SHEEP producers are being urged to help head off a move to wind up the red meat industry's top research and marketing body.
Council president Kate Joseph said a resolution sponsored by the Australian Beef Association to wind up MLA "threatened to derail much of the success the sheepmeat industry has achieved over the past decade''.
"I urge all MLA members to secure their full voting entitlements before the October 4 deadline so that MLA can continue to add significant value to our position in world markets for sheepmeat,'' Ms Joseph said.
She said independent assessment showed that over the last 20 years, work by MLA and its predecessors, under the direction of Sheepmeat Council, had had a significant impact on the lamb industry.
"It has contributed to increased turn-off of larger and leaner carcasses, increased consumer demand, higher returns, and an additional $2.4 billion in industry value-add,'' Ms Joseph said.
"Twenty years ago the lamb industry was the poor cousin on the farm and in the market place.
"A team of people, including MLA, got together and turned the industry around.
"We are now a vibrant and export focused industry providing good returns for a high quality product.''
The MLA AGM is being held on Wednesday November 17 in Launceston, Tasmania.
Members not able to attend the AGM are encouraged to take up their full voting entitlement and vote by proxy.
All MLA members are automatically allocated a single vote, however, to receive full voting entitlement members
must complete and return their levies notice by the 4 October deadline.
Those who are not members of MLA can register to become members at MLA’s website http://www.mla.com.au/.
MLA members have the option of securing voting entitlements online, by completing the form at
www.mla.com.au/voting.
Further details are available at www.mla.com.au/agm or by phoning 1800 675 717.
