Drought and Biosecurity Dominate Year for Livestock SA

Joining host Jess Dempster on FlowFM's Country Viewpoint program for a final catch-up in 2025, LivestockSA Chair Gillian Fennell reflected on a challenging year for the industry, marked by drought, infrastructure pressures and growing concern around land use and energy development.

Ms Fennell said prolonged dry conditions across South Australia was the defining issue of 2025, with many producers experiencing multiple consecutive years of drought.

“By 2025, many people had reached the limits of what they could manage on their own,” she said.

Following sustained advocacy across the industry, a drought support package was delivered by the State Government, which Ms Fennell said provided important relief but was unable to meet the industry's full needs.

On a more positive note, she said one of the year’s highlights was the organisation’s annual general meeting and livestock dinner in November, which attracted national industry leaders and showcased South Australia’s livestock sector. The event also celebrated the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award, presented to Keith farmers Simon Allen and Maddie Willoughby, for their commitment to strong on-farm biosecurity practices.

“Biosecurity protects our export markets and our reputation as producers of clean, safe food,” Ms Fennell said.

“It was an honour to present Simon and Maddie with this award and recognise the hard work they put into biosecurity on their farm.”

Continuing on in the interview, Ms Fennell said infrastructure remains a major concern for the industry, particularly the condition of regional freight routes, adding that a $40 million investment over four years would significantly improve safety and efficiency for producers.

“We only need $40 million over four years, which isn’t a really big investment when you consider the scale of the road network we have to maintain and the importance of getting product safely to market,” she said.

Towards the end of 2025, Livestock SA also launched a member survey on renewable energy developments, aiming to understand producers’ concerns around end-of-life planning, land rehabilitation, and the financial risks if projects fail.

“These are the issues we take directly to government,” Ms Fennell said, “so they understand what’s keeping our members awake at night and can work with us on practical solutions.”

Looking ahead to the new year, LivestockSA's priorities for 2026 include greater clarity around the Aboriginal Heritage Framework, cutting red tape, and establishing a Rural Finance and Resilience Agency to enable faster, more effective responses to future droughts.

“Farming underpins South Australia’s economy and communities, and it’s vital that the sector receives fair and practical support,” Ms Fennell said. “We need to make sure that when challenges arise, whether drought, infrastructure needs, or regulatory changes, our producers are not left to manage them alone.”

She added that ongoing engagement with government and industry would be critical in ensuring policies are effective and that rural voices continue to shape decision-making.