How to write a business plan and review farm performance
How to write a business plan and review farm performance

Author: Brian Walsh

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2015-07-02

Total Pages: 65

ISBN-13: 1742561683

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Even when the weather is fine and seas are calm, good sailors don’t relax completely. They make sure their boat is on course and in good shape, and they constantly watch for any changes in the weather. It’s the same in farming. A successful farm business plans its direction, keeps its eye on the farm’s performance and watches for any changes that might be ahead. When the going gets tough, and even when it’s not, successful farm managers review their business plans, watch their production, marketing and finances closely and make any adjustments needed to keep the business on track. That’s what this book is about. It shows how to write a business plan step by step, how to monitor the performance of the farm business and how to decide if changes are needed to keep the business on track. A business plan is a great tool for any farm. It helps owners, managers and other stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future and adopt a strategic approach to achieving that vision. A well prepared plan can help to keep the farm business viable, profitable and satisfying for those involved.

Building a Sustainable Business
Building a Sustainable Business

Author:

Publisher: Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13:

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"Brings the business planning process alive to help today's agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises. Sample worksheets illustrate how real farm families set goals, research processing alternatives, determine potential markets, and evaluate financing options. Blank worksheets offer readers the opportunity to develop their own detailed, lender-ready business plan and map out strategies" --back cover.

Working with People in Agriculture
Working with People in Agriculture

Author: Michael Ison

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2015-07-24

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 1742563368

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It’s people who make agriculture. It’s the individuals, families and communities involved in farming that make it tick. So often our focus is on the weather, the environment, machinery, technology and the science of producing food. The people side of farming remains hidden in the shadows. This book deals with people and how they manage the complex world of agriculture: the finances; the global trends; the markets; human relationships; the social and political challenges. Technology can only take us so far in grappling with all this. How partnerships can be developed between people is a focus for this book. This is not just another book on Human Resources and how to get more out of your employees. It challenges you to think differently about all the people working in the farm business and what type of workplace they work in. And asks the question; how can the ethos and culture of the business be improved to better meet the needs of the employer and employee alike? Table of contents Introduction Chapter 1: Four principles to work by Chapter 2: Building sound and productive working relationships Chapter 3: Attracting and engaging people Chapter 4: Analyse your business from a people perspective Chapter 5: Negotiating working arrangements Chapter 6: Creating and implementing policies and procedures Chapter 7: Building business succession plans Chapter 8: Developing a plan for the people on the Farm – putting it all together Resources and further reading

The Sheep Business: Production and Marketing Guide for Australian Merino Wool
The Sheep Business: Production and Marketing Guide for Australian Merino Wool

Author: Shauna Dewhurst

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2020-04-24

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13: 1760583839

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A comprehensive guide to Australian wool growing, published in 2006 and now out of print. This book covers choice of wool -growing enterprises, identifying, customer needs, assessing profitability, establishing breeding objectives, selection and culling, joining management, nutrition, pastures and grazing management, flock health, preparation and sale of the wool clip. Table of Contents: Chapter 1. The Australian wool industry Chapter 2. Enterprise choice Chapter 3. Who are your customers? Chapter 4. Can Merino wool be profitable? Chapter 5. Establish your breeding objective Chapter 6. Choosing a ram source Chapter 7. Selection and culling Chapter 8. Ram and ewe management Chapter 9. Joining management Chapter 10. Nutrition requirements and digestion Chapter 11. Wool production from pasture Chapter 12. Grazing management Chapter 13. Flock health Chapter 14. Preparing and selling your wool clip Chapter 15. How much is your wool worth? Appendices: 1. Gross margin templates 2. Glossary of wool processing terms 3. Cost of production template 4. Individual animal management 5. Liveweight and body condition assessment 6. Pasture assessment 7. Fodder budgeting calculation template 8. Predicted daily intake of pasture by ewes 9. Some sheep diseases and their prevention 10. Merino wool clip worksheet 11. Shearing data and clip analysis templates References Further Reading

Marketing Agricultural Products and Services
Marketing Agricultural Products and Services

Author: Brian Walsh

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2015-07-17

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13: 1742561721

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Times are changing. Until fairly recently many farmers were simply producers. Their energies were focused on growing crops and producing livestock. Selling was often just a matter of sending produce to the local saleyards or silo or contacting their stock and station agent. Producers were price takers rather than price managers. Now many farmers have become marketers rather than just producers, and in the near future many more will make the fundamental shift from an on-farm focus as price-takers to a wider approach that includes price risk management and marketing. Official marketing authorities are playing less of a role in marketing Australian agricultural produce. As part of this deregulation, farmers have many more choices, marketing tools and options that they can use to their advantage provided they know how to use them. At the same time consumer expectations have become more complex. Farmers find themselves required to respond to concerns about animal welfare practices, health and food safety aspects of their products, and the environmental and ethical impact of their production methods. The marketing landscape has therefore become more complex and producers need good marketing skills to navigate their way through the pros and cons of the many alternatives they face. This is the challenge for producers—to apply a balance of production, finance, people and marketing skills to run their farm businesses successfully. This book gives farmers the tools to become a marketer rather than just a producer. It details market specifications, product promotion, quality control and how to respond to consumer demands for animal welfare practices, health, food safety, environmental and ethical issues.

