Boots Off Log On!™

Episode 30: Navigating succesion - Insights for family farm business with Stuart Wesley

In this episode, we sit down with Stuart Wesley, the principal consultant at Oasis People and Culture. Renowned for his expertise in culture development, leadership coaching, conflict resolution, and developing relational maturity and human interaction skills which uniquely positions him to address the challenges and opportunities that arise during the succession process. During our conversation, we explore the crucial questions one must ask when embarking on the journey of succession planning. Stuart shares his insights on the most important considerations to ensure a smooth transition of leadership within a family business. From assessing the family's readiness to identifying potential conflicts, we delve deep into the core aspects of this critical process.We also explored the role of legal and accounting professionals in the succession process - How families should involve these experts to ensure a well-structured and legally sound transition. By drawing parallels with non-family businesses, family businesses can learn valuable lessons in terms of succession planning and the importance of appointing qualified individuals.Join us in this thought-provoking episode of "Boots Off, Log On," where we navigate the complexities of succession planning, unravelling the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for family businesses.

Episode 29: Boosting your farm’s profitability - Key strategies revealed with John Francis

In today's episode, we have a special guest, John Francis, a highly experienced farm business advisor hailing from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. John is the proud Director and Consultant at Agrista, where he has garnered extensive knowledge in the field of agriculture. With 15 years of experience as an Agronomist and another 15 years dedicated to farm business advisory, John is well-equipped to guide clients in enhancing their core profitability.During our conversation, we delve into the crucial aspects of running a profitable livestock enterprise. Specifically, we explore the significance of adopting a per hectare and per DSE (Dry Sheep Equivalent) focus to maximise returns from your land. Additionally, we shed light on calculating the critical farm business measure of Return on Asset managed, considering the current landscape of soaring land prices and asset values.We also address the recent changes in the farm business environment, such as increasing interest rates, high inflation, and softening commodity prices. Despite these challenges, John highlights the wealth creation opportunities that exist for businesses with strong financial management skills. As we navigate this new economic environment, it becomes evident that mastering financial management, budgeting, and cashflow skills will be paramount for businesses to thrive.This conversation offers a captivating and informative insight into farm business management, delivered by one of the industry's leading experts. We are confident that you will gain valuable knowledge from John's expertise.

Episode 28: The challenge of finding and retaining employees in farming with John Boote

Welcome back to the podcast, where we delve into the challenges that farm businesses face in Australia, particularly in finding and retaining employees. In this episode, we speak with John Boote, a straight-shooting recruiter for farm businesses across the country, who founded Drover Ag Recruitment in 2019.Through Drover Ag, John has been able to connect with and help thousands of farming clients and candidates towards better employment outcomes. Drover Ag is now Australia's most recognised and recommended Agricultural recruitment agency, and John employs a team of recruitment specialists, all experienced in agriculture, who are based across rural Australia.We discuss the mindset shift that farmers need to make to attract and retain good employees, emphasising the importance of looking inward at their own business culture.According to John, communication, inclusion, and the elimination of micro-management are key to engaging and retaining good employees. He also notes that although agriculture offers excellent career opportunities, the industry has a poor reputation as an employer, making it the collective responsibility of farmers to change this culture.We explore how good operators find and retain quality staff, which is a strategic advantage for their business. If you're a farmer looking to employ people, this is insightful advice that you won't want to ignore.Listen to John's wisdom and insight to start your journey towards becoming an employer of choice in the industry.

Episode 27: Unveiling the complex world of Agtech with Sarah Nolet

In this podcast episode, Sarah Nolet sheds light on the topic of Agtech and its impact on the agricultural industry. She begins by discussing how Agtech has become a hot topic at farming events and in the farming media. However, she emphasizes that Agtech is not just limited to apps, IoT, and equipment for tractors, as it is a deep and complex field that is having an impact across the entire agricultural supply chain.As the Co-Founder and General Partner of Tenacious Ventures, a Venture Capital and Private Equity firm focused on Agritech, and the CEO of Agthentic, an advisory firm, Sarah has a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field. She debunks the myth that Agtech is only focused on the beginning and end of the supply chain and highlights that much of the action is in the middle of the supply chain.Sarah also discusses climate-focused Agritech, which is an increasingly important area of focus in the industry. She shares her vision of what a Digitally Native Agriculture looks like, which involves a fully integrated, tech-driven, and sustainable agricultural system.Finally, Sarah provides tips for farmers on evaluating Agtech for their businesses. She highlights the importance of understanding their specific needs and goals and how Agtech can help them achieve those goals. By doing so, farmers can make informed decisions about which Agtech solutions to invest in and which ones to avoid.This episode provides an insightful and comprehensive overview of Agtech and its impact on the agricultural industry. It is a must-listen for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

Episode 26: Farming beyond family - How to employ people successfully with Danielle McNamee

Welcome to our latest podcast episode, where we'll be addressing one of the biggest challenges facing farm businesses today: employing people. As farms grow bigger, they need more hands on deck, and many farmers are discovering that managing people is a very different skill set from managing a farm. In fact, good people management can mean the difference between success and failure for a farm business.In the next few episodes, we'll be tackling this issue head-on, covering everything from recruitment to HR management and OH&S. Our guest today is Danielle McNamee, the founder of Processworx, has been helping farm businesses manage this increasingly complex area of their business for over 10 years.In our conversation, we'll cover the essential aspects of employing people on a farm, including contracts, safety, duty of care, and correct payment practices. We'll also discuss how to identify and manage risks on the farm, the difference between contractors and employees, the importance of inductions, and the growing problem of fatigue and accidents.Danielle will also share how good HR and OH&S systems can attract and retain good staff in your farm business. If you're struggling with employee management or OH&S on your farm, or you just want to see if you're on the right track, then this conversation is for you.

