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August 2024

Dear ,

Given the dry start to the year and low soil moisture levels, many members across the state will be looking for a good spring. Supplementary feeding costs have been higher than expected for many too, so let’s hope the positive trend in livestock prices continues.

Despite a 15% increase in slaughter rates, cattle prices have risen, driven by higher export demand and a decline in U.S. beef exports, making Australian beef more competitive. The lamb market in South Australia has stabilised, with prices returning to seasonal trends

due to increased supply and record national slaughter rates.

Countries remain confident in our sustainable and well-managed export industry, which is marked by good animal welfare practices and improving biosecurity measures.

I would like to welcome Julie Collins as the new Federal Agriculture Minister and thank Minister Murray Watt for his efforts during his tenure, particularly his work on Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) to enhance biosecurity and protect our industries. Despite Minister Watt fulfilling an election promise regarding live sheep export, which Livestock SA strongly opposes, we continue to collaborate with the Government for the betterment of the livestock industry.

GICA initiated a series of goat information sessions across the country about the transition to eID from 1 January 2025, which include details on the requirements and processes that need to be followed for harvested rangeland goats (HRG). Livestock SA worked with GICA and PIRSA on the first of these sessions in Quorn, which was well attended. Members should contact Livestock SA ex-officio board member, Andrew Smith for more information.

We look forward to engaging with people at LambEx, taking place from 7-9 August at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The Sheep Industry Fund will have a booth managed by Livestock SA, where you can collect a free biosecurity sign and participate in an eID ear tag guessing game for a chance to win a Frank Green bottle. We encourage members to speak with us about any issues they wish to raise or to be provided an update on projects and policies we are working on.

Livestock SA will also be launching the new Red Meat and Wool Blueprint 2030 at LambEx. We have worked diligently to integrate six strategic plans into one comprehensive blueprint to streamline strategic direction, focus, resource allocation and investment for our industry.

With the EP Field Days coming up, we hope producers that are going can join us for a complimentary coffee and morning tea with CEO Travis Tobin at the Perrys site on 14 August at 10am.

The Adelaide Show will also commence at the end of the month. The Livestock SA office will be open on set days, and we again invite producers for a coffee and a chat. Further communications to members will be provided closer to the date.

Livestock SA is planning a Regional Round Up on 11 September at 6pm at the Bridgeport Hotel in Murray Bridge. We invite all producers in the area to join us for dinner, learn more about the industry funds, and network with fellow producers. We will also have a guest speaker, who will be announced soon. More details to follow.

Last month, we held a Members Muster to address the current challenges producers are facing and their impact on businesses. We have collated the data, which will be communicated to members soon and a brief snapshot can be seen below.

Our annual producer priorities survey is also out to gather your views on key issues impacting the state’s red meat and wool industries. Your input will help us effectively represent producers and advocate for better policies and programs on key issues over the next 12 months. This short, confidential survey will take approximately ten minutes to complete, and you can remain anonymous. By completing the survey, you ensure your views are heard, and you can also be entered into a draw to win one of three $250 fuel vouchers.

Please save the date: the Livestock Industry Dinner will be held on 7 November. I look forward to connecting with you at this and other upcoming events.

Kind regards,

Joe Keynes

President - Livestock SA

Livestock SA Annual Producer Priorities Survey

The enables us to gather your views and insights to better inform our advocacy, policies and submissions on your behalf.

The survey is short and confidential, taking just 10 minutes of your time. You can remain anonymous, but if you choose to provide your details, you’ll go into the draw to win one of three $250 fuel vouchers!

Complete the Survey Here

Livestock Strategies for the Next 100 Days

Due to popular demand and the ongoing seasonal challenges, you are invited to attend a 'Livestock Strategies for the next 100 days' session in Mt Gambier.

Date: Monday 19 August

Time: 2:00pm - 6:00pm, followed by a casual dinner

Location: Mount Gambier Golf Club, Attamurra Road

Register: Click here

Cost: Free

Presenters:

Rick Jordan, Gambier Seeds

Ashley Wachtel, Tailored Livestock Consulting
Dr Andrew Hoare, SE Vets

This free session will cover information for beef production including:

Feedbase - Grazing management and optimising Winter forage options
Livestock Nutrition – managing the challenges of potential early weaning
Animal Health Management - managing herd health and prevention strategies for nutritional deficiencies

These sessions are presented by project partners including SA Drought Hub, Livestock SA, AgRi-Silience, and the MacKillop Farm Management Group.

