FEEDLINK:
an e-mail list to link stock feed suppliers with livestock owners

Rod Thompson - formerly Media Information Specialist (Electronic Media), Rural Industry Business Services

What is FEEDLINK?
Why use FEEDLINK?
Important notice: Terms and information about use
How to use FEEDLINK
To send an e-mail message to FEEDLINK
To receive information from FEEDLINK
Using FEEDLINK without the Internet
How to unsubscribe from FEEDLINK
FEEDLINK administration and help
Other useful drought information

What is FEEDLINK?

The Queensland Government has established an e-mail facility to assist with trading of stock feed. This facility, called FEEDLINK, will help livestock owners to access information from suppliers of stock feed, particularly as dry conditions affect in large parts of the State.

FEEDLINK, established by the Department of Primary Industries, will facilitate trade between producers and suppliers who wish to contact each other via e-mail. FEEDLINK will operate from September 2001.

Livestock owners and stock feed suppliers can take part in FEEDLINK to exchange information about supply and demand of stock feed via the Internet.

Why use FEEDLINK?

Livestock owners who have ordered their feed ahead of time have been able to secure feed at a contracted price. These producers have managed the risks of prolonged dry conditions to their businesses. However, some producers have not forward-bought or contracted feed supplies, and some have found their usual source of feed has already been committed.

As information about available stock feed becomes more important to livestock owners, FEEDLINK offers a timely service of linking those who need to buy molasses and other stock feed with suppliers who are able to sell this stock feed.

Important notice: Terms and information about use

Use of the FEEDLINK facility is subject to certain terms and conditions. Important elements of these terms are extracted below.

Privacy and accessibilty

FEEDLINK is a Queensland Government Internet facility. E-mail correspondence sent to this facility will be treated as a public record and will be retained as required by the Libraries and Archives Act 1988 and other relevant regulations.

It is important to note that FEEDLINK has been created to

Users of FEEDLINK are advised that e-mail correspondence, as a public record, is accessible by the DPI and by other registered users. E-mail correspondence is also archived and may be accessed by third parties.

Moderation

Please also note that FEEDLINK is a moderated list. This means that each message must be approved for distribution to all members of the list by the moderator, an experienced DPI officer. Moderation is needed to protect members from unsolicited mail, computer viruses, etc.

Legal notices

DPI does not warrant, guarantee or make any representations regarding the correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency, or any other aspect regarding characteristics or use of the information presented on the FEEDLINK facility. The fact that DPI hosts the FEEDLINK facility does not serve as an endorsement by DPI of content on this List.

DPI accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss, whether caused directly or indirectly through the use of the FEEDLINK facility. You agree to assume the full risk of any transaction that you may enter into, pursuant to your correspondence or use of the FEEDLINK facility. DPI accepts no liability whatsoever for any actions by third parties that interfere with your use of the FEEDLINK facility.

It is important to note that:

• DPI or other agencies of the Queensland Government and its officers will not intervene or interfere in the market.
• DPI or other agencies of the Queensland Government will not buy or sell stock feed.
• DPI or other agencies of the Queensland Government will not negotiate the terms of trade on behalf of either party for the sale of stock feed.

How to use FEEDLINK

Those who have stock feed for sale can post an e-mail message to FEEDLINK@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au.

Those who need to buy stock feed can subscribe to FEEDLINK to receive these e-mail messages, or they can read the archived messages on the Internet at: http://lists.dpi.qld.gov.au/FEEDLINK.html.

Subscribing to FEEDLINK

To subscribe to the FEEDLINK e-mail service, simply send a blank e-mail message to: FEEDLINK-subscribe-request@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au

Soon after you do this, you should receive a message asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to this message with the word ok on a line by itself. Your subscription will then be activated and you will receive a welcome message. (We require this confirmation to protect you from being subscribed by someone else.)

If you do not receive a request to confirm your subscription within a few hours, or if you do not receive a welcome message after confirming, try the other two methods below or phone DPI's Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 for help.

Subscribing to FEEDLINK using a web-based method

You can also subscribe to FEEDLINK on-line through DPI's Internet site. Use a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape, and access the web page address: http://lists.dpi.qld.gov.au/FEEDLINK.html.

Click on the link Join or Leave the Group and follow the directions.

