Australia Victorian farmers snare EU beef market

By Boyd Champness

VICTORIAN farmers appear to be the only ones prepared to meet the European Unions stringent beef export protocols, while farmers in other states have put the market in the too-hard basket.

More than 300 Victorian farms have registered to become part of the tough new EU beef supply system, which began last week.

A snapshot survey of nationwide authorities reveals that many cattle producers in New South Wales and Queensland just arent interested in tackling the new supply protocols.

Even the Victorian saleyard system, which has been slow to adopt change in the past, has led the pack by installing scanners to read electronic eartags, which all cattle destined for the EU market must wear.

In addition, a healthy number of Victorian abattoirs have implemented change to cater for the EU market.

But the situation in NSW and Queensland is vastly different, with only a dozen farmers in the Central Tablelands area of NSW applying for EU accreditation.

Leigh Priestley of the Central Tablelands Rural Land Protection Board told The Weekly Times that the lack of accredited abattoirs in the area was a major problem.

Another sticking point for many NSW and Queensland farmers is the requirement that cattle off EU properties can only be agisted on other accredited farms.

Beef farmers in these two states have relied heavily in the past on agistment due to poor seasons.

Another reason has been cost. Unlike Victorian farmers, who received a million free electronic eartags through a government deal, farmers in other states have had to pay for their own electronic eartags without any assurances of a premium market.

Meat Livestock Australia corporate spokesman David Palmer told The Weekly Times that, while the EU was being strict with its supply requirements, the Australian beef industry couldnt afford to forsake the market.

“While the EU only represents about 1% of our export volume, it is the highest-priced market we service,” he said. “Export prices into the EU are $2500/t (£982/t) higher than our next best destination.”

Last year, Australia exported more than $80 million dollars-worth (£31m), or 13,400t, of beef and offal to the EU.