Joe Morton from the University of Queensland with Sam Donaldson, Sam Agar and Holley Currell from AAM.

MORE than 130 early career beef industry professionals and university students are building their beef industry knowledge at the ICMJ Northern Conference in Rockhampton this week.

The conference exposes participants to the fundamentals of meat quality, carcase specifications in today’s market, the requirements of the modern consumer and the role of new technologies in meeting those needs.

Ben Speckman from UQ Gatton with Lawton Elliott and Megan Baumann from Signature Onfarm.

Held annually since 2019, the event has become a key part of the northern beef industry calendar and the wider Australian ICMJ program, which aims to inspire and develop future leaders and professionals in the global red meat industry.

ICMJ Northern Conference Chair Chloe Gould said the calibre of speakers in this year’s program, including Cattle Australia deputy chair Adam Coffey, was a huge drawcard for participants, especially in the lead up to Beef 2024 in Rockhampton next month.

Cattle Australia deputy chair Adam Coffey with Harrison Alick, Ben Reardon, Meg Kennet and Evey White.

“Adam Coffey is a passionate advocate for the northern beef industry and his unconventional path into beef production is a great example of how passion and persistence are two key elements to success,” she said.

Originally from Tasmania, Mr Coffey and his wife Jacynta operate a 2500ha breeding and trading enterprise near Miriam Vale in Central Queensland and have worked hard to adopt progressive grazing practices and promote the industry’s environmental sustainability credentials.

Josephine Crothers, Jess Mosely, Lucy Packer and Alicia Nixon.

“There are many aspects around environmental sustainability that present both risks and huge opportunities for our industry, so demonstrating and clearly articulating our credentials is vital,” he said.

“We firmly believe that productivity and profitability enhancements go hand in hand with good ecological outcomes,” he said.

Charles Sturt University’s Bec Barnewall and Michael Finucan from JBS.

Mr Coffey said he wants to encourage more young people to become involved in advocacy work and agri-politics.

“Don’t just assume because you are new to the game or you are not across all the aspects of agriculture, that you don’t have an important role to play in shaping the future of the industry,” he said.

“We need the next generation to understand the importance of strong advocacy on behalf of the Australian red meat sector, as it’s their industry to guide successfully into the future”.

Edward Cox from Marcus Oldham and Hayden McGuigan from Teys Australia in Rockhampton.

Other speakers on the program include AgForce President Georgie Somerset, as well as technical experts like DIT AgTech CEO Mark Peart and AMIC Industry Affairs Manager Tim Ryan, and A Place to Call Home podcaster host, Sam Fryer.

Hosted by CQUniversity and Teys Australia, the ICMJ Northern Conference is held from 3-6 April and includes professional development, workshops, presentations, the ever-popular carcase breakdown and of course, the meat judging competition.

Lilly Dench and Charlotte Colebrook from Sandalwood Feedlot.

Another key part of the program is the Industry and Careers Expo, highlighting the career opportunities available at some of Australia’s major meat processing companies, several large vertically integrated beef supply chains, and a variety of industry service providers.

The conference concludes with a Gala Awards Dinner at the Great Western Hotel, recognising the best beef carcase judges across a range of classes and treating guests to a mouth-watering dinner featuring beef supplied by Teys Australia.

Kieran Hamood from Charles Sturt University and Sam Hector from Marcus Oldham with AMIC’s Tim Ryan.

The 2024 ICMJ Northern Conference is possible thanks to the generous support of foundation partners Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC), and industry partners including Teys Australia, CQUniversity, JBS Australia, NH Foods, Beef Australia, Rockhampton Regional Council, Australian Agricultural Company, AAM Investment Group, AusMEAT, Signature Onfarm, Australian Brahman Breeders Association, Hewitt, Greenleaf, Allflex and Australian Association of Animal Sciences.

Source: ICMJ