“StockPlan^® is a very useful and practical sheep and cattle training program for producers when planning for or in drought and through recovery. The computer programs, especially Impack were user-friendly and allowed you to explore many different drought startegies."
- Bevan Hauff, Blackall, Queensland

StockPlan^® is a suite of computer decision support tools and a workshop that enable wool growers to explore and make informative and timely decisions about feeding and/or destocking options entering, during or emerging from drought.

• How much will it cost to feed my stock for a specified time? 
• How will my decision affect my flock and financial position this year? And next year? 
• Is it better to buy or breed in the recovery phase?

The main aim of the decision tools is to assist wool growers make management decisions that minimise the environmental and financial impacts of drought. Sound management decisions early in the drought period and during drought can prevent severe financial and environmental losses.

The StockPlan^® package assists wool growers to:

• improve their drought management skills;
• lower the risk of degrading pastures;
• lower the risk of financial losses;
• encourage proactive decision making; and
• investigate the production and financial implications of their decisions for their farm business.

About the StockPlan^® tool

StockPlan^® is simple to use and flexible in its input and output options. Three decision tools are integrated into one package:

1. Drought Pack

Drought Pack, an energy-based model (MJ ME/kg fed), assesses the cost of feeding and determines the break-even price for specific animal classes.

2. Feed Sell Agist (FSA) Pack

FSA Pack (feed, sell or agist) is designed to evaluate the cost of the various options for a specific group of livestock rather than a whole farm analysis.  FSA Pack allows the user to specify up to four different drought lengths, and provides cash cost estimates and "bottom line" financial estimates.  You may decide to only use one or all of the decision tools depending your individual circumstances.

3. Im Pack

This decision tool uses a static modelling approach to assess the structure of the flock over a a 10-year period.  The Im Pack decision tool allows users to explore a wide range of options. For example, selling off parts of the flock and recovering stock numbers over the following years.

Other features:

• Inclusion of financial considerations
• Short to medium term planning assistance
• 'What if' scenarios to run risk assessments

The philosophy behind these decision support tools is to foster drought preparedness.

Where to get your copy

StockPlan^® is available from NSW Primary Industries. Trained StockPlan^® facilitators are available to deliver StockPlan® to woolgrowers in most states of Australia.

The StockPlan^® Producer manual and home study guide plus the three decision support tools (Drought Pack, FSA Pack and Im Pack) can be purchased by calling NSW Primary Industries on 1800 628 422 or (02) 6951 2775.

Contact:
Mr Greg Meaker
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Tel: (02) 4828 6600
Email: greg.meaker@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Workshops

StockPlan^® workshops are available to wool growers, other livestock producers and agribusinesses. The two day course is a detailed drought management planning exercise which develops planning of grazing businesses for effective response to drought.

Past workshops have been highly successful. Since 2002, 1200 participants - approximately 1,000 farms - have attended workshops in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Register for StockPlan^® workshops by calling the Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre on 1800 628 422 or (02) 6951 2775.

For further details, visit the StockPlan^® website.

Testimonials

"StockPlan^® helps you to think laterally about drier times, the various drought options one might choose to manage and the planning required for the future."
- Jake Napier, Bears Lagoon, Victoria

"StockPlan^® has the capacity to calculate animal feed consumption and its cost. Also, accurately plan the amount of working capital required for the drought over medium and longer terms were at most beneficial features of the package" 
- Michael Griffin, Braidwood, New South Wales

"StockPlan^® enables assessment of operating costs and the real value of animals during the drought and at the end, so as not to be left in five years with a giant hole in cash flow.

We are trying to expand breeding stock by selling wethers and buying ewes at a ratio of two and a half to one. We need to replace anything that is no good, with younger and superior animals that can be more productive after rain."
- Grant McMullen, Golspie, New South Wales

"StockPlan^® has shown that our cash flow is protected until the end of 2003, but, if the drought continues, the program can calculate medium to long term impact.

"To sell culls and then, hang on to high value stock and feed, on the punt that sale after the drought could give an even higher return that StockPlan^®'s projections.
- Lee and Kerrie Brown, Goulburn, New South Wales