No 452 - Wednesday's Club Notes

The “Club Notes” for Wednesday, the 5th of March, 2025.

By Dwain Duxson - An Ag Enthusiast

Podcast - John Richards, Goldacres.

In Agriculture, we don't celebrate our entrepreneurs enough. These people take big risks and pave the way for others. John Richards, the founder of Spraying company Goldacres is right up there with the other great entrepreneurs in Ag. He founded the company in his 40s and built it up to the point where they now employ around 200 people. Listen on Spotify here and on Apple below.

Is family the biggest threat to the family Farm

Is the biggest threat to the modern family Farm family? And, yes, family can also be the Farm’s biggest strength. When a family Farm gets diluted, it usually becomes less efficient. Let's say one Farm of 5000 acres run by a brother and sister is broken down into 2 × 2500 acre Farms run each by the same brother and sister. So instead of having one fleet of Machinery, you now need two; there are two lots of insurance to pay, debt, and the list goes on. Let's say this one above is an amicable and straightforward succession. But they aren't all like that. Let's say we have one that's not straightforward; it's messy, with lawyers, accountants, and facilitators becoming involved, and the shit hits the proverbial. All of a sudden, lots of the value is sucked out of Farm by the above-mentioned 3rd parties, and the split is not amicable, so therefore, it becomes difficult, spiteful and stressful. In some cases because of greed. And I say that because the stakes are higher these days, and now everyone wants a piece of the actions. So, to put a positive spin on it, the great strength of a family Farm is just that family. But when things go a little wrong, it can be the biggest weakness. The idea is to make it a strength and to constantly keep it as a strength. Do you agree that the family in family Farm can be the Farm's biggest strength but also its biggest weakness? Reply to [email protected] or 0427 011 900

Next members draw

What’s in the paid section today:

Story 2 - Why does the government keep getting telecommunication tech so wrong?…..

Story 3 - Food availability and security will trump all……

Number of articles and images - 73 short-form bits of Ag info and news, including 23 funnies and 6 just sayings.

Number of Farmer replies - 4 in total.

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