Southern Australia’s sheep, goat and beef producers are being invited to have a say on how their levies are used at a series of forums with Meat and Livestock Australia and the peak industry councils in May and June.

The Sheepmeat Council of Australia and the Cattle Council of Australia will attend the forums and present on industry priority areas.

MLA leader to host the ‘Your Levy, Your Industry’ forums

MLA managing director Richard Norton

MLA managing director Richard Norton will the host the “Your Levy, Your Industry” forums to give producers an opportunity to meet with him and discuss their marketing, research and development priorities.

“I encourage all producers to come along to these forums to share their thoughts about MLA and our role as service provider to industry in delivering relevant marketing and R&D outcomes,” Mr Norton said.

“We’re putting levy payers at the centre of everything we do, and hearing their feedback through grassroots consultation is critical so that we can ensure MLA is delivering long term value back to farm gate.

“We have carried out similar forums with producers in Queensland and WA and received valuable feedback,” he said.

New regional R&D consultation model will be outlined

Mr Norton said he looked forward to speaking openly with southern producers in their local regions about the future direction of MLA.

MLA’s general manager for livestock productivity Jane Weatherley, MLA’s general manager for on-farm innovation and adoption, Matthew McDonagh, will provide an update of MLA’s regional consultation model, including how it will work for southern producers.

“MLA is changing its R&D consultation process to ensure that producers can have direct input into R&D priorities on a regional level,” Ms Weatherley said.

“We’ve seen positive R&D outcomes in the south such as improved MSA farm gate returns, increased productivity through adoption of genetics, enhanced animal nutrition through the EverGraze program, and better management of round worm through the development of the Barbervax vaccine.

“We want to build on these achievements by engaging more effectively with levy payers, research partners and industry at a regional level to identify future research priorities,” she said.

All producers are welcome to attend these free forums, where a BBQ lunch will be provided.

Forum locations and times

Casino

9am-1.30pm, May 12, Casino RSM Club, 162 Canterbury Street, Casino, NSW.

Tamworth
9am-1.30pm, May 13, ‘The Mill’, Longyard Golf Club, 1 Longyard Drive, Tamworth, NSW.

Wangaratta

9am-1.30pm, May 19, Oaks Conference & Function Centre, Wangaratta Turf Club, 1-15 Racecourse Road, Wangaratta, NSW.

Bairnsdale

9am-1.30pm, May 20, Bairnsdale Sporting/Convention Centre, 117 Great Alpine Road, Bairnsdale, NSW.

Hamilton

12.30pm-5pm, May 21, Comfort Inn, Grange Burn, 142 Ballarat Road, Hamilton, Vic.

Bordertown

9am-1.30pm, June 16, Tatiara Civic Centre, 43 Woolshed Street, Bordertown, SA.

Clare

9am-1.30pm, June 17, Clare Country Club, White Hut Road, Clare, SA.

Broken Hill

9am-1.30pm, June 18, Broken Hill Musicians Club, 276 Crystal Street, Broken Hill, NSW.

Register via the MLA website: www.mla.com.au, by email [email protected] or phone 1800 023 100

Source: Meat and Livestock Australia.