RESEARCH & EXTENSION

Plan2Farm

Project

Irrigation Farm Business Plan

The Irrigated Cropping Council is working with The North Central Catchment Management Authority and Murray Dairy to the implement the new Plan2Farm project.  This new program helps farmers consider their exposure to water markets and the efficiency of their irrigation system, and the influence this may have on their future farming business.

The Farm Business Plan is a key tool of the Plan2Farm program. The plan provides the opportunity for farmers to assess where their business is situated now and where you want it to be in the future. The plan will help those involved in the business make more informed decisions about your farming business to improve your business resilience. 

The Plan

Benefits

Completing the Irrigation Farm Business Plan program will:

Help you think and talk about the future of your farming business others involved in the business.

Help you think and talk about the future of your farming business with others.

An individual farm visit with a farm business consultant to develop your plan.

Learn more about the water marketing and operating environment.

Help you to make decisions that are more informed and aligned to your longer-term goals.

Participate in three group meetings that will focus on issues and opportunities identified as part of your planning process.
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View the Planning Workbook
Making good decisions fact sheet

What’s Involved?

Farmers who join the program will be involved in

  • An initial meeting to set up the program in September.
  • A 1:1 farm visit with a consultant to develop your farm plan.
  • Two further meetings as a group after your 1:1 to further discuss issues of interest to the group.
  • There is also a possibility of a follow up visit with the consultant to talk about your individual business plan.

The program runs from September 2021 to June 2022, so all meetings and visits will be completed during that time.

 

Plan2Farm Program Flyer

There are still places available if you would like to be involved in the program please get in touch with Mel

[email protected]

Please note we only have 10 places in each group, so be quick to secure your place.

Download Flyer

Our Consultants

DarylPoole

Daryl Poole

RMCG
ASSOCIATE B.Ag.Sci. (Hons), CPAg., GAICD Daryl has over 20 years of experience is in the areas of agribusiness and farm management, particularly the dairy industry. He has a diploma in Human Resource Management (Dairy) and can assist farming businesses with their employment practices to ensure their workforce is both effective and compliant. Daryl also has an in depth understanding of water policy and what it means at the farm level which allows him to assist irrigation businesses develop their water risk management strategies. Daryl has both facilitator and strategic planning experience and can assist farming businesses and organisations to achieve their goals.
PB Photo 2

Paul Blackshaw

Meridian Agriculture
Paul Blackshaw is a Farm Business Consultant with Meridian Agriculture. He provides services in farm business management, financial analysis, benchmarking, succession planning and industry projects. Prior to joining Meridian Agriculture, Paul worked at Agriculture Victoria as a farm business economist delivering the Livestock Farm Monitor Project – a financial and production benchmarking report for the Victorian Livestock Industry. Previous to that he worked as a rural financial counsellor for over seven years supporting farm families through one of the most severe droughts on record.

How to get involved?

If you would like to join the program, develop a farm business plan with a consultant and be involved in the group meetings please contact:

Mel Mann at [email protected] or phone 0447 803 305

In the Media

Media Release – Deep dive into irrigation businesses 

Media Release – Boost for irrigation businesses

This program/project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

DAWE-FDF-Logo_FDF + DAWE stacked

Plan2Farm is backed by a Steering Committee with representatives from the North Central and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authorities, Agriculture Victoria, Murray Dairy, Irrigated Cropping Council, Goulburn Murray Water and local farmers. 

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