Tailored Coaching To Strengthen NSW Farm Businesses
NSW farmers can access personalised coaching, practical workshops and specialist advice designed to improve business planning, manage risk and prepare for drought.
By The Northern Rivers Rural News Desk
Farmers across regional NSW will receive additional support to strengthen their operations through a new round of personalised coaching under the Farm Business Resilience Program.
The joint Albanese and Minns governments program connects farmers with experienced coaches and specialist advisers. It aims to improve business performance, reduce financial risk and prepare agricultural enterprises for drought and other disruptions.
Participating farmers can work one-on-one with an adviser or join a small group. Each adviser will be matched with participants according to their agricultural industry and region.
The coaching will help farmers turn existing business plans into practical action. It can also help producers identify risks, evaluate opportunities and make more confident decisions about their operations.
Expressions of interest for the new coaching round are now open.
Building Resilience Across The Entire Business
The Farm Business Resilience Program forms part of a $43.2 million investment in whole-of-business capability.
It provides practical workshops, planning tools, coaching and peer networks. These services cover decision-making, risk management, financial planning and personal wellbeing throughout the drought cycle.
Rather than focusing only on emergency assistance, the program encourages farmers to prepare before conditions deteriorate. It also supports them while managing drought and during the recovery period that follows.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said farmers were facing increasingly complex climatic and commercial pressures.
“The NSW Government understands the challenges our farmers are facing, with climate change driving more frequent, severe and prolonged droughts and an increase in business pressures, including the current fuel and fertiliser disruption,” Ms Moriarty said.
She said farmers remained central to the NSW economy. Therefore, they needed practical skills and reliable information to make sound decisions.
“Farmers are the backbone of the NSW economy, and this coaching program is designed to equip them with the practical skills, confidence and tools they need to manage risk, make informed decisions, and build long-term economic, environmental and social resilience,” Ms Moriarty said.
Thousands Of Farmers Already Supported
Since its launch in 2021, the NSW Farm Business Resilience Program has supported the preparation of more than 2,600 farm business plans.
More than 30,000 participants have also taken part across 5,300 coaching sessions and events.
In addition, about 1,800 NSW farm businesses have participated in practical learning activities. These have included individual business coaching, farm assessments, peer learning groups and property visits.
Succession planning, risk management and Bank Ready workshops have also been delivered.
The program supplies tools to assist with cash flow, budgeting, drought preparation and farm business planning. Farmers can also access mental health support through the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.
This combination recognises that farm resilience involves more than production figures. A viable agricultural enterprise also depends on financial management, family planning, personal wellbeing and the ability to adapt when conditions change.
For family-operated farms, succession planning can be especially important. Clear plans can reduce uncertainty, improve communication and support an orderly transfer of management or ownership between generations.
Similarly, accurate cash-flow forecasting can help producers understand how their businesses may perform under different seasonal, market and input-cost scenarios.
Workshops Available To Northern Rivers Farmers
Capacity-building workshops are being delivered across regional NSW to help farmers prepare a business plan before entering the coaching program.
A Financial Decision Making workshop will be held in Lismore on Tuesday, September 29.
The Lismore session gives Northern Rivers producers a local opportunity to improve their financial decision-making skills. It may also help participants identify business priorities before working with a coach.
Two online workshops titled Growing Success: Farm Business Planning Essentials will follow on Wednesday, October 7, and Wednesday, October 21.
The online format will make the sessions accessible to farmers who cannot easily leave their properties or travel to a regional centre.
Through the workshops and coaching, farmers can assess their current position, set realistic objectives and determine practical steps for improving their businesses.
Ms Moriarty said connecting producers with practical learning, contemporary research and agricultural extension services would deliver benefits beyond individual properties.
“By connecting farmers with practical learning opportunities and the latest research and extension services, we’re strengthening farm businesses and regional communities across NSW,” she said.
Coaching Delivers Practical Changes
Gunnedah sheep grazier Gus Greenway said tailored coaching had produced measurable benefits for his fine-wool Merino operation.
“Our fine wool Merino business has greatly benefited from the tailored coaching we received through the Farm Business Resilience Program,” Mr Greenway said.
He said the personalised guidance gave the business confidence to change its pasture and livestock feeding practices.
Those changes improved animal weight gain and wool quality. Consequently, the farm entered a stronger financial and operational position.
“This has placed our property and business in a stronger financial and operational position against unpredictable market and climatic conditions,” Mr Greenway said.
His experience demonstrates how individual advice can translate a broad business plan into specific on-farm improvements.
The latest coaching round will give more producers an opportunity to review their businesses, strengthen preparedness and build greater resilience against drought, volatile markets and rising production costs.
Farmers can obtain further information and register their interest at nsw.gov.au/fbrp.
