Since the removal of the single desk, grain farmers have had to upskill and manage the complexities of grain marketing.
For younger growers, great achievement is inspired by a great mentor, with ongoing learning helping to continue professional development.
A BCG and Victorian government joint initiative – Growth, Adoption, Productivity, Profit (GAPP) – recently held its first meetings for the year. Relationships and mentoring were consistent themes.
Lawloit farmer John Bennett reminded the West Wimmera meeting to listen not only to older members of the farming community, but the young also. “Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help. And be sure to build strong business and personal relationships,” he said.
Many agreed that having a good relationship with grain marketers and others kept them in the loop. ADM accumulator Peter Sidley said: “If you have a good long-term relationship with your grain marketer, you will have better marketing opportunities.”
There are many things that the younger farming generation can learn from the men and women who have vast experience in the industry, with the knowledge and advice being invaluable.
With sowing just around the corner, the reminder was to be organised, timely and optimise your seeding rate.
Former grain marketing lecturer and Warracknabeal farmer Julia Hausler used her professional knowledge on-farm to formulate grain marketing strategies, basing her decisions off tight drought years.
She reminded GAPP members: “It’s good to know how much it costs to grow a crop. If you have a big blow out this year, you have to pick it up in sales and profit another year.”
When it comes to the pointy end of the season, marketing by “knowing your end game” and “knowing who you are, where you are and everyone else around you in the game” were the final take home messages from Mr Sidley and Mrs Hausler.
Rupanyup’s Peter Taylor said: “If there’s one thing I wish I had got more involved in when I was younger, it’s grain marketing.”
But the quote many of the southern Mallee and womens GAPP members will not forget was from Curyo farmer Paul Barclay. “Only buy good ground. Ground is like a dog, it’s not always the dog’s fault,” he said.
GAPP groups will meet in June to discuss post-sowing and in-season management decisions.
For more details about GAPP visit www.bcg.org.au or phone 03 5492 2787.