AgRi-Silience Producer Expression of Interest

Looking for an impactful program tailored to your grain, livestock or mixed enterprise business needs? AgRi-Silience is for you!

Benefits Past Participants Have Experienced:

Identifying core business values and developing a strategic plan.
Clarifying future directions, including succession planning and/or setting up a plan for success.
Adapting to challenges within business and personally.
Refining strategies to expand your business.
Mastering goal setting and planning for success.

Each business will gain access to expert facilitators and advisors, enabling them to work on identified areas of need customised to your needs.

What you’ll gain by participating over the next year:

Comprehensive Workshops: A three-day, guided, peer-to-peer workshop program.
Personalised Coaching: Individualised coaching to implement your plans.
Expert Consultancy: $3,500 worth of consultancy from subject matter experts focused on your specific needs.
Each business will work with expert facilitators and advisors, focusing on customised areas of need.

Click here for more information and to register your interest.

Members Muster Results Snapshot

Livestock SA held a Members' Muster in May 2024, seeking responses from livestock producers across the state on the current industry challenges they are facing. 308 members responded to this survey.

As a snapshot:

8.38 out of 10 is rating these challenges are having on business operations.
6.17 out of 10 was the rating producers gave on how prepared they feel to face these challenges.
37% of the challenges business operations are facing are related to financial and economic factors.
25% of actions taken by producers to overcome these challenges have been livestock management and diversification related.

Livestock SA will release a Youtube video shortly that discusses these results in further detail. Members will be notified when this is available.

LambEx

Next week, LambEx, the premier event for the Australian sheep, lamb, and wool industry, will welcome over 1,000 attendees. If you haven’t registered yet, we encourage you to do so. LambEx will showcase the sheep industry and provide a unique opportunity to bring together sheep producers and representatives from across the entire sheep, lamb, and wool production supply chain during this comprehensive three-day event. Be sure to visit the Sheep Industry Fund booth to learn more about the Sheep Industry Fund initiatives and the Red Meat and Wool Blueprint 2030 strategic plan.

Get all the latest information here.

SA Junior Heifer Expo

Proudly supported by the Cattle Industry Fund, the SA Junior Heifer Expo celebrated its 39th successful year. Congratulations to Oscar Golding from Hahndorf, who was named the Senior Champion Herdsperson. Oscar has attended every expo for the past 14 years, with the exception of 2020 when the event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Ben and Mase from GB Creative captured all the moments from the SA Junior Heifer Expo which can be download free of charge here.

Collaboration urgently needed on NW VIC dingo decision

Anyone with an eye on the global geopolitical environment would appreciate that the conditions under which Australia has prospered in the past are rapidly changing, and the demand for food, particularly safe and high-quality food, is increasing while the world’s ability to produce it is decreasing. That uniquely positions our sparsely populated country to capitalise on this opportunity, particularly where animal protein and sustainable fibre are concerned. Governments will be serving the strategic interests of taxpayers if they apply a global reality lens on some policies and regulations that are being hastily implemented.

Read the CEO Travis Tobin's latest Stock Journal column here.

Wild Dog Impact Survey

The Victorian Government is currently reviewing its Wild Dog Management Program and needs your input. As a livestock producer, your participation in this survey is important, even if you are not directly affected by wild dogs and dingoes. The data collected will help understand the impact of wild dogs on livestock producers and inform future policies.

Livestock Predation Survey

Your Future in Wool Booklet
Thinking about a career in the wool industry? In this booklet 'Your Future in Wool', you can explore the diversity of roles within the wool industry, the pathways you can follow to embark upon a career that interests you and investigate the skills, knowledge, attitude and experience you need to excel in this exciting and complex global industry.

Download a copy here.

Shearing Shed Safety Signage Kit

Australian Wool Innovation has sponsored the development and production of the kit and is making it available to woolgrowers at the handling and postage cost of $25 (including GST) per kit. Click here to order.