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From the presidentWith GEOFF POWER

APRIL has been a huge month with the launch of the SA Sheep Industry Blueprint – the culmination of 14 months of industry consultation to develop a roadmap for growth.

This was a proud day for Livestock SA, which initiated the Blueprint’s development with the SA Sheep Advisory Group (see report page 2). With the targets in place for sheep, the Blueprint Working Group will soon turn its attention to a blueprint for the cattle industry.

Aside from the launch, Livestock SA also participated in the Cattle Council of Australia’s Rural Awareness Tour in the South East.

The RAT is open to mostly government departmental staff to give them an insight into life in regional areas and operating rural businesses. This year’s tour attracted about 20 attendees who visited a range of businesses and tourism spots in the SE.

The idea is that they gain an insight into how decisions made in Canberra can impact farmers. Andy Withers and Jack England represented Livestock SA and spoke about their own operations, as well as insights into rural financial counselling from Charlie Goode and an update on CCA from Jed Matz.

The Northern Region held a successful meeting in Port Augusta on April 29. A range of important pastoral issues were discussed such as the Brands Act, Great Artesian Basin, Pastoral Unit, Arid Lands NRM Board and drought planning. Region chairman Col Greenfield or board member Andrew Clarke can update members who were not able to make it.

This month, Livestock SA had the opportunity to suggest measures to the State Government that could be implemented to help those in drought in the South East.

Based on recent discussion with sheep and cattle producers in the region, we suggested:

> Reducing input costs. Most SE producers are having drought-induced cash flow problems. A reduction in government levies would take

Livestock SA flags extra drought measures some pressure off most farmers’ financial position.

> Preventing land degradation. The most concerning factor affecting SE land is soil degradation. A loss of topsoil can result in lost productivity. Small grants to help producers with containment feeding could avoid damage.

> Reducing dryland salinity and flood mitigation. Funding for the crucial SE Drainage Network will help with flood mitigation and the potential for loss of farming land due to dryland salinity. Saline water tables remain high despite the drought and overgrazing only magnifies salt wicking to the surface.

We believe these actions would help to preserve the SE’s productive capacity so that once seasonal conditions improve, the region will again make a significant contribution to the state’s financial position, as it has in the past.

Finally, Livestock SA welcomed new chief executive Andrew Curtis to the role in May. Andrew will take over from Deane Crabb, who will step into a policy officer role. There will be more to come from Andrew next month.

Left: At the South East Rural Awareness Tour were financial counsellor Charlie Goode with Cattle Council CEO Jed Matz and forum co-host Amanda Giles, Crower. Right: NAB Agribusiness’ Matt O’Dea and Livestock SA’s Jack England pictured with Lucindale Area School Year 11 students Joshua Murcott, Glencoe, Elinor Leake, Mt McIntyre, and Dana Clutterbuck, Edenhope

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Blueprint launch targets sheep industry growth, development

share of the SA workforce. It’s an exciting time to be a sheep and lamb producer.”

The Blueprint identifies five key objectives as well as a series of areas to focus on to deliver the productivity increases. The objectives are:> Grow the SA sheep industry’s

production and value from $1.48 billion in 2015 to $1.8 billion by 2020 while maintaining international competitiveness.

> Develop a united value chain workforce plan to 2020 and beyond to attract new and energetic people to the industry.

> Support a 20 percent increase in the engagement of quality consultants and advisers with increased use of business decision-support tools.

> Act as a conduit for greater research, development and extension collaboration along the value chain at a regional, state and national level and develop a measure of greater adoption and uptake.

> Develop a proactive and progressive industry communication plan that, through advocacy and champions, gives greater consumer confidence to increase demand and engage the whole value chain.

“We have set five key ways of measuring success by 2020, such as increases in SA’s flock size and a 12.5 percent increase in the number of lambs weaned. We also want to see 35 percent of sheep supplied by direct consignment having

A new strategy aimed at driving a 20 percent increase in South Australian sheep industry productivity by 2020 was launched at Hahndorf last month before a crowd of about 190 producers and industry stakeholders.

The SA Sheep Industry Blueprint will boost the SA sheep industry’s production and value from $1.48 billion in 2015 to $1.8 billion by 2020.

