Author Archive for Trish Nankivell

Farmanco Products & Services – update

By Trish Nankivell
Thursday, August 8th, 2019

Have you thought about subscribing to any of our Farmanco products? Perhaps you’ve heard about our unique Pesticide Handbook and benchmarking publication, the Profit Series? We also have a monthly newsletter, Farmanco Facts contributed to by our Farm Management Consultants, Agronomists and Grain Marketers – and also guest professionals.

Our publications are usually provided as printed editions and available electronically, via the Farmanco App (FREE download).

Farmanco Pestbook

The Farmanco agronomy team works to produce an annually reviewed Pesticide Handbook (Pestbook TM) providing  the best independent guide to weed, insect and disease control in Australia.

For about 20 years the Farmanco PestbookTM has been a winner for our WA clients. And in 2019 we worked with some eastern states agronomists to update the technical information to be locally accurate. The PestbookTM is reviewed annually by our agronomy team and further improvements will be made to the Victoria / southern NSW edition in 2020.

Available as printed books and as e-publications through the Farmanco App (on Android or Apple devices).

COMING SOON an e-version for South Australia. 

Farmanco Benchmarking

The Business Analysis edition of our benchmarking service contains the full set of benchmark data.

  • The 2018 edition includes detailed data on 293 businesses, with production and financial data down to an enterprise level.
  • This data looks at the 2017 production season as well as the five-year average. We also show some long term trends over the last 21 years.
  • This e-book contains 117 pages of tables and graphs showing financial and production benchmarking data across whole of business, and cropping and livestock enterprises, and we take a closer look at machinery efficiencies.
  • The tables provide the average, low and top 25% of businesses – across the low, medium and high rainfall zones.
  • Note that this edition contains no ‘individual farm identifiers’.

Available in printed form and via the Farmanco App.

COMING SOON Profit Series 2019 (Professional Edition (your farm data) and Business Analysis Edition (no individual farm identifiers).

Farmanco Product Preview – FREE – 3-days

Farmanco has introduced the ability for non-clients to access old version of all Farmanco products (PestbookTM and Profit Series – Benchmarking) for 3 days only, via the Farmanco App

To access, you will need to provide a mobile number and email address and to download the Farmanco App via Apple Store of Google Play.

Subscription is for 3 Days Only. Format: Via the Farmanco App.

    Get it on Google Play icon

Farmanco Facts – Newsletter

Farmanco Facts is our monthly newsletter compiled by our team of agronomists, grain marketers and farm management consultants. Supplies a variety of articles to inform and challenge the reader.

Available in printed form or via the Farmanco App, you can purchase an annual subscription (11 editions), quarterly or per edition. OR purchase HERE as a Farmanco package. Contact your consultant or mundaring@farmanco.com.au if you’d like to discuss the options.

Farmanco Grain Comment & Strategy Newsletter

Grain marketing news – what you need to know, when you need to know it.

This weekly emailed newsletter dissects grain markets with advice on strategies for managing pricing risk in an uncertain and often volatile market. It includes detailed analysis on pricing data and factors impacting on basis and evaluates all grain marketing products. Subscription to the newsletter also includes a seasonal podcast.

Topics include:

  • Market news, Currency wrap
  • Strategy suggestions, Key dates
  • Supply & demand analysis
  • CBH shipping summary
  • Price charts, Grade spreads
  • Weekly price movements (futures, currency, cash, swaps, basis)

AND our newer services:-

Profit Analyser Portal (doorway to our Profit Series benchmarking report – for non-clients)

  • Australia’s longest running profit-based farm business benchmarking product – celebrates 22 years in 2019.
  • The Farmanco Profit Series is the next stage in business comparison and goes beyond cash flow benchmarking, to highlight what really makes a difference to the performance of the farm business.
  • Access to this excellent Australian agricultural business benchmarking service is now available via our online portal – the Profit Analyser (link below).

Identify your own performance through a series of personalised colour graphs, highlighting your “unique ranking number“. This quickly enables you to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to improve.

The Farmanco Profit Series: Professional Edition of our benchmarking service contains the full set of benchmark data.

THERE IS NO CHARGE until data entered has been submitted through the Profit Analyser Portal. CLICK HERE to begin.

