Campbell Town merino and mixed cropping farmer Sam Lyne has welcomed higher prices for meat and wool to offset lower figures for his crops.
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Mr Lyne, who farms at his property Riccarton his father Crosby Lyne and brother Angus Lyne, said merinos consistently returned profits of up to $60 per dry sheep equivalent and $40 for lambs.
“We have a pretty diverse system. Sheep and crops work well together on our property and, in a year like we have just had, the high prices for wool and meat make up for the poor cereal prices,” Mr Lyne said.
“Making $500 per hectare from sheep is good especially if you consider the low risk involved. Sheep also have an economic benefit in weed control and removing crop residues,” he said.
Wool prices have already been locked in at 1530 cents a kilogram clean for June.
“The wool is going really well at the moment and lambs are very comparable [in price],” Mr Lyne said.
The Lynes run 7300 ewes on the 2600-hectare property and produce 45,000 kilograms of greasy wool a year.
Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
