THE Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association (KPCA) will have its first annual field day and innovation conference, since incorporating the Pilbara in 2015.
The Onslow KPCA Ruralco Field Day and Conference, on March 23 and 24, will give northern beef producers an insight into irrigated reclaimer Rhodes grass-based pasture utilisation, declared weed management, the Ashburton opportunities, greening Australia initiatives and new technologies.
It starts with a tour of the new yards at Uaroo station.
Minderoo station manager Ben Wratten will demonstrate the use of automatic drafting, weigh scales and advanced technology by running cattle through the system.
The visit to Uaroo and Minderoo stations will also study its pivot irrigation, Ultra-Black cattle genetics and mesquite management and technology.
KPCA chairman David Stoate, Anna Plains station, south of Broome, said the event aimed to develop the northern cattle industry "with a particular emphasis on capturing the growth opportunities".
"With this in mind, the KPCA has developed a program that will explore these growth opportunities and how everyone in the industry can go about capturing them,'' he said.
"It is clear the industry will need to embrace new ways of doing things, so the program explores new technologies and production techniques together with understanding the global market environment in which we operate.
"The field day at Minderoo will also be a great opportunity to explore these themes prior to the conference.
"I am certainly looking forward to being part of the conference at an exciting time for the industry."
The second part of the event includes a line-up of speakers.
Lisa Sharp, Meat and Livestock Australia, will discuss the global mega-trends and surrounding issues, opportunities and implications for Australian red meat.
Kim McDougall, Harvey Beef, will discuss the Harvey Beef journey and announce further opportunities with Harvey Beef for northern WA beef producers.
ANZ's head of agribusiness Mark Bennett will present its latest Cattle Call report.
Mr Bennett said he would focus on cattle, the market and what's playing out within the industry.
"My talk will be around global demand and where the key driving factors are around demand and supply," he said.
"We produced a report late last year called Cattle Call on our insights as a banker to this industry."
Mr Bennett said beef protein was in high demand, he had witnessed demand grow in China and other international markets were developing the taste for beef.
He said it was important to create sustainability in the beef herd so it didn't decline further on a national scale.
"We have a shortage of supply in key regions.
"We need to maximise the opportunities into markets and restock in an expensive market - this is a difficult challenge to producers.
"We are trying to build a perspective of where the herd and the markets are going," he said.
Mr Bennett said he would also discuss farming structures, business performance and investments, including foreign investment within industry.
Producers will also hear from Russell Shaw, the Department of Lands, on Rangelands management technological tools and options, Peter Gilmour, Irongate Wagyu, and Craig Forsyth, the Mingenew Irwin Group, on opportunities to value add to livestock.
Producers will hear from Nuffield scholar Will Harrington on technology advancements in a northern beef context and Anna Adams, AuctionsPlus, on emerging markets and sales technology and the future of livestock marketing.
