Leaders from the nation's state farming organisations have come together in Adelaide today (Wednesday) for a meeting to find common ground on sweeping changes affecting the sheep and goat sectors.
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Last year the state agriculture ministers and federal ag minister Murray Watt agreed to mandate a national electronic identification system for sheep and goats, in a move touted as strengthening Australia's biosecurity preparedness, especially with the outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease in Indonesia at the time.
However, each state has been working within different frameworks and had varying levels of support from government.
This has prompted the roundtable convened by NSW Farmers with the support of Livestock SA. They along with representatives from AgForce Queensland, the Victorian Farmers Federation, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, WA Farmers, and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA, are meeting to identify common policies with the aim of developing a shared advocacy approach at both a state and national level.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said there was an obvious need for state farm organisations to come together, as a nationally harmonised traceability system was essential to effective operation.
"With such a big reform coming through the mandatory implementation of eID traceability for sheep and goats, we need state farm organisations talking and working together to secure the best possible outcomes for their members," Mr Martin said.
"Each state and territory is at a different place when it comes to eID use and the transition to it being the sole traceability system for sheep and goats, so we're coming together to see where the common ground is and to collectively take forward the needs of producers from a grassroots level to our national advocacy bodies and governments, both state and federal.
"Since the mandate was announced, we have seen significant increases in costs of production for sheep and goat producers and it is more important than ever that both producers and governments know what it means for their bottom line, and how these mandated changes will impact their operations."
The implementation date agreed by Australia's agriculture ministers of January 1, 2025 was fast approaching, and farmers had been telling their state representative bodies they wanted to see a national system that worked for all participants.
Agforce supports the rollout of eID in Qld but sheep, wool and goats bard president Stephen Tully says there needs to be equitable funding arrangements and suitable phase in times. For eID to work farmers have to be on side and their voices heard.
Victorian Farmers Federation livestock chair Scott Young said his state had been a leader in traceability and the implementation of electronic tags.
"The VFF is looking forward to working with all other SFOs toward the implementation of a national eID system," Mr Young said. "The VFF looks forward to assisting in the roll out of an integrated eID system throughout Australia."
WA Farmers vice president Steve McGuire said national harmonisation was important to achieve effective eID implementation.
"Some states are experiencing challenges with varied levels of state funding and implementation frameworks which we hope to work through at the joint SFO workshop in Adelaide to ensure national harmonisation can be achieved to deliver the best possible outcome for farmers," he said.
Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association meat council chair George Shea said traceability was critical for Australia's red meat supply chain.
"Given that approximately 70 per cent of our red meat is exported from this country, 100 per cent traceability is vitally important to protect our supply chain and biosecurity issues that may challenge it," Mr Shea said.
"Electronic ID for sheep and goats brings those industries in line with beef and will help to protect our markets both domestically and globally."
