JBS Australia has announced its Tasmanian and King Island Producers of the Year at an inaugural Premium Producer forum and dinner held last night in Launceston.
The award celebrated the dedicated efforts of Tasmanian livestock producers that fed livestock into JBS Australia's high end beef and lamb markets.
Assessed on a number of metrics including conformance to the JBS Farm Assurance Program, Phillip Rattray, Winderleigh was named Beef Producer of the year, Tom Salmon of Jericho was awarded the Lamb producer of the year, and Doug Collins was named King Island Producer of the Year.
In announcing the winners, JBS Chief Operating Officer (Southern) Sam McConnell thanked producers for their loyalty and dedication to supplying the highest quality livestock to meet the growing demand for JBS Farm Assured beef and lamb both domestically and in export markets.
"The success of our JBS Farm Assured beef programs would not be possible without the ongoing commitment from the producers of Australia to continue to deliver to us the highest quality livestock that meet the tight specifications our customers around the world demand," he said.
"The winners represent almost 2000 farmers that are currently active participants in JBS Farm Assured, and each one of these producers play a critical role in our ability to provide our customers with the product and service they need 52 years of the year."
The evening was attended by about 150 beef and lamb producers from across Tasmania and King Island, and a selection of Government and industry executives.
JBS Farm Assurance was developed in 2010 after the business identified the growing global demand for an on-farm quality assurance standard that guaranteed specific safety, animal welfare, traceability and management practises.
JBS Australia's Southern sales manager, Rob Ryan, said product underpinned by the Farm Assurance Program had been well received by the global market.
"The very high quality of the product we have, along with the integrity of the JBS Farm Assurance program has delivered a restaurant quality natural product and integrity that is second to none," he said.
It is a very rare combination of natural attributes, ISO 17065 integrity and superior eating quality that has captured major customer's attention and seen very rapid market growth for our program business in Australia and overseas.
JBS Australia launched its first brand underpinned by Farm Assurance in late 2013.
Great Southern Beef and Lamb since have seen a rapid uptake of participation by farmers due to the price premiums the program offers and the sustainable management practises it encourages.
JBS Australia's southern livestock manager, Steve Chapman said the numbers spoke for themselves, with premiums being passed down through to the producer over and above normal grass fed programs.
"In that last two years JBS Australia has made a conscientious effort to place an increased focus on brand marketing to drive greater value and margins back through the supply chain to the farm gate. It has become part of our day-to-day operations and part of our DNA" he said.
Brands currently underpinned by JBS Farm Assurance program include Great Southern Beef and Lamb, King Island Beef and Red Gum.