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Weekly property review: The new reality of ‘slow money’

If time is money, then it is little wonder that an increasing number of property agents are voicing their frustration at banks, saying their loan approval process for deals is moving at a glacial pace…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, August 5, 2020

Property

Property: Feedlot asset demand subdued in drought recovery period

The value of water and mixed-farming land appears to be supporting the long-held value of $800-$1000 per Standard Cattle Unit amid subdued demand from buyers for feedlot assets…Read More

Liz Wells, August 5, 2020

Markets

Chris Howie’s livestock market wrap – July 2020

The cattle market has maintained its value with good contracts still being offered for feedlot entry weights and finished slaughter cattle. Chris Howie writes in this month’s analysis of southern market trends and opportunities…Read More

Chris Howie, August 5, 2020

Processing

Vic Premier proposes ‘tailored approach’ to COVID processor restrictions

VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews today indicated the State Government was working on tailoring its required workforce cuts to different meat processing sectors under the state’s new Stage Four COVID-19 restrictions, which come into effect at midnight on Friday…Read More

Terry Sim, August 5, 2020

Lotfeeding

Cattle on feed numbers fall 7pc in June quarterly survey

Cattle numbers on feed fell by seven percent in the June quarterly feedlot survey released this morning. While still above one million head for the tenth consecutive quarter, numbers on feed have not been this low since December 2018, prior to the start of the drought…Read More

Jon Condon, August 5, 2020

News

Qld police lay further charges over farm trespass incidents

Queensland Police have charged a further six people involved in trespassing incidents at agricultural locations at Pittsworth and Warwick last year…Read More

Beef Central, August 5, 2020

Weather

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 5 August

Cold fronts brought moderate falls to southwest Western Australia and western Tasmania,while an onshore flow produced showers and moderate falls about the north tropical coast of Queensland…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, August 5, 2020

Markets

Roma store sale 4 Aug 2020: Steers, bullocks dominate yarding

Guest Author, August 5, 2020

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Consistently strong sales mark start of 2020 spring selling season

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, August 4, 2020

Genetics

New videos explain popular traits when selecting sires

Beef Central, August 4, 2020

News

What do Victoria’s new COVID regulations mean for meat processing?

Terry Sim, August 4, 2020

Trade

July beef exports continue to sag, in line with slide in slaughter rates

Jon Condon, August 4, 2020

Processing

Weekly kill: Some Qld grids trend higher, as supply challenge extends

Jon Condon, August 4, 2020

News

What do Victoria’s new COVID regulations mean for meat processing?

VICTORIAN meat processors were today reorganising to meet and clarify new Stage Four COVID-19 lockdown restrictions that will mean cuts to their workforces by a third of daily peak production capacity levels…Read More

Terry Sim, August 4, 2020

News

Victorian processors limited to two-thirds of capacity, under tight new Govt rules

VICTORIAN meat processors will have to cut back production by one third and implement significant workplace safety measures after midnight Friday this week under new Stage Four COVID-19 restrictions announced by Premier Daniel Andrews this afternoon…Read More

Terry Sim, August 3, 2020

Processing

Are JobKeeper payments creating an unlevel playing field in the cattle market?

Suggestions have been raised this week that Government JobKeeper payments being received by some processing industry personnel are helping to distort competition for livestock – in what is already an incredibly competitive slaughter cattle supply environment this year…Read More

Jon Condon, July 31, 2020

Production

Shifting cull cows out of the ‘commodity’ market through strategic feeding

SIGNIFICANT potential exists to increase the quality grade of carcases from aged cows by putting them on feed programs for a period before slaughter, recent research has shown…Read More

Jon Condon, August 3, 2020

Processing

Vic Premier proposes ‘tailored approach’ to COVID processor restrictions

Terry Sim, August 5, 2020

News

Qld police lay further charges over farm trespass incidents

Queensland Police have charged a further six people involved in trespassing incidents at agricultural locations at Pittsworth and Warwick last year…Read More

