Jenny Mortlock is a partner in the farm business, ‘Mortlock Farming’, which she runs with her husband Mark. Born and bred in Bendigo, Jenny didn’t have any farming experience prior to getting married, however she has brought to the business a broad range of experiences including watching her parents run a small business in Bendigo, studying and working as a teacher in Townsville and living and working in the UK. She now works full-time on the farm, which is 10km east of Donald, and does some emergency teaching on the side. Jenny and Mark are parents to three children – Macie, Lainey, and Samuel.
Case study: Jenny Mortlock, ‘Mortlock Farming’
Location: Donald
Farming mix: Cropping and (soon) sheep
Crops: Wheat, barley, lentils, beans, canola, vetch and oaten hay
starting a farming career
Jenny Mortlock’s farming experiences are familiar to other farming women with stories of succession planning, going into business with her husband, raising a young family on the farm, developing skills in a new occupation and contributing to the local community, common topics of conversation.
“I am also a school teacher who married a farmer,” she laughs.
“I had just started primary teaching at Dunolly so to get involved in the community, I joined the netball team at Natte Bealiba. I was one of the netballers, my husband Mark was one of the footballers … and the rest is history,” she said.
starting a farm business
Jenny and Mark have been farming in their own right for one financial year. This is the result of an amicable and extensive succession plan carried out in conjunction with Mark’s family who operated a farm business at Dunluce in central Victoria.
Nevertheless, in a short space of time, Jenny is one of the chief decision-makers, an adviser and a self-described ‘devil’s advocate’ when discussing ideas and issues with Mark.
Citing her husband’s long hours in the paddock as a challenge sometimes, she is quick to add that she’s learned to adapt and draw on the independence she developed in her pre-farming days.
“Being part of a community that understands also helps,” she said.
“People are forgiving when I say ‘I can’t be there because … it’s going to rain or there’s been a machinery breakdown’.”
One of her key roles at harvest will be to track and market the grain. She believes having a good understanding about the cost of production is a key to making good decisions.
“It’s important to have an idea about your costs at all times,” she said adding that their machinery purchases are based on the farm economics at the time and they often weigh it up against contractor costs.
Jenny said farm employee Glenn Burke, is also a valued member of the farming operation.
“You’ve got to appreciate your workers,” she said.
GAPP women’s group
Despite her hands-on involvement on the farm, Jenny wanted to learn more.
“I want to spend more time on the farm and be able to contribute, but I’ve got to get the basics right first,” she said.
“That’s why I was keen to attend the GAPP meetings.
“I enjoyed the ‘Basic Agronomy’ session held in June including the calculations for germination, seed size and seeding rates.
“I went home that night and discussed it with Mark.”
A new project
This summer Jenny and her kids will oversee their own project: the re-introduction of sheep into the farming mix.
“I’ve learned quite a bit about risk management at the GAPP sessions and how reliable sheep income can be,” she said.
She has done her market research, acquired a Property Identification Code (PIC) number and some first cross ewes will arrive on the farm soon ready for summer grazing.
It’s clear that in a short space of time, Jenny has developed a broad range of agronomic and business management skills and she has enjoyed attending the GAPP women’s group meetings to learn more and to meet other women involved in the agricultural industry.
Good advice
When asked about the best advice she’s been given or what she could recommend to others, she offers these nuggets:
“Unforeseen factors such as machinery breakdowns can really put you behind so as the saying goes, don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched.”
“If you want to get something done off the farm, wait for a rainy day.”
And her final piece of advice is something most of us can relate to: “Don’t talk during the weather forecast segment on the radio!”
about GAPP
The GAPP (Growth, Adoption, Production and Profit) program is run by BCG in partnership with the State Government. It aims to improve the productivity and profitability of a new generation of Wimmera and Mallee farmers through a series of interactive meetings held throughout the year.
New attendees are always welcome. For more information or to register your interest, contact the BCG office on (03) 5492 2787 or [email protected].