Livestock SA partnered with the SA Sheep Advisory Group to instigate the Blueprint, which was supported with funding from Primary Industries and Regions SA as well as a five-year agreement with the University of Adelaide on its implementation. A Working Group of 15 industry leaders has been working on the Blueprint’s development.

Blueprint Working Group Chairman Allan Piggott, Moorlands, said the launch heralded a new, united and coordinated push to boost SA’s world-leading sheep and wool industries.

“The SA sheep industry employs 15,000 people on 7000 properties so our industry is a significant contributor to the state’s economy,” he said. “We feel the direction the Blueprint provides will help to grow our industry, leverage our SA sheep levies by collaborating with other stakeholders and investors to maintain or gain our

individual feedback with payment to suppliers for quality and yield differences, as well as a 2 percent increase in processing efficiency.

“The thing that is different about our Blueprint is that it has a series of actions and tasks that will ensure it is not just a plan that sits on a shelf but plays a vital role in guiding our growth efforts in the medium term.”

Details: Read the Blueprint at www.livestocksa.org.au/Blueprint

SA Sheep Industry Blueprint Working Group member Jane Kellock with Manager Stephen Lee and Chairman Allan Piggott at the launch of the Blueprint.

Photo courtesy of Stock Journal

Applications open for cattle Rising Champion initiativeYoung beef producers passionate about their industry can apply for Cattle Council’s 2016 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion initiative.

Last year, the initiative drew 82 applicants with fourth generation Victorian farmer, Kevin Stark, of Lake Mundi, announced as the winner. SA’s finalist was Kitty Sheridan, Naracoorte.

The 2016 winner will be announced at a gala dinner in Canberra on August 27.

Details: www.cattlecouncil.com.au/rising-champions or phone 02 6273 3688.

Woolshed standardsIn a joint wool industry initiative, the Shearing Contractors Association of Australia, the WA Shearing Industry Association, Australian Wool Innovation and WoolProducers Australia have developed a woolshed poster to help champion higher standards in woolsheds across Australia.

The poster outlines standards for shearing sheds on safety and sheep welfare as well as the importance of communication between contractors, shearing team and producers. The poster was available for free in the March edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine, otherwise email admin@woolproducers.com.au for a copy.View the poster online

Now in its sixth year, the award caters for young people aged 18 to 35. The aim of the Rising Champion initiative is to inspire, empower and support young people passionate about the Australian beef industry, and to provide them with an opportunity to be directly involved.

Applications opened on May 1. The winner will have the opportunity to develop knowledge, political acumen and leadership skills to be a young champion in the beef industry.

ANIMAL Cruelty to sheep will not be tolerated

Rams to be sedated except in special circumstances that are negotiated between contractor or shearer and grower Dogs that bite must be muzzled Sheep are to be handled humanely

Sheep should be yarded overnight and drained (off food and water) for a minimum of 8 hours, any other time frames should be jointly discussed and mutually agreed between the contractor, shearers and grower If a sheep injury occurs, the injury will be reported and attended to immediately and humanely

Sheep should be free of flystrike and dags

SHED/YARD All workers will wear correct, enclosed footwear

Smoking in outdoor designated areas only Pen arrangements will have no forward drags

Clean toilets, washing facility and drinking water to be made available

Chemicals and application equipment will be stored safely outside the shearing shed Music to be no louder than a conversation

Anyone found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at work, or while driving to or from work will not be allowed to continue working Shearing Plant will be serviced and maintained with minimal noise and vibration and where practicable will be anti-locking

The shed will have appropriate ventilation suited to the prevailing weather All injuries are to be reported to the employer immediately

A First Aid kit will be maintained on site

Pre and post shearing safety inspections will be conducted by the person in charge of shearing operations with the shed owner or their representative The shed (and living quarters where provided) will be cleaned prior to start (wool grower), and at the end of shearing operations (shearers or shearing contractor).

Where water is available, wet down yards to minimise dust and potential spread of diseaseThank you!

Remember Quality before quantity

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Please refer to your State Workplace Health Safety Act and Regulations for further detail. Each state has its own Sheep Welfare legislation – these are available online for further information.

FEEDBACK ADMIN@WOOLPRODUCERS.COM.AU

IN THIS SHEARING OPERATION, SAFETY AND SHEEP WELFARE ARE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTRACTORS, SHEARING TEAMS AND GROWERS IS ESSENTIAL.NEGOTIATE ANY VARIATIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED.