The Farmers Club Newsletter

The “Club Notes” for Wednesday, the 2th of October 2023

By Dwain Duxson

If you can, please get your family, friends and colleagues to sign up. See the website link here.

Farm Tender Daily

Some of you might have noticed that we have missed the last 3 Farm Tender Daily’s. We have been having a technical issue with our web host, Amazon Web Services. We are now switching over to a new program and should be back in a day or two. Reply to [email protected]

Farm jobs provide a brain break for some

We spoke about mental health yesterday, and it hit a nerve with a few. One person who replied said the following. "Talking to a fellow Farmer about dealing with the stresses of keeping on top of a business. We both agreed that a brain reset, or meditation as you will, was a really good practice. His was cutting a load of wood. Mine was drenching a mob of Sheep, and driving the Tractor was the same. And we both agreed how refreshing it was to get back into it after a switch of time". I think shifting a mob of Sheep can be quite relaxing, as long as they are not getting through the fence, which turns the job into a polar opposite one. I find it interesting that some Farmers find doing some things on the Farm gives them a brain break, as opposed to something off the Farm. I had another Farmer reach out and say it's medication that helps him. Do you have any tips for a brain break? Reply to [email protected]

Good and bad in high Land prices

There are good and bad in high Land prices. The good is that we own an appreciating asset. We all should have an appreciating asset or two. For many, it's a house. For Farmers who own Land, it's just that. There are a few downsides as well. Local Shire and Councils have increased rates exponentially on Farming Land, to the point where some Landholder are paying hundreds of thousands. High Land values or not, Farming is still a cash business, and if you can't generate cash, then you are up against it. The rates are, more often than not, an expense paid for by the production side of the business. Another is that it's hard for young people to pay such prices for Land. Another could be that non-farm family members are more likely to contest wills or force payouts onto the people working the Farm. This can be very stressful, and it tears families apart. High Land prices, are they good or bad or both for you? Reply to [email protected]

Advisory Boards might suit Farmers better

I had some good replies on Farm Boards. Mal Peters, the former President of NSW Farmers, said this, "The big problem with Farmer Boards is they think they are operational. A Board's role is to set strategy and measure the performance of the CEO. If they delve into operations, it inevitably ends up with a clash with the CEO". Andrew Young, founder of Growth Point Ag, who works with Farmers on this very subject, reckons Farm businesses are better off with advisory Boards. He said this, "An Advisory Board is a structured and collaborative method for businesses to engage with external people who act as a sounding board for either the business owners or directors". My 20 cents is that an Advisory Board is more like being mentored or advised more than measuring performance or setting strategy. Thoughts? Reply to [email protected]

Trust in Tractor to Automation

We had a few replies on our Tractor story from yesterday, and anyone driving a Tractor that is a 2010 drop and older says driving the Tractors is relaxing. The more modern Tractor, not as so. As for the transition to Automated, most reckon it will happen, but the transition will be very, very long. Farmers will only switch over when they trust the system. And that could mean dozens of demos over a lot of years. The price of switching over will also be a factor. If I'm upright, I will still be writing this newsletter in 27 years time, and we will probably be still talking about the transition then. It will be interesting to watch the development. How long do you think the transition will take, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years or more? Reply to [email protected]

Vegemite

What an iconic product this has been, and as of Wednesday, it's 100 years old. Read the Vegemite story here. Made in Port Melbourne, Vegemite has been a staple in our house ever since I can remember. Remember I mentioned how we smother our Lamb roast with Vegemite before it goes in the oven? Sales for Vegemite lifted for the first time in 20 years, according to the Bega annual report. Read more below. Reply to [email protected] 

End of message.

Dwain Duxson

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