Chris Howie

City understanding. It really is time for all of us in the country to start to drive the education of the city dwellers. 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.

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

Cyber security. After a hack last year RMA Network was asked by IDCare to attend a meeting with the Federal Minister for Small Business / Agriculture – Julie Collins MP in Queensland. IDCare is like LifeLine for small businesses, under 19 employees, who have been hacked or impacted. Now with dedicated Federal funding the contact number for IDCare 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 grass roots issues before making decisions. Both conversations went well I thought.

Ready to roll are you? The sale season is upon us with the Southern and Western centres now advertising for the first weaner sales, 1^st x ewe sales and big lamb sales. Keep an eye on the various media for sale advertising. Considering the season in SA and parts of Victoria opportunities will appear to buy at the right price and quality.

Cattle

Cows and Calves are starting to be the flavour with different areas looking for supply. Speaking to Andrew Peadon, Barlow Peadon, Dubbo and Andrew Whan, Miller Whan and John, Mt Gambier both 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 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 $2.86 – $3.09 & best bullocks $3.12 – $3.65 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 which is also down on expected yarding size. Bullocks topped at $3.84 although trade heifers under 400kg if not black were hard to move $2.70 – $3.08.

Trade yardings all over the south have been lower which seems to indicate the run of numbers maybe short lived. A couple of hooks prices also indicate this as well with cows up to $6.00 and Bullocks at $7.00. With the feedlot inventory at a record high and expected to increase this is giving processors a continuity of supply which helps level out price spikes much like a shock absorber. However, the heat has hit Queensland and Northern NSW which will slow numbers and the live exporters are cranking out of all ports in the North and WA 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, Warrnambool letting me know the Mortlake sale for the 21^st Of November has closed the book on entries with 6,200 The sale series for Naracoorte, Mt Gambier, Leongatha, Yea, Barnarwartha and others all heading into the volume time of year with plenty of weaners and store cattle to select from.

Sheep

Hayden Lambert, TDC, Penola noted the Naracoorte 1^st cross 1.5 sale on the 14^th of November will yard 13,000 with the following week yarding 20,000 1^st Cross ewes lambs on the 21^st 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 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 & $9.00 for lambs back to $8.30 – $8.60 this week which is still very acceptable.

Warren Clarke, Lanyons Stock and Station, 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 first draft of hooks lambs has been taken. Pricing is solid in the $8.00 – $8.50 range.

Speaking to one smaller lamb processor they said the saleyard competition for 25kg + 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.

MLA Mutton slaughter and export figures are showing nearly a 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.

Foot scald. The aggressive approach by PIRSA in SA on the enforcement of foot scald & footrot protocols in saleyards has seen larger than normal numbers of lambs and sheep being consigned to Victorian yards. This includes many Victorian sheep and lambs that use to be consigned to Mt Gambier and Naracoorte now going to Hamilton or further East. A bit like polls for politics, the recent MLA NLRS numbers survey show 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 sale yard system in SA.

ISC Sheep and Goat electronic ear tag webinar for agency staff is scheduled for the 22^nd November and is probably worth taking the time to log on considering the pin will be pulled to start on the 1^st January 25 in most states.

Recognizing effort. Simone Dand dropped a note that In August the RMA Network / Wodonga TAFE / MLA Agency and Supply chain training saw its 300^th participant attend. 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;  Harry O’Malley, Bowyer Livermore, Bathurst:

Next intake will start in March 25 and is an ideal opportunity to fine tune 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” are the last group to understand life before mobile phones, email, social media, texting as well as low unemployment and interest rates. Old was not always bad as it was based on practices passed on from experience not emotionally based reactive solutions we tend to see now 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 – this is a bit earlier than normal but just as important. Looking after people is the number one priority and the busy part of the year with long days and volumes of livestock stock really need us 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.

My thoughts on 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 (which 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 5^th year of herd liquidation combined with excellent export demand established over the past 12 months.

Remembrance. 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 90’s when I sold a lot of merino lambs to Col he was a main stay of support at the SA 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

Chris Howie is the CEO of RMA.