Farmanco Bookkeeping

Over the next couple of months, Farmanco will launch a new bookkeeping service for Farmanco clients. We believe having accurate books improves both productivity and efficiency and will be financially beneficial for the long-term health of your business. Farmanco Bookkeeping is a Certified Partner and Adviser for MYOB, XERO and QuickBooks and will offer both on-site support and remote assistance.

The business will be led by our new Finance Manager, Eve Kent. Eve has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and BAS Agent registration and brings over 20 years of bookkeeping knowledge to the company. Eve will lead our team of bookkeepers from our Mundaring, Walliston and Albury offices and we have plans to expand further into NSW. Eve can be contacted at our Mundaring office on (08) 9295 0940 or by email eve@farmanco.com.au. The team will offer several services:

  • Data Entry & Bank Reconciliations
  • Payroll and Superannuation
  • Cash-flows and Budget Forecasts
  • Debt Management
  • Management Reporting
  • BAS & IAS Preparation & Lodgement
  • Year End Preparation for your Accountant
  • Various Software including Agrimaster, Phoenix, XERO, MYOB, QuickBooks & Reckon

Shop    Management Team      Agronomy Team      Marketing Team      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : About Farmanco

Greg Easton celebrates 10 years

By Trish Nankivell
Friday, July 19th, 2019

Greg Easton – Celebrating 10 years with Farmanco

[Show thumbnails]

Farmanco would like to congratulate Greg Easton on 10 years with us. Greg is based out of the Mundaring office and consults to farm business clients up and down the central part of the wheatbelt, from Coorow to the Stirlings.

Greg expresses surprise that 10 years has passed and remembers a client asking, when he first started with Farmanco, how long he would be working with Farmanco. Greg said at least five years, and now he has reached double that figure! 

Greg comes from a farming background; from a small town of Tincurrin.  He completed a mature age degree then worked in finance in regional Western Australian, before moving to commercial finance in the Perth CBD. 

During the GFC, Greg was working in the finance sector and was looking for a career outside of finance that would enable him to work with rural Australians; preferably farmers. Farmanco advertised on SEEK and that encouraged him to apply for the job. Rob Sands and Ken Sevenson completed the initial interviews. 

The things that Greg most likes about the role of Farm Management Consultant is the clients and being invited into their business and life and then watching their businesses grow and succeed – even if the time frame is sometimes slower than I or the client would like.

Greg has a real admiration and respect for farming families.

Pressure comes on to the role from late December until early April. This is the busiest time of the year for a Farm Management Consultant, with the bulk of tight deadline work occurring during that period. August to October is the next busiest time but it doesn’t have the same hectic pressure as early in the year.

Some key benefits that Greg believes he offers a farm business are:

  • providing an outsider view of the business
  • assisting with the strategic long-term view; and
  • bringing experience and ideas from researchers and other business that will help improve productivity and/or reduce cost to improve business long-term profitability

When asked what Greg thinks are particularly interesting or exciting for Agriculture in Australia, Greg said that autonomous farming is what he sees as being the next big step. Whether it is in small multi‑functional robots or the automation of larger equipment that we already have (he suspects the latter) will be interesting to see.

Agriculture is producing vast quantities of data: Yield data, satellite imagery, drone imagery, soil moisture probes and localised weather stations. I am sure that the aggregation of this data will provide better long‑term outcomes. 

Also, it might be better if more scientific rigor was applied to things that we intuitively believe. Perhaps leading to better yield predictions, rather than using multiple models, in areas such as-

  • Dry years with canola under stress in the northern wheatbelt (WA) is likely to see an increase in Diamond Back Moths.
  • Dry summer and lower disease; and
  • Heat being as damaging as frost

Greg has a life outside of Farmanco! He became involved in the WA water ski community as his children Eliza and Lucas learnt to ski. Greg has been a committee member of the WA Barefoot Club for several years and was initially in charge of keeping the website and social media pages current. 

Greg has also picked up lower lever judging and driving qualifications on the way through, which enable him to assist at tournaments. 

The Easton family is likely to remain involved in water skiing and swimming for the next few years with Eliza this year becoming champion girl in swimming at Swan Christian College, and runner up in the Inter School Carnival. Lucas remains interested in competitive skiing, in particular barefoot water skiing and Water Ski Jumping. 

