Crop grower and sheep producer back efficiency to cut costs — not output
Mid North cropping and sheep specialists say smarter input and breeding decisions are key to protecting farm margins in tight seasons.
A Mid North crop grower and a leading sheep production specialist say improving efficiency — not increasing inputs — is the key to protecting farm margins in today’s operating environment.
Hoyleton mixed farmer Tom Robinson will share his experience managing fertiliser efficiency in a free upcoming webinar hosted by the landscape boards of South Australia, drawing on his family’s 150-year farming history between Halbury and Hoyleton.
Mr Robinson runs a no-till cropping enterprise focused on soil health, moisture retention and nutrient efficiency. He says fertiliser remains one of the largest variable costs in cropping systems.
“If we can improve nutrient efficiency without hurting yields, that directly improves profitability,” he said. “It’s about understanding your soils, knowing where you’re getting a return on investment, and avoiding unnecessary losses.”
The session, Cutting Inputs Without Cutting Production: Fertiliser and Emissions on Farm, will explore how fertiliser decisions influence both production and emissions outcomes in practical farm systems.
A second webinar will shift the focus to sheep enterprises, with Cootamundra-based livestock adviser Jim Meckiff leading Breeding for Efficiency: How Animal Genetics Can Reduce Farm Emissions.
Mr Meckiff, founder of JM Livestock and a former NSW DPI Sheep and Wool Officer, works with mixed farming and grazing businesses across meat and Merino wool systems. He says genetic selection remains one of the most powerful long-term drivers of profitability.
“Improving reproduction, lamb survival and feed efficiency lifts whole-of-flock productivity,” he said. “Better genetics increase output per unit of input — that’s where real efficiency gains are made.”
Both webinars are free and online:
- Fertiliser and Emissions — Monday 23 February, 4 to 5pm
- Breeding for Efficiency — Thursday 26 February, 1 to 2pm
Learn more about the carbon farming webinars and register for the Microsoft Teams event links.
