Charlie,
I see this:
gives green light to grain imports
November 1, 2007 - 6:44PM
The federal government has given Australia's livestock producers the green light to import grains, as local supplies plummet because of the ongoing drought.
Grain producers are predicting a two million tonne grain shortfall for the eastern states, as ABARE this week released its revised down forecast for 2007-08 winter crops.
The winter wheat crop output is now forecast at 12.1 million tonnes compared to a previous estimate of 15.5 million tonnes.
Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said 12 types of stockfeed would be allowed into the country, following research by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and Biosecurity Australia (BA).
The approved grain imports include wheat and rye from Canada, wheat from the United Kingdom, maize and sorghum from the United States, maize sunflower, sorghum and wheat from Argentina, soybean from Paraguay.
"While no applications have been made to import the these alternative feeds, the current lack of feedgrain reserves, combined with the cost of grains domestically, may make imports a more viable alternative at some stage," he said.
BA also is undertaking pest and disease assessments for wheat and sunflower seed from the Ukraine, corn from South Africa and corn from the US states of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The last time Australia imported bulk shipments of grain for stockfeed was in 2003. About 48,000 tonnes of maize was imported from the United States and 270,000 tonnes of wheat from the United Kingdom.
Imported grains must be imported from low risk sources, grains processed in metropolitan ports under AQUIS supervision and stockfeeds heat treated to address contamination risks, Mr McGauran said.
He warned with record high global grain prices and the cost of transportation meant imports were not a silver bullet for Australia's grain shortage.
Earlier this week, grain and livestock industry representatives held an emergency Feedgrain Partnership (FP) Drought Summit in Canberra.
FP chair Kathleen Plowman said if local producers could not meet the needs of the livestock industry it would be forced to import grain.
© 2007 AAP"
http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Govt-gives-green-light-to-grain-imports/2007/11/01/1193619050975.html
So the CWB will sell feed wheat and barley to Aussies... BECAUSE we wouldn't sell these grains for the $100/t better price in the first place?
WOW, monopolies are amazing!
I see this:
gives green light to grain imports
November 1, 2007 - 6:44PM
The federal government has given Australia's livestock producers the green light to import grains, as local supplies plummet because of the ongoing drought.
Grain producers are predicting a two million tonne grain shortfall for the eastern states, as ABARE this week released its revised down forecast for 2007-08 winter crops.
The winter wheat crop output is now forecast at 12.1 million tonnes compared to a previous estimate of 15.5 million tonnes.
Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said 12 types of stockfeed would be allowed into the country, following research by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and Biosecurity Australia (BA).
The approved grain imports include wheat and rye from Canada, wheat from the United Kingdom, maize and sorghum from the United States, maize sunflower, sorghum and wheat from Argentina, soybean from Paraguay.
"While no applications have been made to import the these alternative feeds, the current lack of feedgrain reserves, combined with the cost of grains domestically, may make imports a more viable alternative at some stage," he said.
BA also is undertaking pest and disease assessments for wheat and sunflower seed from the Ukraine, corn from South Africa and corn from the US states of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The last time Australia imported bulk shipments of grain for stockfeed was in 2003. About 48,000 tonnes of maize was imported from the United States and 270,000 tonnes of wheat from the United Kingdom.
Imported grains must be imported from low risk sources, grains processed in metropolitan ports under AQUIS supervision and stockfeeds heat treated to address contamination risks, Mr McGauran said.
He warned with record high global grain prices and the cost of transportation meant imports were not a silver bullet for Australia's grain shortage.
Earlier this week, grain and livestock industry representatives held an emergency Feedgrain Partnership (FP) Drought Summit in Canberra.
FP chair Kathleen Plowman said if local producers could not meet the needs of the livestock industry it would be forced to import grain.
© 2007 AAP"
http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Govt-gives-green-light-to-grain-imports/2007/11/01/1193619050975.html
So the CWB will sell feed wheat and barley to Aussies... BECAUSE we wouldn't sell these grains for the $100/t better price in the first place?
WOW, monopolies are amazing!