CAMERON Warne has a wide grin on his face as he leans on his ute door, looking out across the windrowed canola on his farm at Culgoa.
It’s late October and the early morning air is still, the sky grey with clouds and the rewards of the season almost close enough to taste.
Ruffling his black and tan Kelpie Rex’s head, Cameron, who has recently been appointed to the Birchip Cropping Group board, is measuredly optimistic, a sign indicative of a farmer who has lived through both the good and the challenging years.
The 51-year-old grows a balance of 50 per cent break crops and 50 per cent cereals and hopes his experience and passion can strengthen the nationally recognised research and extension organisation.
“Every decision is expensive,” Cameron says.
“And every decision is especially expensive when farming, so you have to make every one of those decisions the right one.
“Rising input costs, making good returns on higher land values and reducing our environmental footprint all influence how we farm and the decisions we make.
“My father Stewart was one of the founding members of BCG so I’ve seen the impacts the group has had in all these areas across the region, and on the industry as a whole, throughout its 31-year history.
“Being a BCG member, I’ve been able to reap the benefits – particularly the independence of the work – and now I want to give something back.”
And Cameron has his sights set a little higher than just the bottom line, or the environment, for example.
Instead, he is aiming to try to help achieve a raft of goals across the board, he says as weaves his way through the freshly cut canola stalks.
Farming can be, and too often is, a lonely profession, as farms are getting bigger and farmers fewer, he points out.
Consequently, each person’s social circle is becoming more spread out – and that also means it can be harder to catch up.
“I’m the type of person who likes to be around people,” Cameron admits.
“BCG has a strong focus on community, as well as farmer, wellbeing.
“The group’s events have always been a great way for me to catch up with friends, meet new people and share stories.”
Pausing, he adds: “I often see events as a social day, with learning a bit on the side.
“As a board member I hope to further develop inclusivity, networks and strategies to boost attendance at events so more people can benefit as much as I have been able to.”
High windrows and an almost-perfect start to the 2023 harvest have been welcomed by Cameron, but planning for the inevitability of drought is a constant line item in his business strategy.
“As a farmer you are really only answerable to yourself, so naturally I’m interested in structuring our farm so that we are in a way where we can benefit from the good years and use them to help us weather the bad,” he says.
“We have been working on setting up some passive income, with financial advisers as well as business advisers, a long-term business and strategic planning adviser and our accountant, all providing us with valuable input and ideas to mitigate the effects of highly variable seasons.
“We are always looking for more diversity within the business, consolidating on the past few good years, as always, reducing debt.”
As the ute wheels start to slowly crunch over the stubble, Cameron explains the holistic approach he takes to drought preparedness.
“It’s not just capitalising on the good seasons – the research tells us timing is everything – but it is also about using best practice to conserve water and manage nutrients, as well as using strategies such as N-banking and carrying grain over to smooth out some of the peaks and troughs of farming.”
Pulling up in his garage, Cameron steps out of the ute and starts to cross back to the home where he lives with wife Lisa and their two boys (whenever they are home from boarding school), Hugo, 12, and Felix, 17.
Passing his indoor golf net with Rex by his side, Cameron says with another trademark grin that work life balance is also important for drought-proofing.
“I also like to run around with the kids, get to the local football and cricket and play golf when I can,” he says.
“To be honest, I like enjoying myself.”
Fiona Best, BCG chief executive, has been a keen, longtime observer of his farming operations.
“Cameron will be invaluable to the organisation,” Fiona says.
“He is a great farm operator and he is great working with people.
“He understands the farming landscape and has lived experience of what it’s like to be a farmer.
“Cameron is always looking to improve and learn while having a laugh along the way.”
