SE gains new livestock group

It follows a similar regional meeting in Port Augusta in late February where a Northern Regional Group was formed with Colin Greenfield, Billa Kalina Station, near Woomera, elected as regional chairman.

Jack England, a farmer from Shepherds Hill, near Kingston, was elected the SE group's convening chairman. The group's first meeting will be held within the next couple of months to elect office bearers.

Livestock SA has an informative website with monthly updates, plus proposed legislative changes and market information, but with many older farmers not 'high-tech savvy', Mr England said they needed an avenue to enable them to share their grassroot issues.

"I am keen to get livestock industries back on the front foot, gain competitive edges, and educate those government bureaucrats who write restrictive legislation that impinge on our rural way of life," he said.

"The more producers we can be seen to represent, the better - and when we are engaging with the minister the more we will be listened to. It is all about making life easier for us as livestock producers by addressing key issues as they come up."

Livestock SA chairman Richard Halliday welcomed the proposal for an SE group.

"As Livestock SA wants to be the peak organisation representing beef cattle, sheep and goat producers in this state, given the importance of livestock in the SE it is essential that producers from this part of the state are included," he said.

Since Livestock SA's formation 10 months ago, followed by a membership drive, it has signed-up more than 500 members.

Membership forms are being distributed with all SA property identifcation code renewal notices. This is expected to take 18 months. It will save the organisation $15,000 in fees, but in the interim Livestock SA is encouraging producers to sign up for the free membership.

* Full report in Stock Journal, April 24, 2014 issue.