November 23, 2006

 

Australia's meat industry will overcome challenges, says MLA

 

 

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) chairman Don Heatley was busy drumming up flagging morale at the group's recent annual meeting, stressing that Australia's red meat industry would be ready for the long forecast challenges ahead.

 

Heatley began his address stressing livestock producers would pull through the current obstacles in the industry.

 

Challenges such as prolonged drought, more exacting demands and increasing competition from other countries meant that it is now more important for farmers to remain positive about the future, he said.

 

Heatley added that the Australian livestock industry is in a strong and fortunate position with domestic and global demand for beef, lamb and goat still very strong, Heatley said.

 

Meanwhile MLA Managing Director David Palmer read out figures that show the industry had reason to cheer -- domestic expenditure on beef grew by 6.5 percent while lamb grew 4.5 percent this year.

 

These achievements were possible through a number of industry programmes and publicity campaigns, Palmer said.

 

Palmer also detailed the financial performance of MLA during 2005-06 in his address.

 

In 2005-06, revenue rose US$14.4 million to a total of US$156.6 million. Producer levy income of US$82 million was up US$10 million on-year before due to the beef levy increase and increased cattle transactions.

 

Nearly half of MLA's income was non-levy income. Total non-levy income was US$70.3 million, with $40.3 million coming from the Federal Government.

 

However, expenditure in 2005-06 totaled US$158.6 million, an increase of US$19 million on the year before.

 

MLA is mainly involved in marketing activities of Australian beef, both in Australia and abroad. It also conducts various programmes and seminars for producers to improve productivity.