David Ward joined Farmanco in July 2000 and became a partner in July 2003. He works with agricultural businesses in the central and eastern wheatbelt. His expertise is in matters of finance given a history in the Rural Finance area of the National Australia Bank. He completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness at Curtin University – Muresk campus in November 2002. He has developed his agronomic, marketing and farm management skills by working alongside the Farmanco team.
Qualifications & Professional Affiliations
Bachelor of Agribusiness - (Marketing) with Distinction. Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia (Muresk Institute of Agriculture campus).
AAAC - Independent Member of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (W.A.) Inc.
Skills, Expertise & Interests
Consulting (Farm Management - Financial)
- Compile annual reviews analysing a business’s financial and physical performance using profit analysis and reporting enterprise margins, profit, equity, liquidity, ratios / indicators and long term viability.
- Benchmark business performance.
- Prepare cash flow budgets.
- Analyse enterprise and rotational margins.
- Develop finance plans for seasonal funding, debt reconstruction, property purchase, machinery purchase, business restructuring.
- Analyse property leasing and share farming proposals. Develop contract content for short term and long term agreements to enable formal legal preparation.
- Working knowledge of the income tax system and its implications for the farming business.
- Good knowledge of off farm financial investment products.
Consulting (Farm Management - Technical)
- All aspects of crop agronomy (cereals, canola, lupins, field peas and chickpeas) and pasture agronomy (legume based) as it relates to Western Australia.
- Crop protection including pesticide selection, spray adjuvants, pesticide application, and management of herbicide resistance.
- Nutrition strategies for crops and pastures.
- Working knowledge of Sheep and Wool production systems including husbandry and genetics.
Consulting (Farm Management - Marketing)
- Provide general information (not legally allowed to give specific recommendations) for price risk management using futures and options for currency and commodities, OTC products and forward cash contracts.
Consulting (Farm Management - Strategic Planning)
- Develop farm business plans.
- Assist clients with estate and succession planning (with reference to specialists).
- Construct enterprise rotation plans after analysing the contribution of different enterprises to whole farm profitability and sustainability and considering integrated management of herbicide resistance.
Computers & Software
- Conversant with the operation of personal computers and associated hardware.
- Knowledge of various software including spreadsheets, word processors, specific agricultural applications and internet software.
- Assist clients with cashbook coding, data entry and budgeting.
General
- An aptitude for figures and financial concepts - with a specific interest in business finance and analysis of business performance.
- Good ability to communicate effectively in written format.
Interests
- Family Life, Sport (all, but particularly Golf, Cricket and Fishing), Gardening, Carpentry DIY (Mr fix it), Broad Hectare Agriculture.
Previous Employment & Experience
National Australia Bank: 1984-2000
Technical Skills include: Rural Credit assessment - 7 years, with an ability to analyse rural ledger applications, Cash flow forecasting, Balance Sheet Analysis, Business development skills, very good understanding of broad hectare farming, excellent time management and excellent interpersonal skills.
Farmanco: 2000 -
At Farmanco David has consolidated the education that he received at Curtin University by putting learning into practice. Over this period he has developed his Agronomy skills and is confident in making recommendations at all stages of crop and pasture development. The team environment within Farmanco provides ongoing personal and professional development from consultants and agronomists with many years experience.
The Dowerin client base transferred to David’s ownership as at 1st July 2003 – and he is now the primary consulting service provider in that office.
