Profitable Farmer

# 40 - Analysing Risk in Farming Systems

How exposed am I? Assessing and managing risk within our farming systems.
 
I love the principle that in order to succeed, it is the business with the most robust and strategic business model that gets the results. Often it is the quality of our business model and how we execute on this model that is the difference between the average and the top 20%.
 
With this in mind, and based on your most recent years of performance, how robust and risk-aware is your business model? We operate in a unique climate, with unique economic factors, relative to farmers in other countries, and a high exposure to price variability and international markets. We operate businesses based on biological systems often exposed to the vagaries of our environments and the markets.
 
In this podcast, I am pleased to interview my father, Tim Hutchings, and discuss risk and volatility in Australian Agriculture. We explore the importance of designing risk-aware and long-term sustainable farming systems that have inherent flexibility, focused on minimising losses as much as pursuing windfall profits.
 
Dr. Tim Hutchings is a successful farmer and farm consultant in the Riverina, NSW. He is a Nuffield Scholar and Researcher and has recently completed his PhD analysing and (for the first time) quantifying risk and volatility of our farming systems.
 
As we dust ourselves off from the challenges of a dry season, reflect and reset for a new season, I encourage you to use this podcast as your opportunity to deeply interrogate the appropriateness of your current farming system, and as a catalyst to ask better questions and consider making some deliberate and measured changes.
 
Enjoy this podcast!
 
Regards,
Jeremy Hutchings
 

# 39 - An example of agricultural entrepreneurship at its finest

From a desire to find useful farm research and analysis tools for her own family... to Australia's number 1 online resource hub for farmers and agribusiness!
 
Farm Table’s story is a compelling reminder how we all can find a problem and seek to solve it in order to make our industry stronger and better for everyone.
 
Ladies & gentlemen, meet Airlie Landale - Founder and CEO of Farm Table.
 
Airlie is an incredible next generation champion for Australian Agriculture, doing her bit to make a very real and tangible difference for farming families nationally. From a small idea, Airlie has dedicated herself to solving a problem for the betterment of all farmers.
 
In this podcast we interview Airlie, understand her background, learn about the Farm Table story, and get a real insight into what can be achieved when a strong vision, deep passion, real commitment and sheer determination all come together around one simple idea.
 
Farm Table is Australia's one-stop farming hub online to connect producers, farmers and fishers to agricultural resources, information, opportunities, and, to each other.
In doing so, this agricultural platform's suite of services saves you time, improves information flows across the industry and contributes to a connected, collaborative, and innovative Australian agriculture sector.
 
Enjoy this podcast, we’re sure Farm Table will become one of your 'go to' platforms to help you stay ahead of the game!
 
Regards,
Jeremy

# 38 - Learning from Big Business

In this podcast, we explore the way in which strategy, change, leadership transition, people management and business transformations are achieved at the top end of town, and within some of Australia’s largest, most iconic agribusiness brands.
In a compelling interview with Jonathan Hutchings, ex-management consultant and now private equity and business transformation specialist, Jeremy explores how fundamental change is made at the ‘top-end’ of our food & fibre sector, and in businesses including Peters Ice-cream, Ingham’s Chicken, and Allied Pinnacle.
Grab a coffee, tune in and learn:
How major change is achieved in big business,
The simplicity of strategy-setting and making the very complex simple,
How to be objective in analysing the true performance of your business,
The importance of getting the very best team around you,
The importance of retaining your humanity whilst navigating through big change initiatives,
A perspective on emerging trends in the food & fibre sector and how they may impact / provide opportunities for farming businesses.
If it’s good enough for the elite leaders in our sector, perhaps there is a lot we can learn and apply in our own family businesses.
Enjoy!
Kind Regards,
FOA

# 37 - How to handle burnout and stepping into your zone of genius

In this podcast, Andrew interviews Farm Owners Academy incoming CEO.  Jeremy Hutchings is an amazing coach who is a lot of experience in agriculture. 
Andrew and Jeremy have a discussion and cover a few really important topics that we are sure many of you can relate to 
In this podcast: 
Andrew shares some of the challenges he has experienced around burnout (and how normal this is when you run your own business)
The importance of having an extended time out
The difference between operating I your zone of incompetence v competence v excellence v genius
The value in building a dream team around you to help your business grow (and how investing in the right people will drive your business forward)
The importance of having a strong strategic plan
The definition of a business in becoming profitable but then also having your business work without you
How ego can get in the road of your growth
 
It’s a great relaxed discussion that we are sure you will relate to 
FOA

# 36 - How to create a profitable freedom farm that can work without you there

One of our main aims here at Farm Owners Academy is to teach you how to create a profitable farming business that can work without your constant presence, allowing you more time and freedom to live the life you choose.
In today’s podcast, we walk you through the steps involved to accomplish this.
 
This episode shares lots of ideas to help you on your journey including:
 
Why you need to become very profitable first (and what this looks like)
The gap between being a farmer Vs running a farm business (and why this matters)
The three skills you must have to create a freedom farm
 
 
We hope you enjoy this podcast – let us know what you think!
 
FOA FACT: Sharing’s caring! 😉 Please share this with another farmer 👩🏻‍🌾👨🏼‍🌾
 
Regards
FOA

# 35 - Ask a better question, and the power of zero-based thinking

It’s really simple.  Asking a better question will lead to a better decision.
The problem is, we weren’t taught at school how to ask a great question.  
 
