Columns
Investing in every livestock producer
[as published in the Stock Journal]By Travis TobinAfter one of the toughest periods many South Australian livestock producers can remember, there are genuine reasons for optimism.Over the past few months...
A new normal for South Australia’s Farmers, and a system that must change
Every season brings its own challenges, but increasingly those challenges are no longer isolated events. They are compounding, overlapping and arriving with little warning. For South Australia’s livestock producers, the...
Crisis after crisis – when do we build greater resilience?
[As published in the Stock Journal] Every few years something happens that reminds us just how fragile our supply chains really are. The latest reminder is the escalating conflict in...
A good EU trade deal isn’t optional, it’s a test of national interest
[As published in the Stock Journal] Australia’s negotiations with the European Union have reached a decisive point. What is settled now will shape our trade architecture for decades.This is not...
Why the SIF and CIF review matters – and why timing can’t be an excuse
(As published in the Stock Journal) Few words trigger more groans in agriculture than ‘levy review’. Fair enough. They almost always land when seasons are tight, margins are under pressure...
An election moment for South Australia’s livestock industry
[As published in the Stock Journal] With the state election approaching, livestock producers should be clear-eyed about what is at stake. Elections matter because policy settings matter, and for an...
Frameworks and Funding, Not Slogans, Will Shape Our Future
[As published in the Stock Journal] Last week the federal government accepted the Climate Change Authority’s advice to set a new 2035 emissions target, a 62% to 70% cut on...
Cutting the tape to unlock productivity
[As published in the Stock Journal] When livestock producers talk about productivity, we don’t just mean running more sheep or cattle. Productivity is about doing more with less – less...
Time for SA to match the east: A case for a rural finance and resilience agency
[As published in the Stock Journal] Such is the scale and footprint of the livestock industry that this year we’ve been advocating for members affected by both climatic extremes –...
Effective heritage needs a better framework
[as published in the Stock Journal] South Australian livestock producers fully support protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage. However, recent amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988, while well-intentioned, have created an...
The growing policy disconnect
[as published in the Stock Journal] We often talk about the degrees of separation from agriculture increasing with every generation as populations continue to urbanise and the associated lack of...
From Red Tape to Real Impact
As published in the Stock Journal Regular readers of this column will notice that I often reference the evolving nature of global trading conditions and its impact on heavily trade...
Evoking transparency in the agrifood supply chain
As published in the Stock Journal Last week, the fifth evokeAG conference in Brisbane showcased innovations aimed at future-proofing the agrifood sector. The 2025 theme ‘common ground’, is increasingly relevant...
Australian Government releases new drought plan
[as published in the Stock Journal] The Commonwealth Government leads, and therefore sets the tone, for collective government drought policy response. A new Drought Plan for 2024 to 2029 was...
Grazing and Green Energy: Navigating Risk in Shared Landscapes
Livestock producers understand the competition for land and resources is intensifying, particularly in support of a decarbonising world. Renewable energy generation is a key part to Australia’s clean energy transition...
Rules to enable sheep and farmed goat eID
As published in the Stock Journal As governments continue the transition to electronic identification (eID) for sheep and farmed goats, Livestock SA was recently consulted on the proposed changes to...
Seasonal conditions test current drought policy
[as published in the Stock Journal] Drought policy has a history of constant change. Mid last century, the focus was on attempting to ‘drought proof’ agriculture by expanding irrigation. In...
Collaboration urgently needed on NW VIC dingo decision
[as published in the Stock Journal] As the Victorian Government completes the policy and regulatory settings review for dingo conservation and management across the state, Livestock SA remains concerned about...
Heed industry experts not anti-industry activists
Last week we met with the MLA team preparing the 2025 Sheep Industry Projections Report. While a routine activity for industry, it was a good reminder about the ongoing industry...
Government crosses the live sheep exports red line
[As published in the Stock Journal] Interesting is the diplomatic way to describe the way the Australian Government chose to advise industry how and when it would end live sheep...
Animal Welfare Strategy set to be renewed
[as published in the Stock Journal] As part of its 2023-24 Budget, the Australian Government committed $5 million over 4 years to renew the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS). This...
