In the News

GLOBAL METHANE EMMISSIONS

The federal Government has confirmed Australia will join more than 120 countries pledging to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

It is estimated that approximately half of Australia’s methane emissions are produced by the agriculture sector. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the pledge will result in a “tax on cattle” with Leader of the Nationals party, David Littleproud saying the pledge will drive up beef prices. However, the Government has said no taxes or levies will be introduced to reduce livestock emissions and that the Government will be working closely with energy, resources, agriculture and waste sectors in relation to the reduction of methane emissions.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says “Our country’s focus will be on research and development, on investment, on collaboration and partnership with key sectors.” The Government has awarded $5 million worth of grants for research and development into low-emissions feed supplements. Up to a further $3 billion will reportedly be invested by the Australian Government to support investment in low emission technologies.

LA NINA BRINGS OPPORTUNITY

While the high rainfall has presented significant challenges across the Country, experienced pasture agronomists are reporting this spring and summer as being the ideal time to plant improved pastures. High subsoil moisture and follow-up rain is fundamental to the successful establishment of pastures. With recent events and current predictions, Queensland and Northern NSW farmers are likely to be well positioned.

“I haven’t seen as favourable conditions as this for more than 10 years – now is the time to get new pasture in, the odds really are in producers’ favour,” Rockhampton agronomist Ross Newman said. “The key thing is to reduce competition with other plants because it’s hard to get them established when they’re competing with something else for their water. You can reduce competition with either mechanical or chemical interventions, then plant into the mulch with a good legume-based species mix, and then let the rain do its work. The payback from a good established new pasture is very high.”

Source: www.bom.gov.au

NORTHERN WA’S ONLY MAJOR ABATTOIR TO EXPAND

After reopening only 6 months ago, Kimberley Meat Company’s abattoir in Northern WA will undergo a $35 million expansion to increase its processing capacity by approximately 60%. The only major abattoir in Northern WA, the expansion will include extensions to its boning room, cold storage capacity, yard size and see the addition of a rendering plant. Plans also include the opening of a butcher shop in Broome.

A WA farmer who believed he was purchasing 30 cattle on Facebook Marketplace has been conned out of over $16,000 after transferring money online. After sending a transport company to collect the cattle, the would-be buyer was informed the farm owners were not aware of the sale.

The scammers were using photos of cattle taken from other Facebook pages and posting sale advertisements to various livestock sale pages. Going a step further than the typical Facebook scammer, the fraudster had been engaging in video calls with prospective buyers, purporting to show the cattle in the background. Police have said they suggest people do not buy goods unseen, if at all possible and encourage users to report scammers to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Source: www.haveagonews.com.au

JBS EXITS US PLANT BASED PROTEIN

At the beginning of October, the world’s largest meat processor, JBS, closed its plant-based protein manufacturing site in Colorado after less than 2 years in operation.

The closure is reportedly as a result of weakening demand for plant-based proteins, with supply demand failing to achieve originally anticipated growth rates. In America, shares in Beyond Meat Inc, pioneers in the industry, have fallen more than 75% this year due to softer sales.

Source: www.bloomberg.com

NO RECORDED FMD IN BALI FOR MONTHS

Bali’s Agriculture and Food Security office claims there have been no cases of Foot and Mouth Disease for almost 2 months with the last officially reported case being on 1 August 2022.

The doubt case on these claims by experts is supported by claims by the ABC that it saw and filmed cattle with clear signs of FMD in September 2022 and reports that officials in Denpasar have confirmed more than 60 head were slaughtered at the start of September due to FMD.

As of late September, almost half of the Balinese herd had received at least one of two FMD vaccinations. Dr Ross Ainsworth, an Australia vet based in Bali says “I initially was extremely concerned that this disease was going to get to Australia. I thought it was perhaps a 50-50 change. But now I think the threat is much lower.”