Tuesday 20 April 2021
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Ag Tech

How Isis Downs has tackled remote water monitoring

The manager of a large western Queensland cattle station has described how a significant company investment in remote water monitoring has led to a series of not only expected but also unexpected benefits for the large operation…Read More

James Nason, April 19, 2021

Property

Stanbroke’s Miranda Downs could re-set Qld property record books

New benchmarks could well be set for extensive northwest Queensland grazing country following the offering of giant Gulf of Carpentaria calf factory Miranda Downs in coming months…Read More

Jon Condon, April 19, 2021

News

High cattle prices haven’t fixed drought hangover: Cattle Council

Despite cattle prices reaching record highs, producers right across Australia still have a long way to go to recover after up to nine years of drought…Read More

Beef Central, April 19, 2021

Murray Arnel sale reports and videos

Feeder buyers sweep Ballarat yarding, lighter sales ‘outstanding’

Spiraling store cattle values sold at Ballarat on Friday kept pace with the beef industry’s surging Eastern Young Cattle Indicator that broke through the 900c/kg barrier earlier in the week…Read More

Murray Arnel, April 19, 2021

News

Fatal dog disease continues to spread across mainland Australia

The fatal dog disease Ehrlichiosis was found for the first time in Australia in the Kimberley region in mid-2020. It is now found across mainland Australia apart from Victoria and the ACT, after being recently confirmed in South Australia…Read More

Beef Central, April 19, 2021

Markets

Buyers showing signs of hesitancy at current market levels in online trading

AuctionsPlus cattle offerings increased a further 13pc this week to 22,234 head, with prices fluctuating on the previous week, as buyers appeared to be hesitant at current market levels for the proven breeding lines. Meanwhile Stocklive saw strong online buyer demand at the Inverell Regional Livestock Exchange sale on Thursday,..Read More

Beef Central, April 17, 2021

Processing

Meat yield and potential traceability gains in Nolan Meats’ new $20m boning room

Queensland export and domestic beef processor Nolan meats yesterday unveiled its expanded and modernised boning room, featuring technology that is already delivering results in increasing carcase yield, and laying a platform for individual cuts traceability…Read More

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Jon Condon, April 16, 2021

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Transport squeeze lifts prices
Liz Wells, April 16, 2021

Processing

Red meat R&D: Magnetic conveying could leverage high-speed train technology for beef processing
Beef Central, April 16, 2021

Recruitment

Recruitment: How to give (and take) constructive criticism in the workplace
Beef Central, April 16, 2021

Ag Tech

Mustering safely with drones at Beeac + VIDEO
Beef Central, April 16, 2021

News

Applications open for Biodiversity Stewardship Scheme
Beef Central, April 16, 2021

Markets

EYCI cracks record 900c – but is it sustainable?
Jon Condon, April 15, 2021

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily
Today
0.7730
Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

20 Apr 2021 (updated 10am daily)
Company Price Trending
Elders $12.60
Australian Agricultural Co $1.17
Graincorp $5.28
Ridley $1.14
Woolworths $42.09
Wellard $0.06
Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

76183
Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

901.75
Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

658.1
Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

420
Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-0.13
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

Shortfed feeder steer 380-500kg - c/kg paddock sales, eastern states.

Today

413.2
Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

Vale Lex Heinemann

Sad news, did a lot of business with Lex and he was great to deal with. Hell of a nice fellow too! RIP....

Will Abel Smith
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Govt must rule out massive truck rego hike: Trucking Association

This extra registration and restrictions will end up costing the consumer money. I doubt whether it will alter the carbon footprint one iota considering that China and India are....

veronica winterton
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Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 14 April 2021

Why does it always rain at places no one has ever heard of? Of all the places quoted above, Weipa is the only one I have knowingly visited, and....

John A. Mohr-Bell
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Weekly genetics review: Getting to grips with temperament

I would suggest that flight speed is only one measure of temperament And my experience is that animals increase their flight speed with repeated passes and the short distance (....

