Producers and industry professionals braved the searing heat on Friday, December 15 for the grand reopening of the Nullamanna feedlot.
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After a “substantial and ongoing” investment from new feedlot owner Peter Taylor, the facility is now three times bigger. The previously 1000-head feedlot now caters to 3000 cattle.
The property will use almost 1000 tonnes of grain a month, and feed 12,000 animals in a year.
“It’s very gratifying and a bit daunting,” Mr Taylor said of the celebration. He said that the event was also a chance to reach out to producers, to show his interest in purchasing locally.
“We’ve got local suppliers and local farmers and local cattle men and it just makes so much sense to deal locally,” he said.
Bob Jamieson Rural Agencies was crucial in Mr Taylor’s acquisition and expansion of the property, and Mr Jamieson said he was a huge supporter of Mr Taylor’s vision.
“What a great thing,” he said.
“We’re taking an Inverell product to the world.”
The value of history and planning for the future were both at the forefront during the grand reopening.
Barbara Lane, whose family owned the station since 1967 before finally passing it on to Mr Taylor, was given the honour of cutting the ribbon. Ms Lane’s sons Mark and Peter continue to work the farm.
Even further back was Bruce Ditchfield, who shared memories of his father with Mr Taylor. The Ditchfields owned the property from 1932.
“Dad did a tremendous amount of work here,” he said.
Keynote speaker Richard Norton, managing director of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) focused on the future of the industry and the challenges producers face.
“We have to keep evolving in how we sell our product to the global market,” he said.
“70 to 75 per cent of your product ends up in the global market.”
He talked about China’s growing market, importing 97,000 tonnes of beef in the past year, and discussed MLA’s role in promoting Australian products to those consumers. He argued in favour of free trade agreements with Europe.
He said rising energy prices were an added complication for farmers.
“We’ve got to be producing the best quality product in the world because of our cost base here in Australia,” he said.
Mr Norton said that the red meat industry’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030 was essential in the European market.
“If I was standing here 12 months ago, I would have probably said laboratory synthetic meat wasn’t a threat. My grandkids’ grandkids will have it when they travel to Mars for a weekender. But it is quite apparent that in our global markets, it’s going to be a competitor,” he said
Event-goers learnt more about the work done on Nullamanna Station, given guided feedlot tours of the domestic and export sections by Bob Jamieson Agencies (BJA) staff and Jack Dalzell from Woolworths. Rob Lawrence and Peter Lane talked about nutrition and manure management.
Wingham Beef Export general manager Grant Coleman demonstrated the quality of Nullamanna beef, cooking a delicious barbecue for participants. Mr Coleman will be competing in the world barbecuing championships in Houston next year.
It was a special moment for BJA as well, and Michelle and Bob Jamieson were surprised with an artwork to celebrate 25 years of the business.
As a former test cricketer, Mr Taylor donated a valuable Ashes cricket bat to keep the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in the air. The bat will be auctioned off next year.
Andrew McDonald gave a talked about how Nullamanna beef makes its way from the paddock to the plate, and Ben Hiscox teamed up with Kerian te Velde to discuss relationships in the beef supply chain.
Westpac’s Hank MacInnes spoke on relationships in agribusiness.