The Victorian VCE English exam held this week brought back a flood of memories from my own HSC English Exam in an era where Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits owned the airwaves and perms and water wave taffeta dominated school formal attire. The exam creative writing topic I chose was Surprises. My opening line was “I know about surprises because I am one.”
My parent’s version of that observation was slightly different but as the sixth child six years after the fifth was born, I thought it was a fair conclusion. One side effect of being the youngest is that photos prior to school age are far and few between, two baby photos and five cute toddler pics are the total sum. Then comes first day of pre-school, first day of school and the pictures get a bit more regular after that.
Think Agri is now in its fifth year and about the same age as I was when I started school. I feel like the Think Agri Boots and Suits blog posts have followed the same trajectory as my baby photos. A handful in the early years then a gap until school age.
It’s been a while since reporting in yet Think Agri’s unpinning purpose remains the same. We love helping people make money from farming through the combined power of commercial, technical and people smarts.
We’ve been doing this in a variety of ways in the last four years, from direct advisory to both family and corporate farms to working with the research and advisory community.
Just like the toddler who became a preppy, who became an almost grown up who sat the VCE exam, Think Agri is growing up and stepping out to power up our mission of helping people make money from farming.
Our next phase of growing up is Think Agri Insights, a digital communications series exploring the habits of highly effective farmers. An annual investment of A$396 GST inc will provide exclusive access to ten digital print and audio episodes of Think Agri Insights. Content exploring the commercial, technical and people habits of highly effective farm businesses will provide value for both the Ag and non-Ag sector (boots and suits).
Take grain grower Joe for example. A few years back, in a five-year patch of favourable seasons, Joes decisions left $2.8 Million in the paddock by not growing all the grain possible from rainfall received. Now, the seasons are in a dry run. Both funds and sense of humour are running dry. Joe knows seasonal uncertainty and stress clouded his decisions. Joe’s wife starts the oven with pliers. Household tension is building. More than the oven is poised to go pop. Australia has at least 10,000 Joes. Understanding climate drivers and the value of scenario planning can give Joe the confidence to take opportunities when they arise and proactively manage downside to prepare and get through tough times.
Meanwhile in Collins St, Jane normally deals in traditional asset classes but must allocate $500 Million to farmland, thanks to a mandate from a high-profile superannuation fund. Her CEO is in a hurry. Jane’s smart but uncertain where to start and who to listen to. It’s keeping her awake and affecting life home. Her husband and kids call a family meeting. There are many Janes in Australia’s capital cities. With a better understanding of key farm profit drivers and the influence of management on farming returns, Jane narrows her focus, seeks targeted advice and asks the critical questions to ensure the right asset purchases are made.
Think Agri Insights will provide the Joes and the Janes with practical tools for harnessing the combined power of commercial, technical and people smarts to ensure improved returns from farming.
If you identify with Joe or Jane, register your expression of interest today.
Think Agri Insights will be available from December for an annual subscription of $396 GST inc.