Kay’s Cuts: Devastating weather effects US beef

I have reported on the livestock industry around the globe for just over 40 years, and can say with certainty that weather extremes in North America and Australia surpass those of any other continent. Already this year the US beef industry has experienced brutal winter storms and the worst wildfires in the State of Texas’ history ..Read More

Beef Central, 18/03/2024

Renewable energy: Windfalls and pitfalls for rural landholders

The windfalls and pitfalls that rural landholders can face when dealing with renewable energy projects were brought to light in vivid detail at a Rural Press Club of Queensland lunch in Brisbane last Thursday…Read More

James Nason, 18/03/2024

Govt proposes significant changes to new carbon methodology

The carbon industry has been thrown into limbo in the past week, as the Federal Government proposes significant changes to a new methodology it has been working on more than three years…Read More

Eric Barker, 18/03/2024

Feedgrain Focus: Wheat, sorghum firm amid thin trade

Wheat has firmed in response to thin selling from growers, while barley has traded sideways to lower as packers call for containerised sorghum…Read More

Beef Central, 18/03/2024

A smart work tool on a remote outback cattle station

Eliza Pearson has a big job on her hands managing 67 bores on an outback station that spans almost one million acres. A full monitoring system powered by satellite technology is proving to be a game-changer in the crucial role…Read More

Sponsored Content, 18/03/2024

Clearance sinks to just 36pc in tough trading week on AuctionsPlus       

It was a tough week for commercial cattle traded online this week, with a 17,760 head offering on AuctionsPlus managing to clear just 36pc. Most medium and heavy steer and heifer categories fell in value…Read More

Beef Central, 16/03/2024

Enhanced features coming to eNVD app and web

A range of new features are coming to the electronic National Vendor Declaration web-based system and Livestock Consignments App this month…Read More

Beef Central, 18/03/2024

Wagga sale 18 March 2024: Yarding drops after price correction

While there was an increase in feeder orders this week, only the heifer portion saw gains…Read More

Leann Dax, 18/03/2024



Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

Aust. Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) - $/tonne of CO2 equiv.

Today

35.75
Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6558
Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

19 Mar 2024 (updated 10am daily)
Company Price Trending
Elders $8.96
Australian Agricultural Co $1.52
Graincorp $7.29
Ridley $2.12
Woolworths $36.64
Wellard $0.06
Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

116179
Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

578.8
Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

Imported 90CL cow beef price. Landed US, Ac/kg CIF

Today

857.4
Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

Live export feeder steer prices ex Darwin (c/kg liveweight)

Today

350
Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-15.02
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

NLRS-reported yards (feedlot buyers only); 0-600kg, 0-2T, c/kg LW

Today

328.9
Source: Feeder Steer

Optimise herd health, production, and fertility. Save substantial time and money.

Click here to learn more

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Weekly genetics review: Longevity & Stayability – is there a difference?

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News

Kay’s Cuts: Devastating weather effects US beef

I have reported on the livestock industry around the globe for just over 40 years, and can say with certainty that weather extremes in North America and Australia surpass those of any other continent. Already this year the US beef industry has experienced brutal winter storms and the worst wildfires in the State of Texas’ history ..Read More

Beef Central, 18/03/2024

Renewable energy: Windfalls and pitfalls for rural landholders

The windfalls and pitfalls that rural landholders can face when dealing with renewable energy projects were brought to light in vivid detail at a Rural Press Club of Queensland lunch in Brisbane last Thursday…Read More

James Nason, 18/03/2024

Beef swaps hedging tool launched for Australian market

A second risk management tool has been added to the hedging options available to the Australian beef industry, following the launch of a Manufacturing Beef Swaps product by Macquarie Group this week…Read More

Beef Central, 15/03/2024

Agforce take Federal Govt to court over GAB carbon capture

AgForce and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation have filed court proceedings against Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek after months of opposition to a proposed plan to inject waste CO2 into the Great Artesian Basin…Read More

Eric Barker, 15/03/2024

Markets

Clearance sinks to just 36pc in tough trading week on AuctionsPlus       

It was a tough week for commercial cattle traded online this week, with a 17,760 head offering on AuctionsPlus managing to clear just 36pc. Most medium and heavy steer and heifer categories fell in value…Read More

Beef Central, 16/03/2024

Wagga sale 18 March 2024: Yarding drops after price correction

While there was an increase in feeder orders this week, only the heifer portion saw gains…Read More

