IT SAYS a lot about Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) vice-president David Jochinke, 36, that he thinks about Ukrainian farmers as well as those throughout the State.
His concern is based on the global perspective he takes on his Murra Warra farm when it comes to helping others.
That, he said, was his motivation for first joining the VFF.
"In my very first harvest, I drove the truck to the silo at Dimboola," Mr Jochinke said.
"Everyone knew our truck; it had always been our truck.
"I rocked up and hopped out and listened to the conversation.
"There were lots of sad stories about 'prices are no good', the 'line-up is too long', 'nothing is happening', and I thought 'I could become one of those or join in the conversation and get involved and try and make a difference'."
He said farmers at the centre of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine were facing an uncertain future.
In the same way, risks were an integral part of life on the land in Victoria, with local producers being affected by geopolitical and economic decisions taken on the other side of the world.
While Mr Jochinke said the Russian embargo would not directly affect Victorian grain and cereal growers, they could be hit by the knock-on effect so should be wary as European and American producers looked for new markets.
"If Victorian producers don't have strong marketing agreements or contracts, they will be potentially looking around the corner to see what else is out there," he said.
Figures out of the US were also showing an increase in the grain crop "which can only mean more supply", Mr Jochinke said.
Keeping abreast of global trends meant reading and touching base with American and British farming sites through the web and other technology.
"It's one thing to read all the local agricultural papers but it's also nice to see how the world sees us as well," he said.
As well as having Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, Mr Jochinke said his smartphone allowed him to stay in touch with technical details as well as friends.
"I can look up the weather, I can have a chat to the person down the road and I have friends on the other side of the world I can have a chat to," he said.
During his trip as a 2008 Nuffield scholar, he found networking was vital to stay on top of the game.
"Networking is as important as knowledge," he said.
"What you know can get you so far; who you know can get you that little bit further."
The best farmers he visited as a Nuffield scholar helped refine his philosophy that in farming things had to be done on time.
"The common factor to all those producers was that they had to be organised – when it was time to do the job, they did it on time."
He said he learned a great deal about rural leadership, which also reinforced the need to keep across the mental and intellectual aspects of farming.
That he has put a great deal of thought into issues outside the farmgate is evident, especially as he outlined what he described as three of the biggest challenges facing the industry.
Succession planning, infrastructure and communications were all at the heart of a vibrant future, he said.
"Succession planning is one I see on a weekly basis," Mr Jochinke said.
"People don't realise the grave importance it has – they need to have those conversations around the kitchen table now, with Baby Boomers starting to slow down a little bit."
He said infrastructure had to be built where it was needed, based on an understanding of what markets would emerge in the future, and proper communications were vital.
"Our reliance on telecommunications and the advent of big data is the next frontier of production," he said.
He predicted "more robotics, more technology and more complex systems".
Overall, the future of agriculture relied on collaboration and co-operation – something Mr Jochinke said he was most passionate about.
"I really would hope people would consider becoming a member of the VFF because I believe what we do is for the betterment of everybody," he said.
"You have to park one or two issues that may not have gone your way and see the greater good."
- Full Movers & Shakers feature in the Stock & Land August 21 edition