Beef Central, August 5, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: The new reality of ‘slow money’

Property editor Linda Rowley, August 5, 2020

Weather

Seasonal climate outlook August-October 2020

August to October is likely to be wetter than average, with a greater than 65 percent chance over most of the eastern two thirds of Australia and greater than 75 percent chance over much of south-west Queensland, south-east NT, western NSW, and inland SA…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, August 3, 2020

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Consistently strong sales mark start of 2020 spring selling season

The sheer buying strength and depth has surprised many during the opening stages of the 2020 spring bull sales period, genetics editor Alastair Rayner reports this week ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, August 4, 2020

Trade

July beef exports continue to sag, in line with slide in slaughter rates

Australia’s July beef exports continued to slump, in line with the gradual decline being seen in rates of slaughter as the year progresses. While most major customer markets were impacted, China showed the largest, quite dramatic falls in volume last month, for a variety of reasons…Read More

Jon Condon, August 4, 2020

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7150

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

06 Aug 2020 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$10.27
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.02
Graincorp	$3.74
Ridley	$0.73
Woolworths	$39.22
Wellard	$0.04

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

111521

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

761

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

678.3

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

360

Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

4.05

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

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

Today

372.8

Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

Study seeks views of livestock producers and vegans

A nonsensical waste of time and money. There is no prospect of any overlap of opinion when the vegans of this world insist that no animals or animal products....

Peter Vincent

AA Co remains upbeat, despite past year’s COVID, drought and market challenges

AACO This company need to understand its strengths and focus on what it does best. To focus on the flagship product brand will not support the....

Paul A Troja

AA Co AGM board questions: What was on shareholders’ minds?

I watch AAco results each year and there is always a good reason for not achieving results equivalent to family run businesses. I am at a loss to see why....

Hume Turnbull

Genetically-edited bull calf is programmed to produce more male offspring

A quick calculation shows that a central Queensland beef breeding herd turning off "feed on" steers with a sound weaning rate (about 80%), having bulls that deliver two thirds....

Fred Chudleigh

Qld police lay further charges over farm trespass incidents

Queensland Police have charged a further six people involved in trespassing incidents at agricultural locations at Pittsworth and Warwick last year…Read More

Beef Central, August 5, 2020

What do Victoria’s new COVID regulations mean for meat processing?

Terry Sim, August 4, 2020

Beef Central’s beef quiz – July 2020

Test your beef industry knowledge with Beef Central’s July 2020 quiz..Read More

Beef Central, August 4, 2020

NSW Police launches Operation Stock Check to combat livestock theft

The NSW Police Force Rural Crime Prevention Team has launched Operation Stock Check, an ongoing, proactive operation to prevent livestock theft by disrupting the movement of stolen stock in western NSW…Read More

Beef Central, August 4, 2020

Markets

Chris Howie’s livestock market wrap – July 2020

Chris Howie, August 5, 2020

Roma store sale 4 Aug 2020: Steers, bullocks dominate yarding

Prices fluctuated across the yarding, with an overall improvement for most steer categories, while heifers mostly eased from the previous week…Read More

Guest Author, August 5, 2020

Wagga sale 3 August 2020: Supermarket demand drives strong market

The Wagga market is being influenced by strong domestic processor competition in a bigger yarding of 2800. Quality was very good with plenty of stock well finished…Read More

Leann Dax, August 3, 2020

Rainfall across southeast curbs AuctionsPlus offering to 10,500 head

Females were in hot demand on AuctionsPlus this week, where most heifer and breeder categories experienced dearer price trends.Widespread rainfall across regions on the southeastern seaboard this week brought numbers back with just shy of 10,500 head, 1500 less than the week before…Read More

Jon Condon, August 2, 2020

Production

Shifting cull cows out of the ‘commodity’ market through strategic feeding

SIGNIFICANT potential exists to increase the quality grade of carcases from aged cows by putting them on feed programs for a period before slaughter, recent research has shown…Read More