Greg and his family have plans to travel to the USA, in the longer-term. His wife Yvette would like to take the family to America to see the families she stayed with as a Rotary Exchange student. Greg would also like to take them to the UK to catch up with his sister and her family. And if possible, would take the family back to the Solomon Island now that the children are above the age of 10, to swim in the Pacific and see the remnants of WW2 tanks and shipwrecks.

To windup, Greg believes that the strength of Farmanco and what it brings to our clients is diversity of thought. By that he means that whether you are a Management Consultant, Agronomist or Grain Marketer in Farmanco – if a client has a question that you can’t answer then somebody in the broader group is very likely to have the experience required to offer thoughtful insights into the issue. 

Management Team    Shop      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : About Farmanco, Farm Management News

Farmanco Grain Market (new product)

By Trish Nankivell
Monday, May 27th, 2019

Farmanco Grain Market – pricing service

Farmanco Marketing clients now have access to an upgraded pricing service in 2019 – the Farmanco Grain Market and the features of Farmanco Grain Market are –

  • It is not just a daily SMS
  • More buyers, posting prices
  • Live prices, on a mobile App

NOTE: Merchant public and private bids are available live via the Grain Market web portal, or the Grain Market mobile App, on both Android and Apple smart phones.

Access to the portal is via https://portal.farmanco.com.au

Many Farmanco clients use our Farm Management Consultants. Many of our farming clients use one of our specialist Agronomists. Then we have clients using the excellent and experienced Farmanco Marketing team, made up of Don McTaggart, Mae Connelly, Ryan Duane and Jane Packard.

For the last 10 years, Farmanco Marketing has been a stable and dynamic team. Don McTaggart began the Grain Marketing service within Farmanco 13 years ago. Jane Packard joined in 2007, Mae Connelly in 2008, and Ryan Duane is celebrating 10 years.

With stability comes confidence to innovate, and the Farmanco Marketing team is constantly on the alert for ways to improve their knowledge and service and keep up with or move ahead of current technologies.

Some examples would be –

  • being the first in the industry to use podcasts
  • the first in grain marketing to actively use social media
  • providing resources on the Farmanco App; and
  • being a leader in providing an online position management platform for grain marketing clients

To ensure our clients have access to the best service and technology available, we have upgraded our pricing service to “Farmanco Grain Market” for 2019.

Download this brochure, which explains the product further. And for more information, to sign up or just have the conversation, please contact marketing@farmanco.com.au or call (08) 9295 0222 and ask to be put through to one of the team.

Grain Market Login    Marketing Team            Back to NEWS page 

Farmanco Marketing Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 341189 of Primary Financial Services Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 338360).

Information provided on the platform is collated and supplied by Grain Market Pty Ltd – Farmanco is providing access to this information but does not control the content.

General Advice Disclaimer

The information and opinions within this document are of a general nature only and do not take into account the particular needs or individual circumstances of investors. The Material does not constitute any investment recommendation or advice nor does it constitute legal or taxation advice. Primary Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 37 136 347 610) (The Licensee) does not give any warranty, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or otherwise of the information and opinions contained herein and to the maximum extent permissible by law, accepts no liability in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise for any loss or damages suffered as a result of reliance on such information or opinions. The Licensee does not endorse any third parties that may have provided information included in the Material.

Categories : Grain Marketing, Grain Marketing News

Farmanco Facts 2019 – July

By Trish Nankivell
Friday, July 12th, 2019

Welcome to Farmanco Facts, July 2019!

How do you receive your copy of Farmanco Facts? In the post? Do you click on your emailed PDF as soon as it arrives; or read via the Farmanco App? Trish at Albury still enjoys reading the printed copy :-).

And what type of articles do you look forward to? In-paddock applicable, management advice, technology tips or people stories? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know what you’d like to learn more about.

Our monthly newsletter, Farmanco Facts, is contributed to every month by professionals from our Farm Management, Agronomy and Grain Marketing teams. If you are interested in subscribing, then please follow this link.

This month’s Editorial is written by Ben Curtis, Farm Management Consultant out of Esperance.

Blake O’Meagher says that the level of paddock data and information we have access to now is becoming more apparent within the industry, as technology service providers and machinery manufacturers offer more opportunities to gather data and production insight into paddock productivity and capabilities.

Andrew Smith says that an integrated approach needs to be taken to manage blackleg disease in canola (which is becoming an increasing issue).

