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Register now for our 'Improving your farm business profitability- it's all in your taxation accounts' short course!
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The Limestone Coast Red Meat cluster, in partnership with Livestock SA, is pleased to bring you our third series of financial management workshops in 2018. The course will once again by delivered by Chris Scheid of ProAdvice, and sessions will take place in both the upper and the lower South East. The course will assist producers in understanding which business levers to pull to improve business profitability, to understand which ratios banks use to assess business lending prospects, and to make real changes that will improve business profitability. If you’re a red meat producer or a mixed farmer in the Limestone Coast, you’re a decision maker in your business, and you’re looking to grow or make
positive changes, then this course is for you! Dates: Two workshop series will be run, one in the upper and one in the lower South East. Attendance is required at workshops 1-3 (dates ranging from 13th Feb-14th March), and 2 additional modules will be held in Naracoorte for attendees of the upper and lower South-East workshops on 21st and 28th March at which attendance is optional. Cost: $350 per farm business (this covers the 2.5 mandatory workshops and the 2 optional
modules). More information: please click here for the flyer, or here for the registration form. For more information, please contact either Cluster Coordinator Meg Bell, or course deliverer, Chris Scheid. Meg: 0433 499 630, cluster@limestonecoastredmeat.com.au. Chris: 0427 186 133, cscheid@proadvice.com.au.
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Limestone Coast Local Government Association to invest in the Red Meat Cluster At the December Board meeting of the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) a decision was made to financially support the Limestone Coast Red Meat Cluster to the amount of $30,000. After a series of presentations to member Councils, the LCLGA supported the work of the Cluster and acknowledged and recognised the value of the red meat
sector to the Limestone Coast economy. Dominc Testoni, the Executive Officer of the LCLGA said, “In discussions with the Red Meat Cluster (RMC), over the past few months it is clear that they have done a tremendous amount of work for the sector and have been able to co-op a great deal of support from across the region, government agencies and across the state. Looking at their forward plans, the local government sector clearly sees an alignment in terms of economic development, potential of the sector and sustainable growth. Our collective councils contribute significant resources to economic development and we view this as a sound investment into one of the key drivers of the regional economy”. This investment by the LCLGA will allow the RMC to continue to source funding for local research, development and extension for the benefit of the red meat industry, and to collaborate across the value chain.
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Ecchymosis project- phase I report, and plans for phase II Through collaboration with PIRSA Rural Solutions, the University of Adelaide, and JBS Bordertown, phase I of the project ‘Investigate factors contributing to intercostal ecchymosis in lambs at slaughter’ has just been completed. Ecchymosis is a haemorrhagic syndrome, which causes the appearance of darkened spots on the surface of muscle tissue, and is a significant cost to the red meat industry as a cause of carcase rejection from the export market. There is little previous research into factors associated with ecchymosis, so this project aimed to identify these factors, and to provide an insight into the future research that may be needed, so that its prevalence and costs associated can be reduced. Phase I looked at factors suspected of contributing to the occurrence of ecchymosis and was able to eliminate some factors, which will narrow the focus of future research. Phase II will look further at the occurrence and
prevalence of ecchymosis, and will narrow down the factors that contribute to ecchymosis, so that management strategies for the syndrome can start to be explored.
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Livestock agent workshop series
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The Limestone Coast Red Meat Cluster convened a series of workshops in 2017 offering livestock agents an inside look at the key sheep health conditions that are reportable via the Enhanced Abattoir Surveillance Program. Agents are often the first port of call for producers seeking information, and arming them with factual information is a key method to ensure good communication through the red meat supply chain. Further agent workshops are planned for 2018- please get in touch if you would like any more information about these.
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The Red Meat Cluster has a new co-ordinator! Meg Bell, Principal Consultant at Coleraine Livestock Consulting, stepped into the co-ordinator position as Ann Aldersey stepped out on maternity leave in November last year. Meg comes to us with a farming and consulting background, having grown up on a beef and cropping property at Millicent, and has been consulting in South Australia and Victoria since 2013. She is looking forward to lots of exciting things to come at the Red Meat Cluster!
