30 March 2026. Boyd Webb, AgForce Sheep, Wool and Goat President.
In recent weeks, attention has increasingly turned to what is happening overseas. The war in the Middle East has reached the one month mark and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, with all of us feeling the impacts of rising fuel prices and tightening fertiliser supply.
Around twenty percent of the world’s fuel passes through this currently closed corridor, along with roughly a third of internationally traded fertiliser including forty percent of urea exports. If the war continues, we need to be ready for significant and potentially long-term impacts across our industry.
Be assured that AgForce is actively working with government to identify immediate solutions to the crisis, with an eye also on substantial long term changes, to better secure domestic fuel refining and fertiliser production capability into the future.
The present situation Australia has found itself in cannot be allowed to happen again. AgForce is doing all we can to ensure the government turns this around and makes it an opportunity for serious change.
Elsewhere on the international front, Australia has signed a trade agreement with the European Union. Unfortunately what has been signed is a major let down for our red meat sector as whole, with very disappointing outcomes particularly for sheep and goat meat exports.
The agreement will increase the volume of Australian sheep and goat meat able to enter the EU duty free, from 5,851 tonnes currently to 30,851 tonnes over the term of the agreement. Whilst this may seem good news unfortunately this is only a very small portion of Australia’s total sheep and goat meat exports which exceeded 400,000 tonnes in 2025.
By comparison, countries such as New Zealand have a duty free quota of 163,769 tonnes whilst the United Kingdom has complete duty free access. Comparatively, Australia’s access under this agreement is subpar and disappointing after all the advocacy from the industry.
Back at home, AgForce has received reports from producers regarding retention, infection and readability issues with sheep and goat eID tags. The Sheep, Wool and Goats (SWAG) Board is working to address this and encourages any affected producers to contact AgForce with examples.
Earlier this month a highly successful AgForce Goat Forum was held in Bollon with more than 50 producers attending, Speakers at the forum covered worms, eID tags, farm management and markets. The equipment supply display at the forum was popular with members and a highlight was a field trip to a local property managed by Josh Cameron.
Also worth noting is the Future Flock strategy consultation which has now kicked off, with Sheep Producers Australia planning a series of workshops and interviews to help develop a broad plan for the industry.