With some uncertainty surrounding the implications of COVID, border closures, and potential challenges that may be experienced in supply chains and logistics, Milne Sheep Specialist, Brett Blanchett, shares his recommendations for being prepared.
‘For those old enough to remember the Scout movement, the motto repeated over and over was “Be Prepared”. If you were in the Scouts, you are also old enough to remember Lance Corporal Jones telling Captain Mainwaring (pronounced Mannering) "don’t panic" in Dad’s Army. Apologies if you have no idea what I am talking about. It’s a “Dad” joke!’.
I say “Be Prepared” because we have the advantage of witnessing first hand what COVID will deliver to Western Australia, when it arrives. Our cousins on the east coast are dealing with the consequences of the “just in time” supply chain, which is causing massive logistical disruption. When we had empty supermarket shelves in the early days of COVID, it was demand driven because consumers were stocking up and hoarding. This time is quite different. It is supply chain driven. With massive staff numbers either contracting COVID or having to isolate, the supply chain is grinding to a halt.
Milne Feeds continues to have an excellent COVID preparedness and management plan, and our production capacity is higher than it ever has been. Grain supply is plentiful, but we can’t control, or completely mitigate, the logistical disruption that will arrive with COVID.
The Western Australian grain season 2021 was a ripper. Repeating that in 2022 is possible, but not probable. Livestock pricing is still very high and "off the charts" on the east coast. The current summer looks to be somewhat normal and perhaps we should expect a normal autumn and typical break to the season. With this in mind, I would encourage customers to be 4-6 weeks out in front this season with regard to pellet requirements.
As Jones would say, "don’t panic" as we have a very high production capacity and a robust COVID preparation. Countering that, Baden Powell, the founder of the Scout movement, would want you to "Be prepared".
Both Brett and Wayne are on hand to discuss feed requirements and put forward plans in place to support your sheep operations.
Nearly two years ago, there was a crisis: some tea bags didn't have tags. The company, Madura, apologised:
"Dear Customer, With the current global upheaval we have been short-supplied tags for our teabags, a matter outside our control."
It turned out that the supply chain was so exact that the weakest link broke it, and the weakest link was the Spanish supplier of bags and tags whose workers were ravaged by COVID. The bags normally came from Spain in batches of 70 million
The string attached to the tags and the tissue paper went from Germany to Spain - where the link was broken. It shows how fragile supply chains are.
Source: The Land Magazine
