The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences is heading to Victoria’s Gippsland region for a Regional Outlook conference to discuss impacts and future outlooks for the region’s diverse agriculture sector.
Featuring ABARES researchers and speakers from around the region, the program will examine issues including investing in primary industries, farm financial performance, outlook for key commodities, innovative approaches to agricultural production and financing.
Head of Agricultural Forecasting and Trade, Dr Jared Greenville, will be speaking on the national and international issues affecting Victoria and has encouraged all community members to come along.
“Regional Outlook conferences are unique in the sense that everyone can get something out of going along-we’re talking about issues that directly affect their regions,” Dr Greenville said.
“Attendees have the chance to network with industry experts, scientists, economists and other locals who face similar issues-it’s a great opportunity.
“Making the latest commodity data available to our delegates while also giving them access to ABARES researchers is a major take-home for our attendees.”
The conference’s opening address will be delivered by Russell Broadbent MP, federal Member for Monash.
According to the ABARES About my Region profile, in 2017-18, the gross value of agricultural production in the Latrobe-Gippsland region was $1.8 billion, which was 12 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Victoria at $15 billion.
The most important commodities in the region-based on the gross value of agricultural production-were milk at $733 million, cattle and calves at $512 million and followed by sheep and lambs at $78 million.
Speakers include:
- Jared Greenville, ABARES-National and international issues affecting Victoria
- Jonathan Pollock, Bureau of Meteorology-State of the climate
- Kirk Zammit, ABARES-Commodity outlook and issues
- Joe Jacobs, Ellinbank Dairy Centre-Ellinbank Smart Farm: embracing technology for productivity gains
- Aubrey Pellett, Hill End dairy farmer / Nuffield Scholar-The challenge of sustainable dairy farm profitability – where will genuine productivity enhancement come from?
- Barry Richards, Mecrus-A strawberry isn’t just a strawberry anymore
- Damian Murphy, Nuffield Scholar-Next gen farmer finance: how does Australia compare to the world?
- Jon McNaught, ViPlus Dairy-Nutritional development for new markets
- Paul Crock, Gippsland Natural-Driving a vertically integrated beef brand.
The Warragul Regional Outlook conference is on Wednesday 30 October at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, corner Smith and Albert Streets in Warragul, Victoria.
The conference is free to attend but pre-event registration is essential. For the full program and to register for the event visit www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/regional.
For enquiries email Conferences.
Background
- At each Regional Outlook conference, senior ABARES analysts present the economic overview and forecasts for relevant agricultural commodities and farm financial performance.
- A range of regionally based speakers and producers discuss industry challenges and strategies for growth, investment and innovation opportunities, natural resource management, plus case studies from people taking innovative approaches in their businesses.
- Join others from across your region to hear commodity forecasts, discuss industry trends, access information and make new contacts in your community that can encourage new approaches to traditional issues.
- Delegates include producers, bankers, consultants and other service providers, rural counsellors, local business owners, state and local government staff, regional development groups and others with an interest in their region.
