Steven Hobbs, Yarrock Farm, Kaniva, Vic.
Steven Hobbs is a fifth-generation farmer in Victoria's West Wimmera region and the fourth generation to farm at Yarrock Farm, just north of Kaniva. Born in a generation where it was assumed the son would take on the family farm, he headed back to Yarrock straight after school and has been at the helm there since 1990.
Across 800 hectares, Steven runs 800 self-replacing Merino ewes, 400 maiden ewes and 1,000 lambs (producing both Merino and prime lambs). He also grows vetch, hay, oats, wheat, barley, beans and canola. Yarrock Farm's focus has traditionally been on cropping, but after a thorough analysis of the numbers back in 2017, the cropping to sheep ratio changed from 60:40 to 30:70.
Using an auto drafter purchased in 2017 with the help of rebates from the Victorian sheep eID mandate, Steven can now draft sheep by various attributes. These include income generated, age, sex, breed, sire, number of lambs/foetuses, fleece weight, growth rate/s and weight. With selection decisions now being significantly easier to make (both from a logical and practical perspective), Steven has significantly increased the profitability of his flock. This business pivot required a huge mindset shift at various times. 'Sometimes, it's the approach to the problem that's the problem, rather than the problem itself, so you have to be prepared to think a bit differently,' he says.
Steven has a keen interest in renewable alternative fuels. He completed a Nuffield Scholarship on renewable fuels in 2003-04 and has constructed an oil-crushing plant on Yarrock Farm. The plant produces vegetable oil, which can be used as a fuel, and incorporates by-products into the farming operation. Steven believes farming can be crucial in combating climate change. He sees opportunities for significant carbon sequestration potential without drastically altering practices or taking productive land out of use. He registered an on-farm soil carbon project through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in 2017 and has seen significant gains in carbon sequestration since then.