Jon Condon, August 3, 2020

Market hurdles inhibit viability of feral pig harvesting

The potential revival of commercial harvesting of feral pigs faces significant business and market challenges, according to a new National Feral Pig Action Plan report…Read More

Beef Central, July 30, 2020

First sterile leucaena trial seedlings planted in WA’s north

The first seedlings from a research project to develop a sterile leucaena variety were transplanted at secure sites at Carnarvon, Broome and Kununurra recently…Read More

Beef Central, July 29, 2020

Preparing Australia to manage fall armyworm

The Australian Government has provided a grant of $600,000 to Plant Health Australia (PHA) to coordinate research to address gaps in management of fall armyworm…Read More

Beef Central, July 20, 2020

Processing

Vic Premier proposes ‘tailored approach’ to COVID processor restrictions

Terry Sim, August 5, 2020

Weekly kill: Some Qld grids trend higher, as supply challenge extends

Some Queensland slaughter cattle grids have risen 10-20c/kg this week, as tight supply continues to dominate the market…Read More

Jon Condon, August 4, 2020

Are JobKeeper payments creating an unlevel playing field in the cattle market?

Jon Condon, July 31, 2020

Vic processor Midfield flies in meat inspectors to keep plant running

Victorian meat processor Midfield has had to fly in coronavirus-free inspectors from interstate to keep its plant running after a brief closure last week to test all its workers for COVID-19…Read More

Terry Sim, July 29, 2020

Lotfeeding

Cattle on feed numbers fall 7pc in June quarterly survey

Jon Condon, August 5, 2020

Dismal sorghum harvest draws to a late close

Harvest of Australia’s smallest sorghum crop in 50 years is drawing to a close in central and southern Queensland to mark the end of a late and challenging season from start to finish for many growers…Read More

Liz Wells, August 3, 2020

Feedgrain Focus: Values firm as crop concerns build

Prices for wheat and barley have firmed in the past week in response to concerns about lack of moisture for some crops as spring approaches…Read More

Guest Author, July 31, 2020

Slow season, lower prices coming for fodder industry

Forage trader Feed Central, which inspected about 300,000 tonnes of hay in the past year,has predicted a dramatic downturn from the record fodder prices seen over the past two years…Read More

Fiona Myers, July 24, 2020

Live Export

Federal Government won’t appeal Federal Court live export decision

THE Federal Government on Wednesday night announced it will not appeal the Federal Court decision declaring the 2011 live cattle export suspension to Indonesia illegal…Read More

Beef Central, July 22, 2020

SAILS loads first shipment of Australian cattle for China

Southern Australian International Livestock Services (SAILS), the company which recently took ownership of the former Landmark International livestock export business, has loaded its first shipment of Australian cattle to China…Read More

James Nason, July 21, 2020

McLachlan, Robb and McGauchie call on Morrison not to appeal livex ruling

Three Liberal Party heavyweights and foundation members of the Australian Farmers Fighting Fund have publicly urged the Morrison Government to accept the Federal Court’s decision last month declaring the Gillard government’s ban on live exports illegal…Read More

Beef Central, July 20, 2020

Dept of Agriculture issues reprimand to livestock exporter

A livestock exporter has received a reprimand from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment for failing to ensure cattle assembled for a shipment to China last year were sourced in accordance with the importing country’s requirements…Read More

James Nason, July 14, 2020

Trade

July beef exports continue to sag, in line with slide in slaughter rates

Jon Condon, August 4, 2020

Aussie beef stays strong during second COVID wave

Cattle Council of Australia is moving to reassure Australian consumers that beef will still be readily available in our
butcheries and supermarkets, despite a second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria. ..Read More