Side by sides: a practical guide
Side by sides: a practical guide

Author: Jennifer Laffan

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2022-12

Total Pages: 99

ISBN-13: 1760586595

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Side by side utility vehicles are also known as UTVs, SBSUTVs or SxS. They are increasingly popular as a replacement for quad bikes because of their enhanced safety features. They are vehicles which can carry passengers, travel off-road, tow a trailer, carry small cargo or equipment and manoeuvre around obstacles and over rough terrain. They have a steering wheel, pedals, harness seat belts, doors, a cargo net, a crush protection device (CPD), and most have a tray back for carrying small loads at the rear of the vehicle. This publication is a guide to safely using side by side utility vehicles including the pre-start safety check, routine servicing, driving on slopes or through sand, water and mud, loading and towing, and when loading and unloading the vehicle from the back of a truck or trailer. Contents 1. Side by side utility vehicles and their use 2. Safety 3. Perform a pre-start safety check 4. Drive a side by side vehicle 5. Driving on slopes 6. Sand, water and mud 7. Towing and loading 8. Transporting the vehicle 9. Servicing the side by side utility vehicle 10. Care for the environment

Nature and Farming
Nature and Farming

Author: David Andrew Norton

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 0643103252

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Explains why it is important to sustain native plants & animals in agricultural landscapes, outlines issues in developing & implementing practical approaches to safeguard native biodiversity in rural areas. Considers ecological & agricultural issues that determine what native biodiversity occurs in farmland.--

Managing for Healthy Soils
Managing for Healthy Soils

Author: David Brouwer

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2024-11-13

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 176058777X

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REVISED AND UPDATED We are told that in a teaspoon of soil there may be more organisms than the total number of people on the planet. Who is conducting the count? And what does it mean? To be brutal about it: So what? We now know that just as biodiversity and balance is important in our agricultural and natural systems and landscapes to keep them healthy and robust, the same processes are vital for our soils. There’s a lot going on down there that deserves a closer look. And even if we can’t see it, a healthy, living soil will grow better plants, be more resilient and improve our agricultural productivity. So this book is designed to for a twin purpose: · to make up for the mechanistic approach of 40 years ago—to present a clearer picture of what remained a secret to the uninitiated for so long—to reveal the living, pulsing, teeming world beneath our feet, and · to help manage our soil resource by understanding that any actions we take will have an impact on soil health. ‘Managing for Healthy Soils’ is a must for any farmer, horticulturalist or home gardener. It explains how to class your type of soil, understand the limitations and potential, and manage it sustainably. Soil tests for moisture, water infiltration, pH, soil nutrients, soil texture, soil compaction, structural stability and more will help you understand your soil context.

Property Planning
Property Planning

Author: Judy O'Keefe

Publisher: Department of Regional NSW

Published: 2022-01-31

Total Pages: 198

ISBN-13: 1760585378

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Property planning is a key part of caring for your land. Learn how to plan your farm layout so you can manage soil types and land capabilities to achieve sustainable production. Plan nature conservation measures to improve biodiversity and enterprise viability. Property Planning takes a simple, step-by-step approach. Now in its 4th edition, Property Planning now includes a brief introduction to digital farm mapping and AgTech.

Farming Alpacas
Farming Alpacas

Author: Fiona Vanderbeek

Publisher: NSW Agriculture

Published: 2018-03-28

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 1760582085

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For many new entrants to the alpaca industry a major allure is the thought of breeding these beautiful, intelligent and easily-handled animals. The challenging question that new breeders must ask themselves is “Why do I want to breed alpacas?” This leads to other vital questions – “Huacaya, suri, or both?”; “White, coloured, or a bit of everything?”; “How much do I need to spend?”; “How many should I buy?” For some people purchasing alpacas, the initial reason is as a small-scale hobby farm. However for many of these people, as they begin to breed and learn more about their alpacas, their focus changes and they use their knowledge to improve the quality of their stock – whether for fibre production, for stud breeding, or with an eye to winning show ribbons. This book is a basic guide to some of the skills and practices of alpaca production. This guide covers information on alpaca production including health, breeding and farming, nutritional needs and breeding to improve fleece. Table of contents: · The Australian Alpaca industry in Australia · Alpaca breeds · Farming alpacas · Farming alpacas as a breeding enterprise · Farming alpacas for meat production · Alpacas as guardian animals · Alpacas as pets on small acreages · Farm infrastructure · The digestive system and how it works · Alpaca nutrition · Pasture and land management · Breeding to improve fleece · Fleece assessment · Preparation of fleece for processing · The genetics of alpaca breeding · Purchasing decisions · Health problems and preparing for the vet · Digestive disorders and dental conditions · Vitamin and mineral deficiencies · Poisoning and liver disease · Parasite worms, fluke and ticks · Extremes of heat and cold · Injuries · Pregnancy, birthing and neonatal problems · Biosecurity, record keeping and transport · Alpaca shows · Management planner