Australia's $8 billion beef industry has welcomed research that shows it is almost carbon neutral.

The industry has been subjected to advertising campaigns and allegations that it says are misleading.

Queensland Primary Industries Department researchers have done a preliminary analysis of the net carbon position of the state's beef industry, concluding that the net carbon position at the farm level is likely to be close to zero.

Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said the report was encouraging, but he stressed it was not definitive.

"The report is an attempt to help us understand the issue of net carbon position in relation to agriculture," Mr Mulherin said.