Sales Manager Jonathan Langan, Export Manager Sarah Perkins and Group Vet Holly Ludeman headed north to Darwin last week for the NTCA Conference, joining producers, industry leaders and service providers from across northern Australia. Conferences like NTCA are not just about having a trade stand; they’re about listening, learning and understanding what’s happening on the ground in northern production systems.
This year’s theme was “Better on Beef”, and many of the presentations focused on how businesses can improve performance through clear strategy, strong culture and good decision-making.
One of the standout presentations was from MLA Managing Director Nick Crowley, who spoke about market trends, industry investment and the importance of what he called social capital. Rather than focusing on the sometimes-defensive language around “social licence”, the focus is shifting towards building trust, telling the industry story better and investing in programs like the Red Meat Ambassador program and broader community engagement. He also highlighted that the current global increase in protein consumption is being driven by nutrition and demand for high-quality protein, a trend Australia is well positioned to benefit from.
NAPCo General Manager, Darryl Savage, gave an inspiring talk on their breeding program and later participated in the panel discussions. Key takeaways from NAPCo included their clear, non-negotiable approach to breeding objectives, meat quality, fertility and growth efficiency. It was also interesting to hear their focus on breeding cattle in the environments they are expected to perform in, as well as the level of genetic testing conducted from weaning through to carcass. Their progress with genetics, in achieving 50% polled cattle across the herd to date, was another example of long-term, strategic decision-making.
Another session from Simone Parker from Bush Agribusiness focused on what “Better on Beef” looks like at a family business level, clear strategy, good culture and strong performance indicators. The message was simple: the best businesses know what they are trying to achieve, measure the right things and make decisions based on data rather than habit.
Keynote speaker, Grant Dusting, from McCrindle had the room laughing about the past and reflecting on the future workforce, particularly Gen Y and Gen Alpha, who will increasingly dominate the workforce in coming years. While many of the things that motivate people haven’t changed, such as purpose, good leadership and clear direction; expectations around flexibility, workplace culture and job satisfaction are changing, and successful businesses will be the ones that adapt.
Economist Imants Kins, Co-Chair of ANDEV, reinforced the importance of investment, infrastructure and policy settings that support long-term industry growth in northern Australia, and the need for reform that ensures fair investment to develop the North further.
One of the most valuable parts of conferences like NTCA is often what happens between the sessions. The live demonstrations from exhibitors during the breaks gave producers a chance to see new technology, equipment and systems in action and have real conversations about what works, what doesn’t and what’s worth trying.
For the Milne team, the conference reinforced something we’re seeing across the industry, the role of companies like ours is continuing to evolve. It’s not just about supplying feed; it’s about being a technical partner. Feed is a tool, but the value comes from how that tool is used within a production system.
Providing technical support, nutrition advice and practical feeding strategies is a service that helps producers improve performance and manage risk. When cattle prices, seasons and input costs move, the businesses that continue to perform are the ones that focus on efficiency, cost of gain, reproduction, animal health and overall system performance.
Conferences like NTCA are a great reminder that agriculture is innovative, resilient and always looking for ways to be better and we’re looking forward to continuing those conversations with clients across all regions we visit.
And, for the record, while attending the Ladies Lunch may not have been strictly in Jonno’s conference schedule, it did leave the team uplifted and ready for the evening Crocs and Frocks event… and, in the spirit of the event, the girls may have invested in a pair of Crocs. All part of conference networking, of course.
