Is farming a business?

  I love watching sport, seeing the best of the best face off and pit themselves against one another to see just who will be the best, it really doesn’t matter what the sport is for me.  Whether it is the 100m, where the fastest wins or formula 1 where a combination of the most skilled, fastest & tactically sound, either way it is “benchmarking” who is the best. 

    Now farming is one of the most benchmarked businesses around, I just wonder if we are measuring the right factors sometimes.  Now I have no problem with measuring water use efficiency or stocking rates etc., using these to benchmark with other farmers in the area, I do wonder if benchmarking Return on Investment (ROI) is a valuable overall measure of farmer’s skills.  Is it more important that farmers are profitable or they produce the best produce that they can?  Or if in fact farmers can produce a wonderful healthy product all the while improving landscape health?  So if farming was a sport would we rate ROI as part of the skills required to farm? 

Now I’m not suggesting that making money in a farming business isn’t important, I’m questioning if our economic measures are actually rewarding and encouraging the skills we as a community wish to see in our future farmers.  I simply see money as a currency used to reward those that fulfill a service, so when I look at farming skills I would like to leave money out of it, just focus on farming.  So maybe lets see if I can put a finger on some of the skills I think should be rewarded in order to promote the best possible farmers:

• Best product for the market (based on different market requirements)
• Lowest chemical usage per unit (includes fertilizers)
• Healthiest produce that is good for the land and those eating/wearing it.
• Lowest energy usage (fossil fuels) per unit produced
• Improving biodiversity levels
• Increasing soil health
• Valuable contributors to a diverse community

With the way I look at economic returns, those with some of the highest ROIs (I’m generalizing here), seem to produce a mediocre product at the lowest possible price.  So I’m certainly saying that the current system of rewards for farmers encourages mediocrity, which I think is to the detriment of our profession.  So if we are serious about encouraging the best possible farmers going into the future I think we need to reward those farmers striving to achieve.

Welcome to the farming Grand Final!!

Have us blokes forgotten how to Yarn?

I had a note from a very good friend the other day who is very concerned that he reckons the thing most lacking in the food/farming circles is the ability to yarn, respect others opinions, share methods, achievements, without creating any angst.

Now I’m not sure if this comes about because we see most of our so called “leaders” (They are politicians really), spend more time putting those around them down in order that they may be seen as good, rather than just achieving.  Maybe it is due to more people feeling insecure, therefore constantly looking for affirmation from their peers.  Perhaps it is something to do with time, when time is important maybe we aren’t listening as well as we should or taking the time to relax and just yarn, about stuff!

Either way taking the time to yarn, hear and talk about how, what, when, why someone does something can be enormously beneficial to all involved, especially talking to those that have very different ideas and opinions from you.  Now this is an area that I constantly try and improve at because the benefits both personally and business wise can be huge.  Below are some points that I hope will help you see the benefits of having more quality yarns and spreading the word:

• You only learn from hearing what you are doing wrong, or listening to those with very different ideas from you
• Make sure that you ask the “right” questions of those that hold a different opinion, always asking those that think the same as you will result in group think.
• Make sure you listen to others, if you would like to have yourself listened too and make sure that you clarify what they have said before making assumptions.
• Never under estimate the “power” of creating relationships, the business opportunities that can come, also the strength and support they can offer when things turn tough, a mental health network.
• I really enjoy the feeling of helping mates out, giving them some advice, them using that to improve.  In order for that to happen I need to show that I’m willing to receive advice, act on it and be thankful.

Thanks for hearing my “yarn”, I look forward to many more with you, Cheers!