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Research is currently being conducted at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, into meat and animal quality in red meat supply chains. UNE is after your views, from right across the red meat value chain. To participate in the research, click here to send an email to Derek Baker, Professor of Agribusiness and Value Chains, or call on (02) 6773 2627.
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That’s In Case You Missed It- watch the rib fractures webinar here!
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Events South-East Field Days, 16th and 17th March 2018 Come and visit us in the PIRSA tent at the South-East Field Days on, where we can answer all your Cluster and
red meat related questions! Grassland Society of Southern Australia Limestone Coast branch pasture update, 1st March 2018 The Limestone Coast branch of the GSSA will hold their next pasture update, ‘Gearing up for the season’, at Conmurra Station, Conmurra, on Thursday 1st March. The update will feature a live demonstration of various seeders for pasture sowing, a red meat market outlook, a weather
outlook, a pasture sowing guide session, and the latest research results from MLA. For more information and to RSVP, please see the Grassland Society website www.grasslands.org.au or email secretary Melinda Caspersz, office@grasslands.org.au Pathways to Productivity, 15th February 2018 Pathways to Productivity is a free forum for the sustainable agriculture community. Topics are relevant for landholders, agribusiness, local business, farming families and more. Speakers include Marketing Strategist Carolyn Miller from the Honeycomb Effect, Danielle England from Mackillop Farm Management Group, Dan and Mike Hayes, and Ken Solly from Solly Business Services. Doors open at 8.30am for a 9.00am start. Registration is free and includes morning tea and
lunch. Click here to register.
For more information contact Regional Landcare Facilitator Caroline Menzel 0409 675 573, or caroline.menzel@sa.gov.au Thriving Women conference, 19th and 20th March 2018 Thriving Women 2018 is a two-day conference that aims to connect and advance Agri-women. The conference will enable women to meet in a stimulating and supportive environment that encourages the
development of networks, knowledge, and skills through participation and contact with other women. It will link Agri-women from rural and urban backgrounds with members of formal and informal networks and provide easy access to opportunities for professional development and self-expression. Thriving women will be held on the 19th and 20th of February 2018 at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre in Hahndorf. Click here for more information and to register.
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Grants, funding and scholarships
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Irrigation aid $240m in total funding will be available through the six-year program to build sustainable irrigation communities and secure water resources for the future in the SA Murray Darling Basin. If you'd like to know more, click here to register
your interest. SA agribusiness growth program The Agribusiness Growth Program from Food South Australia offers business performance/plan reviews and recommendations for improvement. It also includes one-on-one business coaching to $10K with 25% co-contribution. Applicants must be ag/food businesses of 2+ years with turnover of $300K to $1.5m. Applications are ongoing. Click here for more information. Limestone Coast Scholarships Educational scholarships are offered for secondary and tertiary students with links to the Limestone Coast through the Stand Like a Stone Foundation. If you'd like to know more, click here. Horizon Scholarships In partnership with industry sponsors, the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship is an initiative supporting students enrolled in full time study at an Australian university by providing a bursary of $5000 per year for the first two years of your degree, professional development workshops, annual industry work placements aligned with the
scholar’s areas of interest and their sponsor’s industry, and opportunities to network and gain knowledge at a range of industry events. Applications close 5.00pm AEDT Friday, 23 February 2018. For the online application form and terms and conditions click here. Australian Institute of Company Directors course,
16th-20th April 2018 The Cattle Council of Australia and MLA are providing grass fed beef producers with the opportunity to develop their skills in corporate governance by completing the AICD course. Applications are open until midnight AEDT 31st January 2018, with seven opportunities to attend available. For more information, click here.
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Keeping in touch... Don't hesitate to contact the Red Meat Cluster Project Coordinator Meg Bell on 0433499630 or cluster@limestonecoastredmeat.com.au if you have any queries or suggestions.
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