Meanwhile, 48per cent said enlisting the help of experts had sped up their decision make changes - on average, almost three years sooner.
Farmers and rural professionals involved in the extension project and those businesses involved in the high-performing farmer research descended on Christchurch this week to talk about how to roll out successful extension approaches to the wider red-meat sector.
RMPP general manager Michael Smith said that, although some sheep and beef farmers may be apprehensive at the prospect of investing in their businesses, the research showed the financial outlay would pay off.
"While this evaluation looks at key production numbers, more critically, it is the financial bottom line that really matters," he said. "Farmers reported they would now invest in further expert advice to help drive decision-making because the value of that expertise was clear. This expertise has also lead to more confidence in making those decisions.
"Encouragingly, some of the changes we have seen on-farm have also been transformational. For example, implementing a comprehensive business system into the farm to monitor everything from finances, stock recording, grazing, to soils and fertiliser.
We have also seen smaller tweaks to farm systems which have also increased farm profits.
As part of the extension project, pilot farmers are working with their meat processors, building stronger relationships and understanding better processors' and customers' needs.
They also work with other pilot farmers in small groups to challenge and support each other as they implement new ideas.
These farmers are also learning from their peers with visits to high-performing farms in different locations and building mentoring relationships.
Southland farmer Peter Horrell. who has been mentoring Tuatapere farmers Nathan and Marilyn Parris, believes that a willingness of such farmers to change is the reason improvements have been possible.
"A lot of people don't have independent advice around the kitchen table and when I looked at the data about how farmers learn off other people, I thought hard about that data and saw a place for professional advice and practical experience. The combination has worked really well in the trial.
"It's about practical skills combined with local knowledge. When you have the right people in the room working with farmers - and the personalities gel - then change can occur."
Vicki and Leveson Gower, sheep and beef farmers in Waikato, have also begun using consultants to expand their knowledge and improve performance, and have found them to be "very effective".
Mr Smith said the red-meat sector has invested heavily in improving the uptake of knowledge over the years with varying success.
"Our aim has been to understand farmers' motivation and needs rather than assuming we know best and telling them what they should do. Every farm and farmer is different and this means finding what works best for them."
RMPP will use what it has learned from the pilot farms to identify which approaches are effective in supporting profitable farming system changes in a much wider rollout to other farmers who want to take part.
Mr Smith said the next challenge for RMPP was to scale up to allow the opportunity for all farmers to be involved in order to achieve higher profitability for the whole industry.
"This programme is not about telling farmers what to do," he said.
"It's about creating an environment where farmers can learn from each other, share what works, utilise expertise, embrace change and make more informed business decisions for the future of their business and their family."
