No images? Click here April 14, 2020
The panic in our supermarkets and at our butcher shops over the past month has painted a clear picture - people in our cities desperately need people in the regions to keep producing food and get it to market. The beef industry has plenty of food to send down the line. More than enough to get Australians through the current coronavirus crisis. So, while it was encouraging to see that after toilet paper our product was the next essential good people considered they needed to stockpile, there is no chance we will run out of red meat. Our industry has important work to do in feeding the nation and helping feed the world. Kind Regards Travis Tobin Protecting the beef supply chain Cattle Council is working proactively with producers, state farming organisations, its industry partners and all levels of government to make sure Australian beef is still in butcheries and supermarkets during the COVID-19 response. This will ensure we can meet domestic and international demand at a time when red meat sales are riding high. This includes putting safeguards in place to protect crucial parts of the supply chain such as saleyards and helping producers protect their workforce from a COVID-19 outbreak that could hinder their operation. People are the most valuable asset for beef producers. CCA has prepared a factsheet to help you keep your property coronavirus-free. Click here to see it. Maintaining international markets a priority Cattle Council has welcomed a $110 million package from the Federal Government to make sure air freight to high-value markets can still operate during the COVID-19 response. CCA is working with the Federal Government and the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council to provide certainty for live exporters by keeping ports open so stock can flow freely and safely. Cattle Council launches coronavirus site The Cattle Council of Australia is working with its member organisations and industry partners to provide cattle producers with up-to-date, informative and straightforward information so producers can keep operating during the coronavirus pandemic. A resources portal has been published at cattlecouncil.com.au/coronavirus. The portal brings together key information, including health and welfare, staffing arrangements, financial support, trade and domestic border controls. If there is anything further you would like to see on this page, please contact Robert Herrick at commsmanager@cattlecouncil.com.au News in brief Cattle Council is working with members and producers put on-farm COVID-19 safeguards in place to protect the supply chain read more Cattle Council is also backing new measures in saleyards to keep them coronavirus-free read more Supermarket giants, Coles and Woolworths have introduced new systems to identify remote customers so they can waive or reduce grocery purchasing limits for remote producers. There has been a spike in foot pathology issues at feedlots, such as delamination of the hooves, shifting lameness and recumbency. The latest guide on whether animals are fit to load can be found here. Cattle prices have eased back from record highs in March read more here Cattle Council 2020 Rising Champion, Elisha Parker wins Queensland Rural Women’s Award read more Meat and Livestock Australia is looking for demonstration sites for new practices improving sheep and beef cattle enterprises business profitability, productivity and sustainability. Applications close 12 May 2020. You can apply here You can now read the latest Beef Brief newsletter online at cattlecouncil.com.au/beef-brief or browse previous newsletters dating back to January 2018. More new features are planned for the Cattle Council website in the coming months to improve the information provided to cattle producers. Cattle Council has a new phone number (1300 653 038) and asks members and other stakeholders to update their records accordingly. Media Monitor Concerns raised over WA cattle movements Farm Weekly, 24 March 2020 Coronavirus Crisis – biosecurity experience will aid fight against COVID-19 - Broome Advertiser, 25 March 2020 Get serious about keeping your distance’: bush told – Queensland Country Life, 26 March 2020 Red meat supply chains stronger together in fight against COVID-19 - Beef Central, 25 March 2020 $110m government package to underpin red meat airfreight exporters - Beef Central, 1 April 2020 Inspiring young farmers receive Zanda McDonald Award, Lachlan Hughes Foundation Award Beef Central, 25 March 2020 Coronavirus causes SA livestock industry to explore new ways to get produce to consumers - Adelaide Advertiser, 10 April 2020 Amid the coronavirus crisis, McDonalds has launched a new Aussie grass-fed beef burger Daily Mail, 28 March 2020 Red meat back in the air - Farm Online, 1 April 2020 McDonalds sales hit hard during March - Farm Online, 11 April 2020 COVID-19 meat processing delays forecast - Rural News (NZ), 10 April 2020 How COVID-19 will affect 2020 food trends - Food Business News (USA), 6 April 2020 Events Calendar Many events are now going ahead online because of the coronavirus risk, such as MLA’s Back to Business webinars to help producers recover after recent natural disasters. Find out more about upcoming events through the Cattle Council’s events calendar. |