David joined Farmanco in
December 2005 and is developing a client base in the Central and
Eastern Wheatbelt. David has considerable "hands on" experience in
broadacre farming, having run the family farm at Nungarin, in the
Eastern Wheatbelt, for the last 11 years. This on ground experience
has developed a sound knowledge of mixed cropping and sheep
husbandry techniques, particularly for the low rainfall zones. He
also has considerable experience in farm business management,
analysing farm businesses, grain marketing and some exposure to
farm succession issues. David has corporate responsibility for the
monthly Newsletter and for maintaining and improving the FARMANCO
Pesticide Book.
Qualifications & Professional Affiliations
- Bachelor of Engineering - (Mechanical): University of Western Australia, Perth, WA
- Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness: Muresk Institute of Agriculture, Northam, WA
- AAAC - Provisional Member of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants.
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.
- 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)
- Most aspects of crop agronomy (cereals, canola, lupins, field peas, faba beans and chickpeas) and pasture agronomy (legume based) as it relates to Western Australia.
- A working and developing knowledge of 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
- The integration of Natural Resource Management (NRM) into the whole farm strategic plan.
- Working knowledge of Farm Machinery, preventative maintenance and its implications to overall Farm productivity.
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.
- Able to compare commodity quotes on a common basis (normally farm gate price).
Consulting (Farm Management - Strategic Planning)
- Develop farm business plans that reflect the focus and ambitions of the client and their family.
- 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.
- Help clients with cashbook coding, data entry and budgeting.
- Able to access and utilise various FARMANCO developed decision aids.
General
- An aptitude for figures and financial concepts - with a specific interest in business finance and analysis of business performance.
- Extensive practical experience in the selection and operation of most farm machinery. Also skilled in the area of machinery maintenance and modification.
- Still retain an active interest in 'farming' with a sharefarming arrangement with part of the farm at Nungarin.
- Good ability to communicate effectively, both in verbal and written format.
Interests
- Family, Travel, Sport (tennis and golf), Camping and Bushwalking, Cars, Music
Previous Employment & Experience
2004 - 2005 Part time student and Farm
Contracting
In March 2004 the farm at Nungarin was leased out so I could
commence part time study at the Muresk Institute of Agriculture. As
we still had all the farm machinery we use it to perform
contracting work over this period of time. I was involved with
contract spraying, seeding and harvesting.
1994 - 2003 SB & SA Watson (Family Farm at
Nungarin)
Returned to the family farm in February 1994 and assumed control in
1996. Developed the farm from an initial base of 1600 hectares to
3000 arable hectares, where it cropped 2000 ha of wheat, 400 ha of
Barley and 200 ha of Lupins on an annual basis. At different times
Canola and Chickpeas were also grown. The enterprise also ran a
self replacing Merino flock.
1989 - 1994 Western Mining Engineering
Services
From 1989 to 1994 I spent five years working for Western Mining as
a Mechanical Engineer. After a stint in the Perth office I was
transferred to Leinster, North of Kalgoorlie, where I was
responsible for the maintenance of the EMU gold processing plant. I
was in charge of a team of 14 people and the most important lesson
to learn from this was the art of communication, team building and
how critical preventative maintenance is.
1985 - 1988 Full Time Student at UWA and part time Farm
Hand.
While completing my engineering degree I spent any spare time I had
working on the family farm or neighbouring farms as a farm
hand.
