SPA News

Thank you to producers and the wider Sheep Producers Australia network for sharing, watching and engaging with recent social media content on the Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement - and to those producers who helped bring the issue to life through video contributions and on-farm perspectives.

For years, the European Union- Australia Free Trade Agreement has been viewed within industry as a key plank in a diversified trade strategy - the last remaining affluent, high-value consumer market where Australian sheepmeat does not yet enjoy commercially meaningful access.

At MLA Updates in Adelaide, Sheep Producers Australia CEO Bonnie Skinner shared her perspective on what a productive, profitable sheep enterprise may look like by 2030.

Last month I had the opportunity to attend the World Meat Congress alongside industry leaders, policy makers and supply-chain experts from across the globe. It was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with global colleagues, including counterparts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, to share insights and compare emerging challenges and opportunities across our sectors.

Sheep Producers Australia attended the National Farmers’ Federation’s AgXchange 2025 on the Gold Coast, which brought together hundreds of producers, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore the future of Australian agriculture.

A national effort to future-proof the Australian sheep industry and strengthen its sustainability will begin next year.

Sheep Producers Australia recently supported the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with planning a US trade delegation.

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) recently provided input into the Australian Government’s Periodic Review of the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Method 2021.

Western Australian sheep producer Bindi Murray has been announced as the new Chair of Sheep Producers Australia at today’s Annual General Meeting.

Sheep Producers Australia Chair Andrew Spencer has indicated he will not be seeking reappointment as a board appointed director at November’s Annual General Meeting and will therefore also be stepping down from the Chair’s role.

Sheep Producers Australia would like to acknowledge and welcome the appointment of Tasmanian MP Julie Collins as Federal Agriculture Minister, Senator Anthony Chisholm as Assistant Minister to the Agricultural portfolio, and the announcement of the frontbench by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra yesterday.

Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia, and Western Dairy have made the decision to extend the 2024 WA Seasonal and Market Conditions Producer Survey*, now closing next Wednesday 8 May 2024.

Sheep Producers Australia and Cattle Australia welcome today’s announcement by the Cook Government of a $8.6 million funding package to support our Western Australian producers. Today’s funding package has been informed by the Dry Season Taskforce (Taskforce), of which Sheep Producers Australia and Cattle Australia are both members.

Last week 300 farmers from across the South West convened an urgent drought meeting to address what is one of the driest seasons experienced in living memory across what is traditionally the wettest part of the State.

Sheep Producers Australia’s vision is to be a trusted influencer, leader and advisor for Australian sheep producers, industry, and government. The Policy Council (Council) has oversight over all policy matters, to ensure that Sheep Producers Australia’s policy agenda is strategic, disciplined, and focused, to develop policy and advocate on issues that are relevant to the Australian sheep industry.

Sheep Producers Australia is pleased to announce that Mr Andrew Henderson has been elected to one of the two Board Director positions at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). As a national body our vision is to be a trusted influencer, leader and advisor for Australian sheep producers, industry, and government.

Sheep Producers Australia has received the final report for the Tag Procurement Project Following on from the national commitment to transition to electronic sheep eID, Sheep Producers Australia agreed to investigate options for developing and maintaining a national tag tender and procurement system to provide low-cost, incentivised eID tags for Australian sheep producers.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity for our industry to improve our market access. In the lead up to the meetings in Osaka Sheep Producers Australia had called on Minister Farrell and Minister Watt to maintain their resolve and ambition in securing commercially viable and fairer access for Australian sheepmeat.

As negotiations are being finalised around the ambitious Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) Australia’s sheep industry is crying out for a level playing field on the EU bloc, insisting the Australian Government must hold fast in securing significant increases in market access for Australian red meat imports.

The Western Australian delegation to Canberra this week included representatives from Sheep Producers Australia, WAFarmers, WoolProducers Australia, the Western Australian Shearing Industry Association, WA Livestock & Rural Transport Association, ASheep, Pastoralist and Graziers Association, wool and sheep farmers.