The Old Ram-Australia
Herd Master
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- Jan 18, 2011
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G'day , I thought I would "test" the subject before posting it to other forums.I am interested in your response to the ideas expressed.
Is there a desire or need to revive the U.S. Sheep Industry? Were you to pose this question to an Aussie sheep-meat exporter I suspect the answer would be “no”. At this point of time they are reaping $m’s of $’s in profits in spite of the “historical y high prices being paid in the sale-yards”, plus the fact most of their “marketing costs” are paid for by the Aussie producers via the levies collected by the MLA.
Any revival will depend on the attitude of the Federal govt at any given time, to this statement you could well ask “why” and the reason is that it’s a fact that the Feds are the largest landholders in the U.S.A. Sheep farming in the US is about numbers in both land size and numbers produced. There is a saying I heard once and have never forgotten, “Wire grows grass” and in the U.S.’s case it keeps out the multitude of predators that impact on the profitable outcome of the farm .In recent times in mainly Northern Australia farmers are getting together to build “cluster fencing” which keeps out not only the Wild Dogs but the ravenous hordes of Kangaroos which strip the country “bare” of grass when times are dry. This type of fencing is expensive, is about 6 ft high with an apron at ground level to deter digging under the fence with special attention to gateways.(Google” cluster fencing” for details)
It’s going to take a “brave fed gov” to support this venture; each block would be 1000 ACS it would be supported by a 99year lease (which would be tradable on the open market after 33 years), the lease payment would be waived for the first 10 years so that development of the necessary infrastructure could be undertaken. This young farmer would need considerable finance behind him/her as there would be a need to complete housing for the farmer family, barns ,handling and shearing yards and sheds and the completion of “predator proof fencing” on at least the whole of the blocks boundary.
Assuming that it’s “half decent” grazing country the carrying capacity would be set at 1 breeder to the ac as this would allow some cropping on the best portions for storable fodder production. Let’s also assume that after ewe replacement s you were selling at 100% turnoff and your lambs were returning say $150.00 per head that’s a gross income of $150,000.00 per annum. Sure you can earn more than that elsewhere, but I’m sure there are young folks who would “jump” at the chance.
To be eligible for one of these farms the young farmer (early 30’s) would have to have extensive experience in livestock production on say a family farm (but not necessarily a sheep farm)and be college educated especially in the finance dept and livestock.
I am interested in your responses to this "radical " idea of reviving the US sheep industry...T.O.R.
Is there a desire or need to revive the U.S. Sheep Industry? Were you to pose this question to an Aussie sheep-meat exporter I suspect the answer would be “no”. At this point of time they are reaping $m’s of $’s in profits in spite of the “historical y high prices being paid in the sale-yards”, plus the fact most of their “marketing costs” are paid for by the Aussie producers via the levies collected by the MLA.
Any revival will depend on the attitude of the Federal govt at any given time, to this statement you could well ask “why” and the reason is that it’s a fact that the Feds are the largest landholders in the U.S.A. Sheep farming in the US is about numbers in both land size and numbers produced. There is a saying I heard once and have never forgotten, “Wire grows grass” and in the U.S.’s case it keeps out the multitude of predators that impact on the profitable outcome of the farm .In recent times in mainly Northern Australia farmers are getting together to build “cluster fencing” which keeps out not only the Wild Dogs but the ravenous hordes of Kangaroos which strip the country “bare” of grass when times are dry. This type of fencing is expensive, is about 6 ft high with an apron at ground level to deter digging under the fence with special attention to gateways.(Google” cluster fencing” for details)
It’s going to take a “brave fed gov” to support this venture; each block would be 1000 ACS it would be supported by a 99year lease (which would be tradable on the open market after 33 years), the lease payment would be waived for the first 10 years so that development of the necessary infrastructure could be undertaken. This young farmer would need considerable finance behind him/her as there would be a need to complete housing for the farmer family, barns ,handling and shearing yards and sheds and the completion of “predator proof fencing” on at least the whole of the blocks boundary.
Assuming that it’s “half decent” grazing country the carrying capacity would be set at 1 breeder to the ac as this would allow some cropping on the best portions for storable fodder production. Let’s also assume that after ewe replacement s you were selling at 100% turnoff and your lambs were returning say $150.00 per head that’s a gross income of $150,000.00 per annum. Sure you can earn more than that elsewhere, but I’m sure there are young folks who would “jump” at the chance.
To be eligible for one of these farms the young farmer (early 30’s) would have to have extensive experience in livestock production on say a family farm (but not necessarily a sheep farm)and be college educated especially in the finance dept and livestock.
I am interested in your responses to this "radical " idea of reviving the US sheep industry...T.O.R.