Eric Barker

New South Wales

Reporter at Beef Central, aiming to become a socially acceptable golfer. Toowoomba via Mount Isa, Cairns, back to Mount Isa, Tamworth

Articles

“Icons of the road” preserving history of Australia’s livestock transport industry

1 week ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

FROM a Gulf trucking pioneer, to a “mechanised swaggy” from the Riverina – the icons of the road award has been aiming to preserve the rich history of Australia’s livestock transport industry. The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association has now recognised four icons of the road – which included the addition of Camrandale Transport’s Tim Welk (see today’s other story) and Craig Congram from the Finley in New South Wales this year.
Clearwater River named to endangered rivers list

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Eric Barker

Apr. 16—The Clearwater River and its tributaries landed on a list of the nation's most endangered rivers. The Clearwater, its north, south and middle forks and the Lochsa and Selway which meet to form the Middle Fork were named the seventh most threatened river system by American Rivers. According to the group, changes adopted in the updated plan that guides management of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest put the rivers at risk to logging, mining and future dams.
Big oats planting expected this year as season turns around

1 week ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

A BIG oats crop is expected across Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales this year, as a series of late summer storms in the past month turn around the season for many. Planting has finished in most of the area, with some having to do a replant as big falls stopped crops before they began. But the mood seems to be positive as some properties in Northern NSW have gone from de-stocking a month ago to now having oats underway.
No 3: Curley Cattle Transport

1 week ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

ONE of the biggest growth stories of this year’s top 25 livestock transporters feature is Cloncurry-based Curley Cattle Transport. The Curley family has been operating trucks in North-West Queensland for more than 40 years, with the livestock haulage business launched in 1982 by brothers Mick and Robert Curley.
Video: The unique skills of a livestock transport driver

1 week ago | sheepcentral.com | Eric Barker

IN an attempt to show the skill that drives Australia’s cattle industry, Beef Central tagged along with Frasers Transport Livestock Central Qld compliance manager Athol Carter as he carefully assembled a b-triple road train and headed out to Gracemere Saleyards to help load some cattle. Athol has been in the livestock transport industry for 26 years, working in all parts of Queensland.
No 4: Frasers Livestock Transport

1 week ago | sheepcentral.com | Eric Barker

WARWICK-based Frasers Livestock Transport fleet size may not have changed much since the 2013 Top 25 but the company is moving more cattle than ever using less resource due to an operational strategy employed over the past 10 years. Managing director Ross Fraser says more trucks loaded more often equates to a win-win for his company, one of the oldest continuously running family livestock transport businesses in Australia.
Video: The unique skills of a livestock transport driver

1 week ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

IN an attempt to show the skill that drives Australia’s cattle industry, Beef Central tagged along with Frasers Transport Livestock Central Qld compliance manager Athol Carter as he carefully assembled a b-triple road train and headed out to Gracemere Saleyards to help load some cattle. Athol has been in the livestock transport industry for 26 years, working in all parts of Queensland.
No 4: Frasers Livestock Transport

1 week ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

WARWICK-based Frasers Livestock Transport fleet size may not have changed much since the 2013 Top 25 but the company is moving more cattle than ever using less resource due to an operational strategy employed over the past 10 years. Managing director Ross Fraser says more trucks loaded more often equates to a win-win for his company, one of the oldest continuously running family livestock transport businesses in Australia.
Feeder cattle market: Grids up 10c as rain changes outlook

1 week ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

FEEDER cattle prices have increased in the past fortnight as numbers start to come back to the market after a quiet run of weeks. While rain across Queensland and Northern New South Wales has seen a big restriction in supply over the past fortnight, the feeder market has not risen too dramatically in response. Buyers who spoke to Beef Central this morning were quoting 400kg+ flatback feeder steers between 375c-385c/kg and about 380c in the south.
‘Sustainability’ policies at a crossroads, with Trump pushback

2 weeks ago | beefcentral.com | Eric Barker

AS the United States Government has promised to be “woke no longer” and pushes corporates wind back their targets, a group of students have been told that the ‘sustainability’ movement is still a present and import challenge for the Australian industry.