Barnaby brings home the bacon

Mr Joyce and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington visited pork abattoir Swickers and cold pressed oil company Proteco.

Having once lived in Kingaroy, Mr Joyce said it was great to come back.

"It gives me a great opportunity to see what we need to do to further progress some of the markets that we utilise," he said.

"It's really important that we see the further promotion of pork. Swickers are doing a great job.

"I want to make sure that I do my part in helping Swickers get further access into international markets as well as develop their domestic markets."

Mr Joyce launched the agricultural competitiveness green paper in Canberra last week and cited removing excessive regulation and the price of power as two ways businesses such as Swickers could benefit.

Swickers general manager of operations Linchon Hawks said the company spent close to $40,000 a week on electricity.

In 2009 CHM Alliance bought Swickers and turned a company that was in liquidation into a profitable business.

About 96 per cent of all pigs processed in Queensland are going through the Kingaroy facility.

On average they process roughly 18,000 pigs a week, making them the single largest pork processing plant in Australia.

Each week 6500 to 7000 pigs are processed from CHM Alliance- owned farms into the SunPork brand.

"I was very happy to see that he'd [Mr Joyce] take the time to come and visit our business, understand what we do and what value we add to the region," Mr Hawks said.

Proteco Oils managing director Josh Gadischke gave Mr Joyce a tour of their cold pressed oil factory where they produce products such as olive, macadamia, flaxseed and almond oil.

Mr Gadischke said he had spoken with Mr Joyce about the high cost barrier to entering the tree nut industry. They also discussed the need for further investment in the agricultural sector.

"What we are finding is there's an unrelenting demand for tree nut products such as kernel and oil sales, but we're not seeing sufficient new growers entering the market because of that high cost barrier," he said.

"It's typical of perhaps the wine and grape grower industry where there is a cost to establish the farm and several years before there is a cash flow return.

"Other countries, particularly emerging countries through rebate schemes, are assisting to fund the development of tree nut industries overseas.

"Where Australia was once the largest grower of macadamia nuts in the world we are now down to second or third position."

State Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said it was an excellent opportunity to showcase Swickers and Proteco to Mr Joyce.

“I wanted to give both of these companies the chance to talk with the Minister about their businesses and the types Government support that could assist them to grow their markets and grow their business,” she said.

“This was also a chance to highlight with the Minister what an important and diverse agricultural region we have here in the South Burnett."