RMA Network CEO Chris Howie.

IT really is time for all of us in the country to start to drive the education of the city dwellers about agriculture’s importance.

Our reliance on the education system has failed miserably with the ag programs not able to cut through to enough numbers.

Many kids don’t even know where their food comes from. Social media is our friend when used proactively and we should all include some positive ’farm’ news each month allowing your city friends to gain insight into what is going on in the country.

Using the Keep the Sheep success as a foundation, it is time the livestock industry united with a positive news offensive to the cities about all of the good stuff we do. All of us together – not divided.

Sheep and lamb turnoff

Hayden Lambert, TDC, Penola noted the Naracoorte first cross 1.5 year-old sale on 14 November will yard 13,000 with 20,000 first cross ewes lambs on 21 November.

These numbers are well down on previous years, with season being the main factor. As always quality will still be right up there with the annual drafts being presented.

Shad Bailey from Colin Say and Co at Glen Innes said there are good runs of sucker lambs appearing. With the New England season being ideal, the winter and early spring lambs performed very well.

Shad said indicative pricing eased from $8.50/kg and $9/kg for lambs back to $8.30-$8.60/kg this week, which is still very acceptable.

Warren Clarke, Lanyons Stock and Station at Hamilton said the annual run of lambs has arrived.

Weight is still an issue, with indications there will be a solid run of store lambs available once the first draft of slaughter lambs has been taken. Pricing is solid in the $8-$8.50/kg range.

One smaller lamb processor said the saleyard competition for 25kg-plus carcase lambs is driving price up making them look at other markets in the lighter end. It is evident heavy lambs in SA and Victoria are not in the numbers we would normally expect, which is pushing competition into the NSW centres. I think it is worth doing the numbers and focusing on weight gain options linked to a forward contract into next year if available.

Meat & Livestock Australia mutton slaughter and export figures are showing nearly 50:50 with lamb, which is unusual at this time of year. It does indicate a strong export demand though, which is a good sign for the sheep industry over the next 12 months.

Hoof issue management moves sheep interstate

The aggressive approach by PIRSA in SA on the enforcement of foot scald and footrot protocols in saleyards has meant larger than normal numbers of lambs and sheep being consigned to Victorian yards. This includes many Victorian sheep and lambs that were usually consigned to Mount Gambier and Naracoorte now going to Hamilton or further east. It’s bit like polls for politics; the recent MLA National Livestock Reporting Service numbers survey showed a positive trend in the SA yards driven by the difficult season, but the ground troops are telling a different story, with many lambs and sheep redirected over the border. Hopefully some common sense comes into play before long-term damage is done to the saleyard system in SA.

An Integrity Systems Company sheep and goat electronic ear tag webinar for agency staff is scheduled for 22 November. It is probably worth taking the time to log on, considering the pin will be pulled to start on 1 January 25 in most states.

Cyber security

After a hack last year RMA Network was asked by IDCare to attend a meeting with the Federal Minister for Small Business and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins in Queensland. IDCare is like LifeLine for small businesses, under 19 employees, who have been hacked or impacted. IDCare now has dedicated federal funding and the contact number 1800 595 160 should be in every office and on every fridge across Australia. Their assistance is Australian-based, was personal, reassuring and confident allowing a very fast resolution to our problem at that time. Julie and I also had a quick chat about her agriculture portfolio and the offer for our industry to help her with understanding grassroots issues before making decisions. Both conversations went well I thought.

Weaner and ewe sales

Ready to roll are you? The sale season is upon us with the southern and western centres now advertising for the first weaner sales, first cross ewe sales and big lamb sales. Keep an eye on the various media for sale advertising. Considering the season in South Australia and parts of Victoria opportunities will appear to buy at the right price and quality.

Cattle: BeefEx a success

I can only describe the BeefEx event for the feedlot industry as an outstanding success. The speaker lineup was top shelf with a panel including Opposition leader Peter Dutton. The networking opportunities for feedlots, processors, agtech, financiers, engineer companies and agency delegates created positive conversations over a multitude of subjects. I did dodge the mechanical bull though.

Flavour of the month

Cows and Calves are starting to be the flavour with different areas looking for supply. Andrew Peadon, Barlow Peadon at Dubbo and Andrew Whan, Miller Whan and John at Mt Gambier are on the hunt Angus cows and calves with a bit of style to fill orders. Cow and calf units at Mortlake ranged from $1200-$2000 and looked good buying even if only for a freshen and split job.

Greg Knaggs, Elders at Dubbo said the season, as good as it has been, did shut off very quickly. Greg said Coonamble went from good to looking like it had been sprayed out in 10 days. Still plenty having a go and many are selling down and buying straight back in with Greg looking for cows and calves – colour doesn’t matter.

