The Business of Farming
Farming can be a solitary business. Farmers ‘chat’ over the fence, although not often about the actual ‘business of farming'. With this in mind, business discussion groups provide an opportunity to share and expand knowledge (in confidence) in small farmer groups.
Conversations over the back fence, chats with the machinery dealer and more formal visits with your Accountant or Bank Manager are all chances to talk about your business.
Where Business Discussion Groups help, is the ‘higher-level’ nature of discussions in areas such as:
Operational Issues – labour and machinery management, cost management, enterprise mix, etc.
Succession Planning – meeting everyone’s objectives while catering for non-farming family and giving confidence to the retiring partners; and
Off-farm investments.
Learning from and with your peers leads to a much greater understanding of the ‘business of farming’.
In a group of six to 10 farming businesses, you have the chance to:
Explore and understand your own business
Identify other opportunities for your business and family
Explore and understand the ‘other’ member businesses
In the full knowledge of everyone’s business circumstances; and
At each meeting, focusing on ‘one business at a time’.
“With the right mix of people (interested, focused and willing to share) and business diversity, the opportunity to learn and test ideas is significant.” Eric Nankivell, Management Consultant and facilitator.
Farmanco Albury began two new groups in 2020 - one Dryland and the other Irrigation. COVID got in the way of going full steam ahead with these, but Eric Nankivell looks forward to meeting with these groups once seeding 2021 is down, and working with them for the next three years.
Expressions of interest are invited from any interested farm businesses, from the following areas:
The Riverina / Murray; Victoria/NSW; and Western Australia -
Esperance
Central Wheatbelt (Cunderdin, Merredin)
Northern Wheatbelt (Mingenew, Wongan Hills); and
Great Southern (Wagin, Kojonup, Gnowangerup)
Contact Eric Nankivell, current Management Team Leader to discuss the possibilities.
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