Lachie Seears

Proposer: Richard Kirkland

Brief Biography

I am a 3rd Generation farmer and manage our 6,000Ha mixed livestock, irrigation and cropping farm Boonderoo Pastoral Company in the Lower South East of SA. I farm with my wife Rebecca and children Hugh and Anneliese along with my parents Peter and Helen. We also have 3 full time staff and a number of casual staff during busy periods. We join 6,500 composite ewes, building a cow herd to calve 2000+ cows and currently crop 1,400 Ha of Wheat, Canola, and Broad Beans.

After schooling, I began working on our farm before studying Farm Business Management at Marcus Oldham College, doing my prac year working over in the UK. I have worked alongside my father during my early career, where he was very fortunate to have a proactive father giving me a go and allowing me to implement a number of changes and developments. Over the last 10 years, he has taken a step back from managing and setting the direction of the farm.

Between 2011-2021, we have developed irrigation on our farm and currently utilizing 7 centre pivots for grazing and fodder production, which has helped us increase stocking rates and spread the risk of adverse seasons.

In 2021, we were successful in purchasing a large ex blue gum plantation; this doubled the size of the business overnight, and we have made a significant investment and have been working very hard to revert this back into livestock grazing property. We have developed this block, dealing with over 3,000,000 tree stumps, sowing pastures, increasing soil fertility, building yards, fences, and water infrastructure, and currently breeding our way to calve down over a 2,000-cow herd.

Why are you seeking a position on the Livestock SA Board?

I have been encouraged to apply for the Livestock SA board positions by a current member of the board I have known for over 30 years.

As livestock makes up approx. 75% of our land use, joining 6,500 composite ewes and joining approx. 1,500 cattle, building towards calving down 2,000+ in the next couple of years. I believe it is crucial that we have a productive, proactive, and profitable livestock industry moving forward. It is important for not only my business along with other framers but also for the state, as the livestock industry makes up approx. 25% of the ag sector's value.

I believe I have a balanced set of skills that I have developed over the years of farming, sitting on committees at local, state, and national levels that will help represent the approx. 3,500 Livestock SA members.

How will you represent the interests of SA’s red meat and wool producers and the broader livestock industry?

Although I farm in the Lower South East of SA, I have an extensive network of people that operate across all farming zones of SA. The livestock industry is unique in that it operates across all farming zones across the state.

I believe from my 25+ years of farming, I have seen a variety of situations that will allow me to be able to make balanced informed decisions around policy and advocacy and what is best for all livestock producers, abattoirs, and associated industries.

I am active on social media and currently have nearly 7,250 followers on Facebook and 900 Instagram followers, and use this to help communicate a positive message about farming, but have also used it to communicate messages about the industry.

Nominees have submitted details of their past board experience, formal governance training and a resume with their nomination. For access to this information, please contact the nominee directly.