Greg Easton reviews land value trends; how much to pay; and return on investment.

Jane Packard  introduces the new pricing service, Farmanco Grain Market.

Stacey Bell writes about a recent Farmanco project undertaken with MLA regarding the return on investment of implementing electronic identification tags in a commercial sheep flock. It focuses on the south west of Western Australia.

Following are the ‘key points’ of these articles:

Precision decisions – building the paddock database for improved management decisions and applications: by Blake O’Meagher, Agronomist & Precision Ag Specialist

The importance and value of building data layers to help make better management decisions, on farm, today. Even without the use of Precision Application Technology, the use of single and multiple data sets provides valuable information to make more efficient and economical management decisions.
Building paddock trials to measure responses and application decisions.  

Blackleg is becoming more of an issue: How to best manage it: by Andrew Smith, Agronomist

An integrated approach needs to be taken to manage blackleg disease in canola. Later seasonal breaks increase blackleg infection risk, due to the timing of spore shower release.
Blackleg is becoming an increasing issue, due to the breakdown of resistance genes in some common varieties. BlacklegCM is a new app available to assist with disease management. Farmanco will be testing in the field as part of a 2-year GRDC funded project.

Farmland Values: by Greg Easton, Farm Management Consultant

Farmland values continue to rise over the long term. Growth is sporadic with declines, flat periods and strong growth periods.
Land is increasingly scarce. In global terms, our land values are still reasonable.
How to work out what is a reasonable value.  

Getting started with Farmanco Grain Market: by Jane Packard, Grain Marketing Analyst

Farmanco Marketing clients now have access to the ‘Farmanco Grain Market’ price service. Prices are live throughout the day.
Includes a mobile app. You can control your price lists to show any combination and number of prices, across port zones and seasons.
Prices include cash, swaps, futures, basis, and currency.  

Benefits of incorporation eID technology into your sheep flock: by Stacey Bell, Farm Management Consultant (trainee)

Sheep producers now have a variety of technologies available to help improve their flocks and increase profitability. A project is underway to determine the ideal entry point and flock size when implementing eID technology.
There are many qualitative advantages of using eID technology. Some concerns have been expressed by producers.

Every edition of Farmanco Facts includes updated Wool and Livestock Reports for WA and NSW/VIC, prepared by Richard Brake, Farm Management Consultant.

    Agronomy Team      Marketing Team      Management Team      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : Farmanco Facts

Farmanco Facts 2019 – June

By Trish Nankivell
Tuesday, June 18th, 2019

Welcome to the June edition of Farmanco Facts

Subscribers will have received by email or post the June edition and remember, using your client login ID and password you can also access via the Farmanco App.

If you are interested in subscribing to our monthly newsletter, which is contributed to every month by professionals from our Farm Management, Agronomy and Grain Marketing teams – then please follow this link.

This month’s Editorial is written by Chris Robinson, Agronomist and with a nod to the unexpected election result, Chris suggests that with some tactical thinking, planning and a little luck anything can be achieved ‘against the odds’. And he writes,

Some tactical changes in rotations, some forward planning for supplementary feeding of livestock, knowing and understanding of production potentials, having someone to help make well measured decisions are all required to beat the odds. Oh, and good spring rains is the little bit of luck we need. …. .”

David Ward, Farm Management Consultant talks through what it takes to produce a tonne of grain in each of the rainfall zones, based on the Farmanco Profit Series benchmark data for 2019, providing a decision base for early planning on inputs for a below-average year. Example table below:

Example of tables from David Ward article June 2019 FF

Brent Pritchard, Agronomist provides some techniques on improving pastures through manipulation.

Mae Connelly, Grain Marketer reviews the potential of blockchain technology in grain marketing.

Following are the ‘key points’ of these articles:

Revise your Production Costs for 2019, by David Ward, Farm Management Consultant

Limited subsoil moisture has reduced yield potential in much of the north and central region of Western Australia The southern region maintains potential for above average yields
Frost remains a risk for most of the state given emergence is likely to be delayed Models are projecting a drier than average winter, decile 4–7 in WA

Pasture Manipulation, by Brent Pritchard, Agronomist

Assess feed requirements and density before starting Manipulate pastures early for best weed control
Spray grazing may contribute to herbicide resistance Fix more nitrogen by increasing legume density

Blockchain in Grain Marketing, by Mae Connelly, Grain Marketer

Blockchain allows digital information to be distributed, but not copied or changed without everyone who has access agreeing It is starting to transform how financial transactions are performed
Advantages of blockchain include faster payments, lower supply chain costs and improved traceability along supply chains Blockchain is already being used in grain marketing
Issues with blockchain include slowness, expense of electricity required to run blockchain networks, and potential lack of privacy  

Every edition of Farmanco Facts includes updated Wool and Livestock Reports for WA and NSW/VIC, prepared by Richard Brake, Farm Management Consultant.

