AgForce Cattle president Grant Maudsley said the Muttaburra event followed the well-received AgForce Cattle open forum at Calliope in March, where all sectors of the beef supply chain had an opportunity to air their views about current issues and policies in the industry.

“The Australian beef industry is complex with local, national and international pressures impacting on producer’s bottom line, and all sectors are having to get more efficient in the face of these challenges,” Mr Maudsley said.

“The global financial crisis has influenced currency values and production costs, producers face uncertainty with climate change and negative impacts from a possible emissions trading scheme, and there is also pressure on regional and rural spending on infrastructure and services.

“But despite these challenges, beef production can be a highly profitable and satisfying industry for producers, which is why this field day and forum are so important.”

Mr Maudsley said a highlight of the field day will be a presentation from Dr Temple Grandin, Professor in Animal Science at Colorado State University, who is an expert on designing livestock handling facilities.

“Cattle producers who are keen to learn the best way to handle stock and make management more efficient will produce a better product for consumers,” he said.

“The forum is also an opportunity for industry participants to raise the issues which are important to them, and to be heard by AgForce Cattle’s board of elected producer representatives.

“AgForce works hard to ensure the issues that matter to producers are heard at all levels of government and industry, which includes telling the positive message about the importance of the beef industry to the wider community. Producers are facing threats from misdirected concerns by environmentally minded lobby groups, and AgForce Cattle believes promoting the industry’s positive environmental work is important.