New approach to profitable grazing systems
17 October 2016
MLA is taking a new approach to how it extends its research and development with a pilot program that supports producers adopting practices to improve profitability and productivity with the guidance of specialist coaches.
Profitable Grazing Systems is being piloted with 95 producers nationally and takes the traditional ‘workshop’ approach to a new level. MLA has developed a range of tools over the years and runs a variety of programs to increase producers’ knowledge, skills and confidence to implement practice change.
Profitable Grazing Systems combines group learning with specialist coaches to provide longer-term support and guidance to embed skills in business. Producers are supported to analyse their business and opportunities and implement changes to drive productivity and profitability. This includes measuring, monitoring and managing key business performance indicators and making decisions that are informed by the data.
The pilot phase in 2016 will ensure this new approach to adoption delivers real on-farm impact. A staged program rollout is being planned for 2017. The pilot includes 10 producer groups with different enterprise types across a range of production zones and focuses on different profit drivers, such as the feedbase, business management, people management, reproduction and genetics, and the value chain.
Profitable Grazing Systems draws on the extensive range of tools and resources MLA has helped develop, such as the More Beef from Pastures content, and is supporting producers to critically examine their businesses and profit drivers in a holistic way to improve productivity and profitability. In the pilot program, producers are analysing their circumstances to answer questions such as:
- where are they performing well and the areas that are holding them back,
- where can they make the biggest impacts, both in the field and strategically, to improve performance,
- how to develop a full-year feed and grazing plan,
- what pasture species are common on the property and what stocking rates are sustainable,
- what debt levels are manageable in an agricultural business.
Interested?
The pilot phase is already at capacity, but if you would like to register your interest to participate in the full program being proposed in 2017, email: info@mla.com.au
