These sessions are designed for young shepherds starting their careers and for experienced farmers wanting to refresh their skills. This three-workshop series has a strong production focus and follows on from our previous Shepherd to Shareholder event, which focused on investment and equity growth.
Farming is changing fast. By 2035, around half of our 17,000 plus farmers will be over 65, and an estimated $150 billion worth of farm assets is expected to shift to the next generation. It is a massive generational change unlike anything the sector has seen before. To keep our industry strong, we need to make sure young farmers have the confidence and practical skills needed to thrive through this transition.
These workshops are about building the solid, practical skills you can use straight away, learning from people with years of real world experience, and connecting with other farmers to grow your support network. Each session gives you hands-on learning you can put into practice on farm, while also creating a space to meet others, share ideas, and build lasting connections.
They are the foundation for future sessions that will dive deeper into finance and business management.
Workshop Three Overview
Join us as Richmond Beetham and Michael Cammock work through a feed budget session, getting Kouratahi set up for winter. This is a session designed to be practical, back of the envelope style that you can work out over smoko. No computer programmes necessary – just pen, paper and a calculator. Or a spreadsheet if you prefer.
You will learn how to work out your feed demand based on stock class, pregnancy status, and whether animals are on maintenance, growth, or lactation. And then how to map out your feed supply priorities, options, and the levers you can pull to stay on track.
Richmond Beetham of Baker Ag brings not only his years of working with farmers, but also his practical farming experience to feed budgeting and body condition scoring. He’s a farmer himself and understands not only the practicalities, but also the economic benefit to getting the basics, such as feed budgeting and body condition scoring, right.
Topics covered
- Practical, back of the envelope style feed budgeting
- Working out feed demand based on stock class, pregnancy status, and feed needs for maintenance, growth, or lactation
- Assessing feed supply, priorities, options, and levers to stay on track through winter
- Feed budgeting fundamentals and how to apply them day to day
- Body condition scoring and how to use it to guide decisions
- Understanding the practical and economic benefits of getting the basics right
Registration
Registration is essential for catering purposes.
BBQ and drinks kindly provided by ANZ.