News
Production, Partnerships and Profitability – It’s your Conference
PRODUCTION, partnerships and profitability are arguably the most important elements of modern agriculture and this year will be analysed and discussed as the theme of AgForce State Conference 2013 to be held in Townsville on September 17-19.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013
AgForce CSG Project to continue
The highly successful CSG Information Workshop program will continue beyond its December expiration date after funds were secured through a five-way partnership with industry and government to maintain the project.
Monday, 17 Jun 2013
Strong foundations laid for future agricultural growth
FOUNDATIONS to solidify Queensland’s position as one of the world’s foremost suppliers of food and fibre and to capitalise on burgeoning market opportunities in Asia were this morning put in place with the release of Queensland’s Agriculture Strategy.
Thursday, 6 Jun 2013
Budget Bland for Agriculture
A BLAND Queensland Budget has delivered few benefits or surprises to the rural sector as the state struggles to regain economic ground.
Thursday, 6 Jun 2013
Primary producers care for the land as it's where their future lies and can be trusted on clearing
PRIMARY producers are not environmental demons. They are people who are acutely aware of their responsibility to care for the land they work and recognise, more than anyone, the critical need to place the health of our ecosystems at the basis of their businesses and front and centre of Government policy.
Friday, 31 May 2013
Commonsense Changes for Sustainable Food Production
THE Queensland Parliament last night accepted the most commonsense changes to legislation to support the sustainable production of food seen in a generation with the passing of the Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill (2013).
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Assistance on way for BJD affected producers
AGFORCE Queensland has welcomed the announcement today graziers affected by Bovine Johne’s Disease (BJD) will soon have opportunity to take advantage of the Queensland Cattle Biosecurity Fund to help alleviate financial pressure placed on their businesses by the disease outbreak.
Friday, 17 May 2013
Rail Infrastructure Investment Welcomed
AGFORCE Queensland has welcomed the Newman Government’s commitment to invest in rail infrastructure that will benefit the agriculture industry and ease strain on busy South East Queensland roads.
Thursday, 16 May 2013
Grazing access will help avoid animal welfare crisis
PROPOSED changes to legislation allowing temporary grazing on selected properties and National Parks until the end of the year may save the lives of more than 25,000 cattle affected by severe drought in the western reaches of the state.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Moo Baa Munch Family Fun Weekend attracts record crowds
More than 4000 people from across Brisbane experienced a day on the farm over the weekend as part of AgForce Queensland’s signature annual event - Moo Baa Munch.
Monday, 13 May 2013
AgForce Refutes Alarmist Vegetation Management Claims
AGFORCE Queensland has today refuted misleading and alarmist claims from WWF that changes to the Vegetation Management Act (1999) would be a disaster for the State’s bushland and has again stressed the critical importance of legislative reform to the rural sector’s ability to remain healthy and sustainable.
Friday, 10 May 2013
Queensland Premier Gets Down to the Farm
QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman showed his commitment to the State’s rural sector this morning when he officially launched AgForce Queensland’s 2013 Moo Baa Munch event.
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Flexible Policy Urgently Required to Restore Rural Profitability
A STORM of seasonal and market factors simultaneously placing negative pressure on beef cattle prices has further highlighted the need for flexible short and long term policy arrangements that will support productivity and profitability for Queensland primary producers.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
AgForce Concerned by GrainCorp Takeover
AGFORCE Grains has today expressed considerable concern at GrainCorp’s recent acceptance of a takeover offer from Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). Specifically, these concerns are based on issues relating to port access, impact on ‘up country’ site (regional receiving sites) and how a potential near-monopoly regime will affect long term industry agreements.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
War on Wild Dogs Given More Teeth
AGFORCE Queensland’s war on wild dogs has been further strengthened with the announcement of an additional $175,000 State Government funding to enhance education and control programs in grazing areas. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, John McVeigh, today announced the funding in conjunction with AgForce’s Wild Dog Week, a sweeping workshop tour of North Queensland aimed at encouraging coordinated pest management in the northern beef sector.