Beef Central, July 28, 2020

Bigger is better, in Hungry Jack’s new burger offer

National burger chain Hungry Jack’s has gone down the ‘bigger is better’ route with two new beef burger options launched today – the largest offering a half-pound (230 grams) of Aussie beef…Read More

Beef Central, July 28, 2020

Australian beef integrity systems get tick of approval from Tokyo Olympics

Organisers behind next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games have offered a strong endorsement for the Australian beef industry’s integrity systems, including Livestock Production Assurance, the National Livestock Identification System and the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme…Read More

Jon Condon, July 23, 2020

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Consistently strong sales mark start of 2020 spring selling season

The sheer buying strength and depth has surprised many during the opening stages of the 2020 spring bull sales period, genetics editor Alastair Rayner reports this week ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, August 4, 2020

New videos explain popular traits when selecting sires

A range of new resources to help commercial beef producers target specific traits identified in their breeding objectives when buying bulls has been launched by MLA. The videos add to the genetics hub’s one-stop-shop of tools and resources, aimed at demystifying genetics and breeding values…Read More

Beef Central, August 4, 2020

Weekly genetics review: Where is the industry up to with Multi-Breed EBVs?

The multi-breed EBV project is one of the most significant large-scale cattle breeding projects in southern Australia since the CRC for Beef Genetics. The project will allow the direct comparison of sires joined and managed in multiple environments across NSW with cattle being finished in feedlots and heifers retained and joined in the project. As well as purchasing cattle direct from the industry at sales, sires can be nominated by producers for inclusion in the program – but nominations close soon…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, July 28, 2020

Genetically-edited bull calf is programmed to produce more male offspring

US animal scientists at the University of California, Davis, have successfully produced a bull calf that was genome-edited as an embryo to produce more male than female offspring…Read More

Beef Central, July 28, 2020

Ag Tech

Post-pandemic swing to robotic, automated food production predicted

Food producers will now be moving to advance robotic and automated technologies much faster to prepare for the next pandemic, University of Queensland Professor Robert Henry says…Read More

Beef Central, July 31, 2020

Remote water monitoring pays big dividends for Central Australia’s Crown Point

Remote water monitoring systems are delivering a return on investment payback period of as little as 12 months for large scale Central Australian cattle producer, Crown Point Pastoral, which runs around 30,000 Angus cattle across 28,000sqkm of country south of Alice Springs ..Read More

Beef Central, July 20, 2020

Drones find rising role in agriculture

Agriculture continues to be one of the major growth sectors in the adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fuelling the development and release of drone systems tailored specifically to agricultural applications…Read More

Guest Author, July 16, 2020

AAM hits switch on Australia’s largest on-farm energy battery

A large South Australian farming enterprise expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 62 percent and cut network energy demand by more than 70pc following the activation of a combined 2.28MWh Tesla lithium-ion battery system…Read More

Beef Central, July 9, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: The new reality of ‘slow money’

Property editor Linda Rowley, August 5, 2020

Property: Feedlot asset demand subdued in drought recovery period

The value of water and mixed-farming land appears to be supporting the long-held value of $800-$1000 per Standard Cattle Unit amid subdued demand from buyers for feedlot assets…Read More

Liz Wells, August 5, 2020

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Higher rainfall grazing country in NSW snapped up | More than $10m for Malborough’s Develin | Thargomindah’s Autumnvale secured for expansion | Roma’s Plain Farm sells after 140 years | South west Queensland’s Yambutta relisted | NSW’s Digilah Station returns to the market | Armidale’s picturesque Oaklands makes $2.6m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, July 29, 2020

Movement at the Station: Properties for sale

Water and cattle on North Queensland’s Burlington Station | Blue ribbon farming and grazing on Yeoval’s Netherwood Park | Development and capital investment in the Maranoa | Historic New England grazing country listed for $5m | Newly launched LAWD offers two breeding blocks in NSW’s south west | Feed and carbon income on Charleville’s Ouida..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, July 29, 2020