Producers show strong support for Livestock SA AGM and Forum
About 100 producers and industry stakeholders have attended the Livestock SA Update & AGM and the first SA Cattle Producers Forum today at Hahndorf.
The Update & AGM featured presentations from industrial relations specialist Chas Cini on changes to the Pastoral Award and farm connectivity specialist Ian Ware on boosting signal strength for improved technology use on-farm.
It also featured annual reports from President Geoff Power, Treasurer Steve Radeski, CEO Andrew Curtis and chairs of the SA Sheep Advisory Group, SA Cattle Advisory Group and SA Sheep Industry Blueprint.
Successful candidates in Livestock SA’s third board member election were announced. Of the eight nominations received, the five successful candidates include four returned board members and one new member:
- Andrew Clarke, Oodnadatta
- Joe Keynes, Keyneton
- Bill Nosworthy, Elliston
- Penny Schulz, Field
- Jamie Heinrich, Parndana (new member).
These members join those continuing for the second of their two-year term including Mr Power, Jack England, Richard Halliday, Andy Withers and Allan Piggott.
Mr Power welcomed Jamie to the board as the youngest producer to be elected in Livestock SA’s short history and congratulated him on the announcement today of his success as a Nuffield Scholar in the 2017 round. Jamie will research the factors needed to attract and retain young people in the sheep industry as part of a Nuffield supported by Primary Producers SA.
“Livestock SA acknowledges the contribution of producers who supported the election process, including Gillian Fennell, Tom Hampton and Steve Radeski. We need people to put their hands up to be involved to ensure Livestock SA remains the strong and independent voice that producers want and that is what all of our candidates have done,” Mr Power said.
“A special acknowledgement goes to Mr Radeski as treasurer of Livestock SA. As both a producer and agribusiness specialist, he has brought a different perspective to the board table which has been of huge value and we are certain we will see him back in the board room at some point in the future.
“Livestock SA has had a very successful year - our membership continues to grow, and at June 30 was at 2886 members and, with support from the Northern and Southern Regions, we are advocating for producers on a range of issues to government and industry.”
Livestock SA CEO Andrew Curtis says while the number of votes returned in the ballot increased this year, the proportion of members who voted remained the same, due to the increased membership.
“This is the third year in a row that voting turnout has hit 26 per cent, even though our membership numbers have grown every year, which is a great result. We are pleased with the level of interest that producers are showing in who represents them beyond the farm gate and we thank them for their support,” he said.
The SA Cattle Producers Forum featured a host of industry leaders and researchers who updated participants on the theme, ‘What’s next for SA’s beef industry … new research, changing consumer trends and advocacy’.
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Managing Director Richard Norton outlined what MLA is doing to deliver value back to producers’ businesses – from the ‘big picture goals’ down to recent outcomes and new products available to producers.
“As our industry’s service provider of R&D and marketing MLA is committed to investing producers' levies to meet the beef industry’s future challenges and to build prosperity,” Mr Norton said.
“We continue to engage and consult with producers in setting the direction of R&D priorities and to ensure we drive innovation and adoption across the industry.
“The Livestock SA forum has been another opportunity for producers to learn about the role of MLA and the future of their levies.”