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Wild Dog Week 2013 Headed for the North
The fight against wild dogs and their devastating impact on the grazing industry will be highlighted next week by a series of targeted workshops across North Queensland. AgForce’s ‘Wild Dog Week’ will run from 29 April to 6 May and is designed to raise awareness of the severity of wild dog impacts and to educate landholders about the importance of a strategic approach to invasive animals.
Tuesday, 23 Apr 2013
Tragic Loss to Beef Industry
AGFORCE Queensland has today extended its deepest sympathy to the family of Zander McDonald and recognised him as one of the most innovative Australian beef industry leaders of his generation.
Thursday, 4 Apr 2013
Have your say on the Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill 2013
Submissions to the proposed Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill 2013 (the Bill) close in one week. It is vitally important for all AgForce members to make a submission and show their support for these changes.
Wednesday, 3 Apr 2013
Chance to Have Your Say on Your Cattle Industry
BEEF producers will next week have the opportunity to be part of discussions on industry issues including Best Management Practice (BMP), market access, live exports and legislative reform at the AgForce Cattle Policy Forum in Charters Towers. Already more than 100 industry stakeholders have committed to attend the event, which will also feature a number of guest speakers and key AgForce elected members and staff.
Thursday, 21 Mar 2013
Vegetation Reform Recognises Agriculture’s Contribution to Queensland
KEY reforms to the way vegetation is managed jointly announced today by Deputy Premier, Jeff Seeney, and Minister for Mines and Natural Resources, Andrew Cripps, have been welcomed by AgForce Queensland and heralded as critical recognition of the rural sector’s ability to successfully blend environmental outcomes with productivity.
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013
AgForce Opposed to Change of Wheat Test Weight
GRAINS representatives of AgForce Queensland have today reaffirmed their opposition to a decision from Grain Trades Australia (GTA) to increase its test weight for wheat from 74kg/hL (kilograms per hectolitre) to 76kg/hL.
Monday, 11 Mar 2013
Prompt FTA Resolution Imperative to Queensland Beef Industry
QUEENSLAND beef producers stand to incur losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars and will suffer a greatly reduced export market unless the Korean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) can be finalised. AgForce Cattle President, Howard Smith, said continued failure to resolve the FTA left the state’s agricultural industry, particularly the beef sector, exposed.
Wednesday, 6 Mar 2013
All welcome at AgForce Cattle Policy Forum to Discuss Moving Industry Forward
BEEF producers from across the state will meet in North Queensland later this month for key talks on the viability of their industry at the AgForce Cattle Policy Forum.
Wednesday, 6 Mar 2013
More Shires receive flood support
The Newman Government has been able to secure additional assistance under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), for more Queensland primary producers. Flood-affected farmers in the Central Highlands, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Western Downs and all of Logan local government areas can now apply for Category C assistance, and enhanced disaster loans for primary producers under Category D.
Thursday, 28 Feb 2013
Premier Newman to Address CQ AgForce Meeting
KEY issues facing broadacre primary production will next week be discussed by Premier, Campbell Newman and Minister for Agriculture, John McVeigh, when they travel to Gladstone to attend the AgForce Central Queensland regional meeting.
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013
Community Recovery Information Sessions POSTPONED
A number of North and South Burnett community recovery information meetings have been postponed due to this week's severe weather.
Friday, 22 Feb 2013
Recovery will be a challenge
THE paddocks of Dean and Tracy Rockemer’s property, Mary-Ellen, barely resemble the thriving and productive mixed lucerne and cattle enterprise they were a fortnight ago. Located in the Booubyjan district of South East Queensland, the Rockemer’s say it will be some time before an accurate measure of the damage on their property can be ascertained, although initial observations say the clean-up bill will be much more than that of the previous flood event only two years ago.
Wednesday, 6 Feb 2013
Call for Expressions of Interest - Cattle Youth Director
Interested in agricultural advocacy and communication? Want to be at the forefront of policy development for a sustainable and innovative beef industry?
