Rural / Country

Farmer views sought on meat reform options

06:38 am on 16 December 2013

Federated Farmers will be asking its members this week for their views on where the meat industry should be heading with restructuring.

Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre Chair Jeanette Maxwell says the organisation is sending out a discussion paper to get farmer feedback on nine different reform options, including some systems operating overseas.

She says some are offshore models such as those used in Uruguay and the United States, some are hybrid models and others are a rejig of what's in place now.

Ms Maxwell says Federated Farmers doesn't have a position on on any of the reform options at this stage, except to say that the meat industry can't continue going the way it is.

Federated Farmers is also strongly supporting the newly established red meat profit research partnership, a $64 million investment by meat companies, the Government and other agribusinesses designed to lift production and profits on sheep and beef farms.