SA’s SHEEP industry has cemented its plans to grow by 20 per cent in the next five years with the launch of the SA Sheep Industry Blueprint this week at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, Hahndorf.
The initiative of the SA Sheep Advisory Group and Livestock SA is supported by the University of Adelaide and PIRSA.
The 20-page plan contains ideas and priorities from more than 150 industry stakeholders, and sets a target to grow the $1.48 billion a year sector to $1.8b by 2020.
Revenue from SA’s 11 million head flock and the value chain accounts for eight per cent of the state’s GDP, making it a major economic driver.
The four areas of focus are resilient and profitable production systems, creating efficient value chains, enhancing community and consumer support and building industry capability and capacity.
By 2020, the aim is for the SA producers to be weaning 12.5pc more lambs through larger flock sizes and higher weaning rates, a 20pc increase in the use of quality consultants, advisers and decision support tools, and 35pc of sheep to be supplied via direct consignment with individual feedback and payments to suppliers reflecting quality and yield differences.
Blueprint working group chairman Allan Piggott, who launched the Blueprint in front of nearly 200 producers, said it was a “hugely important milestone”.
“We need to make sure we build on our strengths and position ourselves for a strong and viable future,” he said.
“In SA for 150 years the sheep industry has been strong and there is no reason to think it can’t continue. We employ a lot of people and it is worth a lot to the SA economy.”
Mr Piggott said it marked the beginning of a new, united and coordinated push to boost the industry’s productivity.
“It is important, particularly when talking to private enterprise and government, you need to demonstrate you are a strong and cohesive industry, you have a plan for the future and it is an industry worth investing in.”
The SA Sheep Industry Blueprint has been well-received by industry stakeholders.
Livestock SA vice president Joe Keynes said meeting the Blueprint’s targets would ensure the industry’s continued success.
“There has never been a better time to be part of the SA sheep industry,” he said.
“We have a nice glossy document, but it is when the rubber hits the road that it is going to give us the value.”
SA Sheep Advisory Group chair Leonie Mills said the organisation would continue to offer its support.
“I am looking forward to exciting times from the SA sheep industry and positive outcomes from the objectives the Blueprint has set,” she said. “Allan (Piggott, the Blueprint working group chair) once said planning to fail is failing to plan and I have great confidence that this group has got that well and truly covered.”
Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said the Blueprint was a perfect fit with the state government’s economic priority of “premium food and wine produced in our clean environment and exported to the world”.
Details: livestocksa.org.au/blueprint
