David Foote on the future for Australia’s red meat sector

Farm Writers Lunch

Join us as David Foote addresses the key opportunities and threats facing Australia’s $16 billion cattle industry and gives us his forecast for the coming 12 months.

Friday 25 October 2024

12:00 for 12:30pm

Australia’s red meat industry has come through a turbulent 18-month period.

Long-range weather forecasts in mid-2023 prompted rapid de-stocking of properties, only for seasonal conditions to improve and, with it, increased demand (and prices) for cattle. There's the ever-present threat of a biosecurity incident. Producers have also faced the uncertainty of environmental regulations by offshore trading partners impacting land management practices and trade prospects – what one trading market calls land clearing is what Australians describe as active land management.

Meanwhile, there's ongoing turmoil in agricultural representation, activists  shifting their focus to call for the end of the live cattle trade, and government intransigence in paying compensation for the 2011 live export fiasco. Higher prices, lack of access to abattoirs and workforce challenges are compounding the challenges.

It's a resilient industry, but Australia’s cattle producers continue to face uncertainty.

David Foote is a leading figure in Australia’s cattle and red meat industries. For the past 45 years, he has held agribusiness-centred operational, senior and executive management roles across all mainland states of Australia. These have covered beef cattle & sheep breeding, growing and lot feeding, meat retailing, small seed growing, irrigated fodder, and the further processing and exporting of primary products such as meat, grain and fodder. In 2010 David was awarded Rural Press Pty Ltd “Beef Achiever of the Year” in recognition of his contribution to the industry.

Bookings for this lunch will close on 21 October 2024. Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Group table bookings of 10 are available.

For any questions, contact bookings@nswfarmwriters.org.au