North West Queensland producers could help drive the future direction of levy-payer funded research, development and adoption programs by attending Meat and Livestock Australia’s (MLA) BeefUp Day in Mount Isa on April 19.
The event is hosted by the North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC) to seek direct input from producers to identify priority areas for research and development.
MLA’s BeefUp days are also designed to update producers on the latest cattle research and development and provide practical, regionally-relevant information and tools.
MLA’s Producer Consultation and Adoption general manager, Michael Crowley, said the Mount Isa event would include a producer consultation session, facilitated by MLA BeefUp Day coordinator Barb Bishop.
“The producer consultation session will give beef producers the opportunity to have direct input into where their levies are directed by identifying research, development and adoption priorities that are relevant to their region,” Mr Crowley said.
“This is the third year MLA has undertaken regional consultation meetings with producers throughout Australia. The first round of consultations resulted in 18 new on-farm research, development and adoption projects receiving MLA investment, including a project investigating alternatives to pesticides to control buffalo fly populations.”
NABRC’s North West Queensland Regional Beef Research chair and owner of Tara Station, Cloncurry, Dan Lynch, said it was important producers participated in the regional consultation process.
“This is an opportunity for us, as producers, to help ensure that levies are invested in programs that we feel have potential to practically improve our businesses,” Mr Lynch said.
“The BeefUp forum will also give North West Queensland and Barkly Tableland producers an opportunity to be updated on three large research and development projects that are very relevant to their region.”
Other presenters to feature at the Mount Isa BeefUp Day include:
- Desiree Jackson, Livestock Management Pty Ltd – Is your herd nutrition costing you money?
- Jarrod Lees, MLA’s Producer Engagement Officer - Tough or tender – how do you know?
- Simone Parker, Bush Agribusiness – Tools to measure your cost of production
- Niilo Gobius, NRM Spatial Hub, Geospatial Specialist – NRM Spatial Hub helping producers make better decisions
- Sally Leigo, NT Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, and Tim Driver, Precision Pastoral - Cows, grass, satellites and data
The MLA BeefUp Day starts at 9.30am at the Red Earth Hotel, Mount Isa, and morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a barbecue dinner will be provided. Cost is $20 and registration is essential by April 12.
Other BeefUp events will be held throughout the year across northern Australia at Windorah, Nebo, Warwick, Barcaldine, Fitzroy Crossing, Tom Price, Hughenden, Katherine, Rolleston, Karumba and Beaudesert.
To register click here.