Live sheep exports' likely end forces farmers to pivot instead of 'waiting on a government full of uncertainty'
Leaning against an old iron gate, staring out over the paddocks in the distance on her sheep farm, Rachael Plowman is reflecting on the past months in agriculture.
"We've had a long summer but it's not unusual. We do plan for this and these kinds of seasons," she said.
"We've had to feed a bit more feed than we normally would, but we've still got water and enough feed."
Ms Plowman farms with her husband Andrew on their 1,600 hectare property in Kojonup, Western Australia.
Growing up on the farm, she is no stranger to seasonal challenges.
"Being a farmer you always end up being a bit optimistic, otherwise you wouldn't do it," Ms Plowman said.
"I guess you plan for the worst, hope for the best in a way."
But like many other sheep producers in the state right now, the past weeks have dealt a devastating blow for WA regional communities.
Ms Plowman is disappointed by a decision which seems to be "based on politics, not science". (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
'Hit after hit this season'
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt flew into Western Australia earlier this month from his home state of Queensland to announce in front of a media-only press conference the transition plan to phase out live export by sea in 2028.
Some farmers say the announcement was not unexpected, but it was the timing in which it was delivered.
"At the moment grain prices are very high and stock prices are very low. [We're] having to feed out more grain than average and then 'bam', now no live exports," Ms Plowman said.
"It's disappointing because it's not based on the science, it's purely for political reasons."
Like many others in the industry, the Kojonup farmer can see she cannot base her business on a government that is providing so much uncertainty.
Farmers are having to feed more than usual because of the low amounts of rainfall. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
Risk management planning
Having seen the change coming, the Plowmans have already begun adjusting their operations.
"Traditionally we've always mated a third of the ewe flock to prime lambs, to terminal sire, and two-thirds to merino rams," Ms Plowman said.
"This year we decided to go half merino and half terminal sire."
In layman's terms, the action taken by the Plowmans will result in a smaller overall flock, with less of the animals remaining on the farm.
While the Plowmans' business does not rely solely on the live export of sheep by sea, the ban will still be felt.
"Part of our risk management is to have wool as well as the meat products that we sell," Ms Plowman said.
"We are a mixed farm, we crop as well. Hopefully out of all of those something will be up in price."
'We've got to work together'
David Thompson said the end of live export can strengthen the domestic market. (ABC Rural: Tom Major)
While understanding the negative reaction the government's decision had triggered, the farmers who had experienced trade volatility in the past saw the end of live export as an opportunity for new growth in the domestic market.
David Thompson who farms sheep in the country town of Badgebup, 320 kilometres south east of Perth, said the economic value of live export had been misrepresented for years.
"I view live export as the trade of last resort," he said.
"It's not a high-value trade, the numbers going through are less and less every year, and the numbers going through abattoirs are more and more every year."
Mr Thompson said sheep had evolved over the decades to a point where farmers could profit from the domestic market, but the industry needed to come together to help shift consumer attitudes.
"We've made enormous gains genetically in the last 15, 20 years [and] we breed a sheep that doesn't rely on the live export trade to make the business work," he said.
"We've got a really good product and we've just got to get better at marketing it and producing it.
"The processors and the farmers need to work together, we've got to play a big game altogether."
Great Southern farmers Robert Rex and David Thompson. (ABC Rural: Richard Hudson)
Robert Rex farms 110km down the road at Arthur River and would like to see the continuation of the live export trade as a market.
But, he said, producers had overcome adversity in the past and would do the same again.
"Things went sour in 2011. It turned around pretty quickly and we've had the best years ever just recently," he said.
"We're in the worst years ever at the moment, but it's going to turn around."
After the federal Labor government banned the live export of beef to Indonesia back in 2011, Mr Rex decided to breed sheep with a greater domestic appeal in anticipation of future bans.
"It was always going to be difficult to sell a sheep, so having an animal that can grow well and [we can] sell to the local abattoirs was our goal," he said.
"As time has gone on we've seen the benefit of it with more lambs and better sheep to sell."
The sheep industry has been the backbone of regional communities across Western Australia. (ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett)
Looking to the future
Jeff Miotti can remember a time where over half his business revolved around trucking sheep for live export.
"I can remember when we averaged 10 loads a week, years ago. Now we wouldn't have done more than 20 loads a year," Mr Miotti said.
Based in Kojonup, he owns and operates Miotti Transport, trucking livestock around the Great Southern.
"We've had to start diversifying, we cancelled brand new crates we had ordered, we could see things were changing," he said.
"Our work now revolves around abattoir work and farm-to-farm."
Jeff Miotti has owned Miotti Transport for 35 years. (ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett)
The truckie worries about the domino effect a decision like the phase-out could have on farmers.
"If the local carriers can't afford to keep going, who is going to do the farm-to-farm work, as well as for abattoirs?" Mr Miotti said.
He feels even if there was to be a backflip on the 2028 phase-out, the damage had already been done.
"I think the exporters now are getting stock from elsewhere, and they are going to look after the people who look after them," he said.
"Depending on what farmers do, it will be interesting to see if we even keep abattoirs. If farmers [stop producing] sheep it will be even hard for them to survive."
Processors planning to expand
Craig Heggaton wears two hats.
He is the chairman of the Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative Limited (WAMMCO) and a Kojonup farmer so knows firsthand the impact this could have.
"[Sheep exports] have played a huge role in the industry, so it's really dealt a blow," he said.
Craig Heggaton believes sheep exports played a huge role in the industry, but it's also time to look to the future. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)
Putting on his WAMMCO hat, Mr Heggaton said the producer-owned co-operative started looking at solutions when the Labor government first unveiled their plans.
"We thought the only way we can do something is to try and increase our kill rate, which will hopefully take some pressure off the loss of market from live sheep export," he said.
"We are going to increase our capacity by half a million head by, hopefully, early '26."
Mr Heggaton said WAMMCO has committed to build a new facility regardless of where the industry goes.
"Sure, if we go to this expense we want to fill this chain. But if the sheep industry goes into a lull we will use it as need be."
Mr Heggaton says WAMMCO plans to increase killing capacity by 500,000 head. (ABC South West: Kate Forrester)