Livestock 2026 Conference
From Data to Dollars: Turning AI into Real Farm Value
SALRC will host their bi-annual Livestock Conference, Livestock 2026, on 21-22 October at The Range Function Centre in Wagga Wagga (NSW).
This year’s conference, From Data to Dollars: Turning AI into Real Farm Value, will bring together producers, researchers, advisors, technology providers and industry leaders to explore how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can deliver practical benefits for southern Australian livestock businesses.
Conference Structure
Livestock 2026 is structured around four interconnected themes drawn directly from SALRC’s industry RDE&A priorities:
1. Livestock Productivity (Labour & Efficiency): Exploring how technologies such as virtual fencing reduce labour demands, improve operational efficiency, and enable new approaches to stock management in extensive systems.
2. Feedbase Intelligence: Demonstrating how satellite, drone, and in-paddock tools can provide timely, objective insights into pasture quantity and quality—supporting better grazing, stocking, and feed budgeting decisions.
3. Animal Health & Welfare Monitoring: Highlighting technologies that enable early detection of animal health and performance issues, improving outcomes through timely intervention and targeted management.
4. Integrated AI-Supported Decision Making: Connecting the system—showing how data streams across pasture, livestock and environment can be integrated to move from reactive to predictive, whole-of-enterprise decision-making.
Conference Outcomes
Participants will leave with:
- Improved Decision-Making Capability
Greater confidence using data to make earlier, more informed management decisions. - Increased Confidence to Adopt Technology
Practical examples demonstrating where technology delivers real return on investment. - Clear Links Between Data and Profitability
Understanding how technology adoption translates into measurable business outcomes. - Stronger Industry Connections
Direct engagement between producers, advisors, researchers, and technology providers.
Who should attend:
- Progressive beef and sheep producers
- Farm business owners and managers
- Advisors, consultants, and extension professionals
- Agtech providers and innovators
- Research and development organisations
Attendees are practical, commercially driven, and actively seeking technologies and partnerships that deliver clear on-farm benefits.
Future Voices in Livestock Scholarship
Applications are now open for the Future Voices in Livestock Scholarship, an exciting opportunity for young producers, researchers and extension professionals (35 years and under) to attend Livestock 2026.
SALRC is offering 14 scholarships to support the next generation of leaders across southern Australia’s livestock industries. The scholarships include conference registration, accommodation, travel assistance and exclusive networking opportunities.
The program is designed to bring together emerging professionals who are passionate about the future of livestock production and curious about how data, technology and artificial intelligence can deliver practical value on-farm. Whether you’re working in production, research or extension, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share your perspective and become part of the inaugural Future Voices in Livestock cohort.
Applications close Friday, 4 September 2026. Download the Information Pack and apply today.
AgTech Student Innovation Competition
SALRC’s AgTech Student Innovation Competition showcases the next generation of research driving innovation in southern Australia’s livestock industries.
Open to Masters and PhD students from Australian universities, the competition recognises research with the potential to deliver practical, on-farm outcomes across grassfed beef and sheep production. Finalists will present their research at Livestock 2026, connecting directly with producers, advisors, researchers and industry leaders while competing for the opportunity to demonstrate how emerging technologies can create real value for livestock enterprises.
Finalists will receive a travel bursary, conference registration and the opportunity to participate in a communication and presentation workshop before presenting their research to a producer-focused audience.
If your research has the potential to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability or labour efficiency, we’d love to hear from you.
Partner with SALRC
Partnering with SALRC provides direct access to a highly engaged, decision-focused audience.
As a partner you will:
- Engage directly with progressive producers and advisors
- Demonstrate practical real-world application of your solutions
- Position your organisation at the forefront of data-driven agriculture
- Build credibility through association with outcomes-focused content
- Generate high-value leads and long-term relationships