Will Jennings Paull and Scollard Nutrien let me know the yarding’s at Barnawartha have been much lower than normal for the time of year. Overall the prices are moving a bit each way as is expected.

Good cows made $2.86-$3.09/kg and best bullocks $3.12-$3.65/kg, holding firm although trade types eased with heifers dropping 25-35 cents, which is not unusual in November as they start to stack the fat on.

Wagga reported 5000 cattle, which is also down on expected yarding size. Bullocks topped at $3.84/kg, but trade heifers under 400kg if not black were hard to move at $2.70-$3.08/kg.

Trade yardings all over the south have been lower which seems to indicate the run of numbers maybe short-lived. A couple of hook prices also indicate this as well with cows up to $6/kg and Bullocks at $7/kg. With the feedlot inventory at a record high and expected to increase, this is giving processors a continuity of supply that helps level out price spikes much like a shock absorber.

However, the heat has hit Queensland and northern New South Wales, which will slow numbers. The live exporters are cranking out of all ports in the north and Western Australia, with prices on an upward trend. Again, supply and demand equal price and the next six months may become interesting.

Store and weaner sales are ready to ramp up with Jack Kelly from J&J Kelly at Warrnambool telling me the Mortlake sale for 21 November has closed the book on entries at 6200 head. The sale series for Naracoorte, Mt Gambier, Leongatha, Yea, Barnarwartha and others all heading into the volume time of year will have plenty of weaners and store cattle to select from.

Recognizing effort

Simone Dand dropped me a note that in August the RMA Network/Wodonga TAFE/MLA agency and supply chain training had its 300th participant. Will Quartermaine from HF Richardson Livestock, Ballarat took the honours. The following attendees have completed the course recently, showing the investment made in the next generation by their employers: Brooke Green, TDC Naracoorte; Brock Furness, Greenhams; Bronwyn Wellsmore, Sharp Fullgrabe Nutrien, Bairnsdale; Jackson Adams, Spence Dix & Co, Keith; Emily McKay & Georgie Schulz, Schubert Boers, Albury; Owen Quinn, Farm Manager Albury; Justin Wishart PPHS, Naracoorte; Jake Anthony, Phelan Henderson, Leongatha; Dylan Wells, Elders Millicent; Jock Maddern, Westech Ag Kyle, Kaniva; Alec Rainnie, Virbac, NSW, and Harry O’Malley, Bowyer Livermore, Bathurst. The next intake will start on 25 March 25 and will be an ideal opportunity to finetune new starters across the livestock and wool service industry.

Capture the experience

It is easy for larger companies to move experience out to help the bottom line as a quick-fix solution to a poor result. However, my age group, or to be trendy — the ‘Gen X brigade’ — is the last group to understand life before mobile phones, email, social media and texting, as well as low unemployment and interest rates. Old was not always bad, as it was based on practices passed on from experience and not the emotionally-based reactive solutions we tend to see now that are driven by opinion. The other component is the strength of the relationship is now becoming more important than the company brand profile.

Australian agriculture is one of the few industries left in the world where the personal relationship is stronger than the promotional package. Inherent trust grows over time and is more important now than in the past.

Safety in the workplace

This is a bit earlier than normal, but just as important. Looking after people is the number one priority and in the busy part of the year with long days and volumes of livestock stock we really need to focus on training, inductions and awareness.

If a serious injury occurs, it is a requirement to notify WorkSafe immediately or wear a large fine. My approach, much the same as the All Blacks, is a ‘no dickhead’ policy. If you have a ‘dickhead’ in your team that is putting others at risk – get rid of them.

The next game plan

For the past 12 months I have been focused on the short game. Quick wins to utilise feed, take the price, move on. Considering season, supply, demand and the international scene — that we can’t change — I think it is time to adopt a longer game strategy.

Targeting purchases for exit into the May to August spread next year Feed is always the issue, but my gut feel is this period will be good for the producer and the processor with the US entering its fifth year of herd liquidation combined with excellent export demand established over the past 12 months.

Remembering ‘The Chief’

The tributes to Col McKenna from Midfield Meat have really opened up the scope of the impact he had on the livestock and racing industry. During the 90s when I sold a lot of Merino lambs to Col he was a main stay of support at the Sother Australian seasonal sales and Gepps Cross. Wearing his Akubra buying sheep seems a million miles away from Royal Ascot in top and tails. RIP Col.

Opportunities

Cows and calves

Heifers – again

Lambs for the winter heavies

Cybersecurity awareness

Positive networking