Restructure aims to raise livestock body
[Stock Journal viewpoint by Joe Keynes] A recent viewpoint about Livestock SA’s future direction warrants a response as it’s important to clarify how the organisation has evolved and why we’re...
Victorian wild dog control decision exposes SA producers
[as published in the Stock Journal] The sudden decision by the Victorian Government to stop wild dog controls in the northwest of Victoria, which became effective from 14 March 2024...
Carbon myopia now looking to dictate Australian diets
[as published in the Stock Journal] The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the statutory agency within the Department of Health and Aged Care that is responsible for developing...
GAB proposal needs sensible decision made
[as published in the Stock Journal] The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is one of the largest underground freshwater resources in the world. It generates approximately $13 billion in value to...
Global agrifood roadmap recognises critical role of livestock production
The latest United Nations Climate Change conference – COP28 in Dubai – wound up today (12 December). Depending on what media you follow, the annual Conference of the Parties is...
Fast-tracked legislation must also deliver for producers
[as published in the Stock Journal] There was a higher-than-normal degree of excitement and self-congratulations last week when the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill passed the parliament. Through the Hydrogen...
Livestock production soon to be climate neutral
[as published in the Stock Journal] The Australian red meat and livestock industry continues to lead other industries in becoming more sustainable and being part of the climate solution. It...
Responsive and responsible government needed on live sheep
[as published in the Stock Journal] Readers of this column would recall the March piece I wrote about the commencement of the Federal Government consultation process for phasing out live...
Options for better supply-demand processing and pricing balance
Livestock producers understand the cyclical nature of livestock prices. However, the price declines we have seen in the past 12 months have been faster and deeper than many were expecting...
Competition for land use
The world population clock currently ticks over at more than two new humans every second. In other words, the world population is growing by over 200,000 people a day. It...
Hydrogen Act requires cool approach
South Australia is at the global forefront of clean energy generation. In just over 16 years the state’s electricity mix has shifted from below 1 per cent renewables to more...
Stock theft hurt widespread
Stock and general farm theft across Australia is a serious and growing problem. The days of the ‘jolly swagman’ are long gone and large-scale and sophisticated thefts are now occurring...
Livestock industry part of the climate change solution
Last week the State Government convened its inaugural Climate Change Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Livestock SA joined PIRSA and the grains and dairy industries to host a primary...
Live export decision sets dangerous precedent
Livestock producers are the ultimate optimists. But that optimism has been knocked recently with the Federal Government commencing work on phasing out live sheep exports from Australia by sea. A...
Flood response, a reminder to stay vigilant about bushfire threats
Driving across the state this past month to meet with Livestock SA members has provided a compelling perspective of the contrast between the extended wet weather last year; from the...
Biosecurity push needs a national focus
For over a decade all governments have agreed to a strategic direction for our biosecurity system to protect Australia’s way of life. All governments have also been aware that Australia’s...
Govt spend needed to rev up sheep eID
With the successful return of the Adelaide 500 last week, it is useful to reflect on the ‘race’ the state’s livestock industries are in. Being recognised as the best in...
Breaking down the livestock methane concerns
Around 15% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock production. In Australia, the contribution of methane emissions from ruminant livestock is nearly 10% of total greenhouse emissions...
Biosecurity boost highlights important improvements
By Travis Tobin RECENT South Australian emergency animal disease preparedness activities and scenario planning exercises have identified gaps and concerns that will limit the state’s ability to respond and contain...
Tech needed to keep SA producers ahead
SOUTH Australian livestock producers are forward-thinking people, constantly on the lookout for technologies that will enable them to operate as cost effectively as possible while maintaining the highest standards of...
Producer concern over rural rates
One of the key statistics to come out of Livestock SA’s recent producer priorities survey was the large portion of producers who cited council rates as a notable impact on...
Livestock producers urged to improve compliance with traceability activities
All Livestock producers face significant business risk if an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) outbreak reaches Australia, so now is the time to focus on meeting all compliance requirements for your...
Is your business prepared to survive an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak on your farm?
Is your business prepared to survive an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak on your farm? A recent biosecurity risk exercise facilitated by the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis...
Fast reactions can help slow disease reach
Pene Keynes and Emily Buddle (Livestock SA) How would you respond to a livestock disease outbreak on farm? Would you notify your neighbour of the potential risks to their business...