Media Release: Farmer Update Event Recap

FMD, farm finance and red meat outlook on topic at GLENRAC’s recent Farmer Update information evening

More than fifty people attended GLENRAC’s recent Farmer Update information evening at the Glen Innes and District Services Club.

This year’s event featured trade stalls and talks from Meat and Livestock Australia, Regional Investment Corporation, University of New England, Safe Work NSW, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Local Land Services, New England Weeds Authority and GLENRAC.

District vets Dr Kate Burren-Wehr and Dr Meg Parsons from Northern Tablelands Local Land Services gave an overview of the highly contagious Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), including what FMD is, the clinical signs of the disease, who to contact if you suspect FMD and biosecurity steps to put in place to keep FND off your property.

‘Since the detection of FMD in Bali, Australia’s risk has increased from about 9% to 11% - a huge concern, however, stopping international travel to Bali or footbaths at the airports isn’t the be-all and end-all the media might have you think… Everyone’s cooperation and support will be essential in trying to detect and eradicate FMD if it is to get into Australia,’ said Dr Kate Burren-Wehr and Dr Meg Parsons.

Ripley Atkinson from Meat and Livestock Australia gave a red market update with an overall positive outlook for the Australian red meat market, including the enduring popularity of Australian beef and lamb internationally despite the macro issues of inflation, freight and shipping labour, the latter which has increased up to 700% since 2021.

Craig Turner from the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) highlighted the number of low-interest concessional loans available through RIC, as well as updates to the term primary producer to include nurseries, horse breeders and turf growers and RIC’s now fast-tracked application process – applicants can expect to learn if they are successful within 48 hours of submitting their completed forms and money then expected to be received within 6 weeks.

Professor Lewis Khan from the University of New England spoke about the opportunity for landholders to be part of a new project collaboration with GLENRAC, the Future Drought Fund, which looks at improving farmer’s skills in climate forecasting for feed budgeting purposes in order to better manage livestock and pastures in a changing climate. The project will create five groups in the region who will meet with a pasture coach over a two year period to match carrying capacity and feed with pasture supply.

Jodi Toole Safe Work NSW highlighted the importance of people living on properties to utilise personal locator devices, the Emergency Plus app and updates to the numerous Safe Work NSW rebates, including the increase of up to $2000 for farmers upgrading from a quad bike to a side-by-side vehicle.

Jennifer Rotili from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator addressed the need for farm businesses to be aware of the Chain of Responsibility Law and the Primary Duty of farm businesses to ensure the safety of all transport activities associated with the business.

Ian Trow from Local Land Services discussed how to manage native vegetation on rural properties including the use of the Native Vegetation Regulatory Map to identify categories of land and clearing around fence lines.

GLENRAC Project Manager Jennie Coldham discussed the Soils Alive and Making Sense of Soils workshops landholders can partake in to learn about soil identification, health and fertility, as well as the Australian government scheme to compile historical landholder soil data, with up to $10,000 available to each business who shares their results.

‘It was great to hear from so many informative speakers at this year’s Farmer Update, and to have the opportunity to discuss things individually with the wide range of service provider reps,’ said GLENRAC Vice Chair, Julie Firth.

‘We especially appreciated GLENRAC's inclusion of two Northern Tablelands Local Land Service district vets into the speaker line-up. They gave us all an update on biosecurity and emergency disease preparedness for FMD which was really responsive in catering to current landholder concerns.’

More information and copies of presentations from the event can be found under the Resources tab on the GLENRAC website. Contact the office for assistance on 02 6732 3443.