VICTORIA'S finalist in the Cattle Council of Australia's rising beef industry champion award is not short on experience.
Darriman farmer Trent Anderson was runner-up in the 2005 young farmer of the year.
- AT A GLANCE
- Who: Trent Anderson
- What: Finalist in Cattle Council of Australia rising star award
- Why: innovative beef producer
- Where: Darriman
- Report: EMMA FIELD
Since 2003, Trent has worked to transform his family's sheep farm into a diversified operation that now extends to 1880ha, with 600ha of cropping and prime lamb, wool and cattle production.
He farms with his wife, Nicole, parents Allister and Suzanne and sister Bridie and they have recently ramped up their cattle operation, partly due to the excellent season.
They bought 95 cows and calves in winter this year and now run 200 cows, which they cross with Poll Hereford and Angus bulls.
They always sell their young cattle at the August store cattle sale at Heyfield and this year their 11 to 13 month-old Hereford steers made between $735 and $830. They have plans to double the cow operation.
They decided to move to Mawarra Hereford bulls this year and they consider the backup and advice provided by owner Peter Sykes a big part of this decision.
Trent said he decided to enter the Cattle Council of Australia's rising beef industry champion award at the urging of the Victorian Farmers Federation of which he is a member.
"I'm still relatively green on the cattle industry side, so I wanted to get around people who know what they are talking about."
"It is a great opportunity to mix with people that are very involved and passionate about their industry."
A fourth-generation farmer, he took on management of the property eight years ago and his father, who is still employed on the farm, was happy to hand over the reins.
But diversification hasn't been an easy road and Trent readily admits changing his farming operation was a bigger job than he thought.
"I had a 10-year plan but I reckon it's turned into a 20-year plan."
In the early years Trent invested in sheep genetics and ramped up production as well as improving pastures.
He also planted crops on the least productive paddocks.
They now run 4200 ewes for wool and meat production and this year sold 750 Dorset-cross lambs and kept 800 wethers.
They started cropping to get a better return on capital investment.
"We didn't want to reduce our stock so we experimented by increasing production and share cropping."
They used the share cropping income to buy equipment and more land and this year planted 220ha of canola, 140ha of barley, 200ha of wheat and 40ha of vetch.
Trent said canola was most suited to their high-rainfall country, though the crop has struggled this year with the wet season.
"It's very good canola country here, whereas wheat yields are variable."
The vetch was planted as a nitrogen fixing break crop in their rotation, but Trent said it was a great fit for their livestock operation and they graze ewes and crossbred lambs on it. They also cut it for silage.
"We brought in the cropping to diversify, but it increased the financial risk.
"It's expensive and if things go wrong you lose that money."
Trent said his younger sister, Bridie, returning to the farm this year, had brought a freshness and enthusiasm. "She will turn her hand to anything and is willing to learn."
Trent said support from his family had been important and the key to a mixed enterprise had been to integrate all the elements and learn from others.
"Everything we do complements each other.
Knowing your weakness and surrounding yourself with people who can advise you is the key."
Trent went to Longreach this week to compete in the Cattle Council award.
