China might be a long way from North East Victoria, but there are rising concerns the region's beef prices could plummet if more abattoirs are affected by an export ban.
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China suspended beef imports from four abattoirs on Tuesday due to "repeated violations" of inspection and quarantine requirements, and local farmers fear if the relationship between the two countries isn't mended, more meatworks could follow suit.
Mudgegonga farmer Loretta Carroll said while cattle prices have remained high, there have been growing concerns that could change dramatically due to export impacts of COVID-19.
"If it continues on I think it could see prices here fall," she said.
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"China is one of our major markets of beef so if more abattoirs are affected by an export ban such as this or by the virus itself it could have a huge impact on local producers."
Ms Carroll said local farmers have been worried if clusters of COVID-19 cases pop up in abattoirs, they will have to close.
"That would be a major concern for us, but that hasn't happened yet," she said.
"They have been doing the right thing to keep the virus out, apart from that one in Melbourne.
"But even with that they have been able to find another abattoir to do that service kill, so they have been working together."
Nationally, Ms Carroll said there are concerns that if the relationship with China doesn't improve, there could be "major impacts in all industries".
"I mean with barley and wheat but also other industries, not just ag, we export a lot to China and that needs to continue for our producers," she said.
Eighteen per cent of Australia's beef production is exported to China, with exports worth more than $3 billion a year.
The four meatworks involved, based in Queensland and NSW - JBS Dinmore, JBS Beef City, Kilcoy and Northern Cooperative Meat Company - account for roughly 35 per cent of Australian beef exports.