Charles Nason
More

News

High cattle prices haven’t fixed drought hangover: Cattle Council

Despite cattle prices reaching record highs, producers right across Australia still have a long way to go to recover after up to nine years of drought…Read More

Beef Central, April 19, 2021

Fatal dog disease continues to spread across mainland Australia

The fatal dog disease Ehrlichiosis was found for the first time in Australia in the Kimberley region in mid-2020. It is now found across mainland Australia apart from Victoria and the ACT, after being recently confirmed in South Australia…Read More

Beef Central, April 19, 2021

Recruitment: How to give (and take) constructive criticism in the workplace

If you’re a manager, supervisor, team leader or any type of boss working in the meat and livestock industry, there will be times when you will have to give feedback to employees. Sometimes it will be positive and sometimes not, so you might like to consider how it is delivered…Read More

Beef Central, April 16, 2021

Applications open for Biodiversity Stewardship Scheme

Cattle producers can now apply to take part in the Federal Government’s Agriculture Stewardship Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot Program…Read More

Beef Central, April 16, 2021

Markets

Feeder buyers sweep Ballarat yarding, lighter sales ‘outstanding’

Spiraling store cattle values sold at Ballarat on Friday kept pace with the beef industry’s surging Eastern Young Cattle Indicator that broke through the 900c/kg barrier earlier in the week…Read More

Murray Arnel, April 19, 2021

Buyers showing signs of hesitancy at current market levels in online trading

AuctionsPlus cattle offerings increased a further 13pc this week to 22,234 head, with prices fluctuating on the previous week, as buyers appeared to be hesitant at current market levels for the proven breeding lines. Meanwhile Stocklive saw strong online buyer demand at the Inverell Regional Livestock Exchange sale on Thursday,..Read More

Beef Central, April 17, 2021

EYCI cracks record 900c – but is it sustainable?

The national cattle industry benchmark, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator pushed beyond 900c/kg for the first time yesterday, but current trading levels may be hard to sustain, evidence suggests.  ..Read More

Jon Condon, April 15, 2021

Dalby sale 7 April 2021: Strong demand in bigger yarding

Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 18c/kg better. Yearling steers to feed the domestic market averaged 4c/kg dearer…Read More

Beef Central, April 15, 2021

Production

Six ways industry research is aiming to drive northern cattle productivity gains

Meat & Livestock Australia managing director Jason Strong provided updates on six key research programs aimed at driving northern profitability at Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association conference in Alice Springs on Friday…Read More

James Nason, March 29, 2021

Chemical control option approved for use on grasshoppers

With recent reports of grasshoppers sweeping areas of western Queensland in plague proportions, a chemical treatment has been approved for emergency use on pastures of the state’s Mitchell grass region…Read More

Beef Central, March 11, 2021

Fertility boost is proof in the P pudding for Torrens Creek producers

North Queensland beef producers Peter and Anne Finlay know that to get the most out of their country they can’t ignore the importance of phosphorous supplementation, so they take a year‑round approach to providing this important trace mineral for their cattle…Read More

Beef Central, March 9, 2021

Live weight gain results from Fairview leucaena trial + PICS

More than 100 graziers, agronomists, service providers and extension staff visited Bruce and Lucinda Mayne’s Calliope, Qld, property ‘Fairview’ recently to see the results of a live weight gain trial on leucaena paddocks…Read More

Beef Central, March 5, 2021

Processing

Meat yield and potential traceability gains in Nolan Meats’ new $20m boning room

Queensland export and domestic beef processor Nolan meats yesterday unveiled its expanded and modernised boning room, featuring technology that is already delivering results in increasing carcase yield, and laying a platform for individual cuts traceability…Read More

Jon Condon, April 16, 2021

Red meat R&D: Magnetic conveying could leverage high-speed train technology for beef processing

Readers who are familiar with Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains may have also heard about the magnetic conveying system the service uses – an incredible technology that zips Japanese commuters from one stop to the next at breathtaking speeds. But speed is not the only advantage of magnetic conveying, and research is now looking at how the technology might fit into the red meat processing sector…Read More

Beef Central, April 16, 2021

TFI launches $10m automated lamb boning project at Tamworth

Australian meat processor Thomas Foods International has awarded a $10 million automated lamb boning systems contract to New Zealand’s Scott Technology Ltd…Read More

Beef Central, April 14, 2021

Weekly kill: Grids steady, as first hint of winter approaches

Direct consignment price grids are largely unchanged across eastern and southern Australia this week, as country starts to dry out after earlier rain and the first glimpse of winter appears on the horizon…Read More