Shop          Agronomy Team      Marketing Team      Management Team      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : About Farmanco, Farmanco Facts

Farmanco Facts 2019 – May

By Trish Nankivell
Tuesday, May 7th, 2019

Welcome to May 2019 and this month’s edition of Farmanco Facts!

Welcome to the May edition of Farmanco Facts, which subscribers will have received by email or post. Remember that you also have access via the Farmanco App and our website, using your client login ID and password.

Please visit our website, or follow the link in this article, to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, which is contributed to every month by professionals from our Farm Management, Agronomy and Grain Marketing teams.

In the Editorial Ryan Duane, touches on the upcoming elections with a summary of key policies and what their impact might be on the agricultural sector.

Jane Packard discusses the canola market in detail, looking at the current balance sheet, markets for Australian Canola, price discovery, hedging and price risk management.

Mark Lawrence provides a summary of a workshop he attended this year (WA) where Dr Paul Umina gave an update on Green Peach Aphid (GPA) and what happened in the Esperance region in 2018.

Greg Easton takes a brief look at Seed Singulation and how it can increase yields in canola and some legumes.

Tim Haines, out of Farmanco in Albury, looks at making better livestock decisions in dry times. Planning is essential, as is acting earlier rather than later.

Giving you a taste of what’s to come are the key points, below:

Seed Singulation by Greg Easton, Farm Management Consultant

Evenly spaced seed can increase yields in canola and some legumes May not result in increased cereal yields but might enable reduced sowing rates for same plant establishment
Specialised machinery required at this stage Watch the innovators and researchers in this space

Green Peach Aphids: What we have learnt from the Esperance region!, by Mark Lawrence, Agronomist

Green Peach Aphids (GPA) are a very adaptive insect Shift in resistance observed last year in the Esperance Region to an important insecticide to control GPA
GPA are known to be a vector for Turnip Yellow Virus (previously known as Beet Western Yellow Virus) GPA have shown moderate to high level resistance to three of our main groups of insecticides
We must take an integrated pest management approach to reduce reliance on insecticides  

Making livestock decisions in dry times, by Tim Haines, Farm Management Consultant

Droughts and dry seasons are a normal part of farming across Australia and plans on how to manage dry times should be part of the overall management of the business Early decision making ensures good welfare outcomes for livestock and for the business
Developing an action plan or drought strategy that can be easily implemented will make managing droughts less stressful  

Data Security & Creating Passwords, by Keith Symondson, CEO

Humans are often the weakest link in the chain when it comes to data security Don’t use the standard advice to create passwords (random letters and numbers and special characters). Instead use 5-6 random words
An 11-character password using letters, numbers and special characters would take a computer around 3 days to crack. A password using 6 random words, would take 5 million years When you’ve selected passwords use something like Keeper to secure all your passwords / phrases
Encrypt individual files / folders containing confidential data using tools such as Axcrypt Don’t open attachments unless you know where they came from; don’t click on links in emails asking you to reset your password

Canola Price Drivers by Jane Packard, Grain Market Analyst

Global oilseed production and demand has been increasing Australian canola makes up less than 1% of the global oilseeds market
Canada is our major competitor in our canola export markets There are two canola futures exchanges that influence our canola prices – ICE (Canada) and Euronext (EU)
Fuel markets and global politics are having an increasing impact on our canola prices Canola swaps are a more flexible alternative to forward cash sales

FARMANCO PHOTO COMPETITION – photos are being judged in the next week.

Every edition of Farmanco Facts includes updated Wool and Livestock Reports for WA and NSW/VIC, prepared by Richard Brake, Farm Management Consultant.

View Shop          Marketing Team      Management Team      Agronomy Team      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : About Farmanco, Farmanco Facts

Farmanco Facts 2019 – April

By Trish Nankivell
Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

Welcome to April 2019 and this month’s Farmanco Facts!

