Live sheep phase out, drought, rocks WA farmers

The looming live sheep export phase out and a sustained period of drought in 2023 has “shaken” farmer confidence across Western Australia.

Farmer confidence across Western Australia has been “shaken”, after a sustained period of drought in 2023 and the looming live sheep export phase out.

Tracy LeFroy, who runs a mixed farming business with partner Kristin at Cranmore Farming, 160km north of Perth, said businesses have had to learn to cope with lower rainfall levels and buffer production systems to lessen the impact of the drought.

“2023 was a very dry year for us. Our winter crop for WA came to 14.5 million tonnes, which is well down on what we had the previous year,” she told The Australian Ag Podcast.

“The silver lining of that is despite the low rainfall, we’ve managed to push grain yields far beyond what you would expect for that level of rainfall.

“You’re looking at your risk management, your dates of sowing; all those things come into it and I think we’re getting better at it which is a real positive for us.

Tracy LeFroy of Cranmore Farming at Bindi Bindi in Western Australia's wheatbelt. Picture: Tony McDonough

On the flip side, Ms LeFroy said the impact of the live sheep export trade phase out had “really rocked” people.

“I think farmer confidence has certainly been shaken. We’re looking at sheep prices that are far below what we need them to be,” she said.

“I think there is some rhetoric around the fact that the livestock trade wasn’t strong and I completely dispel that. When you start talking about phasing out an industry, the businesses that rely on that industry have to look elsewhere. So it’s really been almost a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“If you pull out the rug out from under something, of course there’s going to be a lack of confidence, of course there’s going to be a downturn.”

While Ms LeFroy would like to see the phase out decision overturned, she isn’t holding out hope.

“We’re still yet to see any details on the report put together by the live sheep export panel, and we’d really like to see what the transition package looks like and how this transition package is going to support farmers,” she said.

“Australia has the highest standard in animal welfare of anywhere in the world, so this decision just doesn’t make sense.”

‘Over the Fence’ is sponsored by Ram Trucks Australia. You can listen to the full podcast on Spotify or here.