Grain growers in the Parkes region are be­ing urged to attend an upcoming grower meeting to discuss issues around grains research and development, levy rates and reviews and the impact on growers.

The Grains R&D: Your levies, your views consultation, organised by GrainGrowers as part of its representative organisation (RO) role with the GRDC, will take place in Parkes on Thursday 11 September at the Parkes Services Club, 10:30am – 12pm.

In total, meetings will be held in 18 re­gional centres across five states from 2 September through until 16 October. The Parkes meeting is one of four being held across NSW.

GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said the meetings are an ideal opportunity for growers to consider the current situation, to put forward their thoughts on the issues and raise questions that they would like considered and answered.

Ms Gawel said in recent months there had been many discussions about grains research and development, and it was im­portant to engage as widely as possible with growers.

“As a grower member organisation, di­rect engagement is in our DNA, and these meetings are designed to allow us to listen and to reflect carefully on the next steps.”

“While our members are free to contact us at any time, growers across Australia now have multiple opportunities to come together to discuss.

“The full schedule of consultations is available via our website. For anyone un­able to attend, we will be holding a virtual session at a later date to encourage the widest possible consultation,” Ms Gawel said.

Further information and to register, at: www.graingrowers.com.au/events/grains-r-and-d-your-levies-your-views-parkes-nsw

The 2025 National Championships is being hosted at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September 2025. The prestigious com­petition includes paraders of beef and dairy cattle, young judges of beef and dairy cat­tle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry, the Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.

The National Championships brings to­gether the best of the best in rural talent, community spirit, and industry excellence.

Young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 Qualify via success in competitive re­gional and state competitions.

Lilly Eagles, 15 of Forbes has been se­lected to represent NSW in the Dairy Cat­tle Parading final. Currently in Year 9 at Forbes High School, Lilly is a regular on the show circuit.

“My two best moments at a show would have to be winning Junior Champion at the Forbes Show with my Ayrshire, Ash, when she was a heifer – and then taking her to International Dairy Week where she won Reserve Junior Champion. The other was at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year – I won my paraders class with my heifer Deluxe, then went on to be named Reserve Champion Parader. Now, I get the amazing opportunity to represent New South Wales at the Adelaide Royal.”

Thomas French, who is Relieving Head Teacher Science at Forbes High School said “Lilly is a diligent student who has been a part of the Forbes High School Show Team for multiple years. She is an active participant at all shows the school team attends and passionately participates in everything the Show Team has to offer.

Lilly has proven her outstanding ability in showing cattle and judging both produce and livestock at a range of shows. Lilly’s dedication is not only evident in Show Team but across the school, excelling in her academic studies as well. Lilly has earned her spot as one of the 6 national finalists through hard work, dedication and a passion in agriculture.”

Jack Smyth, 17 of Canowindra has been selected to represent NSW in the Beef Cat­tle Parading final.

Jack Smyth is a young stock and sta­tion agent with MCC Chudleigh Dobell in Forbes, NSW.

“I started competing in the paraders when I was 14 because I had friends do­ing it and it’s something I love doing. I’ve been in agriculture my whole life with my family but I started by showing cows with my school and then worked for Goondoola Livestock and Kianma Poll Herefords. I’m looking forward to my first visit to Adelaide, catching up with people and having a good day in the ring.”

Kimberly Chudleigh, Director of MCC Chudleigh Dobell said ”Our youngest stock agent Jack Smyth has proven his dedica­tion to the agricultural industry once again! Daily Jack demonstrates a knowledge of the livestock industry which continues to grow and show in his Livestock Agent role.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the latest statistics on live­stock slaughtered and red meat production, which according to Meat & Livestock Aus­tralia (MLA) has confirmed a historic period for the red meat sector.

Financial year 2024-2025 has seen beef production reach an all time high, lamb slaughter maintained near-record levels, and mutton throughput surging to its highest volume since 2007. The results reflect the strength, resilience, and strategic adaptabil­ity and forward thinking of Australian pro­ducers across diverse seasonal conditions, according to MLA’s Acting Market Informa­tion Manager, Erin Lukey.

“These results show that continued adop­tion of new technology and innovation onfarm, along with investments in supply chain efficiency, are continuing to pay dividends across the supply chain,” Ms Lukey said.

“Despite seasonal challenges in some parts of Australia, the industry has deliv­ered record beef production and maintained strong lamb and mutton throughput.”

Australia processed 8.88 million head of cattle in FY25, which is the third-largest an­nual slaughter since 1978 and the highest since the drought-driven peak in 2015.

The Minns Labor Government is invest­ing $3 million to help farmers improve their farming operations, profitability and envi­ronmental sustainability through develop­ing natural capital projects.

In farming, natural capital refers to the stock of natural resources—like soil, wa­ter, plants, animals, and ecosystems—that farmers rely on to produce food, fibre, and other goods.

Ian Chapman is a cattle farmer with a 1000-acre property in Stuart Town, Central West NSW.

While the concept of natural capital is new, Ian has been practicing sustainable agriculture since the 1990s, taking an inter­est in P.A. Yeomans’ keyline farm design principles, and then managing his property holistically since 2006.

Ian started planting trees on his property in the late 90s, and in 2021. Since then, he has planted more than 32,000 trees and shrubs across 40 hectares – more than 20 species of eucalypts, acacia, and more.

Ian said “Local Land Services helped us identify our native plant community type and I went to a few workshops and field days.

“At one stage we were having issues with waterlogged areas of the farm, and Local Land Services helped us come up with some solutions.

Ian can now apply for carbon credits under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme to generate an income from this project.

Local Land Services’ natural capital advi­sors can help landholders understand what environmental market opportunities may be available to them.

Landholders are encouraged to contact their Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299 or visit the website for more infor­mation.