If you are interested in subscribing to our monthly newsletter, please visit our website, or follow the link in this article.

Subscribers should have received your Farmanco Facts by email or post, and of course have access via the Farmanco App, using your client login ID and password.

Keith Symondson, CEO has written the April Editorial and says that the best‑performing companies – whatever their size – share some common elements. And that the most important thing for any size business is to have an idea of –

  • what you want to achieve
  • a plan for how you’re going to achieve it
  • a way to measure that you are doing all the things you planned to do; and
  • a method of reporting how you did, so that you can continue to improve in the future.

Read your copy of Farmanco Facts for more wisdom from Keith!

David McCarthy of Bedbrook McCarthy Private Wealth Management shares his thoughts on the recent headline “Australian Share Market sheds $52 billion following Wall Street slump overnight” (25 October 2018 ABC News) in his article “Australian share market sheds $52 billion – do you care?” 

Key points from other articles are outlined below:

Tips and Traps when using the Agrimaster ‘File Manager’ system, by Rob Sands

Failsafe operating system for Agrimaster How ‘File Manager’ works

Soil wetters: What are they and where should they go? by Andrew Smith

Soil wetting agents are proving to be a good ‘short term mitigation tool’ when dealing with water repellent soils Treat all products with caution, not all products are compatible with Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN) and they each have their own use pattern
Trial  

Single touch payroll – what do you need to do? by Rob Sands

This is a developing space so don’t rush in to signing up to expensive programs Between 5-19 employees, you need to lodge a STP report on your first payment run after the 1st of July 2019
If you employee four or fewer employees: a) You have until the 30th of September to lodge your first STP; and b) You can submit quarterly until the 1st of July 2021 Free or low-cost software programs available and more are being developed
The ATO may build a portal to allow you to submit the STP  

The history of the Chicago Board of Trade (or CME Group), by Jane Packard, Grain Market Analyst

The movement of agricultural goods throughout the US has its foundations on the inland waterway system The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was founded following the need for price security and to help manage seasonal production and supply and demand
Producers needed a common place to trade and merchants needed agreements to buy grain now but pay and deliver (cash settle) later in the year The futures market also emerged from the need to get commodities efficiently from producers to consumers
CBOT went on to become an amalgamation of four major exchanges and is now called the CME Group The CME Group trades many commodity/ asset classes and also owns the Dow Jones stock and financial indexes
The CME Group also owns and operates derivatives and futures exchanges in New York and Kansas City Australian producers use the CME futures market as it is viewed as a proxy for world wheat values (although its relevance is being challenged, and that’s another article topic all of its own!)

FARMANCO PHOTO COMPETITION – closes 30 April 2019

Farmanco Photo Competition 2019

Every edition of Farmanco Facts includes updated Wool and Livestock Reports for WA and NSW/VIC, prepared by Richard Brake, Farm Management Consultant.

    View Shop      Management Team    Marketing Team      Agronomy Team 

Categories : Farmanco Facts, NEWS page images

Farmanco Facts 2019 – March

By Trish Nankivell
Tuesday, March 19th, 2019

Welcome to the March edition of Farmanco Facts!

If subscribing to Farmanco Facts, you will have received by email or post, and of course have access via the Farmanco App, using your client login ID and password.

If interested in subscribing to our monthly newsletter, please visit our website or follow the link in this article.

Brent Pritchard, Agronomist at Albany has written the Editorial. Brent offers an almost philosophical review of the difference between the facts of science, the faults in science and the anecdotal, charisma driven information we receive from presentations and social media. He drives this conversation after reading Seeds of Science over his summer break.

Keith Symondson, CEO discusses some of the employment ‘maze of requirements’ for businesses trading as companies; David McCarthy, Bedbrook McCarthy Wealth Management summarises the Banking Royal Commission, in relation to farming.

The Farmanco Grain Marketing Team outlines important changes to receival standards coming into effect for the 2019/20 season.

Stacey Bell, trainee Management Consultant looks at what you need to know when hiring seasonal staff; Ben Curtis, Farm Management Consultant takes a brief look at the CPML gauge that features in our Farm Business Review Reports this year and gives his view on how successful farm businesses perform, and why.

