As the newly elected Chairperson, I would firstly like to thank Caroline Welsh for her leadership and the positive impact that she had, not only on BCG, but the wider agricultural community.
I am looking forward to my role working with a diverse and vibrant Board, our passionate, dedicated staff, the farming community and regional towns to advance our regions.
As I write this, I can hear the Grand Prix (GP) on the background on TV and I ask myself ‘what does an event like the GP have in common with farming?’
Plenty of things come to mind.
Firstly, we analyse what happened last year; what did we get wrong and how can we improve? What did we do right?
Preparation for this year; holidays or time out to relax, summer spraying, financials, marketing grain reflections/projections, rotation planning, grain cleaning, considering what role livestock plays (if any), chemical procurement, machinery maintenance, soil testing, how much stored moisture we have and, most importantly, the climate outlook.
While those involved in the GP circuit spend critical time in preparation and attention to detail using technology to analyse data, relying on a team of people with skills in car maintenance, communication, race tactics and of course the weather forecast.
Our farms are on the grid and ready to race, we’ve done the preparation, we have the skills and the support around us for good management. The climate will now run, so let us dream about the ideal season and if the season is not so ideal, we will adapt.
Pele, the renown Brazilian professional footballer said “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing”.
Another good quote is “Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.”
As farmers, we are prepared for the current season and now wait for the climate to perform.
BCG will be working with you, whatever the season brings, with braking and acceleration through each bend.
Good luck to all,
John.