Leann Dax, 18/03/2024

Dry southern autumn drags EYCI down 38c in a week

A north to south divide has appeared in the benchmark Eastern Young Cattle Indicator this week, as it fell below 600c/kg carcase weight for the first time since the start of the year…Read More

Eric Barker, 15/03/2024

Dalby sale 13 Mar 2024: Market reflects easing trend

The reduction in prices experienced nationwide continued…Read More

Trevor Hess, NLRS, 14/03/2024

Sponsored Content

A smart work tool on a remote outback cattle station

Eliza Pearson has a big job on her hands managing 67 bores on an outback station that spans almost one million acres. A full monitoring system powered by satellite technology is proving to be a game-changer in the crucial role…Read More

Sponsored Content, 18/03/2024

How Ceres Tag is building a connected ecosystem to empower farmers

Through a series of landmark collaborations and seamless integrations with prominent agtech systems, Ceres Tag is helping grazing businesses to unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency, sustainability and productivity…Read More

Sponsored Content, 11/03/2024

Farmbot’s way forward: Retrofit your pumps for remote control

In today’s world of escalating fuel costs and labour shortages, being everywhere at once isn’t just impractical – it’s not always possible. Thankfully, solutions like Farmbot exist to address these challenges. By working closely with producers to understand their operational costs and challenges, Farmbot is at the forefront of growing adoption of remote water management technologies…Read More

Sponsored content, 04/03/2024

Improving soil carbon potential through healthy soils

Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a thriving and resilient farm, and livestock producers who are looking to understand the potential of their land to sequester and store carbon need to start with the fundamentals of soil health…Read More

Sponsored Content, 19/02/2024

Production

Enhanced features coming to eNVD app and web

A range of new features are coming to the electronic National Vendor Declaration web-based system and Livestock Consignments App this month…Read More

Beef Central, 18/03/2024

Southern Qld field days hears of upcoming legume resources + PHOTOS

Growing interest in legumes was high on the agenda in Southern Queensland this week, as producers from across Qld and NSW gathered for the McIntyre Ag Alliance field day…Read More

Eric Barker, 14/03/2024

Zoetis expands stock vaccine production footprint with Melbourne land purchase

Animal health product manufacturer Zoetis has purchased an eight hectare manufacturing site in Melbourne to expand its current operations and increase future capabilities to manufacture cattle, sheep and horse vaccines…Read More

Beef Central, 09/03/2024

BredWell FedWell workshops return to NSW Northern Tablelands

MLA’s revised BredWell FedWell workshop series is heading to producers on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales later this month…Read More

Beef Central, 08/03/2024

Processing

Weekly kill: Handbrake comes on slaughter market, in a big way

There’s been a sharp change in the supply/demand dynamics in eastern states processing this week. A number of large multi-site operators from QLD to SA have withdrawn their direct consignment quotes for the time being, confident that they have kill slots covered for the immediate future. Others have dropped rates up to 20c/kg since last Wednesday..Read More

Jon Condon, 12/03/2024

Weekly kill: Weather continues to impact kills, while CQ rates drop 10c

Weather continues to play a part in slaughter cattle livestock access in Qld and northern NSW this week, as it has for most of the first couple of months of the new year. After starting the year on level terms with plants in southern QLD, Central QLD processors have dropped comparative rates 10c/kg, as supply starts to grow ..Read More

Jon Condon, 05/03/2024

AMIC launches Migrant Worker Employer Code of Conduct

The Australian Meat Industry Council has announced the establishment of the Migrant Worker Code of Conduct, in a bid to underscore the red meat industry’s commitment to the fair and ethical treatment of migrant workers…Read More

Beef Central, 05/03/2024

Weekly kill: Slaughter rates continue to climb, as year unfolds

The national slaughter statistics for the week ended Friday show last week was the largest adult cattle kill for the year so far, hitting 127,465 head. Apart from a brief rush later last year due to dry conditions pushing extra cattle to market, it’s the biggest national kill seen since the tail-end of the drought in May 2020…Read More

Jon Condon, 28/02/2024

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Wheat, sorghum firm amid thin trade

Wheat has firmed in response to thin selling from growers, while barley has traded sideways to lower as packers call for containerised sorghum…Read More

Beef Central, 18/03/2024

Feedgrain Focus: Prices plumb new lows

Prices have plumbed new lows for the season as thin export demand allows values to sink in line with hefty falls overnight in futures values…Read More