We welcome Andrew Smith, Agronomist based out of Kojonup and introduce you to our photo competition. Read your Farmanco Facts for more detail!

Key points from these articles are outlined below:

“HR Policies and Procedures: What’s the point?” by Keith Symondson, CEO

If you employ staff, legally you are required to have certain policies and procedures in place You should have a written contract with all staff, including part timers and casuals
Having written policies lets you establish what you believe is acceptable and what is not Having effective policies in place and setting clear expectations helps you manage staff and your business more effectively

“Preparing for seasonal staff” by Stacey Bell

Be prepared for your influx of seasonal workers Have you thought about what you need to teach them?
Set clear expectations for your workers and give them clear and concise operating instructions for both machinery and any general duties they will be undertaking Make sure you are compliant with the current Occupational Health & Safety legislation

“CPML: Crop plant machinery and labour” by Ben Curtis, Management Consultant

CPML ratio is made up of all machinery costs It considers all aspects of running and depreciating machinery and compares it to your overall farm income
All businesses should aim to spend below 30% of your overall income on machinery Machinery costs are a common conversation that your Farm Management Consultant will have with you during the review process and throughout the year

“The Banking Royal Commission, and your farming business” by David McCarthy, Bedbrook McCarthy Private Wealth Management

Recommendation 1.11: Farm Debt Mediation Recommendation 1.12: Valuations of Land
Recommendation 1.13: Charging Default Interest Recommendation 1.14: Distressed Agricultural Loans

“Successful farm businesses: How they do it” by Ben Curtis, Management Consultant

Teamwork Managing all parts of the business well, not just the parts they enjoy
Getting help in areas where needed Understanding what is important and being prepared to refocus the business
Always striving to be better Getting important jobs done on time

“Changes to receival standards for the 2019/20 harvest” by Mae Connelly, Grain Marketing Consultant

Snails limit in canola now 1 per 500g for Can1, Can2, CAG1 & CAG2 New snails grades CANS & CAGS for snails between 2 & 10 per 500g
Snails over 10 per 500g cannot be delivered Screenings limit of 15% introduced for OAT2
OAT2 groat count halved to 72 per black plastic measure For feed barley, snails limit now 1 per ½ litre

Every edition of Farmanco Facts includes updated Wool and Livestock Reports for WA and NSW/VIC, prepared by Richard Brake, Farm Management Consultant.

 

FARMANCO PHOTO COMPETITION 2019

    View Shop      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : About Farmanco, Agronomy News, Farm Management News, Farmanco Facts, Grain Marketing News

Farmanco Facts 2019 – January / February

By Trish Nankivell
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019

Farmanco Facts Jan Feb 2019

Welcome to 2019 and the first edition of Farmanco Facts for the year, which has been out now for a couple of weeks.

If you subscribe, you will have received by email or post. Of course, Farmanco Facts is available via the Farmanco App, using your client login ID and password, and if you haven’t received the newsletter, please let Mundaring admin staff know at (08) 9295 0940 or mundaring@farmanco.com.au.

The Editorial this month was written by Tim Haines, Management Consultant at Albury. Tim writes about some of the challenges facing farm businesses in the east of Australia, particularly with regard to irrigation water.

Rob Sands, Management Consultant discusses long-term investments for business; Ben Curtis, Management Consultant explains the challenges of the season in Esperance. He has also written an article on how Donald Trump can make you a better farmer!

David Cameron, Agronomist looks at regulations for pesticide use in Australia and at a relatively new perennial legume pasture, Tedera.

The Farmanco Grain Marketing Team discusses harvest quality and variety review for 2019; and Keith Symondson, CEO takes a brief look at the projects that Farmanco is involved in, and discusses how feedback from those projects will benefit Farmanco clients.

Rob Sands, David Ward, Ben Curtis, Eric Nankivell and Tim Haines provide a debrief of the season around Australia.