OR

If you do not have a web browser, use the following method:

Send an e-mail message from your preferred e-mail address as follows:

To: listserv@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au 

Subject: (Leave this blank) 

In the main body of the message write:

subscribe FEEDLINK YourFirstName YourLastName

end 

. and then send the message.

OR

If you have trouble subscribing by these methods, contact the DPI Business Information Centre on
13 25 23 for help.

To send an e-mail message to FEEDLINK

Address your e-mail message to: FEEDLINK@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au.

When you send your message, the system will distribute it to everyone who is subscribed to the FEEDLINK list.

To receive information from FEEDLINK

If you are a subscriber to FEEDLINK, you will receive all messages that are sent to FEEDLINK. You can also view messages that have been sent to FEEDLINK on DPI's Internet site at: http://lists.dpi.qld.gov.au/FEEDLINK.html.

Information to be posted to FEEDLINK

Those who wish to sell stock feed through FEEDLINK should include enough details in their e-mail message to allow livestock owners to make direct contact with them by return e-mail or phone/fax. Remember that messages sent to FEEDLINK may be read by people who do not have e-mail or Internet access.

Useful information might include:

Company Trading Name
Business address(es) (from where stock feed can be supplied)
Nearest large town
Phone number and Fax number
E-mail address
Type of stock feed (e.g. molasses, protein meals, grain)
Quantity of stock feed
Condition of stock feed and
Price.

Warning: It is ILLEGAL to feed CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, DEER OR OTHER RUMINANTS with stock feed containing restricted animal material which is defined as blood meal, meat meal, meat and bone meal or other meal made by rendering material of animal origin, excluding gelatin, milk of Australian origin, milk products made in Australia from Australian milk and tallow.

LIVESTOCK OWNERS can also send e-mail messages to FEEDLINK (e.g. to ask questions of suppliers). Livestock owners who want to buy stock feed should make direct contact with suppliers by return e-mail or phone/fax.

If you select "Reply" when you want to respond to a FEEDLINK message, your message will be addressed to only the individual who sent the original e-mail message.

If you select "Reply all" when you respond to a FEEDLINK message, your message will be addressed to the FEEDLINK list. This means that it will be distributed to everyone who is subscribed to FEEDLINK and also be automatically archived to DPI's web site at: http://lists.dpi.qld.gov.au/FEEDLINK.html.

Remember

If you want your e-mail message to go to ALL FEEDLINK subscribers, the address must read: FEEDLINK@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au.

If you want your e-mail message to go to ONLY the author of the original message, click on REPLY and check that ONLY this address is inserted in the "To:" line.

Using FEEDLINK without the Internet

FEEDLINK is an Internet-only service. Producers may lodge their details and feed requirements through public Internet facilities (such as libraries or Internet booths) or have a friend or neighbour lodge the request on their behalf.

How to unsubscribe from FEEDLINK

Once the drought is over or you no longer need to access information on stock feed supplies, you can unsubscribe your e-mail address from FEEDLINK.

Use a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape and access the Web page address http://lists.dpi.qld.gov.au.

Click on the link to FEEDLINK.

Click on the link to Join or Leave the Group and follow the directions.

OR

If you do not have a web browser, you can unsubscribe from FEEDLINK by sending a blank e-mail message to:
FEEDLINK-unsubscribe-request@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au

OR

You can send an e-mail message as follows:

To: listserv@lists.dpi.qld.gov.au  

 Subject: (Leave this blank)  

In the main body of the message write:

unsubscribe FEEDLINK

end 

.and then send the message.

FEEDLINK administration and help

For more information and assistance in using FEEDLINK contact:

Rod Thompson
Phone: The DPI Business Information Centre on
13 25 23 (Queensland residents); Mobile: 0418 725452.
E-mail: Rod.Thompson@dpi.qld.gov.au  or phone the DPI Business Information Centre on 132523; non-Queensland residents phone 07 3404 6999.

Other useful drought information

• Information useful for primary producers and agri-business has been place on the DPI's web site. This includes DPI Notes and other web-based factsheets, updates and feed supply register.
• The DPI Internet site for drought information is: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/drought.
• Other general information is available from the DPI's home page on the Internet: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au.
• From time to time, DPI staff may send a message to all FEEDLINK subscribers advising them of new information available on the DPI's Internet site.
• DPI's PrimeNotes CD-ROM.

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Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.

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File No: RIB0072 . Date created: September 2001 . Reviewed March 2003