Embattled Victorian wagyu farmer David Blackmore has received unprecedented support from the Australian food community after his local shire refused him a permit to raise cattle.
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Sydney chef and Blackmore Wagyu champion Neil Perry launched an online petition calling on the Federal Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce and the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to intervene in a planning dispute.
Blackmore was refused a permit from the Murrindindi Shire Council to raise his cattle in intensive animal husbandry.
Several years ago Blackmore turned his back on feedlots, instead raising his cattle in paddocks, where they graze and are fed on Blackmore's ration mix. Blackmore raises more animals to the hectare than traditional free-range grazing.
Neighbouring residents have complained about the smell, noise and damage to trees from corellas attracted to the feed.
David Blackmore says in response: "There are native birds I plague proportions across the country. These people have bought into a farming area."
Thousands of people have signed Perry's petition, including chefs such as Matt Moran, Miguel Maestre and MasterChef identities such as Matt Preston and Alice Zaslavsky.
If Blackmore doesn't contest the planning decision he has 60 days to move his herd.
"David Blackmore has created a benchmark in the ethical raising of beef, grows the best wagyu in the world outside of Japan and is worth millions to the Victorian economy," Perry says.
"They shouldn't be trying to shut him down. They should be raising a statue to him."
