Mr Greening farms at Book Book, Holbrook and Tarcutta in southern NSW and holds the reins of one of Australia’s most successful Hereford and Poll Hereford seedstock businesses. In fact, last year Injemira sold a bull for a record high of $110,000. 

In addition to running the business he is also an independently elected southern board director of Cattle Council Australia and chairman of the Pasture Cattle Accreditation System.

Age has never been a barrier for Mr Greening. At just eight years of age he established his first cattle stud to provide Simmental genetics for the family’s commercial beef enterprise.

ADVANTAGES: Mr Greening said the outlook for the beef industry globally was positive given the increasing demand for protein. 

“Everybody talks about Asia … and I know first hand, through two trips to the region in recent months, that beef consumption and beef products are number one on their commodities list for potential growth,” he said. 

During his Asian visit Mr Greening saw statistics that forecast beef consumption to increase by 280 per cent in five years. 

“Australia’s future is not just in producing commodity beef but producing a high-quality branded product,” he said. 

“Here in southern NSW we are in a good position to take advantage of that.”

Mr Greening also acknowledged the record high eastern young cattle indicator and the fact that commercial markets were in uncharted territory. 

He said there were indications that suggested the seedstock sector would follow this market trend too.

“I know from my sale in February the commercial producers were looking to up the ante on their genetics and replace older bulls with younger bulls and increase conception rates,” he said. 

CHALLENGES: “Seasonal conditions always provide the number one challenge in agriculture,” Mr Greening said. 

He said the season was excellent at the moment but the challenge was in being able to manage that well and prepare to cope with coming changes. 

“Structuring the business and being flexible to cope with market variation is important too.” 

THE FUTURE: Mr Greening said Australia is in a prime position to be a quality beef supplier to the world.

“People have always got to eat,” he said. “Protein consumption is increasing.” 

Mr Greening also said the agricultural sector in general offered promising opportunities and careers for young people. 

“We have experienced the recent mining industry downturn and now we are looking to an age of agriculture,” Mr Greening said.