Producer stories - Tasmania

Q&A: John Chester, ‘Camelford’ Campbell Town, Tasmania

Fourth-generation Tasmanian sheep producer John Chester runs a self-replacing Merino flock at Campbell Town with his family. The Chesters balance profitability, wool production and sustainability across improved pastures and native bush country.

Tell us a little bit about your operation at Campbell Town?

Our core enterprise is a  self replacing Merino flock, a portion of the ewes joined to a terminal and we also grow dryland wheat and barley which ties in with pasture renovations.

What do you focus on in the business?

Being profitable and sustainable. We focus on fleece weight and micron, whilst producing a good framed animal that has a saleable carcass.

What’s the country like where you farm?

The average rainfall is about 550 mm. It’s slightly undulating country with predominantly sandy loam soils.

How has the season been this year?

Quite dry. We had some good rain in early March, but we haven’t had any descent follow-up rain since.

You’re fourth generation on the farm. What made you come home?

I went away to ag college, so I guess the idea was always to come home to the farm eventually.

What are you most passionate about in the business?

I enjoy the breeding side of the sheep and the day-to-day management - always trying to slightly improve things and making the farm run efficiently, being profitable but sustainable at the same time.

What does profitability and sustainability look like on your farm?

If we just chased profitability, I don’t think the landscape would be able to handle it. It’s a balance of looking after the land but making money as well.

You’ve got native bush and grasslands on the property. How do you manage that?

We’ve got 3,000 acres of improved ground and 2,500 acres of native bush. We run Merino wethers in the bush, but you have to stock accordingly, so it’s a fairly low stocking rate. We just put wethers out there to grow wool. It’s nice having that balance. There’s something special about preserving the native country.

How are you feeling as a young person in the wool industry at the moment? 

It’s quite good at the moment with strong wool and meat prices. It’s really positive, as the  last couple of years were becoming quite concerning as a wool producer, with the low wool price and the rising cost of inputs.

How did you manage through those tougher years? 

We reduced capital expenditure. We still spent money to maintain animal health and nutrition, kept fertiliser up and stuck to the same program. We didn’t change things, but just cut costs where we could. The aim was to be in a position to be at capacity to capitilise when the wool and meat prices improved.

Finally, why sheep?

Traditionally we’ve always run sheep. They are well suited to our environment. I enjoy the management of the sheep and the challenge of trying to improve the flock every year.