I love the Sydney Royal Easter Show! I first went to the show with my family as a little kid. I don't really remember much of that first experience. In high school I showed schools steers and eventually I had a chance to participate as a steward, judge and now as a Councillor of the RAS of NSW. If anything stands out to me when I think of the show, I think of the friendships of people and the sharing of advice and information.
I look forward to seeing old friends and catching up. This year is no exception, and its been very humbling to have plenty of people genuinely interested in how the business is going, and how I'm finding working for myself.
One of the discussions today did get me thinking, Several of us were talking about the business and I was asked for my take on why farmers seemed to be happy to seek external advice on most aspects of their businesses, with the exception of their cattle enterprises. I wasn't too sure what that meant. But the comparison was against sheep enterprises.
Many sheep enterprises not only use a sheep classer, but they rely and often depend on the views and decisions of the classer. As I was told today a classer can make or break an enterprise.
Similarly most businesses now have an agronomist recommending fertiliser programs, species selection, crop choices and paddock rotations.
Most businesses also use an accountant or a book keeper to help with the smooth running of the enterprise.
So why are beef enterprises different? I was asked by these producers today why do farmers willingly allow someone to choose their sheep, crops and pastures, but never consider seeking the same external input into their cattle program. I have to say if I knew the answer, I'd be struggling to keep up with demand!
I think the beef industry, particularly in NSW, had for a long time, access to the services of the Department of Agriculture's Beef Cattle Officers. Now this service no longer exists, producers now have to find new independent advisers to provide some objective advice to their cattle programs.
All I could say to my friends at the show was the next few years will be a great chance to develop a relationship with a person who can provide input into a beef program in the same way sheep classers or their agronomists offer the other parts of the farm business.
I definitely don't think people love their cows less than sheep, crops or pastures! I reckon its just we are all looking to find people who can share advice and ideas to take us to the next level. For me, I'm already working with some great producers. Its a bit exciting to think I might get a chance to meet and work plenty more people in coming years!