Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor

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Since the removal of the single desk, grain farmers have had to upskill and manage the complexities of grain marketing. For younger growers, every great achievement is inspired by a great mentor, and it is well understood that ongoing learning and trusted mentors can assist in continuing professional development.

The BCG and Victorian State Government joint initiative growth, adoption, productivity, profit (GAPP) held its first round of meetings for 2017 recently, and young farming members were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in grain marketing conversations from the experts in the room. 

Relationships and mentoring were consistent themes throughout the GAPP meetings with presenters emphasising their importance on future success.

Lawloit farmer and GRDC Southern Panel member John Bennett reminded attendees at the West Wimmera GAPP meeting to listen not only to older members of the farming community, but the young also.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help. And be sure to build strong business and personal relationships.”

Many agreed that having a good relationship with your grain marketer and others enables you to stay in the loop.

ADM accumulator Peter Sidley explained that “if you have a good long-term relationship with your grain marketer you will have better marketing opportunities.”

There are many things that the younger farming generation can learn from the men and women who have vast experience in the industry, with the knowledge and advice being invaluable.

With sowing just around the corner the reminder was to be organised, timely and optimise your seeding rate.

Scott Gladman at the Manangatang GAPP meeting reinforced to attendees that when you “make a decision, stick to it. You need to be able to make timely decisions and not drag out the process to ensure time efficiency.”

Mr Bennett reiterated the message, “there are only two times to sow, before time and on time.”

“There is real money to be saved by getting your seeding rate right,” said Normanville farmer Bronwyn Hunt.

Former grain marketing lecturer and Warracknabeal farmer Julia Hausler used her professional knowledge on-farm to formulate grain marketing strategies basing her decisions off tight drought years.

She reminded GAPP members “it’s good to know how much it costs to grow a crop. If you have a big blow out this year you have to pick it up in sales and profit another year.”

Mrs Hunt backed Mrs Hausler’s comments, “input control is everything.”

When it comes to the pointy end of the season, marketing by “knowing your end game” and “knowing who you are, where you are and everyone else around you in the game” were the final take home messages from Mr Sidley and Mrs Hausler’s presentations during the meeting series.

Marketing can be key to gaining those extra advantages in a tough season, which Rupanyup farmer Peter Taylor explained “if there is one thing I wish I had of got more involved in when I was younger, it is grain marketing.”

But the quote many of the Southern Mallee and Women’s GAPP members will not forget was from Curyo farmer Paul ‘Bomber’ Barclay.

“Only buy good ground. Ground is like a dog, it’s not always the dog’s fault.”

GAPP groups will meet in June to discuss post-sowing and in-season management decisions including nitrogen decisions which is aided by working with crop modelling tool Yield Prophet.

For more information about GAPP visit www.bcg.org.au, or phone the BCG office on 03 5492 2787.

This article was published in the Stock and Land on April 6

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