A meat industry leader believes a recent MAF report has missed the mark when it comes to the industry's biggest issues.

Anzco chair Graeme Harrison says while the report and farmers say marketing's the main issue facing the sector, he says it's actually the supply of sheep and cattle to processors.

Mr Harrison says farmers have to make up their minds about how to behave with processors for there to be any chance of a culture change in the industry.

He suggests meat processors such as Anzco will be looking to farm ownership to ensure a secure supply of raw material for its plants.

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Meanwhile, Federated Farmers believes its hundred and fifty dollar per lamb campaign is still viable.

Sheep and fibre chair Bruce Wills says however, low wool prices are proving to be the weak link.

He says they're hoping to have farmers to be paid a hundred and fifty dollars for an average sized lamb within five years.

Prices are currently topping a hundred dollars per lamb, thanks to improved returns this season.

But Mr Wills agrees with ANZCO's Graeme Harrison that wool prices are the achilles heel of the industry.

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And Eastern Bay farms on the coast could one day be planting cereal crops.

An international team of scientists has developed salt-tolerant plants using a new type of genetic modification.

The Australian-based team has used GM to contain salt in the part of the plants where it does less damage.

Professor Mark Tester says helping plants to withstand a salty onslaught as water quality decreases will have a significant impact on world food production.

The team's now transferring the technology to crops such as rice, wheat and barley.

Mr Tester says the rice results are already looking very promising.