Canberra, Australia
October 109, 2007
A national summit will be held in
Canberra on 30 October to address the critical situation facing
feedgrain-dependant industries in response to grain shortages
and record high international prices.
Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, said that the
feedgrain summit would see producers and grain traders working
together to make sure there were adequate grain supplies for the
coming season.
Industry organisations attending the summit include Australian
Pork Limited, Australian Dairy Farmers, Meat & Livestock
Australia, the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association, Australian
Egg Corporation Limited, the Australian Chicken Meat Federation
and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Grain traders and importers and government agencies such as AQIS
and Biosecurity Australia will also be involved.
“The Australian Government is encouraging producers and users of
livestock feedgrain to work closely together to manage shortages
caused by the drought,” Mr McGauran said.
“The length and severity of the drought has led to real concerns
that there may not be enough traditional grain supplies in
Australia to meet the needs of livestock industries.
“Farmers have continued to adapt to the impact of the prolonged
drought. However, the critically low grain supplies are putting
many producers at risk.
“The summit is part of the Feedgrain Partnership project,
building on an alliance between the grains industry and the
Livestock Feed Grain Users’ Group, representing the pork, beef,
dairy and poultry industries.”
The summit will examine current grain production forecasts,
domestic grain stock levels and export commitments, availability
of grain for livestock industries and non-grain feeding options.
There will also be a focus on imports of feedgrain alternatives.
Currently, in addition to potential imports of bulk feedgrain
from permitted countries, permit conditions exist to import some
stock feeds assessed as manageable quarantine risks.
For example, over the past six months, several shipments of palm
kernel meal have been imported to supplement dairy herd feed
rations and there are current inquiries to import tapioca
pellets from Thailand. Industry has also indicated an interest
in importing dried distillers grains from the United States.
“As a longer term measure, the Feedgrain Partnership
stakeholders will examine strategic research and development
opportunities to better-position the industry and reduce the
possibility of future disruptions to feedgrain supply,” Mr
McGauran said.
Funding of $120,000 for the overall project has been provided
under the Advancing Agricultural Industries Action Grants
initiative, through which the Australian Government helps
industry to undertake practical projects that make a significant
contribution to the industry’s success.
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