Report 2009
The western Queensland community of Roma was the meeting place once again for the Young Beef Producers’ Forum, held on the 19 & 20 November. Over the past five years the Forum has developed a distinct reputation for educating and uniting the youth of the beef industry, and this year provided another unique experience for the eighty delegates the event attracted.
Gross margins on the land are becoming increasingly harder to maintain and improve, management of sustainability and the environment is intensifying and isolation makes for difficulty in creating networks with like minded industry peers. These are all prominent issues that the Young Beef Producers’ Forum tackles head on, through offering valuable education and networking opportunities for the 18 - 35 age group.
The program included successful beef producers and specialised industry leaders, to provide a balanced approach to the business of beef production from a grass roots base right through to a high level technical approach.
The program was comprised of ten seminars, and included self made beef producers Bryant Ussher, Lingi, Chinchilla and Richard and Victoria Moffatt, Muldoon, Marlborough, who told their stories of starting from the ground up in the journey of making it possible to acquire property and operate a sustainable and profitable beef enterprise.
Internationally acclaimed soil scientist Dr Maarten Stapper delivered a key note presentation on holistic sustainable agriculture and the benefits of biodynamic farming, which was complimented by Willow Tree beef producer Craig Carter, who spoke on Peter Andrews’ Natural Sequence Farming philosophy.
Jill Rigney of The Right Mind captured the audience with strategies for optimum personal performance in business, and the Forum was completed with a tour to Bindaroo Beef & Bottle Trees, Roma, with a focus on diversification in agriculture.
A group of positive, enthusiastic and innovative minds meant intense and provoking interactive discussion time with speakers, and a speed networking session allowed delegates to expand their contacts.
Results proved the 2009 Young Beef Producers’ Forum was yet again a great success, receiving an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 from participants.
Kate Boshammer, Project Manager
