As farmers think about the season ahead, it’s the perfect time to reflect and refine to get the most out of the hard work that will be put in over the next few months. Co-op Programme Manager (Environment), Louise Cook, says focusing on gradual improvements is what counts for farmers wanting to see changes in their productivity and profitability.
“Farmers have a wealth of information at their disposal these days – there are many insights tools available that can provide a blueprint for improvements,” says Louise. “Knowing which changes to focus on is crucial.”
“Every farm is going to approach and find different ways to get there; but ultimately, it’s how farmers widen the gap between what they’re putting in versus what they’re getting out that will drive efficiency and ultimately profitability,” she says. “Being intentional around where to position your farm business is important.”
Take the time to reflect
Farming is busy, but taking some time to think about previous seasons and trends can be valuable.
“Trends over the past three or four years – things like operating profit per hectare, cow performance and business footprint – can tell farmers a lot. Good questions to ask are: where might we need to invest? Where are we earning more or less? What needs to change?” says Louise.
“You can have creep within your business – creep of cost, creep of the amount of feed coming in, creep of the number of cows, creep of replacement rate or whatever, and end up in a place you don’t want to be. So, it’s important to ask yourself – is this where I wanted to be? Is this where I want to stay?”
How to get started
Review your Farm Insights Report and any other tools available that can help with benchmarking and trends over time. The goal is to protect productivity, stabilise or improve profitability, ensure sustainability, and achieve a balance between inputs and outputs.
Evaluate current practices: Take time to assess current practices and identify things you might like to improve or change across feed, fertiliser, and herd management.
Set clear goals: Consider what you would like to achieve in the upcoming season and develop a plan to reach those goals.
Consult with your trusted advisors: Get some fresh eyes on your business. Engaging with trusted advisors, such as your vet or farm consultant, can provide valuable insights and guidance on your current practices, plans and progress. The Co-op also offers an On-Farm Efficiency Service that can help.
Stay Informed: Keeping up-to-date with industry trends and best practices is crucial. Stay informed about new developments and how they may help.
New Emissions Scenario Calculator
A new calculator has been developed to support farmers in reviewing what changes on-farm could mean for emissions and productivity. It can be used to test different scenarios based on tweaks to things like replacement rates and nitrogen use.
