Focus on the future, plan for farming successfully

Far North sheep and beef farming couples are among the first in the country to be offered a new programme to help them plan for long-term business success, developed in response to strong industry demand.

Launched this week, the programme equips farming partners to decide their business and family goals together, then use that to plan for, and lead, their teams.

Funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) PGP programme, Future Focus, is initially being offered in seven rural centres, involving more than 100 participants. Designed and delivered by the Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT), each two-day programme will be held over two months.

Future Focus builds on AWDT’s Understanding Your Farming Business (UYFB) course, also funded by RMPP, which has been completed by more than 800 women since 2014. It follows a pilot last year with 16 farming couples and research into what is needed to lift farm performance.

Course participants will develop a business vision and goals, and then an action plan with specific results to be achieved. They will learn how to keep their plan on track, how to overcome obstacles and how to engage and lead the wider farming team — including staff, bankers and advisers.

Starting in May and June, Future Focus will be held in Whangarei, Te Kuiti, Whanganui, Dannevirke, Gore, Oamaru and Amberley.

Further information is available at www.awdt.org.nz