In a world where reports often are more common than actions, sheep and beef farmers will read with interest the September progress on the Red Meat Sector Strategy.The original report recommends "informed aligned behavioural change" in inmarket behaviour, efficent and aligned procurement, and sector best practice, and suggests a $6 billion return from such changes.
The Strategy Co-ordination Group has done a stock-take of in-market collaboration, aligned and transparent procurement, and collaboration for efficency in processing production and logistics.And from that they are keen to explore, alternative marketing approaches through a common trading platform similar to the globaldairyTrade structure that is working so succesfully in the dairy industry.
Other areas that directly relate to farmers is an analysis of historical product price and cost benchmarking, and transparent procurement mechanisms. As followers of this rural section of this site will know, price product transparency was the key driver of its emergence as we sought to improve market information to all farmers and break down the lack of trust between producers and processors that has blighted the red meat sector for years. Let us hope this report will go some way to rebuid an industry approach that benefits all participants.
After controversialy branding stock and station agents as not earning any value to farmer returns, the strategy group now aims to develop a voluntary code of practice to recognise quality service in that sector. They also plan to identify high quality farm advisors through an accreditation scheme in a drive to make sure the most up to date profitable management practices are used by the industry.
The goals and direction of the action plan look to this writer to be heading in the right direction, but hands on farmers will be wanting to see more action and less reports before they embrace radical change.
Is this group moving in the right direction or is this just another...... report? Your views?
The Quarterly Strategy Implementation report can be viewed here.
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