Lachie Ranken – Streamlining Operations with Mobble
A Family Legacy
For Lachie Ranken, farming is more than a career - it’s a family tradition. A sixth-generation farmer, Lachie returned to the family farm in 2007 after studying agriculture and commerce at New Zealand’s Lincoln University. His time in Christchurch gave him a new perspective on intensive farming. “It was great,” explains Lachie. “They live and breathe agriculture in New Zealand, and I became fully immersed in it.” He now farms on Boonerah, a family-run farm alongside his parents, brother, sister, and a small, dedicated team, managing 27,000 sheep and around 700 cattle. Over the years, the farm has evolved to meet changing demands while maintaining its commitment to quality livestock production, focusing particularly on prime lambs, breeding rams (composites and Romneys), and transitioning to an Angus cattle enterprise from an F1 herd.
The Ranken family operates across two properties in Victoria, Australia, with unique landscapes. The primary farm enjoys three rivers running through it. The flat country is characterised by fertile basalt soils and is dotted with iconic river red gums. The secondary property, located in Timboon, experiences higher rainfall, making it ideal for running cattle. Lachie finds that working across the two properties allows the family to adapt their practices based on each location’s specific strengths.
The Rankens run their operation as a close-knit family team, with Lachie working alongside his brother, sister, and parents, plus one full-time employee. Contractors are brought in for seasonal needs like crutching, lamb marketing, and shearing. This team dynamic allows them to handle daily tasks efficiently, but Lachie knew they needed a better way to keep everyone on the same page.
Enter Mobble: Revolutionising Day-to-Day Management
About 10 years ago, Lachie and his brother tried an early iteration of a farm management app. “I remember sitting in the yards with my brother, and we just crashed the program. It couldn’t handle what we were doing, so we effectively threw that out.”
He continues, “We’ve used Excel ever since, which worked well, but we needed the farming team to all collaborate - make mob moves and so on - so we couldn’t rely on spreadsheets.”
“I’d heard of Mobble and met Jock in 2023 at Sheepvention. Later on, I was talking to a trusted farming mate and asked him what he thought about Mobble. He was a fan, so I thought, ‘Well, if this guy is using it across multiple properties and across many staff, then it makes sense.’” For Lachie and his team, Mobble transformed communication and collaboration on the farm, a welcome improvement after their earlier experience with farm management software. The Rankens manage both properties individually within Mobble. “Being able to have all staff work on it in real time has been a huge help,” Lachie explains.
Mobble has also proven useful when adding contractors who aren’t familiar with the farm. “When we have fertiliser contractors and are sowing, they often don’t know the property and frequently they’re working in the dark. With Mobble, they can log in, see where the dot or job is, and get on with it.”
This year, Lachie’s had two audits that were made easy due to the family’s rigorous recording of animal treatments and the ability to see withholding periods on the map instantly. “The auditors saw we were on Mobble and just breezed through the audit. They didn’t even need to print anything.”
Tracking Rainfall Across the Farm
An unexpected highlight of Mobble for Lachie is utilising the rain gauges. The family has multiple rain gauges across the farm to gather more precise rainfall data. With Mobble, Lachie can now track rainfall across different locations, giving him insights into rainfall variation and helping with better pasture management. This data is particularly valuable during challenging seasons, as even small variations in rainfall can impact grazing and overall land health.
“Our last rainfall event showed a 15mm difference from one end of the farm to the other - about 8km apart as the crow flies - and Mobble lets us keep track of these subtle differences over time. In a tight year, this information is really valuable.”
The Farm’s Objective
The family’s current objective is to improve feed quality across the property. Lachie explains, “We’ve got the quantity of feed sorted now, but our focus is going to be improving the quality of feed.”
Mobble’s ability to monitor paddock grazing days and stocking rates is allowing Lachie and his family to quickly identify both high- and (more importantly) low-performing paddocks. This data-driven approach helps them make informed decisions, ensuring they maximise the productivity and health of their pastures and identify where things need to be fixed.
Lachie is looking forward to even greater insights into livestock health and growth as Mobble’s integrations with other farming apps grow. As the farm adapts to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future, Mobble remains a central tool in helping Lachie manage, track, and grow his family’s farming legacy.