BIRCHIP Cropping Group has launched an initiative to provide young farmers with new skill sets to enable them to make better on-farm decisions.
The BCG Cultivating Futures in Farming Mentor Program has been deigned to arm growers with the skills to run sustainable and profitable farm businesses into the future.
Hosted in partnership with Agriculture Victoria, the program will be run by experienced Pinion Advisory consultants and aims to build confidence in that on-farm decision making process.
BCG project extension manager Demi Taylor said she was encouraging growers aged 18-40 to apply for the free program (which would normally be valued at $4000) to develop their key financial, business, and people management skills.
“One of the key benefits of the program is that you can bring a mentor with you, whether that be a parent, your farm business advisor-agronomist, or an existing farm manager,” Ms Taylor said.
“This creates a more personalised business-centred approach to the program and provides participants with support in benchmarking their management performance and business for future production years.
“If you have recently returned to your farm business, are learning the ropes of management, or have been working in the business for a few years but are transitioning to a management position- this program is for you.
“We’ve already had a couple of local growers sign up, which is really exciting to see.”
Participants will have the opportunity to attend face-to-face workshops, farm tours, a series of webinars, and gain valuable one-on-one coaching time with experienced business consultants.
The program will cover areas such as benchmarking, business foundations, people management, succession, leasing-share farming, risk management, opportunity identification, business cases, and natural resource management.
It is one of several industry events BCG is running in the next month – which also includes its northern Mallee and north central crop walks (on August 21 and 28 respectively) ahead of its annual showcase field day.
This year’s BCG Main Field Day will be held on Wednesday September 11, and will offer growers and advisors hands-on access to the latest in local agronomic research including disease management, new varieties, new herbicide technology, nutrition and farming systems.
It will also be an opportunity to meet with the BCG field team and network with other producers from across the Mallee and Wimmera regions.
Applications for the Cultivating Futures in Farming Mentor Program close on August 7 and more details about that and the other events are available at www.bcg.org.au or by calling 5492 2787.
