Beef cattle in the New England and North West Slopes and Plains regions accounted for 32 per cent or $555 million of the $1.7 billion total value of agricultural production for 2006-07, according to ABARE analysis being presented at tomorrow’s Armidale Regional Outlook conference.

Armidale is the sole NSW location for ABARE's 2009 Regional Outlook conferences with the region selected because of its agricultural industries, the growth of its tourism sector and because it is a hub for major businesses.

“The New England district, with its strong agricultural base and tertiary education sector, has attracted and fostered many innovative businesses in the agriculture and tourism sectors. For these reasons Armidale is an ideal location for the one-day conference,” said Dr Terry Sheales, Deputy Executive Director, ABARE.

At the Armidale Regional Outlook conference on Wednesday 1 July, delegates will hear more about the region with commodity data, economic forecasts and innovative business stories from 12 speakers across four sessions.

Dr Terry Sheales will open the conference and then explore the National and international issues affecting the region. He is joined in the first session The big picture: an economic overview by Westpac’s Barry Ruddy with A banker’s perspective on rural finances.

The second session - Building sustainable agriculture – includes Caroline Gunning-Trant, ABARE analyst with the Commodity outlook and farm performance; Mike O’Shea from Forest Enterprises Australia on The role for plantation timber and the processing sectors; and concludes with Robert Kelly of Mt William, on Investing in farming systems for the future.

Water and climate: critical factors is the third session, with Catherine Tulloh of ABARE discussing Agriculture: moving toward emissions trading; Barry Hanstrum from the Bureau of Meteorology with the Regional climate outlook; John Gray, Bureau of Rural Sciences, with Soil carbon for productivity or trading? and concluding with Uralla grazier, Sonia Williams, on Farmers adapting to climate change.

The conference concludes with the session Taking the risk: succeeding in the region. Speakers include Robbie Sefton, of Sefton & Associates, on National businesses supporting the region; Godfrey Dol from Blush Premium Truss Tomatoes with Opportunities for expansion in regional Australia and then Milly and Michael Taylor, of Taylor’s Run, discussing Developing alternative on-farm enterprises.

The conference is open to everyone to discover more information about their region, make new contacts, discuss industry trends and access information that can encourage innovative approaches to traditional issues.

Registration for media is complimentary.

Date: Wednesday 1 July 2009
Venue: Armidale Town Hall, 129 Rusden St, Armidale NSW
Time: Registration from 8.30am, conference 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $77 pp (inc GST) including conference admission, copies of available speakers’ papers, lunch and morning and afternoon tea.
Contact: Angela Ellerman, ABARE on mobile 0408 487 825.

Download the conference program at www.abare.gov.au/regional