Margaret River Food & Agricultural Summit

SEGRA, Australia's premier conference on regional issues, is about assisting regional, rural and remote Australia to source and identify the techniques, skills and issues they need to address to achieve successful economic growth and development. The SEGRA conference, established in 1997, provides a unique opportunity for all sections of the Australian community (rural and urban) to explore the key issues affecting regional, rural and remote Australia and be part of providing positive sustainable outcomes to ensure future prosperity.

The 2016 SEGRA conference will be held in Albany from 25-28 October. Visit the link to find out more and to register your attendance.

http://2016.segra.com.au/

A report commissioned by the meat processing sector argues there is no economic case for tighter regulation of the industry.

​The Department of Agriculture & Food WA is bringing the popular Plan, Prepare & Prosper workshops to the Margaret River region in October 2016.

Aimed at Food Growers, Manufacturers & Processors, this series of 5 interactive day workshops will give you a strong practical understanding of exactly what steps you need to take to:

1.make significantly more profit from what you do

2. build a stronger, more resilient business

3. improve quality of life for you & the other key individuals involved

The workshops are an opportunity to step back from the daily tasks that keep you busy... and to focus on what your enterprise needs to be doing to become more successful.

Day 1: Review your business
Day 2: Maximise your financial success
Day 3: Increase personal & business efficiency
Day 4: Boost sales through effective marketing
Day 5: Generate your Strategic Business Plan

Please find attached a detailed program for the 5 days. Days usually run ~9–4pm in blocks spread out over a month. Exact dates TBC.

The workshops are relevant to all food enterprises, whether you have a current Strategic Business Plan, have one that is out of date, or have never used a Strategic Plan. This also provides an opportunity to bring everyone involved in the business together (family, partners, staff), to identify your shared skills and develop a clear understanding of where to from here, and what’s needed to achieve the agreed business improvements.

A team of experienced facilitators (all with significant agricultural backgrounds) guide you through a wide range of practical exercises and tools to put together a Strategic Business Plan for your enterprise. Sharing the wealth of experience of the participants in the room is also a key element, drawing on what has worked… and what hasn’t.

DAFWA will fully fund this program for food businesses, so get your registration in quick. (A similar series of workshops normally costs thousands!)

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY for these free workshops at

https://agric.smartygrants.com.au/ppp_application_2015

Please complete the submission form with your business details, and fill in: Location - Margaret River area. Dates - October 2016 (exact dates are to be confirmed).

We will be in touch with workshop details once finalised.

If you'd like more information, please contact:

Laura Bailey (local organiser) on 0423 957788, email lawson@mrorganicfarmer.com

or Terry Asher (Dept. Agriculture & Food WA) on 9368 3149, workshops@agric.wa.gov.au

or Mick Quartermaine (facilitator) on 0428 212320, email 1quarter@westnet.com.au

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce met with the board of Murray Goulburn on Tuesday afternoon, to discuss the dairy processor's savage price cuts for farmers and plans for the future.

A great opportunity for food & beverage companies to get “market ready” for the US. There are 3 food specialists that have travelled down from the States for the event. Can you help get the word out to your networks around WA? This Friday in Perth 19 August. Registration details via the link.

On 14 April 2016, the Deputy Prime Minister, announced Southern Cross University will deliver the Australian Government’s $13.8 million national Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program​.

Over the coming months, Southern Cross University will announce a national program of work, including establishing an information resource for farmers and farm advisors, provision of expertise to farmers and groups of farmers and support for g​groups of farmers to get their collaborative project off the ground.

for more information click on the link above.