beef Spectacular overall trial winners announced at an awards dinner in Wagga Wagga recently were Kyneton (Vic) Angus producers, John and Linley Dettmann, while the feedlot performance class and overall reserve championship went to a pen of composite steers exhibited by Hicks Beef from Holbrook, NSW.

The Hicks family’s team was $481 more profitable than the trial average, with average daily gains in the feedlot ranging from 2.59kg to 2.88kg/day.

The family runs a 1400 composite and Red Angus cow herd on their Holbrook property, relying heavily on the scientifically-developed Australian Beef Composite, using a blend of high muscling and marbling genetics from European and British breeds.

A ‘who’s who’ of the northern cattle industry is set to join federal Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce and senior Indonesian Government Ministers and officials in Broome at the end of this month in a joint effort to build Australian-Indonesian cattle trade relationships.

The event is officially the fourth in a series of Northern Beef Industry Roundtable and Producer Forums that have been conducted by the three State agriculture ministers and the Federal Minister for Regional Development since 2012.

In the past these events have not attracted widespread attention but this year’s roundtable and forum has assumed a more heavyweight punch with Federal Ministers from both countries and senior industry players expected to attend, also reflecting the improved nature of confidence in the Australian-Indonesian cattle trade.

The forum will be attended by State agriculture ministers Ken Baston (WA), Willem Westra Van Holthe (NT) and John McVeigh (Qld), federal agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, in his first visit to WA since taking the job, a number of yet-to-be-confirmed Indonesian ministers and senior Government officials, as well as senior industry people from both Australia and Indonesia.

Minister Joyce will brief the Roundtable on the Australia-Indonesia bilateral agricultural relationship, including the development of the Indonesia-Australia Red Meat and Cattle Partnership.

The organisers of the event state that the purpose of the Northern Beef Industry Round Table is to drive the development of the Australian beef industry in the north and to set priorities for action.  “The

Roundtable meetings provide an outstanding opportunity to meet, network and engage with relevant Ministers and senior industry and government figures involved in the Northern beef industry,” an official statement says.

The event will also include a field trip to two local beef operations near Broome including Jack Burton's integrated fodder production system and beef supply chain at Kilto Station and the ILC Roebuck Export Yards.

On Saturday, March 1, 2014 the North Australian Agriculture Ministers will host the Northern Beef Industry Roundtable.

• The Fourth Northern Beef Industry Roundtable and Producer Forum will be held in Broome, WA, on Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1.

A team of six crack independent retail butchers has been selected to represent Australia in a Tri-Nations Butchery Competition to be held in the UK in July.

As highlighted on Beef Central yesterday (click here to view original article), the Australian team has been selected and managed under MLA’s Butcher’s Guild program, previously known as the Red Meat Networking Club.

Beef Central profiled Adam Stratton, the first of the Australian team members yesterday. Today’s article features the team’s two youngest members, Matthew Papandrea and Tom Bouchier, 22 and 21, respectively….

Matthew Papandrea, Joe Papandrea Quality Meats, NSW

He may only be 22, but Sydney’s Matthew Papandrea already has years of experience in the retail meat industry under his butcher’s apron.

A former Australian Meat Industry Council Apprentice of the Year, Matthew has notched up plenty of wins at regional and national butchery competitions.

Matthew is following in his father’s footsteps as a butcher in south-west Sydney. After helping at his father’s Bossley Park shop, Joe Papandrea Quality Meats, when he was younger, he decided to complete a Meat Retailing Certificate III at Granville TAFE. He finished in 2013 and now works at the family’s second retail butchery at Wetherill Park, Sydney.

Matthew is no stranger to competition butchery – he notched up wins at TAFE challenges as well as in the WorldSkills Competition at regional and national level.

As a result of his performance in the 2012 WorldSkills Australia national competition, Matthew was awarded a place in the BBM Skilled Futures Program, which included an international scholarship. He travelled to the UK, Denmark and Germany in 2013, gaining experience in butcher shops and participating in a leadership program.

He said he was looking forward to testing his butchery skills on the world stage, as one of the two younger team-members selected to represent Australia in the 2014 Tri-Nations Butchery Competition.

