A beef forum in Mt Surprise early next month will lift the lid on the big ticket items impacting the Gulf cattle industry.
The BeefUp Showcase will be run over two days, June 1 and 2, at the Mt Surprise Sport and Recreational Facility and is shaping to be one of the largest the region has hosted in recent years.
It is being delivered by the Meat and Livestock Association (MLA), Gulf Cattleman’s Association, Northern Gulf Resource Management Group (NGRMG) and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The program includes topics such as MLA research and extension activities, beef business management, restocking strategies, production techniques and live export markets.
Gulf Cattleman’s Association president Barry Hughes, North Head, said the group usually ran a locally organised event each year but felt there was a need to work collaboratively this time round.
“We have just come through a massive upheaval and everything else that has come the way of the grazing industry so we thought it would be nice to do some collaborative work,” Mr Hughes said.
“People are a bit down in the fuel tank in terms of energy and are looking for something all inclusive.”
Headlining the opening day will be presentations by MLA representatives Nick Sangster and Ben Thomas.
Mr Hughes said it would deliver material seldom seen this far north.
“Research and development is something that people hold pretty close,” Mr Hughes said. “We always look for new and innovative ways to help our businesses become more sustainable.
“In beef business management, we have to get better and smarter at what we do.
“There is one glaring omission from any beef enterprise right across northern Australia and that is profit. Without profit we are going nowhere so we have to bring some profit back into our businesses.”
Mr Hughes will introduce a session on balancing grass, cattle and finances, timely given parts of the region are transitioning out of drought.
He said issues like restocking rates, managing the grass left after drought and meeting financial commitments were critical.
“The conversation between rural lenders and beef enterprise managers is a vital one,” Mr Hughes said.
“It’s conducive to everybody knowing where the business is at and what is required to be able to get that business over the next five to 10 years back.”
Mr Hughes said the beef industry had a great future but needed a chance to capitalise on achievements in land and livestock management.
“We are conservationists in our own way but we need to be recognising that more widely as an industry.”
An NRM Spatial Hub Innovations session will be delivered by Mike Digby, Australian Rangeland NRM Alliance.
Trade exhibitors will display tools, products and services including electronic tags and readers, recording performance, poster displays and spatial hub demonstrations.
A barbecue dinner will be held on the Wednesday night from 6.30pm at the Bedrock Village with a free concert by Carter and Carter.
Day two will include sessions on production techniques and MLA research and development priorities.
Justin Slaughter, chief executive officer of Austrex, will deliver a session on live export markets.
A forum panel will round out the morning’s proceedings. Participants can conclude the event with a field trip to a leucaena grower at Whitewater Station or general meeting of the NGRMG.
