NEWS IN BRIEF: Election called, WA sheep industry shows strength with convoy and CA boss to visit US next week

We're away and racing, with the Federal Election officially called this morning, and polling day set for May 3. Settle in for your weekly update of the latest news impacting livestock producers this week.

The budget was banded down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, which received a fairly lukewarm response from the agriculture industry, which largely claimed it missed out. However, the government did set aside $6.8 million to maintain international market access for agricultural goods over the next year.

WA farmers, shearers, truckies and rural and regional communities put on a show of force today as they convoyed through Perth for the second time to protest the Australian Government’s decision to ban live sheep exports by sea. Campaign spokesman Ben Sutherland said just under 1,000 vehicles participated to demonstrate their support for rural communities. “Our people don’t get paid days off, so for them to take time out of businesses at one of the busiest times of the year for our farmers and rural communities is a testament to how important this is to them,” he said. Mr Sutherland said the convoy would be a fitting start to the election campaign.

Cattle Australia Chief Executive Officer Chris Parker has provided a calming voice of reason as the industry awaits the announcement of US tariffs on beef and lamb next week. "I think it's important to recognise we don't have any tariffs at the moment. It's also important to recognise that Australia has a significant trade deficit with the US. We're only one of three countries in the world that exports less than what the US exports to it. All of that I think, positions Australia extremely well in any discussion in Washington," Dr Parker said told APlus News. "Also the majority of certainly the beef exports out of this country are complementary to the US system in the sense that we're putting in lean trim ... which in fact has benefits to US producers because they're not having to grind if you like lean meat that they would normally see on a high-end cut." "The government has been very supportive and has kept the industry pretty well informed but who knows what President Trump might do. I suspect not many people know what President Trump might do." Dr Parker will be in the US next week for the global roundtable on sustainable beef and will also  go on to Washington to meet with trade officials and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. "The BCBA have been quite vocal in this area and I'll just be reminding them of some of those facts coming out of our beef industry here."

AgForce is urging Queensland landholders not to delay if they want to object to new land valuations – or risk being lumped with higher council rates and state land rent. On Wednesday listing rises in primary production valuations from 12 to 252%. Increases of more than 100% were listed for Rockhampton, Charters Towers, Quilpie, Paroo and Murweh. AgForce’s valuer John Moore said responsibility for ensuring values were correct lay with landowners, not local governments. “Unimproved values are done by mass appraisal, meaning your property isn’t individually valued so errors can occur,” Mr Moore said. “It’s important you object to your new valuation if you believe the unimproved value is too high, because it could result in large savings in rates or rent. But you only have until 26 May 2025 to do so, so I urge landowners to begin the process today.”

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling for an immediate halt to the Victorian Government’s plan to dramatically increase the fire services levy and extend it to all emergency services, warning that whilst every Victorian will pay, farmers will pay the most. Under the proposed changes, the median fire services levy for primary producers will jump from $621 to $1,299 per assessment, representing a staggering 109% increase. In comparison, residential property owners will see a lower increase of 32%, highlighting the disproportionate burden placed on the agricultural sector. VFF President Brett Hosking said the policy is a blatant cash grab that will worsen cost-of-living pressures across the state and cripple many farming businesses. The VFF is calling on Premier Jacinta Allan to immediately withdraw the Bill and engage in proper consultation with the community.

AuctionsPlus and StockCo by Heartland Bank have launched Australia's first digital livestock finance partnership. StockCo’s finance is now directly available through the AuctionsPlus platform, which will simplify the purchasing process and offer agents and producers a smart connection to livestock financing. AuctionsPlus Chief Executive Officer Wyn Snyman said embedding finance into the platform made livestock purchasing easier, faster, and more accessible than ever before.

Australians ate 2.3 per cent more meat and poultry in 2023-24 compared to the previous financial year, an average consumption of 145 grams per person per day, according to data released on Friday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).  Paul Atyeo, ABS health statistics spokesperson, said: "Compared to six years ago, we’re eating 13 per cent more poultry per person, while beef, lamb, and pork consumption has risen by 1.8 per cent. At the same time, we’ve been eating less processed meats which have dropped 12 per cent since 2018-19."

Australian farmers have settled into the year with renewed confidence, with three quarters of the nation’s food and fibre producers expecting economic conditions to improve or remain stable over the next 12 months. The latest quarterly Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, released on Wednesday, found net confidence in Australia’s agricultural sector had climbed back into positive territory – with more farmers expecting conditions in the agricultural economy to improve than to decline in the coming 12 months. Rabobank group executive for Country Banking Australia, Marcel van Doremaele said the survey found net national rural confidence to now be sitting at 5%, up from -9% in the December quarter. 

Some parts of Queensland have recorded more than 400mm of devastating rain this week. The Australian and Queensland Governments are activating concessional loans and freight subsidies to help affected primary producers in Barcoo, Boulia, Bulloo, Diamantina, Longreach, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, and Winton. Primary producers can contact QRIDA (www.qrida.com.au; 1800 623 946) for disaster loans, and Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (www.daf.qld.gov.au; 13 25 23) for freight subsidies.