MAINTAINING market diversity was critical to helping north west Queensland’s recovery after consecutive years of drought, a North Queensland beef industry leader believes.
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Speaking at the AgForce roadshow in Hughenden last week – a day before parts around north west Queensland were soaked in storms – AgForce north regional director Russell Lethbridge said all markets were valuable to producers, with live export a saving grace in recent times.
“The drought has hindered our ability to move forward and build on the beef herd up here but thank god for the live export trade that has been able to take light cattle,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“People have been able to move cattle out of paddocks devoid of grass.”
Mr Lethbridge, who is AgForce North regional president, said the region was rebuilding, and market diversity had enabled producers to reinvest in their operations.
“People are putting in fences, waters, enhancing genetics and breeds...all of a sudden there is a little bit of cash to spend which wasn’t there before,” Mr Lethbridge said.
Mr Lethbridge, who breeds cattle at Einasleigh, said he was excited about the opportunities presented and where the region was headed.
“There have have been some piecemeal storms that have provided some relief in some areas, and people are rebuilding,” he said. “I’m confident that the cycle has changed away from the dry, hence these good fronts coming across from the west, that’s a bit of an indicator, and the winter rain.
“It can go either way and we need a very good, long wet season.”
Mr Lethbridge and his wife Donna run breeders on Werrington Station, 2.5 hours north of Hughenden, and have backgrounding country between Alpha and Tambo.
It’s the difference in the development in these two regions – northwest and central Queensland – that motivates Mr Lethbridge to continue to fight for the north’s “time in the sun”.
Mr Lethbridge said prospects such as an abattoir at Hughenden were exciting. “Development builds off development,” he said.
“I think the north is going to have its day and we have to make damn sure it can have its day without too much red tape.”