Sustainable beef in focus at North West producers’ forum

Understanding how to adapt a beef operation for the best chance of success can be a challenge in today’s changing industry landscape, with new technologies, supply chain and sustainability factors emerging.

To help local beef producers find more certainty in business decision-making, North West Local Land Services hosted the North West Beef Producers Forum on Thursday, May 15, at the Tangaratta Vineyard, Tamworth.

Tailored for beef producers, the event featured practical advice from leading industry research agencies, feedlot managers, buyers, meat and soil scientists, as well as local producers already implementing changes on farm.

Naomi Hobson, North West Local Land Services team leader Land Services Sustainable Agriculture said this year’s event had a focus on feedlot-bound beef production.

Producers heard advice directly from Teys Australia about what they are looking for.

“It’s important that producers hear from key players in the supply chain so that knowledge can inform their grazing practices,” Ms Hobson said.

The event this year featured presentations from Teys Australia, Gundamain Pastoral Co, University of New England, Tarrabah Pastoral Co and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in addition to insights from the Local Land Services Sustainable Agriculture team.

Attendees heard about grazing technologies, pasture dieback, a soil moisture outlook, measuring methane on pasture and in the feedlot and lessons from a local beef producer.

Producers also heard from two Nuffield Scholars, Pippa Jones and Caitlin Herbert, with a focus on how feedlots can contribute to the resilience and sustainability of Australia’s livestock production and building literacy to inform carbon decision making.

“With sustainability becoming part of every aspect of beef production, it’s important that we help farmers understand the changes in this space, and how they can begin considering practical solutions that work for their farm business,” Land services officer Sally Balmain said.