It continues to amaze me how quickly we move from the heights of summer, Christmas and New Year celebrations, to suddenly find ourselves in the emerging autumn months.
It’s April already and a time when daylight saving finishes and with it the rapid disappearance of daylight of an evening.
The extra moments of daylight, the bonus time for farming and for family, are now missed.
All interest is now focused on the weather map and the autumn rains.
Last weekend saw some rainfall appear, and while only moderate it did provide some welcome falls across the southern region.
I get the opportunity to meet a vast and diverse range of farming families.
Just as I see the seasons turning, I see changes in farmers and their families as they face the challenges and vagaries of our industry.
I don’t need to tell you, that for every success and joy our farming careers bring us; there is often just as many stories of heartache and pain.
Lack of rain, a check in performance of stock and crops coupled with cattle prices tightening, has led some to feel the pressures of the seasons.
Even the most pragmatic and researched strategies that are implemented on farms aren't guaranteed success due to so many factors that we just can't control.
Farming can be quite an isolated career at times, which can leave one feeling alone when facing hardships.
You are not alone in making these decisions as we all try and do the best we can with what we have and what we know.
I see people, families, businesses that are facing similar if not identical circumstances.
It is important then that we talk about these challenges with each other, that we do not just disappear from those who can be a support to us.
Getting off farm is an important way to balance our perceptions and in turn impact in a positive way upon our emotions.
I attended Farm World at Lardner Park last week and witnessed the importance of the social networking.
As a farming community we do have something special.
We are linked not by boundary fences, but by shared experience.
We are united not by local government areas but by our reliance upon the seasons.
We are bonded through a heritage of hard work and innovation.
To care, to support, to reach out - these are fundamental characteristics of Australian farming.
So let the turning of the season be a reminder of how we all experience changing fortunes and changing circumstances together.
Be vigilant in being aware of the needs of our families, our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues and our clients – sometimes strength is birthed in simply knowing you are not alone.
Jarrod Bennetts – partner at Everitt, Seeley and Bennetts, Pakenham
