SA leaders look back on 2015

The year began and ended on a horrific note, with the Sampson Flat and Pinery fires wreaking havoc across almost 100,000 hectares of farming land, leaving trails of destruction that had to be seen to be believed.

And while good autumn and late winter rains had croppers eyeing bin-busting yields, yet another dry spring left many pondering what might have been.

But the big positive to come out of 2015 is undeniably the surge in livestock prices. Cattle markets were especially buoyant, while the ram sale season was hailed an outstanding success by agents and stud owners alike.

After so many ups and downs in the past 12 months, Stock Journal asked our industry leaders what they considered the highlights of 2015, and what they hoped the new year would bring.

Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said the spread of the “premium food and wine produced in our clean environment” message, and the creation of an extra 1200 jobs in the food production sector were major highlights.

“The other thing that the government has done is we’ve gone on a lot of overseas missions to try and build new markets and create new opportunities for producers and manufacturers,” he said.

Looking forward, he said he had his fingers crossed for more favourable weather conditions.

“The main thing I hope for in 2016 is good rainfall right across the state, at the right time of the year,” he said.

Meanwhile, SA Country Women’s Association president Linda Bertram said she would look back on 2015 as a year of resurgence for the organisation, with new branches opening and existing branches growing.

“The move to form new branches has shown that women who work either in the workforce, on properties or have their own business prefer evening meetings where they can enjoy friendship support and sharing new skills while giving service,” she said.                                                     

In 2016, she aimed to promote the association’s assistance for people in need, such as aid following a natural disaster and support for country students to further their education. Increasing branch numbers was also on the horizon.

“This in turn will build stronger and more vibrant communities to enable more support and service to be given at a local level so that everyone in the area would benefit,” she said.

ELDERS national livestock and wool manager Chris Howie said livestock prices giving real returns to producers, who have done the hard yards for many years, was a highlight of 2015.

”My hope for the industry in 2016 is some rain in Qld especially, but also some normality of rainfall for 2016 across the country,” he said.  

“We need feed and water to rebuild herd and flock numbers and, once this occurs, understanding from the financiers that funding livestock will be one of the most important things in the next few years for the rural communities of Australia. 

“Primary industry has gone full circle and will be the most important asset Australia has for our future wealth and employment.”

Landmark stud stock manager Gordon Wood said the highlight for 2015 in the stud stock game was the way the ram sales held up considering a near disastrous spring. 

“We saw Allendale, Days White Face and Ulandi Park smash previous records for top and average prices, as well as huge leaps in the average price for Poll Merino rams,” he said.

“The lamb and sheep industry has been solid and looks to be delivering healthy returns for producers for years to come. 

“Beef cattle in 2015 have rewarded growers with elevated prices to a level of which we haven’t seen before and the future looks bright.”

Mr Wood’s hope for the industry in 2016 is a normal winter and spring rainfall pattern.

SA Dairyfarmers Association president David Basham (pictured) considers 2015 a year of extremes, based on the closure and reopening of key processing plants.

For 2016 he is hoping for stronger milk prices.

“My wish from an advocacy view is that the SA government acknowledges the amount agriculture already pays for the services from government and stops increasing water, land and emergency services levies to balance the state budget,” he said.

Wool Producers Australia president Richard Halliday (pictured), Bordertown, considers expanding the group’s Health and Welfare committee to include more of the industry, and movement on the Wild Dog Action Plan to be big steps from 2015.

“We had a contested election for independent grower representation on our board which tells me there is grower and industry interest in really trying to influence decisions that impact us all,” he said.

For 2016 he would like to see increased use of the national wool declaration to supply quality information to buyers. A growing ewe flock and an increase in the value of wool are also key goals.

“And how could I not say for us to hear the sound of rain on the roof much more in 2016?” he said.

BETTER than expected yields, given the challenging hot and dry spring conditions, were a highlight for the SA cropping industry in 2015, according to major grain handler Viterra and its marketing arm Glencore.

“Viterra and Genesee & Wyoming Australia’s $100-million rail agreement and the introduction of long-term agreements for allocating shipping capacity will also provide SA growers and exporters with an efficient, cost-effective and reliable supply chain in 2016,” Viterra operations general manager Tim Krause said.

Glencore Trading general manager Philip Hughes said it would be great for some timely rain in 2016 to realise the state’s crop production potential.

“HUGE gains” in cattle prices and a continued growth in returns on sheep, lamb and wool have cheered Livestock SA president Geoff Power, Orroroo.

For 2016 he hopes for timely rainfall to help producers capitalise on these gains.

“We also want to continue to grow Livestock SA's membership so we are representing an even greater proportion of livestock producers,” he said.