SE livestock producers have rallied about Livestock SA, accounting for nearly half of the organisation's 2500 membership base.
At its southern region annual general meeting in Naracoorte recently, last year's incumbent office bearers were re-elected – Peter Stock, Lucindale, remains chairman; Lachlan Grundy, Naracoorte, vice chairman and Tom Dawkins, Naracoorte, secretary.
Mr Stock said it was pleasing to see a great turnout from across the region for the meeting.
He acknowledged much of the southern region's efforts in its first year of operation had been raising awareness of the organisation and its role, and signing up members.
Going forward, he said the region's office bearers would focus more on facilitating two-way communication between the board and farmers in the region.
"We see the regional group having two purposes, firstly, holding a few meetings a year to give members a chance to raise issues. The other thing we want to achieve with a limited budget is have some cutting-edge information and good speakers to attract people to the meetings," Mr Stock said.
"We need to have a way for members in the region to voice their issues but also have them (the board) contact us with state issues they are dealing with and tell us how much traction they are getting.
"It is such a cumbersome environment to be working in with government that we need some reassurances that the board is making progress.
"We will hold a few meetings in different locations for our members over the next 12 months, with the next meeting likely to be in the summer after the busy spring period."
At last week's meeting, there were polarising opinions about the effectiveness of Primary Producers SA – the commodity groups' over-arching body – but Mr Stock believed all the groups were "doing their best".
"Part of the reason I got involved myself was I had my doubts but now looking from the inside what I see in Livestock SA is people who are greatly passionate and busy with a lot of knowledge," he said.