Episode 25: Rejuvenating rural communities with Sam Marwood

Welcome to our latest podcast episode, where we have the pleasure of speaking with Sam Marwood, the co-founder of Cultivate Farms. Founded with his good friends Tim and Tegan Hicks, who share the same vision of “rejuvenating rural communities”. In this episode, we'll explore the innovative solutions Cultivate Farms offers to address the age-old problem of retiring farmers who want to retain ownership of their business while passing the reins to a younger generation of farmers.Cultivate Farms helps match retiring farmers who want to maintain ownership of their business with young, talented, and enthusiastic farm business managers. These managers do not own land yet but are interested in investing in farming and have long-term careers as farm managers. By offering a unique and ground-breaking solution to this issue, Cultivate Farms is revitalizing rural communities by nurturing a new generation of farmers.In a world where selling or leasing appears to be the only feasible option for aging farmers, Cultivate Farms has opened up a whole new realm of opportunities for aspiring farmers who never saw farm ownership as a realistic option before.Join us as Sam shares his fascinating insights into the future of farming, farm communities, and careers in agriculture. Whether you're an experienced farmer looking to pass on your legacy or a young, ambitious, and aspiring farmer seeking to make your mark in the world of agriculture, this conversation is bound to inspire you.

Episode 24: The Unbreakable Farmer with Warren Davies

Join us on this inspiring journey as we delve into the remarkable story of Warren Davies, also known as "The Unbreakable Farmer." Our conversation today centres on the critical topic of rural mental health, and Warren brings a unique perspective to this important issue.Warren's journey took a turn when the harsh realities of farming took a toll on his mental health, leading him to walk away from his passion. Despite facing an identity crisis and struggling to find his place in the world, Warren's unwavering resilience, persistence, and determination drove him to rebuild his life and career and created the foundation for what he teaches, preaches and lives today. Through his experiences, Warren now shares his story and imparts his skills to inspire others to overcome their challenges. One of the tools he shares is the "Unbreakable Wheel of Wellbeing," which emphasizes the importance of communication, connection, and seeking help. We can all benefit from these vital lessons, regardless of where we live.During our discussion, we explore key topics such as authentic leadership, mental health and wellbeing, building strong communities, and the importance of resilience, persistence, and determination in the face of adversity. Tune in to gain valuable insights and learn from Warren's remarkable journey of self-discovery and success. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who wants to learn about rural mental health and find ways to support themselves and their communities.Resources:www.lifeline.org.au 24/7 crisis support: 13 11 14www.tiacs.org https://www.theunbreakablefarmer.com.au/The Unbreakable Farmer’s Socials:https://www.facebook.com/TheUnbreakableFarmerhttps://www.instagram.com/theunbreakablefarmer/https://twitter.com/Warra67https://www.linkedin.com/in/theunbreakablefarmer/

Episode 23: The economic and agricultural outlook for 2023 with Stefan Vogel

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Stefan Vogel, the General Manager of Rabo Research in Australia and New Zealand. We are discussing Rabobank's latest industry report, on the day of its release: "Australia Agribusiness Outlook 2023: Continuing on a successful path".Stefan is an excellent resource to guide us through this report, as he possesses the ability to simplify complex concepts related to agri-economics and the global agricultural industry. With nearly two decades of experience in the food and agribusiness sector, Stefan brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. He has worked in various capacities, including global commodity market research, and as a grain sector strategist for grains and oilseeds with Rabobank in London.During our discussion, we delve into many of the key findings from the report, including the outlook for commodity prices in 2023 and the important changes that have taken place in the fertilizer outlook for the upcoming season compared to 2022. We also touch upon the various global headwinds and tailwinds, both political and economic, that could impact farmers in Australia.According to Rabobank's report, the Australian agricultural sector is in a strong position for the year ahead, with record-high farm incomes across the country. However, Rabobank warns against expecting a repeat of last year's exceptional conditions and predicts that a global recession and elevated costs may result in "good, but not record-breaking" prices.This conversation is essential for those who are planning for the 2023 season, and we hope you will find it informative and enjoyable.

Episode 22: Diversity in agriculture with Simone Cameron

In this episode, we speak to Simone Cameron, Director of Regions and Projects for NT Farmers. Simone is a teacher and an agronomist who is a passionate advocate for agriculture in the Northern Territory and is committed to promoting research and extension in the sector.Simone is a finalist for the 2022 NT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for connecting innovative technology with the farming sector to support the sustainable diversification of development opportunities across the North of Australia. She is one of only twelve women in Australia to be selected to complete the 2022 NFF Diversity in Agriculture program.We discuss the importance of diversity in the Agricultural industry and her experience of being recognized as a leader in the sector. She shares her advice to women pursuing a career in Ag and relates to her own real-life experiences. Simone also dives into her vision for sustainable and sensitive diversification and development opportunities.

Episode 21: Building horticultural business capacity with Bronson Gledhill

In this episode, we speak to Bronson Gledhill about growers’ innovative business improvements and benchmarking programs to help them in the race to stay profitable in the face of rising costs. Bronson is a Partner at Ag consulting firm Planfarm; he dives into key learnings after over five years of benchmarking and how you, as a vegetable or a pome grower, can lift your profitability and optimise your revenue. Bronson talks about how the top 25% are driving an increase in revenue through long-term top management and operational strategies rather than cutting down costs. We also cover how you can apply these learnings to your business to be more financially successful than ever before, in addition to:1. Painting a picture of the horticulture industry2. Insights from the 2020-21 annual reports3. Operating expense differences between the top and bottom producers4. Exploring the management practices of the top 25%5. Profitability drivers in horticulture6. Recommend financial and business practices for new horticultural clientsA not to miss episode for all vegetable and pome growers with key business lessons for all farmers in any industry.