Sheep innovation wins $10m

The state government has announced a further investment in the local agriculture industry, with nearly $10 million to go to a new sheep business centre in Katanning.

The centre will provide a hub for information, research, training and innovation, the government said, and follows a $25 million investment from the state and federal governments in the Katanning sale yard.

Included in the project will be sheep meat production development, supporting test consignments, boosting industry business skills, and development of a web portal for key industry information.

Last financial year, sheep meat exports rose 31 per cent to 70,000 tonnes, earning more than $300 million, whilst the live sheep trade reaped an additional $160 million.

More than $400 million of wool was also exported.

Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston said the investment was part of the government’s $300 million Seizing the Opportunity in Agriculture initiative.

“It will play an important role in providing the science, skills and strategies to help the sheep industry improve capacity and supply chains to satisfy customer requirements for lamb, mutton and wool,” he said.

The initiative will be funded from the Royalties for Regions program.