1997 Review of improving resource management projects

Summary

The MRC's coordinated investment in on-farm research, development and extension in northern Australia commenced in 1986 with the initiation of the first North Australia Program (NAP1). That five year program was followed by NAP2 (1991-1996).

The corporation's activities in this area have now evolved into its third phase, that is NAP3 (1996-2001 ). The focus of NAP3 is on the advancement and refinement of past achievements and their consolidation in an integrated management context. The program is also fully cognisant of the demands and direction that the expansion of the export of live feeder cattle to south east Asia is imposing on the northern beef industry.

NAP3 covers the beef producing areas of Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia, encompassing a broad diverse range of agro-ecological zones from the highly fertile fattening and grain producing brigalow country of Queensland to the arid desert regions of the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Rainfall is also extremely variable but is predominantly summer, monsoon influenced with a pronounced, relatively short lived growing season and an extended dry season.

NAP3 is focused on the needs of beef producers in northern Australia. These 24,000 beef producers account for about half the Australian beef herd; 40% of national beef production and 60% of beef exports.

Of these northern producers, 1"5% of beef establishments carry about 70% of the cattle on about 85% of the beef lands. There is great variability across northern Australia in climate, infrastructure and markets. Although the largest 6% of beef properties demonstrate the most favourable profitability within the industry, there is a great variation in economic returns within the majority of holdings, irrespective of size.

The core issues which face the meat and livestock industry in northern Australia are continued deterioration in terms of trade, variable but generally low profitability, increased focus on the need for ecological sustainability and the capability and structures of the meat processing and marketing sectors.

The overall Goal of NAP3 is to enhance the productivity and sustainability, both ecological and economic, of the beef production sector in northern Australia and, by incorporating those enhancements in integrated property management, to improve its profitability and international competitiveness.