Tuesday, 5 Feb 2013
‘Damage is Devastating’: AgForce
AGFORCE General President, Ian Burnett, has been saddened and concerned by the extent of damage to affected rural properties and communities across Queensland as a result of the 2013 flood event. Travelling throughout impacted areas in the Burnett and South East regions over the weekend and today, Mr Burnett said damage to crops, stock and infrastructure was in many instances far worse than that which has been portrayed through images seen in the media.
Monday, 4 Feb 2013
AgForce Welcomes Biosecurity Fund for Cattle
AGFORCE today welcomed State Government’s announcement of the creation of the Queensland Cattle Industry Biosecurity Fund as a positive step towards promoting biosecurity and managing diseases impacting on the beef sector.
Friday, 18 Jan 2013
AgForce Committed to BJD Protected Status
TWO months after the detection of Bovine Johne’s Disease (BJD) on a cattle property in Central Queensland, AgForce has today reconfirmed its support of maintaining the State’s current BJD ‘Protected Zone’ status.
Thursday, 10 Jan 2013
Top growers recognised at Gala Dinner
THE best of Queensland’s grain industry were celebrated at the Queensland Grain Industry Awards on Friday night in Toowoomba. Hosted by peak broadacre group, AgForce Queensland, the gala dinner marked the presentation of three prestigious awards to Queensland’s best and brightest in the grains industry.
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2012
AgForce welcomes land tenure recommendations
AGFORCE Queensland has deemed recommendations made in one of the most important reviews of land tenure seen in a generation as common sense and conducive to increasing the agricultural sector’s contribution to the Queensland economy.
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2012
AgForce Welcomes New President and Elected Members
CENTRAL Queensland beef, grain and cotton producer Ian Burnett has today taken up the position of AgForce General President following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting in Brisbane.
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012
Native Title Resolution at Risk of Collapse
ATTORNEY General Nicola Roxon’s announcement funding to the native title claims process will be axed has angered AgForce Queensland and could lead to the collapse of native title negotiations across the nation.
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012
Bovine Johne’s disease detected in Central Queensland
AGFORCE Queensland today reinforced its commitment to working with authorities and to protecting the state’s beef industry following the announcement Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) had been detected on a cattle property near Rockhampton.
Monday, 26 Nov 2012
New Metering Policy
The Queensland Government has changed its policy on installation and maintenance of water meters that record bore or watercourse take in metered entitlement areas.
Wednesday, 17 Oct 2012
AgForce welcomes new CEO
AGFORCE Queensland will this week enter a new phase of leadership with the commencement of Charles Burke in the role of chief executive officer.
Tuesday, 2 Oct 2012
National Food Plan Green Paper Submission
AgForce lodged a submission on the Green Paper which detailed policy approaches to achieve AgForce's vision for a food production industry in Australia
Tuesday, 2 Oct 2012
Top of the crop to be celebrated
Queensland’s grain champions are set to be recognised at the Queensland Grain Industry Awards, hosted by peak rural lobby group AgForce.
Wednesday, 19 Sep 2012
Applications open for Peter Kenny Bursary
Peak rural lobby group AgForce has begun its search for the next generation of leaders, innovators and thinkers of the agricultural industry with the official opening of nominations for the inaugural Peter Kenny Bursary.
Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012
Iconic AgForward project to end
AgForce’s iconic AgForward initiative, which has delivered vital skills and technology to more than 10,000 QLD landholders, will come to an end on 30 September after seven and a half years.
Tuesday, 11 Sep 2012
Leading speakers at State Conference next week
Leading speakers will feature at the AgForce 2012 State Conference in Charleville next week with keynote addresses to discuss the importance of rural and regional Australia and the future challenges and opportunities of the agricultural industry.
Tuesday, 4 Sep 2012
Queensland grain farmers smiling
Most of Queensland’s grain producers are smiling with a strong start to the winter crop season and a significant jump in prices in recent weeks.
Thursday, 12 Jul 2012
Industry welcomes Government’s response on exports
The Australian livestock industry has today jointly welcomed the Australian Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry into livestock exports, acknowledging the Government’s stated commitment to supporting the continuation of the trade.
Thursday, 12 Jul 2012