A high-profile line up of speakers has been secured for the inaugural Ag Industry Q & A at the Jamestown Show on Monday October 1, with Federal Agriculture and Water Resources Minister The Hon. David Littleproud MP to be joined by Primary Producers SA executive chair Rob Kerin, Australian Wool Innovation chief executive Stuart McCullough; and Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey.
Producers participating in the panel will be Meat & Livestock Australia board member Andrew Michael, Dog Fence Board member Christobel Treloar and Southern Australian Meat Research Council SA chair Jane Kellock. The session will be chaired by meat industry innovator Jordy Kitschke.
The Ag Industry Q&A is aiming to tackle some of the tough questions in agriculture related to transport issues, dog fence and drought issues, technology in agriculture.
“This is a rare opportunity for primary producers and carriers to have a direct line of communication to such high-level politicians and industry representatives,” Jamestown Show President, David Cooper said.
“We are aiming to bring those issues affecting their business and the wellbeing of their community
into the public for discussion with the hope that we can influence policies on these matters.”
Mr Cooper expected that the range of panel members present could attract a diverse range of questions.
“Some topics raised for discussion could be around wild dog control inside the dog fence, drought support for agricultural businesses and communities and improved road train access for commodities with regional SA,” Mr Cooper said.
“Also, there is currently a push for sealing of the Strzelecki Track to enable improved transportation of commodities between SA and QLD.
“These include South Australian hay and grain produce into western Queensland and cattle from the Blue Tongue Free Zone of South West Queensland to SA markets and feedlots.
“Other major benefits would flow from improved terms of trade for tourism, mining and road freight industries.
“This will be particular interest to the federal minister for agriculture, as he is the member for Maranoa in South West Queensland.”
Mr Cooper said it was also likely that questions may be presented around the recent review of the performance of AWI and progress toward the recommendations resulting from that review.
On roving microphones will be Orroroo sheep and wool producer and active industry representative Geoff Power, local farmer and small business manager Neville Gibb, and Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan.
Questions will be fielded via the Jamestown Show website, Facebook page and by text 0467 002 256.
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2018 - Sunday, September 30, 2018
Time: All Day
Venue: Jamestown Showgrounds
Victoria Park, Kilmarnock Terrace
Jamestown,
SA,
Australia
