For generations, Tasmania’s farmers have been at the forefront of innovation, diversification, pure invention and pioneering new markets.
I don’t have to tell them how smart they are, but I do have to remind the non-farming community that we lead the way.
The latest additions to the roll of honour are Bothwell farmers John and Annie Ramsay. Earlier this week, they were announced as the winners of the inaugural MLA Challenge, which recognises significant productivity improvements. Their win came against stiff opposition from interstate farmers.
The Ramsays run a 14,000 head flock of merino and composite sheep on two properties, Ratho at Bothwell and Tarella at Dysart. Essentially, what they did in a period of 12 months was to break a long-held tradition of running only merinos, which had involved three lambing dates, winter lambing and excessive haymaking. Instead, they opted to use crossbred ewes, including 2000 extra head, lambed in the spring – and ended up producing more meat per hectare.
John Ramsay says the results have been fantastic. After a year in the MLA Challenge, the Ramsay’s pregnancy scanning results rose from 135 per cent to 175 per cent; they were turning off 30 per cent more lambs, earlier, and their labour efficiency improved from 7000 dry sheep equivalent per full time equivalent, to 8500.
John Ramsay says that, after changing to crossbred ewes, their lambs generated a potential additional $75,000.
“By the end of June, we had turned off 6500 lambs, compared to 3000 lambs the year before. The increase comes from producing more second-cross lambs and from focusing on finishing them more quickly and effectively. At $100 per lamb, that’s a major improvement, plus we can run more ewes through winter without the lambs hanging around,” he says.
At the same time, they upgraded staff management practices and also changed banks.
These are remarkable achievements, especially when considered against a background of the safety of staying with the status quo. Breaking from their traditional merino production was a courageous decision.
It is easy to continue along the safe and well-worn path of what is a traditional and, essentially, working business model for the farm. The Ramsays’ journey to this award is a good example of what can be achieved if you are brave enough to look inward, seek advice and, if necessary, change business direction.
Examining all aspects of the farm business model includes honest evaluation of one’s own skill sets and admitting that there are parts where you may need to seek expert advice can be confronting. That advice can show return on the initial investment quite quickly.
The Ramsays’ win reinforces our farmers’ reputation, certainly within the industry, of being innovative and knowing their stuff. They show they are prepared to reassess and revise processes to deliver better business outcomes.
It also once again underscores our position as ‘best in breed’ – leaders on the national industry scene.
TFGA Chief Executive Jan Davis
