Further to the summary article included earlier in this newsletter, a number of topics relating to the NBRUC 2026 conference were covered by Beef Central. This includes the keynote presentation delivered by Australian cattle industry leader David Foote, who delivered several key messages including “that the industry’s biggest opportunities lies not in new scientific breakthroughs, but applying the knowledge that already exists” and also that “profit follows pasture”. Read more about David’s presentation here.
A new episode of Soil Matters, the soil science podcast produced by The British Society of Soil Science has recently been released. This episode, entitled Old Knowledge – Indigenous Wisdom for Sustainable Land Management (Part 2) highlights how traditional ecological knowledge – rooted in community, biodiversity, and a profound respect for the land – provides practical, chemical-free alternatives for modern agriculture. The podcast guests share how indigenous approaches to soil conservation, forest protection, and collective governance offer not only a blueprint for sustainability but also a hopeful vision for the future of global land stewardship.
You can listen to the episode on all major podcast platforms, or access it directly at: https://soils.org.uk/soilmatters/#episode7.
A recent article by Meat & Livestock Australia highlights why running less than a third of the region’s recommended stocking rate may be more sustainable on challenging rangeland properties such as Debbie and Ashley Dowden’s Challa Station in the East Murchinson district of Western Australia. Read the full article here.
The latest issue of Across the Outback, published by the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board, has just been published. There are a number of interesting articles in this issue including a summary of the widespread rain across the region (530mm in less than 2 months at Mungerannie!), cactus control, the Kangaroo Partnership Project and goat and pig control. Access the latest issue here.
NSW Local Land Services is currently delivering a number of targeted programs and projects to assist landholders to improve primary production outcomes, adopt sustainable land management practices, and actively manage, protect and restore natural resources. Many of the current projects are taking place in the Western rangelands and are focussed on kangaroo management, sustainable productive landscapes, soil monitoring, goat research and pasture monitoring. Read more about these projects on the Local Land Services webpage – you can filter by region to see the projects based in the Western region.
We all know that the conflict in the Middle East has driven fuel costs up. At the end of March, Beef Central surveyed a small but nationally representative sample of known cattle producers to gauge effects of the month-long conflict on business decisions across the industry. The response from 210 survey respondents confirmed that rising fuel, freight and input costs are already driving widespread changes to business operations and fuelling concern about the months ahead. See the results of the survey and read what it may mean for the industry here.