We will help you learn how to do this in today’s podcast.
 
For example, just asking the simple question every hour or so “Is this the best use of my time?” can help you improve your productivity.
 
I will open you up to the power of asking better questions AND the impact this can have on your business.
 
I will share a strategy I learnt from a very successful mentor of mine that saved my business and helped me bring in an additional $150k in revenue (in just one month).  It’s called zero-based thinking and I personally believe this is one of the best business strategies I have ever been taught.
 
Enjoy this month’s podcast and please share this with another farmer.
 
Take it easy,
 
Andrew
 
PS: Super early bird tickets to our TOP Producers 2-Day Workshop are now on sale, offering a crazy saving of $1295! Come along and learn how to run a better farming business. 

# 34 - Are you really ok?

RUOK? 
 
The 10th annual RUOK Day takes place on Thursday 12th September 2019. 
 
Farm Owners Academy wholeheartedly supports the RUOK initiative because we recognise the prominence of mental health issues within farming. 
 
In a bid to raise awareness, we are dedicating this episode of the Profitable Farmer podcast to this poignant cause. 
 
Today, I have an in-depth discussion about mental health within the farming community with Tracy Secombe, renowned mindset coach and creator of Soul Pleaser™
 
For the past 3 years, Tracy has been leading our team of Platinum Mastermind coaches which has given her a unique insight into the personal lives of hundreds of farmers, their struggles, issues and fears. 
 
There is so much wisdom in this interview.
 
Tracy explains why so many of us ‘people please’, and the impact this has on our mental health. 
 
We also discuss: 
Why male farmers carry so much fear of failure and how anxiety is created from losing the farm 
How so many people put on a brave face but are actually really suffering at home 
Why depression is created by analysing the past, and anxiety is worrying about the future 
Why we avoid communicating what we truly want in order to avoid potential conflicts 
Why many family-run businesses have issues with communication 
The underlying reasons for arguments within families 
Why succession planning has become taboo 
 
We hope this podcast resonates with you on some level; or at the very least, encourages you to ask “RUOK?” 
 
Please, share this with another farmer today 🙏🏼 
 
Take it easy, 
Andrew 
 
PS - if you would like to connect with Tracy, please click here to email her.

# 33 - Investing is just like planting, and why there are lots of opportunities right now

In this week’s podcast we interview Terry Tran.
 Terry shares with us how investing is just like planting a crop and the power of timing. 
There’s some great content in this podcast including: 
Why now is amazing timing to pick up some stock opportunities
Does Terry believe we are heading for a recession
Terry’s thoughts on the value of land and if he would be trying to buy more farm land right now
Some insight into how he values a business to invest in and what you need to know to invest.
 
 
Take it easy, 
Andrew
 
PS: if you are interested in registering for a free online training coming up with Terry, please click here. 
 
P.P.S Whenever you’re ready…here are 3 ways we can help you grow your farming business:
1. The founders of FOA run a special free online training to show you how to create a profitable business that has the ability to work without you (creating a freedom farm) – Click here to register for the next one. 
2. Join the Farm Owner Academy’s closed Facebook group ‘Profitable Farmer’  Our new Facebook community is where smart farm owners learn how to get more profit, control and freedom, and you can connect with like-minded farm owners – click here to join.
3. Subscribe to our ‘Profitable Farmer’ podcast This free audio podcast delivers ideas to help you run a great business – leading to more profit, control and freedom – click here.

# 32 - A big reason why conflict occurs in family farms and how to fix it.

Are you frustrated because your vision for the farm is different to other family members and you can’t agree on the way forward? 
In this podcast, David Westbrook and I discuss one of the BIGGEST issues affecting family farms. 
Disagreements between generations, parents and/or siblings is a real issue and an unbelievably common occurrence in the farming sector. 
In this episode we explore the importance of core values and how to get everyone on the same page. 
Here are some of the things we discuss:
Different generations wanting different things from the farm.
Why having written core values will give you more direction, clarity and motivation.
Why understanding others values will improve relationships.
Why judging and feeling judged is down to a lack of awareness. 
We want to help you work through these issues and enable you to live the farm life that you all want… because why would you allow someone else to dictate your future? 
We hope this podcast answers some questions and helps you encourage every member of your family to work towards a common goal. 
After this you’re going to have the best family Christmas ever!!
 We hope you find this episode valuable.  Feel free to head over to the Profitable Farmer Podcast page to tell us what you think.
 
Regards,
Andrew

# 31 - Could your money beliefs be holding you back

Do you think that you might have a negative association to money?
If you get stressed, angry or you find yourself complaining about money, you might be surprised to hear you could have a limiting belief around it.
We address this in this week’s podcast and you can listen by clicking here. 
Here is a list of some common limiting beliefs: 
Money is hard to make
Money comes in one hand and out the other
Money is difficult to make, particularly as a farmer
Money is scarce and hard to come by
Money doesn’t grow on trees
There is not enough money to go around
I don’t have enough for later on in my life
Paying for my kids’ education is expensive
 
Many of these beliefs were created when you were a child and were most likely passed onto you by your parents, your community and even your teachers. 
It’s very hard to get ahead and go for what you want when you carry these beliefs. 
In today’s episode, we explore these limiting beliefs and what you can do to remove them. 
It’s a really important podcast and we hope you enjoy it. 
 
Andrew