Jon Condon, April 13, 2021

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Transport squeeze lifts prices

Prices for feedgrain have rallied this week as a shortage of available trucks leaves domestic consumers battling to book deliveries, but cottonseed prices have eased on improved production prospects for this and next year. ..Read More

Liz Wells, April 16, 2021

Feedgrain Focus: Prices soften despite subdued selling

Prices for feedgrain have softened over the Easter week by up to $10 per tonne as consumers price in the Northern Hemisphere inverse from July onward, and planting of eastern Australia’s winter crop gathers pace in mostly ideal conditions…Read More

Liz Wells, April 9, 2021

Australia’s Top 10 biggest grain-use sites revealed

Flour mills, feed mills and malting plants all sit behind Manildra Group’s Shoalhaven Starches plant in the Grain Central list of Australia’s Top 10 grain-use sites…Read More

Liz Wells, April 6, 2021

Feedgrain Focus: Quality issues impact north

Sorghum 1 prices have firmed on limited nearby supply, but weather-damaged grades are struggling to find a market, and sell-side pressure in the north on wheat and barley is not being seen in the south…Read More

Liz Wells, April 6, 2021

Live Export

March cattle exports slip to 55,073 head

Australian cattle export volumes slipped to 55,073 in March, well below the rolling  five year average for the month of 82,955 head…Read More

Beef Central, April 15, 2021

NZ bans cattle exports by sea, with two-year phase out

The New Zealand Government has this morning announced a ban on live cattle exports by sea, with a two-year period to phase out the trade…Read More

Beef Central, April 14, 2021

New season test for northern live export prices

Northern export cattle prices have softened from record highs, albeit slightly, as the annual nexus arrives between new season supply coming on and the passing of the traditional pre-Ramadan rush on demand in Indonesia…Read More

James Nason, April 13, 2021

The rise, fall and rise again of Australia’s cattle trade to Vietnam

Australia’s cattle export trade to Vietnam has grown quietly but surely in recent years, to the surprising point where it almost surpassed Indonesia as Australia’s highest value cattle export market last year…Read More

James Nason, April 8, 2021

Trade

US beef price rally augurs well for grinding meat exports

There’s a more positive mood emerging in export beef trade circles this week, as a strong rally in US grinding meat prices lifts spirits somewhat, after what has been a particularly bleak trading period. Imported grinding beef prices have hit levels unseen since panic buying in the US in May last year, when up to 40pc of US processing capacity was knocked out due to COVID measures…Read More

Jon Condon, April 13, 2021

Holy Cow beef rinds turn cattle hides into snacks

Two business partners in the US have begun repurposing cow hides into a snack product…Read More

Beef Central, April 13, 2021

March beef exports hit ten-year lows

Continuing a trend seen since late last year, Australia’s March beef exports totalled just 83,438 tonnes – down 11pc year-on-year, and hitting a ten-year in-month low…Read More

Jon Condon, April 7, 2021

Modern-day ‘Suez Crisis’ disrupts world trade

The six-day blockage of the Suez Canal by the MV Ever Given is expected to put upward pressure on bulk and container sea freight as shipping lines factor in wait times for some vessels and lengthened routes for others…Read More

Grain Brokers Australia, March 30, 2021

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Getting to grips with temperament

This week’s genetics review focuses on temperament – and the point that it can’t just be improved on selection alone. Temperament is moderately heritable, which means if producers don’t think about on-farm practices, any genetic gains won’t count for much…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, April 13, 2021

Webinar: The role of reference populations in genetic evaluation for beef cattle

In this upcoming webinar presented by FutureBeef and Beef Central, AGBU scientist Dr Matt Wolcott examines the role of genomic information in modern genetic evaluation and discusses how breeds and breeders can identify traits for which intensive recording strategies will yield the greatest benefit…Read More

Beef Central, April 13, 2021

Weekly genetics review: Making more informed heifer selection decisions

Decisions on heifer selection and retention for breeding are never ones to be taken lightly. A heifer represents not only the next generation of breeding potential for a herd, but she also reflects the prior investment in genetics, as well as determining the productivity and profitability of the herd for most of the next decade. Choosing which heifers to retain can be an issue for both seedstock and commercial producers, for various reasons…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, April 6, 2021

