SAMRC chair Angus Hobson.

LIVESTOCK producers in south-eastern Australia with a keen interest in industry research, development and adoption needs are being encouraged to apply for positions with the Southern Australia Meat Research Council.

The SAMRC is a key research, development and extension consultation and planning network for Australia’s southern red meat producer sector.

One of its main functions is collating the RD&A priorities of grass-fed beef and sheep meat producers and stakeholders across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and from Queensland sheep meat producers. The priorities direct Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) grass-fed beef and sheep producer levy investments in R&D.

SAMRC chair and livestock producer, Angus Hobson, from ‘Bukalong’ at Bombala, said SAMRC is supported by seven regional committees, each chaired by a local producer, which gather input from local producers and producer networks on local RD&A needs.

“As part of SAMRC’s commitment to building industry and organisational capability, recruitment is now underway for a number of key positions within the SAMRC network,” Mr Hobson said.

“In most of SAMRC’s seven regions, terms for the chairs and regional committee members expire this year.

“Expressions of interest are invited to fill four SAMRC regional chair positions for western Victoria, south-east Victoria and Tasmania, northern NSW, and central and western NSW, including Queensland sheep,” he said.

“Producers are also invited to apply for multiple SAMRC regional committee member positions across all seven regions – South Australia, central Victoria, western Victoria, south-east Victoria and Tasmania, northern NSW, southern NSW, and central and western NSW.

“SAMRC’s regional committee members provide the critical interface between RD&A providers and the needs of red meat producers,” Mr Hobson said.

“Candidates should have strong commercial beef and/or sheep meat production experience, and this includes producers with mixed farming operations.”

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) general manager – producer consultation & adoption, Michael Crowley, said SAMRC plays a key role in determining MLA RD&A investment priorities for southern Australia.

“SAMRC, along with the Western Australia Livestock Research Council and the North Australia Beef Research Council, determine producer priorities and enable MLA to consult with producers to ultimately invest in R&D that drives productivity and profitability in the red meat industry.

“SAMRC’s regional chairs collectively form the Southern Producer Panel, which provides commercially-relevant context, direction and feedback on RD&A priorities and proposals seeking MLA funding via the annual call,” Mr Crowley said.

For more information about these positions, visit: www.samrc.com.au

The selection committee will consider expressions of interest for the chair positions on May 28 and Regional Committee positions on July 2. Email expressions of interest to: [email protected]

Source: MLA.