Cattle, sheep and goat producers in southern Australia are invited to meet with Meat & Livestock Australia and their Peak Industry Councils to have a say on the future direction of how their levies are being invested.
MLA managing director Richard Norton will host a series of “Your Levy, Your Industry” forums in May and June, to give local producers an opportunity to meet with him and discuss firsthand their marketing and research and development (R&D) priorities.
Richard Norton
“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,” he 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. I now look forward to speaking openly with southern producers in their local regions about the future direction of MLA.”
Presenting alongside Mr Norton will be Jane Weatherley, MLA’s General Manager for Livestock Productivity, and Matthew McDonagh, MLA’s General Manager for On-farm Innovation and Adoption.
Jane Weatherley
They 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.”
Peak Industry Councils, Cattle Council of Australia and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia will also attend the forums and present on industry priority areas.
All producers are welcome to attend these free forums, where a BBQ lunch will be provided.
Keep an eye out for the forum closest to you:
Casino
9am-1.30pm, 12 May 2015
Casino RSM Club, 162 Canterbury Street, Casino NSW 2470
Tamworth
9am-1.30pm, 13 May 2015
‘The Mill’ @ Longyard Golf Club, 1 Longyard Drive, Tamworth NSW 2340
Wangaratta
9am-1.30pm, 19 May 2015
Oaks Conference & Function Centre, Wangaratta Turf Club, 1-15 Racecourse Road, Wangaratta VIC 3677
Bairnsdale
9am-1.30pm, 20 May 2015
Bairnsdale Sporting/Convention Centre, 117 Great Alpine Road, Bairnsdale VIC 3875
Hamilton
12.30pm-5pm, 21 May 2015
Comfort Inn, Grange Burn, 142 Ballarat Road, Hamilton VIC 3300
Bordertown
9am-1.30pm, 16 June 2015
Tatiara Civic Centre, 43 Woolshed Street, Bordertown SA 5268
Clare
9am-1.30pm, 17 June 2015
Clare Country Club, White Hut Road, Clare SA 5453
Broken Hill
9am-1.30pm, 18 June 2015
Broken Hill Musicians Club, 276 Crystal Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880
Register via the MLA website: www.mla.com.au, by email info@mla.com.au or phone 1800 023 100
Source: Meat & Livestock Australia.
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