Future of agriculture the focus of Roma forum

A forum discussing the future of agriculture will be on in Roma at the end of October.

TALKS IN TOWN: AgForce Forums will come to Roma this month, including the cattle and sheep producers' forum. Picture: Contributed

Making the most of investor interest in agriculture and understanding how technology is transforming the way we farm will be the focus of a special 'Future of Ag' forum in Roma later this month.

AgForce Southern Inland Queensland Regional President Robyn Bryant said the aim of the free forum was to help primary producers understand the changing agricultural landscape and how to ensure their businesses remain productive, profitable and sustainable.

"While the impact of the ongoing drought has received a lot of attention recently, agriculture has a bright and vibrant future. Queensland is Australia's most valuable agricultural state and the industry is one of the fastest growing in the country with global demand for our high-quality food and fibre continuing to rise," she said.

"This forum is an opportunity for producers to hear from a range of industry experts about where agriculture, investment and technology is heading over the next two to three decades and what they need to do to benefit."

The 'Future of Ag' forum will be held at Bassett Park in Roma from 10am to 4pm on Thursday 25 October 2018.

Guest speakers and presenters will include Susan McDonald (Super Butcher), Ben Waters (FTI Consulting), Michael Crowley (Meat and Livestock Australia), Dr Jason Trompf (JT Agri Consulting), Rachel Cliffe (Telstra), Paul Higgins (Emergent Futures) and AgForce CEO Michael Guerin.

Mrs Bryant said the AgForce Cattle Board and AgForce Sheep and Wool Board would meet in Roma on Wednesday 24 October and hold their annual general meetings at 8.30am on Thursday 25 October prior to the start of the forum.

"The two boards will come together to discuss issues common to both sheep and cattle producers, particularly biosecurity and animal welfare," she said.

"Holding these meetings in Roma rather than Brisbane will give grass roots members greater access to their representatives on the two boards, with a regional dinner and a members' breakfast also planned over the two days."

The AgForce Southern Inland Queensland dinner will be held from 6pm on Wednesday 24 October and will include National Farmers' Federation President Fiona Simson and Australia's first ever 'Australian Beer Writer of the Year' Award recipient, Matt Kirkegaard, as guest speakers.

For more details about the forum, dinner and members' breakfast, visit bit.ly/RomaForum and to register, contact AgForce Southern Inland Queensland Regional Manager Sharon Purcell at [e-mail]

The free forum is open to everyone and is being delivered under the Queensland Government's Community Drought Support Program.

Originally published as Future of agriculture the focus of Roma forum