FORGET the beef capital of Australia.

Agriculture Minister and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce thinks Rockhampton is the beef capital of the Southern Hemisphere - so much so he is willing to put $3 million on the table for Beef Week 2018.

To the tune of moo's at Rockhampton Show today, Mr Joyce announced the funding should the Coalition government be successful on July 2 - a commitment not dissimilar to Labor leader Bill Shorten's $3.1 million pledge to the event in March.

Mr Joyce said the Coalition's $3 million was to support the region's proud heritage in the cattle industry.

"It's good to be part and parcel of building Central Queensland as the beef capital of, I believe South East Asia, of the Southern Hemisphere and to make it basically our version of Dallas Fort Worth - a place that is absolutely and utterly concentring on and proud of their heritage in the cattle industry," he said.

Beef Australia board chair Blair Angus said last year's event created a $74 million spend in the Rockhampton region.

"The beef industry really is one of the pillars of our economy," he said.

"I think (the Coalition's) acknowledgement of that with your support today will go a long way in helping us create Beef 2018 we hope will be even better than Beef 2015.

"Your increase with support this time is greatly acknowledged and an acknowledgment of our management of that funding to give you return on investment."