“Butchery competitions require a lot of preparation,” he said. “I spent more than six months preparing for the National World Skills competition, developing recipes, practicing knife skills, displaying products, and working on my presentation and public speaking.”

Matthew has a passion for creating new products and looks forward to showing off his knife work in the UK challenge.

Given that his father Joe, a career butcher over more than 40 years, is originally from Calabria in southern Italy, it’s perhaps not surprising that there is a strong Italian-influenced presence in the shop windows of the Papandrea stores, carrying traditional cuts like veal scaloppini as well as a wide selection of smallgoods. The shops also carry a lot of South American-style products, like asado (beef ribs) and vacio (flank steak).

“We strive to provide a high level of customer service,” Matthew said. “Our customers generally like to cook meat starting with basic raw ingredients, so we don’t make a lot of products in marinades. We do as much as we can to give our customers what they want, such as cutting meat a specific way if that’s what they ask for.”

Matthew’s future plans include completing his university degree in Business Management as means of enhancing his future in a business retail environment, and to continue learning as much as he can about the industry, so he can one day open his own retail meat outlet.

Tom Bouchier, Peter Bouchier Butchers of Distinction, VIC

Third generation Melbourne butcher Tom Bouchier is one of 14 butchers in his family – so it’s fair to say the trade runs in his blood.

As the youngest tradesman in the six-man 2014 Australian Tri-Nations team, Tom looks forward to learning from his more experienced team-mates, while contributing innovation and passion for high quality meat.

The twenty-one year old grew-up in Melbourne’s south east, starting his apprenticeship with his father, Peter.

Tom finished trade school as dux of his class, and is now based in the Peter G Bouchier Butchers of Distinction store at up-market Toorak.

Tom also works in the family’s Melbourne CDB retail outlet and their smallgoods factory, and has gained experience in boning and trimming at Gundagai Meat Packers. He won the Australian Culinary Challenge as a first-year apprentice in 2010, and was runner-up in the MLA Mystery Box competition as part of the 2011 Sausage King competition.

He also won a gold medal when he represented Victoria in the 2013 Australian Young Butchers Picnic, where he was tested on everything from boning, slicing and preparing products to cooking a restaurant-quality cut.

Beef Central asked Tom what a customer saw when they first walk into the Peter G Bouchier Butchers of Distinction store at Toorak.

“My dad, Peter, has owned the business for 30 years. He re-designed the shop so it is true to its historic butchery roots, but still has cutting-edge design. There is dry-aged beef hanging in the front window of the shop for customers to choose from, a deli section featuring homemade German and Italian small goods, and a vintage Berkel fly wheel slicer to slice them on,” he said.

“Some of our butchers are trained chefs, so there is a selection of prepared products including on-trend cuts. Everything is presented with attention to detail.”

Customers at the Toorak shop are mostly families and young professionals, who are prepared to spend a little more for assured quality.

“Their buying habits change from Monday to Saturday,” Tom said. “At the start of the week we put out a lot of easy-to-cook, quick and simple cuts and meal ideas. Towards the end of the week – especially on Saturday – we feature roasts and barbequing meal ideas. Customers in this area have high standards and won’t buy something if they are not 100pc satisfied, so I think working with this expectation, in this environment, has helped me to become a better butcher.”

“As butchers, we face a challenge from supermarkets, where people shop for convenience and often lower prices. To combat this, butchers have to use their expertise and customer service to give consumers what they want.”

“There is sense of ‘theatre’ walking into a good butcher shop - seeing the butchers making jokes, sharing stories and helping customers with selection. You can't find that between the supermarket shelves.”

Working in the family’s Toorak shop has played a big part in Tom’s competition successes during his apprenticeship years.

“I have learnt how to perform under immense pressure, how to cut well, how to perfect hygiene standards and appearance and also how to tray-up meat for display. I'm also preparing for the UK challenge by making sure every tray I put in the window is of competition standard, so that by the time I get to competition day its natural to make the tray presentation look as good as it possibly can.”

• Tomorrow: Three more Butcher Challenge team-member profiles.