Feed News from Oceania

Australian Government Approves Feed Grain Imports; USGS Sees Strong Potential for U.S. Feed Grains

The U.S. Grains Council is projecting increased export potential for U.S. feed grains to Australia as a result of Australia’s federal government authorizing livestock producers to import grains due to ongoing drought conditions.

"This announcement greatly improves the prospect for U.S. feed grains and co-product exports to Australia," said Mike Callahan, USGC director of international operations.

"The Council identified Australia as a priority market for U.S. feed grains several years ago and began developing strong trade and industry contacts down there."

He added that developing trade relationships is essential to developing markets and enabling trade. Callahan said the last time Australia imported bulk shipments of feed grains was 2003 when roughly 48,000 metric tons (18.9 million bushels) of corn were imported from the United States, also a result of severe drought conditions.

Australian feed grains producers in the eastern region are reportedly expecting a two ton decrease.

Tags · Australian Government Approves Feed Grain Imports; USGS Sees Strong Potential for U.S. Feed Grains

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 09.11.2007. 07:33

Imports needed to feed livestock

Desperate Australian grain-fed livestock producers are looking to import grain, despite soaring prices and quarantine restrictions limiting its supply.

The winter cereal harvest has begun, and today the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics releases a special drought report that will further downgrade the size of the crop.

After a dry winter, ABARE downgraded the total cereal harvest forecast in September from 37 million tonnes to 25.6million. It downgraded the winter wheat harvest from 22.5million tonnes to 15.5 million, well below the five-year average of 21.6 million.

Ron Storey, from Australian Crop Forecasters, estimates a wheat crop of about 13 million tonnes. "We had a shocking September and pretty much a shocking October," he said.

There have been exceptions: "A few blotches of rain in Queensland have helped and some in southern Victoria, the plants are still green down there and they will get a little bit of benefit out of that."

Tags · Imports needed to feed livestock

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 30.10.2007. 06:48

National summit to investigate feed problems

The livestock and poultry industries will hold a national summit in Canberra later this month to look at how to address critical feed shortages caused by the drought.

Many sectors are also being crippled by high prices for grain, because of the shortages.

Tags · National summit to investigate feed problems

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 10.10.2007. 05:38

Feed imports set to rise

Customs authorities are planning to issue permits for imports of distillers maize from the US, and tapioca from south-east Asia, to be used as feed for livestock.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service says it can't disclose how many applications have been received, or the volumes requested, but permits will be handed out within weeks.

Tags · Feed imports set to rise

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 08.10.2007. 05:28

Can't afford to feed sheep

With all-time record grain prices, sheep producers simply cannot feed stock through this summer.

With a widespread sell-off of sheep already well underway in many districts, off-loading of stock has occurred one to two months ahead of last year’s big de-stocking.

Across much of south-eastern Australia feed on hand is better than this time last year according to Wagga Wagga based Holmes and Sackett consultant, Sandy McEachern.

"The pastoral areas are certainly in a bad state, as are the midlands of Tasmania, but with many growing grazing cereals this year things are not as bad," Mr McEachern said.

"But that said many are clearly choosing to sell all sheep except breeding ewes."

At $400 a tonne for barley, West Australian consultant, Kevin Bell, said wool had to be at $15 a kilogram to make it worthwhile - presently the eastern market indicator is just above $9 a kilogram.

Dr Bell said producers were looking to exit the sheep industry in the grain belt of the west but in the south of that State the season was still very good.

He added that lupins at $425 a tonne represented much better value for those looking to feed stock on stubbles.

Tags · Can't afford to feed sheep

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 04.10.2007. 05:17