Industry faces domestic and export challenges

摘要

AS WE ARE now well into 2005 things have returned to normal. Confidence lev-els among Australia's cattle producers have risen in line with increased rainfall, and all signs show we are entering a herd-rebuilding phase. This confidence to rebuild indicates a positive feel in the industry -- a welcome change from the extended drought and falling cattle numbers. Grain availability remains inconsistent across Australia. In the south and western parts of Australia a reasonable harvest was experienced, however, in parts of New South Wales and Queensland, crops again were severely affected by drought. Northern NSW and QLD feedlot managers are banking on a good sorghum harvest, which anecdotally is likely -- provided favorable weather conditions prevail. As anyone involved in the industry knows, without adequate grain supply long-term planning is extremely difficult.