Liz Wells, 11/03/2024

Animal wellbeing focus delivers results for WA lotfeeders

Western Australia’s 7000-head Kylagh Feedlot is a testament to how best practice management to create a low-stress environment for cattle delivers results – with shade one of the key ingredients…Read More

Beef Central, 04/03/2024

WA watching eastern states closely says young lotfeeder

A young Western Australian feedlot feed manager says the west is watching the east closely, while working through some of its own unique challenges, as the local grainfed scales up…Read More

Eric Barker, 29/02/2024

Live Export

SE Asia Report: Live cattle exports play catch up after an interrupted start to the year

In this month’s report: Indonesian importers stock-up after recent pause in supply due to import issues | Comments by Indonesia’s new President-elect Prabowo Subianto raise questions about how his incoming government views Australia’s role in cattle supply | General increases in meat and food staple pricing across the region continue to put pressure on consumer spending..Read More

Dr Michael Patching, 11/03/2024

Charters Towers export yards set to handle 36,000 cattle by end of March

Some 36,000 cattle will be handled through the Charters Towers export quarantine facility by the end of March, as northern exporters, agents and transporters pull out all stops to deliver ships to Indonesia in time for the month-long Ramadan period which begins this Sunday…Read More

James Nason, 05/03/2024

Wellard announces first-half net profit

Despite challenging conditions for the Australian livestock export trade in the second half of last year, publicly listed livestock shipping business Wellard Limited registered a small net profit for the period…Read More

Beef Central, 26/02/2024

Export orders coming ‘thick and fast’ for NQ cattle

Several ships are expected to load medium to heavy weight cattle for Indonesia in Townsville over the next fortnight as Indonesian feedlots rush to fill the hole in supply created by seven weeks without 2024 import permits…Read More

James Nason, 23/02/2024

Trade

Domestic wholesale beef prices show solid lift

There’s been a solid rise in domestic wholesale beef prices recently, with many popular cuts and grinding meat now 15-20pc higher in value than they were in December. That’s come despite a sharp rise in production during February and early March, with some recent weekly national beef kills hitting four-year highs above 128,000 head…Read More

Jon Condon, 07/03/2024

Brazil fills its 2024 US quota: What does it mean for Aussie beef?

Brazil and a group of other smaller exporter countries servicing the US export beef market under the US’s ‘Other Country’ beef quota have in recent days filled their tariff-free entitlement for the 2024 year. It means that in order to continue to service the US market for the remainder of 2024, Brazil will have to pay an out-of-quota tariff of 26.4pc on all shipments, reducing their competitiveness against other exporters like Australia and NZ…Read More

Jon Condon, 06/03/2024

February beef exports continue growth surge, reaching 93,834t

Australia’s expanding beef production this year is reflected in February exports, which were up more than 23,000t or 33pc on the same period last year…Read More

Beef Central, 04/03/2024

Two red meat items in Woolworths’ latest round of retail prices cuts

Two red meat items are included in the latest round of retail price cuts made on more than 400 food and grocery items by national supermarket giant, Woolworths. ..Read More

Beef Central, 01/03/2024

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Are there alternatives to predicting birth weight in extensive production systems?

Collecting data, particularly around birth weights, has challenged many producers – especially in more extensively managed herds, where these challenges are magnified by distance, time, and the scale of operation. But are there alternatives to traditional birthweight collection?..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 12/03/2024

NCC Brahman stud herd changes hands in major pre-auction dispersal deal

In one of the largest seedstock herd transactions in recent history, prominent Central Queensland Brahman bull breeder Brett Nobbs has sold his NCC Grey Brahman herd to Proserpine region commercial and stud Brahman breeders, Ray and Leah Vella…Read More

Beef Central, 12/03/2024

Weekly genetics review: What does your calving pattern tell you?

This weeks column focusses on knowing your calving distribution and the insights it offers for strategic and tactical herd planning. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 05/03/2024

Weekly genetics review: Where are we heading with structural soundness?

