Boots Off Log On!™

John Francis explains why benchmarking is about more than numbers, and how goals, risk and decision-making shape farm business performance.
Join us for a conversation with John Francis from Agrista, where we explore what benchmarking can really tell us about farm business performance.
We look at why farm businesses with similar land, rainfall and access to information can end up in very different places financially, and how much of that difference comes down to goals, strategy, decision-making and the way people respond to uncertainty.
“Comfort and certainty are effectively the enemy of progress.”
John shares why benchmarking is not just about comparing numbers. It can show the difference in financial performance, productivity and key business indicators, but the real value often sits beneath the surface.
We explore the decisions behind the data, including how people manage risk, how they separate good decisions from good outcomes, and why the safest option can sometimes cost more than people realise.
John also talks through operating return, asset growth, leverage, capital values, recency bias after drought, and why an evidence-based approach can help farm businesses stay focused when the noise gets loud.
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David and Natalie talk about the office rhythms and habits that help farm businesses avoid big shocks.
When the books are left to the last minute, small issues can quickly turn into stressful ones. A missing receipt, an unreconciled transaction or an outdated budget is much easier to deal with early than when BAS, payroll, the bank or a major business decision is already pressing.
Learn why regular office rhythms matter and how simple habits can keep the numbers current, useful and less overwhelming.
David and Natalie also look at habit stacking, from payroll and reconciliations to budget checks and actuals-to-budget reports, and why modern farm businesses need modern office routines.
Resources:
Agrimaster Financial Rhythm Cashflow Control Cycle Handouts: https://agmstr.com/4x6yTG3
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Join us for a conversation with David McLean from RCS Australia, where we explore what consistently profitable grazing businesses do differently.
We look at why strong grazing businesses are often built on simple decisions made well, and why profit starts with knowing what the business needs to deliver for the people running it.
David shares how clear goals can be worked backwards into practical business decisions, from annual profit targets and cashflow to stocking rate, carrying capacity and feed budgeting.
We explore the difference between production and profit, why turnover, gross margin and overheads all matter, and how better numbers can help graziers make more confident decisions no matter the season.
 
Resources:
RCS Australia’s free DSE calculator: https://agmstr.com/4qne6wl
 
 
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David sits down with Clare Hamilton to talk about what can change when the farm office becomes more than a compliance job.
Clare has used Agrimaster for years, but for a long time it was mainly where the figures went so the books could be done, the BAS could be lodged and the accountant had what they needed.
That changed when Clare and Sam started investing more time into the business side of their numbers.
Clare shares how building budgets, using worksheets and running scenarios helped them move from a cashbook focus to a clearer understanding of cashflow, risk, finance and opportunity.
She talks through how this changed conversations with the bank, helped them make decisions faster, and gave them more confidence when looking at land purchases, livestock trading, machinery finance and seasonal changes.
Conversation about using the right tools properly, backing yourself in the farm office, and turning your numbers into something that helps run the business.
 
 
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.

Join us for a conversation with Fiona Best from Birchip Cropping Group, one of Australia’s leading farming systems groups based in north-west Victoria.
Founded by farmers in 1992, BCG began with a simple idea: farmers needed access to practical, locally relevant research in their own backyard. More than 30 years later, that same farmer-led approach continues to shape how the group connects research, industry and on-farm decision-making.
Fiona shares how farming systems groups help bridge the gap between science and practical adoption, making sure research is not only technically sound, but also useful, achievable and commercially sensible for growers.
We explore how BCG gathers ideas from farmers, works with researchers and industry, and turns local challenges into research projects, trials, extension and communication.
Fiona also talks about the future of agriculture, including ag tech, AI, Chat BCG, the next generation of farmers, and the important role farming systems groups play in keeping rural communities connected.
 
 
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David and Natalie look at the business side of farm succession, and why it often needs to start earlier than people think.
Preparing the next generation is not just about handing over assets. It is about helping them take on the books, understand the numbers and step into the business side with confidence.
Because handing over the office does not happen in one conversation. It takes time, trust and a proper apprenticeship, where the next generation learns how the books, budgets, cashflow, reports and financial decisions all fit together.
David and Natalie talk through how to bring the next generation into the office earlier, why they need to understand the value behind the data, and how small jobs like entering transactions, reviewing reports and preparing budgets can build the skills they will need later.
 
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Join us for a conversation with Nick Blomfield, a regenerative cattle producer from the New England Tablelands in New South Wales.
Nick runs 750 hectares of traprock country and has spent years rethinking how his farm produces grass, beef and carbon. What started as a search for a way out of declining pasture response and rising input pressure has reshaped the farm’s grazing system, income mix and long-term business outlook.
Nick shares how rotational grazing, ground cover and rest periods have changed the way his farm responds to rainfall, carries stock and builds resilience through dry seasons.
We explore how soil carbon fits into the business, why Nick sees it as the “cream on the top,” and what other graziers should consider before changing the way they manage pasture, inputs, and livestock.
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David and Natalie unpack the year-round farm office habits that make tax time much easier.
The end of the financial year is mainly about tax, reporting and getting your records ready for your accountant, but it is also a useful reminder of why clean records matter. The shortcuts that seem harmless during the year can quickly become cleanup jobs when reporting time arrives.
David and Natalie work through the practical jobs that help keep your farm office in order, from reconciliations and outstanding transactions to payroll checks, super reports, staff leave entitlements and business structure changes.
They also cover common issues like duplicated invoices, false reconciliations and messy outstanding entries, and why doing things properly the first time is one of the best ways to save stress later.

Join us for a conversation with Malinda Guest, a clinical psychologist from Narrabri with roots in farming, who now works closely with rural people, families and communities.
We explore what wellbeing looks like in rural life when the days are busy, the distances are long, and people can be both highly connected and deeply isolated at the same time.
Malinda shares why connection sits at the centre of how she thinks about rural wellbeing, from the simple value of a phone call or cup of tea to the importance of checking in before things become too heavy.
We explore the difference between healthy time alone and loneliness, why different generations often understand stress in different ways, and how families can start better conversations without making them feel forced or awkward.
 
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David sits down with Lisa Jeitz to unpack the hidden cost of using the wrong financial tools in a farm business.
Lisa is a grain grower from Esperance, a former agronomist and farm consultant, and host of the Farm Office Toolbox podcast, where she advocates for financial clarity and better systems in the farm office.
In this conversation, she shares what she learned from moving away from a farm-focused management accounting system, and why a tool that looks simple or cost-effective can quickly become expensive when it costs you time, reporting and confidence.
Join us as David and Lisa focus on the difference between basic transaction processing and real farm business reporting. They cover why the right tools need to support cashflow, budgets, volume tracking and timely decision-making, not just records for tax time.
 
DisclaimerThe information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not in any way constitute financial, investment, accounting, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult with a relevantly qualified and licensed professional for advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. The opinions expressed are our own and do not reflect those of our sponsors or any third parties.
© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.