Hello from Ukraine, where I am travelling as part of my 2018 Nuffield scholarship program. I’m Jess Fealy’s replacement as an FNQ voice for the column.
An ag economist by trade, I have nearly 20 years of experience in farm financial and business management and sit on the board of the Rural Financial Counselling Service NQ.
The home business, Evelyn Limousins, on the Atherton Tablelands is where I put theory into practice and debate the odds with my father and brother.
I have been privileged in recent years to work with the committed Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Northern Beef team on a series of projects funded through the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, working with about 70 families.
Including $avannaPlan, Beef$ense and Beef$ense NextGen, these projects have been developed to address land and business management issues in the northern beef industry, and we will be presenting on these topics at Beef 2018.
This year I am fortunate to be undertaking a Nuffield scholarship with Westpac Agribusiness as my investor, and am currently travelling between Europe, the USA and Africa.
My Nuffield topic looks at ‘better business management and succession planning in the northern beef industry’, issues that resonate in many family businesses, ours included.
It is my intention to investigate through the lens of a whole of business approach, focusing on better land, herd, financial and people management within beef businesses.
Succession is an ever-present issue in many northern beef businesses, and we must be careful that we don’t pursue “succession at all costs”.
Next time you hear from me, I’ll be home, and we will take a harder look at land resource management in the north. In the meantime, I have 3 tips:
- If you are invested in the beef industry or considering it, get yourself a copy of Holmes and McLean’s Australian Beef Report.
- Get on FB and have a look at Grassland Guardians. Josie Camm is inspiring some great social media conversations.
- If you are a young producer and aspiring for more, put your hand up for a Nuffield Scholarship. Applications are now open.
– Alison Larard, 2018 Nuffield Scholar