In the three years he has been writing his weekly column for Beef Central, structural soundness is the subject of most of the feedback received by genetics editor Al Rayner, as well as the most suggested subject for columns. “In general, the trend of the feedback and discussions I’ve had with beef producers and bull breeders reflects a feeling that structure is actually becoming worse in a number of breeds,” he writes this week. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 27/02/2024

Ag Tech

50pc rebates for smart farming tech available through $30 million On Farm Connectivity Program

Applications are open for Round 1 of the Albanese Government’s new On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP) to increase the uptake of agtech to boost productivity, growth and sustainability of Australia’s primary producers…Read More

Beef Central, 11/12/2023

Sunshine Coast business wins Ag category award at Innovate with nbn 2023

A company helping butchers to monitor the cooking and cooling temperatures of all cooked/dried products was named as the Agriculture category winner of the 2023 Innovate with nbn Grants Program awards announced last night in Sydney…Read More

Beef Central, 27/11/2023

Drone survey a positive step towards better regulations for ag

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is calling on producers using or intending to use drones for activities like mustering and spraying to help improve the regulatory framework…Read More

Beef Central, 01/11/2023

Prime time for drones on feral pig watch in NT

A Charles Darwin University (CDU) study has identified early evening, or a wet season morning, as the prime time for surveying feral pigs from sky-high drones, which could help land rangers to improve management of the stealthy and invasive animals…Read More

Beef Central, 20/10/2023

AgProperty Central

CPC adds to Isisford aggregation with Linamar purchase

Consolidated Pastoral Co has added a substantial grazing property to its aggregation near Isisford in Central western Queensland. The 15,346ha Linamar Station borders CPC’s Isis Downs holding south of Isisford and 120km south-west of Blackall…Read More

Beef Central, 13/03/2024

Weekly property review: Smaller agencies thrive in busy trading environment

They often say bigger is better, but in the world of rural property sales and marketing, some of the smaller, more specialised agencies are singing a different tune – competing on the basis of speed, efficiency and industry knowledge…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 13/03/2024

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Scale sells in NSW’s Southern Tablelands | Crookwell’s Pejar makes $6.5-$7.5m | Nundle’s Tarwarri makes around $8m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 06/03/2024

Movement at the station: Recent property listings

EOI for Central Queensland’s Deepwater | Brodie Agencies lists NQ’s Barragunda and CQ’s Westward Ho | Qld Western Downs country offers diversity + income | High carrying capacity country in Qld’s Maranoa | Background & finish on northern NSW’s Glasston..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 06/03/2024

AgCarbon Central

Govt proposes significant changes to new carbon methodology

The carbon industry has been thrown into limbo in the past week, as the Federal Government proposes significant changes to a new methodology it has been working on more than three years…Read More

Eric Barker, 18/03/2024

In a landscape of climate change, what is the issue with soil carbon?

Debate is raging about the legitimacy of the new soil carbon industry after a handful of Australian producers broke new ground last year with large-scale issuances of soil carbon credits…Read More

Eric Barker, 12/03/2024

How gathering soil carbon data is setting the Archers up for the future

One of Australia’s soil carbon pioneers says he is hoping a comprehensive dataset being gathered on the grazing operation will help with future environmental market opportunities…Read More

Eric Barker, 08/03/2024

Carbon industry expecting new Integrated Farm Method this year

A new carbon farming methodology, which allows project holders to stack several projects on one piece of land, is expected to roll out later this year – after several years in development…Read More

Eric Barker, 06/03/2024

Sheep Central

Victorian sheep producers lead increase in farmer confidence

VICTORIAN sheep producers are leading a national increase in farmer confidence, according to results from the latest quarterly Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey released last week...Read More

Silence on research and advice behind Victorian dingo decisions

REMOVAL of the unprotection order on wild dogs in eastern Victoria will be be mayhem for sheep producers, according to Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group vice-president and Tallangatta farmer Peter..Read More

Recruitment: Handy tips for improving employee engagement

AG businesses can apply some simple strategies to develop employee engagement in their business to help it reach its objectives...Read More

Fears of wild dog spread with dingo order change

VICTORIA’S sheep and wool industry will be at risk of more wild dog attacks with recent changes in the state’s dingo ‘unprotection order’ laws, an anti-dingo campaigner believes. The Allan…..Read More

Grain Central

Growers urged to report mouse numbers

Growers across Australia are being urged to check paddocks for mouse numbers and record mouse activity ahead of winter-crop sowing...Read More

Wheat to lead crop margin rebuild: Rabobank

A Rabobank report says lower input costs are expected to improve gross margins for Australia's three major winter crops in the upcoming season...Read More

Exotic fly released on WA’s South Coast to combat snails

Following the success of an SA program, parasitoid flies have been released on WA's south coast to help control two types of snails that attack crops. ..Read More

GPA, NSW Farmers voice fire ant concerns to inquiry

Grain Producers Australia and NSW Farmers have voiced concerns to an ongoing federal inquiry about the possible impact of fire ants on broadacre agriculture. ..Read More

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