Information-packed conference program for Wagyu Edge 2021

The Australian Wagyu industry’s annual Wagyu Edge conference has assembled an outstanding lineup of speakers for this year’s event, being held on the Gold Coast later this month as a precursor to the Beef 2021 event in Rockhampton. Attracting between 400 and 600 delegates annually, Wagyu Edge claims to be the largest annual conference on the beef industry calendar, and is arguably the Wagyu sector’s leading global event…Read More

Beef Central, April 6, 2021

Ag Tech

How Isis Downs has tackled remote water monitoring

The manager of a large western Queensland cattle station has described how a significant company investment in remote water monitoring has led to a series of not only expected but also unexpected benefits for the large operation…Read More

James Nason, April 19, 2021

Mustering safely with drones at Beeac + VIDEO

Victcorian farmers Tom and Bill Alston use drones to take some of the stress and injury risk out of mustering sheep and cattle on their Beeac property in the state’s south-west…Read More

Beef Central, April 16, 2021

Levy funded research from 15 RDCs now searchable in one place

Farmers, researchers and businesses can now see levy funded research from all the Research and Development Corporations in one location…Read More

Beef Central, April 12, 2021

NSW, Vic farmers invited to trial Wi-Fi calling under Federal trial

Australian wireless networking company Zetifi has issued a call out for farmers in New South Wales and northern Victoria to express their interest in trialling Wi-Fi calling as part of a Federal Government-backed program to provide improved phone services for rural and remote areas…Read More

Beef Central, February 23, 2021

Property

Stanbroke’s Miranda Downs could re-set Qld property record books

New benchmarks could well be set for extensive northwest Queensland grazing country following the offering of giant Gulf of Carpentaria calf factory Miranda Downs in coming months…Read More

Jon Condon, April 19, 2021

Vale Lex Heinemann

Rural property marketing legend Lex Heinemann passed away suddenly yesterday after a heart attack, aged 80. Spanning more than 50 years, Mr Heinemann forged a career as a deal-maker without peer in the northern Australian rural property marketing space..Read More

Jon Condon, April 15, 2021

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Two unique NT properties sell for between $8m and $9m | Goondiwindi family snaps up Texas country | Downs grain/grazing farms make competitive rates at auction..Read More

Guest Author, April 14, 2021

Movement at the station: Properties for sale

Western QLD producers chase grass on Sandalwood | Strong inquiry for Central QLD’s Berrigurra | Abundant feed in picturesque northern NSW |Block overlooking Brisbane’s main water source | Diversity on offer at St George | Scenic grazing in QLD’s south east | Adjoining Tumut breeding blocks offered separately | Mungindi country returns to the market..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, April 14, 2021

Sheep Central

ABARES calculates cost of agricultural trade protection

PROTECTIONIST agricultural trade measures have the potential to cost the Australian economy $1 trillion over 30 years, according to an ABARES research paper released today...Read More

Online sheep and lamb listings surge for cautious buyers

ONLINE sheep and lamb listings almost doubled last week, crashing clearance rates and prices in some categories, and especially for joined and scanned in-lamb ewes as producers look to their..Read More

Call to join FeralScan for co-ordinated pest animal control

SHEEP producers have been urged register on the free pest animal resource FeralScan to help monitor the activity of wild dogs, foxes, rabbits, feral pigs and deer...Read More

Limited global lamb supplies supporting Australian prices

AUSTRALIAN lamb exports dropped 20 percent year-on-year in the 12 months to March, according to Meat & Livestock Australia...Read More

Grain Central

National survey to inform future of agricultural education

What do Australian school students know about agriculture? This is the question being posed by CQUniversity agri-tech education researchers, who today launched a national agricultural awareness survey...Read More

Recruitment: How to give (and take) constructive criticism in the workplace

If you are a manager, supervisor, team leader or any type of boss, there will be times when you will have to give feedback to employees. Here are a few..Read More

Riverina rice harvest heralds industry revival

The largest rice harvest in three years is underway in the NSW Riverina where the industry is regaining its feet after drought slashed farm production over the previous two seasons...Read More

What does the rising oil price mean for agriculture?

The oil price has returned to pre-COVID levels which is a good signal of economic recovery, but the question is, how does this impact agriculture?..Read More

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