# Opinion #### [Opinion: Livestock producers face methane crossroads: engage, ignore, or offset?](/content/news/opinion/opinion-livestock-producers-face-methane-crossroads-engage-ignore-or-offset/index.html) In this contributed opinion piece Farmers for Climate Action director Peter Holding says Australia’s livestock industries cannot afford to sit out the methane debate, arguing the sector’s future will depend on whether producers reduce emissions, rely on offsets, or let climate impacts dictate outcomes… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/opinion-livestock-producers-face-methane-crossroads-engage-ignore-or-offset/index.html) Beef Central, 03/06/2026 #### [The cost of doing something](/content/news/opinion/the-cost-of-doing-something/index.html) After challenging Beef Central readers with his recent article “What is the cost of doing nothing?”, Andrew Freshwater today follows up with a second article asking, as farmers, can we still afford to do something?.. [Read More](/content/news/opinion/the-cost-of-doing-something/index.html) Andrew Freshwater, 30/03/2026 --- #### [What’s the cost of doing nothing?](/content/news/opinion/whats-the-cost-of-doing-nothing-on-fertiliser-and-soil-improvement-some-numbers-on-a-ne-vic-farm/index.html) Victorian beef and lamb producer Andrew Freshwater provides some thoughts and numbers based on a modelled farm in Northeastern Victoria, where a ‘do nothing’ fertiliser and soil improvement strategy could cost the business $3.13m over a few years  …  .. [Read More](/content/news/opinion/whats-the-cost-of-doing-nothing-on-fertiliser-and-soil-improvement-some-numbers-on-a-ne-vic-farm/index.html) Guest Author, 13/03/2026 #### [Producer viewpoint: Do we need to rethink biosecurity?](/content/news/opinion/producer-viewpoint-do-we-need-to-rethink-biosecurity/index.html) The arrival of Lumpy Skin Disease in Bali is a timely reminder that biosecurity risks are not going away; they are just getting closer, and the risk of incursion is increasing… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/producer-viewpoint-do-we-need-to-rethink-biosecurity/index.html) Markus Rathsmann, 29/01/2026 --- #### [Australian agriculture needs to stop leaving its future to chance](/content/news/opinion/australian-agriculture-needs-to-stop-leaving-its-future-to-chance/index.html) While mining steadily “drips water on a stone” to shape public understanding, Australia’s red meat sector still relies largely on an ad hoc approach and volunteers to tell the $77b industry’s story… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/australian-agriculture-needs-to-stop-leaving-its-future-to-chance/index.html) James Nason, 04/12/2025 #### [Labor’s deal with Greens shocks cattle industry, but it should be no surprise](/content/news/opinion/opinion-labors-deal-with-greens-shocks-cattle-industry-but-it-should-be-no-surprise/index.html) The Federal Government yesterday shocked many in the cattle industry when it announced it had done a deal with the Greens to overhaul the country’s environmental laws… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/opinion-labors-deal-with-greens-shocks-cattle-industry-but-it-should-be-no-surprise/index.html) Eric Barker, 28/11/2025 --- #### [The fine art of risk: Why uncertainty is ag’s greatest advantage](/content/news/opinion/the-fine-art-of-risk-why-uncertainty-is-ags-greatest-advantage/index.html) Australia’s livestock producers know that risk isn’t a side-effect of the job – it is the job. Every decision – when to buy, when to sell, when to feed, when to wait – comes with uncertainty. But right now, that uncertainty feels sharper than usual, writes Legacy Livestock CFO Sophia Benedetti… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/the-fine-art-of-risk-why-uncertainty-is-ags-greatest-advantage/index.html) Sophia Benedetti, CFO and Co-founder, Legacy Livestock, 07/11/2025 #### [Land managers must not be left out of the loop in EPBC overhaul](/content/news/opinion/land-managers-must-not-be-left-out-of-the-loop-in-epbc-overhaul/index.html) Australian beef producers manage approximately 50 percent of Australia’s land mass and play a key role in sustainably managing our environment – so it is incredibly concerning that in the Federal Government’s proposed reforms of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conversation (EPBC) Act have little consideration of agricultural stakeholder views… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/land-managers-must-not-be-left-out-of-the-loop-in-epbc-overhaul/index.html) Dr Chris Parker, Cattle Australia Senior Policy Advisor, 30/10/2025 #### [Opinion: Activist media trying to shutdown scientific debate on meat](/content/news/opinion/opinion-activist-media-trying-to-shutdown-scientific-debate-on-meat/index.html) With the ink not even dry on the latest study recommending a reduction in meat consumption, activist groups are wasting no time in their efforts to prevent any voices opposing the study… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/opinion-activist-media-trying-to-shutdown-scientific-debate-on-meat/index.html) Eric Barker, 10/10/2025 --- #### [Opinion: When “bioethics” crosses the line in the war on red meat](/content/news/opinion/opinion-when-bioethics-crosses-the-line-in-the-war-on-red-meat/index.html) For millions of years red meat has fed human beings, yet modern “anti-meat” studies increasingly dismiss its proven nutritional value and instead focus on ways to force people to give it up – from retail nudges to extreme proposals that involve engineering ticks to spread meat allergies… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/opinion-when-bioethics-crosses-the-line-in-the-war-on-red-meat/index.html) James Nason, 25/08/2025 #### [EU Lumpy Skin outbreak a reminder of Australia’s vulnerability](/content/news/eu-lumpy-skin-outbreak-a-reminder-of-australias-vulnerability/index.html) The outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Europe is another wakeup call for Australia’s cattle industry, as the risk of the disease entering remains very real… [Read More](/content/news/eu-lumpy-skin-outbreak-a-reminder-of-australias-vulnerability/index.html) Cattle Australia head, Dr Chris Parker , 28/07/2025 #### [Opinion: Big conservation now bullying family farmers](/content/news/opinion/opinion-big-conservation-now-just-bullying-family-farmers/index.html) The Australian Conservation Foundation last week launched its latest attack on Australian beef producers, with several media outlets quickly turning around the conservation giant’s allegations of illegal land clearing with little scrutiny – forcing the industry to defend itself. But with a quick online search and thorough read of the report, more scrutiny was warranted… [Read More](/content/news/opinion/opinion-big-conservation-now-just-bullying-family-farmers/index.html) Eric Barker, 27/06/2025