Beef producers came together at workshops in Albany, Nannup and Perth last week to develop strategies for improving their businesses.
Producers who attended Building a Better Beef Business workshops had previously taken part in the WA Beef Business Analysis Program, run by the Department of Agriculture and Food and supported by the WA Beef Council.
Department development officer Allison Watson said by participating in the program, each business received a report, based on in-depth analysis of farm business performance and physical farm data as well as financial data.
“This allows participants to compare their performance against that of their peers,” Ms Watson said.
“For each parameter measured, the report shows the value for the individual business against an average value and a value for the top 25 per cent of all producers involved.
“Businesses involved for more than one year in the program have also benefitted from being able to compare their business performance on an annual basis and track the effect of changes they have made.”
The difference in operating profit per hectare between the average and the top quartile of participants is $92 to $172.
Under the guidance of agricultural consultant Alan Peggs and strategic planner Burditt Krost, producers identified the most important areas of their business to focus on to improve performance and develop the strategies required to make changes in these areas.
Mr Peggs told the group that the key profit driver was improved pasture utilisation through increased stocking rate. He said there was little room to cut costs and the best way to cut costs was to increase output.
Workshop participants also benefitted from a presentation by Albany beef producer Bevan Ravenhill who talked about his strategies to maximise pasture utilisation – one of the key drivers of profitability in the beef enterprise.
Andrew McNabb, from Scott River, attended the Nannup workshop and found the analysis was a good way to work out the strengths of the business and what areas to focus on and improve.
“Bevan’s talk was excellent and we picked up information to use in our own enterprise,” he said.
Data collection for the 2013 WA beef business analysis will commence in July 2013. Beef producers who are interested in being involved in the project are invited to contact Ms Watson on 9892 8437 or allison.watson@agric.wa.gov.au [1]
Media contacts: Jodie Thomson, media liaision +61 8 9368 3937