ARLP applications closing soon!
This morning a friend let me know that applications are closing on the 31st of July for the Australian Rural Leadership Program.
Clancy participated in course 13 in 2006/07 and she describes the experience as “fantastic”. A number of people I know from my business networks have completed this course and rate it very highly as well.
If you are interested in finding out more about the program visit the website.
Remember, Rural Connections can help you with the application process. Contact us to find out how.
“Backing our Farmers” – the Road to Recovery
Drought and rebuilding rural communities is something that’s close to our heart.
When you shop at Woolworths on Friday 20 February, 100% of the profits from the day will go to funding applications for Community Infrastructure and Emergency Assistance grants for farmers and rural Australia.
The Country Women’s Association will again be facilitating the grants program on behalf of Woolworths. $10 million has been donated to individuals and farming families over the past two years from this fund. So please consider shopping at Woolworths on Friday 20 February to support this year’s important program.
IDEAS Workshop information (reminder)
The Innovation Development Early Assessment System (IDEAS) can be applied easily to assess the opportunity, the risks and the complexity of commercialising a new business idea. This one day workshop is intended for individuals or businesses that have an idea for a new product, process or service and are interested in applying an assessment tool to determine its commercial viability.
IDEAS has been developed and is delivered by Associate Professor Jack English from the Australian Innovation Research Centre. The IDEAS workshop is interactive but does not include group work and your idea can remain strictly confidential.
When: Friday 13 February 2009, 9.00am – 5.00pm
Where: Peppers Seaport Hotel, 28 Seaport Boulevard, Launceston
Cost: $55 (GST inclusive) includes IDEAS handbook, lunch etc
Registrations Close on Friday 6 February 2009.
For further information and to download a registration form, visit this website.
Your Farming Future
What do I do now?
How do I get there?
How have others got there?
Hear how two farmers from Victoria and NSW have been through a drought and come out with profitable businesses.
Be introduced to new budgeting and business tools and have a chat with RFCS, Agricultural Consultants and DPIW staff
Final message for 2008!
I published this piece about the state of our world economy in the last edition of The Stock Yard Newsletter and had a big response to it – so I thought I’d share it with everyone.
Everyone I know, including me, is concerned about where the economy is going. The news reports are interesting – but at the end of the day no one has the crystal ball to foresee what the future holds.
As individuals we have no control over it, so why should we waste our time being consumed with worry?
I am sure there are some reporters out there that get joy out of scaring the living daylight out of us by reporting on the ‘doom and gloom’ that’s ahead and take pleasure in trying to make us feel everything is caving in around us.
Sure – it’s absolutely true our economy is constricting but don’t be fooled, other areas and industries are expanding! We are simply seeing a period of major shifts. Some of my greatest career mentors have said their businesses have done just as well in a restricted economy!
My Dad told me a story once about ‘back when he was a boy’ his father grew a crop of spuds during a drought and made more money then than he had in a good year – with less yield – enough to buy a brand new truck with the surplus income – something he wasn’t able to do when he had the extra spuds!
Winston Churchill once wrote ‘a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.’
What I am saying is now is the time to take and have an honest look at your business and make some decisions that are going to move you and your business forward instead of being paralysed with fear.
Ask youself – what positive steps are you are taking to manage your enterprise? Or are you waiting for Kevin to give you a bail out package? The New Year is looming, what a great chance to find new opportunities in your difficulties!
There are businesses out there that can help you assess your business options, including Rural Connections. If you need contacts for people who specialise in your particular enterprise – call me I’m more than happy to point you in the right direction.
I’ve left you with my thoughts – I’d welcome your comments.
As 2009 draws to a close I would like to thank you sincerely for your support this year. Next year is shaping up to be busier than ever with many major courses being diarised already.
From my family to yours I wish you a safe and happy New Year! Take care.
Free place to Hobart’s ABARE Conference
In my last post I mentioned the ABARE Regional Outlook Conference. I attended the one in Lauceston last year and got heaps from it.
It was a wonderful opportuniy to meet some new contacts and access information.
I got so much out of if that I decided that Rural Connections will shout one person to attend the conference in Hobart on the 8th of October at The Old Woolstore.
There are 12 guest speakers on topics ranging from nuffield scholars to climate change- and I must say that it looks very interesting. View the program
Drop us a line – in 50 words or less and tell us why you want to attend the conference for your chance to win.
ABARE Regional Conference
With 12 speakers across four sessions, this is your chance to access the latest commodity data and industry trends for your region at the Hobart Regional Outlook conference on Wednesday 8 October.
Hear from key speakers including:
- ABARE’s Phillip Glyde on the road ahead for commodities
- Tony Pearson, ANZ, with a banker’s perspective on interest rates, and where to from here?
- Rob Goudswaard, ANZ exploring how financial institutions can contribute to sustainable communities
- Nuffield scholar Ronald Thompson, on keeping farmers in agriculture
- Melanie Ford, ABARE with climate change – preparing for carbon trading
- Ian Barnes-Keoghan, Bureau of Meteorology on coping with short and long-term climate change
- Johann Joubert, New Life Industries, discussing hydroponic farming: benefiting the environment
Download the conference program and registration form.
Facilitating Family Business Meetings
This course is a must for people that work in or with a Family Business!
Facilitated by Lyn Sykes and Karen Harper.
The workshop is conducted over five days – split into two sections of three and two days. It is an experiential workshop giving participants sufficient time to practice and enhance the skills learned during the workshop.
At this stage, depending on numbers, the course will be conducted during the 24-26 of March 2009 and 12-13 May respectively.
New BOM Rainfall Outlook Products
Today the Bureau of Meteorology launched three additional 3-month rainfall outlook products. The products give new insights into the chance of rainfall for the coming season.
The products are:
- Maps showing the rainfall amount that has a 25%, 50%, and 75% chance of falling over the coming season.
- Maps showing the chance of different amounts of rainfall falling, from 10 mm up to 700 mm.
- Tables showing the chance of various rainfall amounts for more than 260 towns across Australia.
The products are available on the Bureau’s rurally-focused Water and the Land (WATL) website.
Young Farmer Interest Rebate Scheme
Media Release by Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Allison Ritchie.
Tasmanian Government’s Young Farmer Interest Rebate Scheme was launched today for 2008- 2009 with a final round of funding totalling $750 000 for new and ongoing projects.
Ms Ritchie said the Young Farmer Interest Rebate Scheme is designed to alleviate the financial burden of new commercial loans taken up for a range of land-based farming activities in Tasmania.
“This scheme aims to encourage young farmers to invest in projects that develop the efficiency and effectiveness of their businesses,” Ms Ritchie said.
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