Queensland and NSW state finalists for the inaugural Meat Standards Australia Excellence in Eating Quality awards have been announced, as the countdown continues to the selection of six state winners of the MSA Producer of the Year award at the end of March and early April.

Queensland’s inaugural finalists are:

• Evan Densely – Peranga
• Melanie & Barry Hardacre – Warwick
• Graham & Kay Kahler – Geham (between Toowoomba and Crows Nest).

The 2016 NSW finalists are:

• JAC Wagyu – Bingara
• William Lawson – Perthville
• Rangers Valley Cattle Station – Glen Innes.

The Queensland winner will be announced at a free producer forum, dinner and awards ceremony in Toowoomba on Wednesday, 30 March, while the equivalent NSW winner will be announced at a similar forum, dinner and awards ceremony in Dubbo on Friday, 1 April.

The dinners and awards will also feature Wallabies legend Tim Horan as a special guest speaker. The two-time World Cup winner with the Wallabies has a strong affinity with rural Australia.

The awards are a chance to recognise each state’s top producers who have achieved outstanding compliance rates to MSA specifications, as well as high eating quality performance, as represented by MSA Index results for cattle MSA graded during 2014-15.

Finalists for awards in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, and the forum/dinner arrangements in those states, will follow in a separate Beef Central article.

The producer forums will provide an opportunity for all producers to gain greater insight into the future direction of the MSA program and the future of the Australian beef industry – regardless of whether they are already involved in the MSA program or not.

Michael Crowley

MSA was developed by the Australian red meat industry to improve beef eating quality consistency. The system is based on more than 700,000 consumer taste tests by over 100,000 consumers from nine countries, and takes into account all factors that affect the eating quality from the paddock to the plate.

Meat & Livestock Australia’s MSA program manager, Michael Crowley said the first two state awards were a great opportunity to recognise some of Queensland and NSW’s top beef producers for their hard work, dedication and quality produce.

“These finalists have achieved the best results for all MSA producers across Queensland and NSW, and deserve their place in the top three producers in their state,” Mr Crowley said.

“All MSA producers work extremely hard to produce a quality product that meets MSA criteria. It is their dedication that has ensured the MSA program continues to grow and products underpinned by MSA grading have such a strong reputation among consumers.”

The respective Queensland and NSW awards and producer forums are free and open to everyone, but registration is essential:

• Queensland event: Wednesday, 30 March 2016, 2.00pm-8.00pm, Picnic Point, 164 Tourist Road, Toowoomba. RSVP by 21 March 2016.
• NSW event: Friday, 1 April 2016, 2.00pm-8.00pm, Dundullimal Homestead, 23L Obley Road, Dubbo. RSVP by 23 March 2016.

To find out more information about the Queensland Awards and forum and to register, click here.

To find out more information about the NSW Awards and forum and to register, click here.

To find out more information about the MSA program, click here.