Key points from these articles are outlined below:

“Regulations for Pesticide use in Australia”, by David Cameron, Agronomist

Regulation of pesticides helps manage risk associated with their use Regulations vary across states, with some doing more to help farmers manage risk than others
The process of harmonizing laws across the country is under way You can influence pesticide access through your GRDC Regional Copping Solution Network (RCSN)

“Could Donald Trump help you become a better farmer?” by Ben Curtis, Farm Management Consultant

Negotiation and deal making are a common part of modern farming Most people can improve their skills in deal making
Becoming better at deals and negotiation could be the best training you do for making the biggest improvements in your business Seek out a mentor and study others who you think are good at it

“Tedera – a well bred pasture”, by David Cameron, Agronomist

Tedera is a perennial legume pasture species with good drought tolerance It has a high nutritional value and there are no known negative animal health issues
Up to 40% of its production is in summer-autumn  

“Harvest quality and variety review 2019” by Jane Packard, Grain Marketing Analyst

The 2018/19 WA crop was the second biggest ever delivered into CBH This season’s crop is expected to be the highest value crop on record, at up to $7 billion dollars
It was another low protein wheat crop, with ASW1 the dominant grade delivered Malt barley tonnes delivered were more than ample to meet demand
Canola oil was lower than the last couple of seasons  

“Farmanco Projects” by Keith Symondson, CEO

Current and ongoing Projects
The profitable integration of cropping and livestock enterprises The Return on Investment (ROI) of Using Drones
The ROI case of using eID tags The Nematode Project
Crop Sequencing Workshops (ongoing) – next workshops at Ravensthorpe, March 25th and Wickepin, March 28th. See event calendar! ‘Applying Technology Solutions for Improved Frost Detection, Diagnostics and Precision Management Decisions’
MLA sponsored visit to leading South African Goat producers (postponed to 2020 due to current SA election risks) Read January NEWS article on Farmanco Projects.

Every edition of Farmanco Facts includes updated Wool and Livestock Reports for WA and NSW/VIC, prepared by Richard Brake, Farm Management Consultant.

View Shop    Marketing Team      Agronomy Team      Management Team      Back to NEWS page 

Categories : Agronomy News, Farm Management News, Farmanco Facts, Grain Marketing News

Farmanco Projects

By Trish Nankivell
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019

Farmanco Projects

Over the past couple of years, Farmanco has been involved in several projects funded by third parties, that usually run in conjunction with our clients and grower groups.

We are seeking further project work, and have several proposals under consideration. We provide regular updates on these proposals and current projects through Farmanco Facts, and via our podcasts.You can tune into the podcasts through the Farmanco App, on both iOS and Android.

To look at ideas and funding sources, Farmanco has formed a Project Committee. We would appreciate input from our clients and the wider agricultural community, and so if you have suggestions or would like input into any future projects, please let us know.

When considering potential projects, think about whether –

  • The idea is new or innovative?
    • We don’t want to rehash work that’s been done before.
  • It it will benefit Australian farming businesses?
    • We’re looking for projects that will provide a commercial benefit to Australian farm businesses, not only our clients.
  • It will grow the knowledge-base for Farmanco consultants and our clients?
    • We also want our consultants and clients to remain at the ‘cutting edge’ of agricultural knowledge.

Some of the projects we’ve been involved in over the past few months include:

  • The profitable integration of cropping and livestock enterprises.
  • The Return on Investment (ROI) of Using Drones, soon to be completed
    • This project involves a thorough cost/benefit analysis of the use of drones in broadacre cropping
  • The ROI case of using eID tags, soon to be completed.
    • The idea behind this project is to assess the potential benefits in using eID tags. 
  • The Nematode Project – begins in March.
    • This project will research the extent of RLN throughout the grain growing regions of WA and the options to address. 
  • Ongoing Crop Sequencing Workshops.
    • A series of extension workshops being conducted in conjunction with grower groups, as part of a larger project on the demonstration of legume crops for reliable profitability in the western region.
  • ‘Applying Technology Solutions for Improved Frost Detection, Diagnostics and Precision Management Decisions’, which is due to finish early in 2019.
    • This project uses historical data to identify frost prone areas, and then uses ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) sensors to alert for potential weather events (lined to frost) in those areas.
  • Boer Goat tour of South Africa, April-May 2019
    • Through this study tour, a group of Australian goat producers will learn firsthand from commercially focused South African goat meat industry leaders, strategies for improving performance through increased production and profitability.
    • There’s still time to register your interest by contacting Tim Haines tim@farmanco.com.au or 0437 816 924.

Please, we’d love to hear from you. Contact one of our Project Committee members, whose details are below:

Back to NEWS page     

Categories : About Farmanco, Farmanco Teams in Action Photos
Next Page »