General Manager’s Christmas Message 2021
As 2021 ends, I would like to take the opportunity to provide you with an overview of the year that was.
Major Restructure and Staff Appointments
January 2021 saw the dawn of a new chapter in Top Country’s ever evolving development. A new team of Senior and Middle management people were appointed to take the company onto the next level of its growth and development.
- I, myself, was appointed General Manager based in Roma.
- Bill Scott was appointed as the Smarter Nutrition Manger, Toowoomba.
- Stuart Connor was appointed the Smarter Nutrition Production Manager, Kingaroy.
- Alexandra Aisthorpe, was appointed the Business Support Manager, Brisbane.
- Anton Storch was promoted to Roma Feedmill Manager.
All of the 5 new assignments take up critical positions within the Company group to channel growth and production as well as scrutinise and stabilise Top Country’s progression forward.
Top Country Rebrand
During the later stages of 2021, Top country finalised a fresh new rebrand for the company. Some of the rebrand has already taken effect with stationery and uniforms, our new website and marketing. The rest of the signage and vehicle decals will be completed early next year.
Roma Feedmill Facility Upgrades.
Top Country undertook 3 major upgrades to our Roma Feedmill Facility this year
- Upgrade and re certification of our weighbridge.
- New elevator system allowing us to process our grain and continue to use the delivery pit and main elevator for intake or production at the same time.
- Addition of 2 x 133 m3 Deny Silo’s to increase storage of our raw commodities.
General
Top Country would like to sincerely thank you for your positive support of our change in the process from point of order to pick up through to invoicing. We also appreciate your understanding with regards to our products’ price increase due to the to increased price of raw ingredients and their logistics.
In February the business decision made to close the Mundubbera branch and enlist Lindsay Larna, L&T Haulage to operate our logistics’ into the Area.
March saw the introduction of Smarter Nutrition, another branch of the Aisthorpe Group. It is the first part of the Aisthorpe Group’s strategy to “get control” of our major raw ingredients, ensuring continuity of supply 12 months of the year, no matter what the season does. Rumenfibre™, the first product produced by Smarter Nutrition, is now the main fibre source in Top Country products. This peanut hull-based fibre pellet is manufactured in the Kingaroy district.
This year saw us attend the 4 major Queensland Agricultural Field days, in May we attended BEEF Week, Rockhampton, June, Farmfest Toowoomba and Agrow Emerald and in September it was Westech Barcaldine.
And then there were the Mice! The June Mice Plague played absolute havoc with our production systems and products. We incurred 10’s of thousands of dollars of damage to power packs and PLC electronics’ through to weigh cells, and even 3 phase cabling. As was the severity of the influx, we had to action a plan that saw the boys run all augers elevators and mixers before commencing the production for the day to expel all of the mice that had taken refuge in them overnight. A stringent program of single kill, pulse baiting was also implemented. Such were the numbers, we endeavoured to make your orders in the morning for pick up that same afternoon to reduce the infestation in the bagged orders.
As a fully focused Nutrition company, Top Country was very excited with the reintroduction of cottonseed meal to the industry, and our ability to formulate it back into our rations and supplements. As you all well know it is the best protein meal in the Livestock nutrition industry because of its bypass absorption characteristics.
What’s ahead in 2022?
The first major project for the new year will see the implementation and commissioning of a new, fully integrated ERP system that will better service our evolving business practices. The relocation and addition of a second bulk bagging system to the western side of the Main Feed shed is also on the list. This upgrade will aid more efficient manufacture and packaging of our Bulk bagged products. Finally, there is a planned upgrade to the In-loading system with a new Receival pit and high-volume Elevator. This will decrease time taken to unload raw material.
The Top Country team sincerely thank you for your ongoing support. We will welcome a short break from December 24th through to January 3rd. On our return to production on January 4th, will be keen to see what 2022 has in store and will do our best to continue to service your livestock nutrition needs and helping you to maximise your return on investment.
Stephen, Natalie, myself, and the team wish you all a happy, safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Andrew Whyte
General Manager