In 2009 more than 200 horses and riders, dressed in various shades of pink, saddled up to raise more than $30,000 for the NBCF.  Riders congregated from all across Queensland, New South Wales and as far as Darwin in the Northern Territory to participate in the trail ride in Longreach.

As we look towards 2010, we can only hope for a similar crowd and support which made 2008 & 2009’s event so successful in Longreach.

Combined with the NBCF, The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame has committed to running three other Pink Trail rides, one in Clare Valley South Australia, and one in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, and one is great north east in Victoria sparking a huge amount of interest in those areas – more details to come.

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in Australian woman, with 13,600 cases expected to be diagnosed in 2010.  But thanks to excellent research, deaths from the diseases have decreased by 22% in the last decade, with more women knowing the benefits of early detection and an increase in treatment options.

So save the date, and come along to support the “Pink” Outback Trail on the 26th June 2010 to make a difference to the many lives touched by breast cancer.  There will be awards for best dressed horse, best dressed rider, and best dressed combination horse and rider.

If you would like to support the 2010 Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame “Pink” Outback Trail Ride, please contact Prue Fargher on 0407 718 643 or email prue.fargher@stockmanshalloffame.com.au.

Here at Rural Connections we are having a short break over the Christmas/New Year period to refresh for a very exciting 2010.

We’ll be ducking into the office periodically so please feel free to leave us a voice message on (03) 6257 5234 or drop us a line.

Drop back here in early 2010 to find out more about what’s ahead!

My point is that everyone has a plan no matter how rudimentary it may be.

If you already have a written business plan then you can probably skip this article unless yours is collecting dust in your office—in which case you may need a prod to revisit it.

It is a well-known fact that a very large per cent of businesses fail within the first five years of operation. There are many reasons for the failures, but the most common reasons are:

• lack of vision, purpose or policies
• weak financial planning—undercapitalised, no measurement of performance
• limited market knowledge—not knowing your competitors or poor market strategy
• owners distracted by the technical work and not the strategic stuff.

Business planning was once described to me as booking in to see the dentist—you know you really should do it but you keep putting it off because the phone keeps ringing, the cattle need feeding, troughs to be fixed, kids to pick up and appointments to keep—leaving no time to create a business plan. Justified, right?

Ever heard the old adage: ‘businesses don’t plan to fail … they fail to plan’. In this day and age too much is left to chance by not taking the time to get your thoughts out of your head or off the piece of paper stuck to the fridge door, and written down in a formal business document.

A business plan contains vital information about your business such as how it will operate, market research and strategies, evaluation of your competitors, and risk and financial forecasts. It is one way to improve the odds of succeeding in your chosen enterprise, but don’t get me wrong—it certainly isn’t a magic cure.

When you first sit down to initiate the task of creating a business plan it may seem daunting, even a little overwhelming. There are questions about the future of your business that you will not know the answers to and probably some that you do not want to face.

To succeed in any business it is important that you take the time to get to know your:
• industry
• customers
• competitors
• resources.

A good way to start thinking about business planning is to think about your business using the SWOT method. This acronym stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

I find that it is helpful to look at a SWOT from a business perspective and from a personal point of view too.

Goal setting
When setting your goals make sure their success can be measured and monitored. An acronym commonly used in project planning is SMART. There are several variations to this acronym; however, the one I like is:

Specific—well defined, clear to anyone knowing the basic project
Measureable—when will the goal be completed and how will it be achieved?
Agreed upon—do all key stakeholders agree on each goal?
Realistic—are the resources available to achieve this? Do you have the knowledge? Is the timeframe achievable?
Time based—do you have enough time to achieve the goal to the desired outcome?

Having a fluffy goal such as ‘to be the best beef producer in my district’ is not SMART. But, ‘to be the best beef producer in Northern Tasmania by increasing calving percentages by 20 per cent by 2015’ is.

Taking the time out of your working week to focus on business development is important. After building my first business plan I realised that allocating this time could help me take my businesses to the next level. I now set aside four hours per week to work on my businesses, not in them. I cannot emphasis just how important this has become. Here is how the business planning process has helped me:

It has:
• assisted in determining the sequence of investment
• maximised market options
• assisted in getting better finance options such as better interest rates
• allowed me to think about what I would do if I wasn’t able to operate the businesses for some reason
• helped me to see the reason why things have not gone to plan and assisted me to refocus and take corrective action.

Best of all, taking the time away from the hands-on stuff to work on your business allows you to think about problems with a clear, unstressed mind. Assessing certain situations before they arise can save you from making hasty decisions that can cost you an enormous amount in the long run.

Always seek professional advice for the area you are planning. As invaluable as a good accountant can be to your business in creating a strong financial future, don’t let them tell you how to grow grass.

So enough talk ladies and gents—take the phone off the hook, put your mobile on silent, put the kids to bed and lock the office door—it’s time to get serious about your business and start making a plan or allocating time out of your busy work week to move your business forward.

If you need help to get started there are many organisations out there who can guide you through the process, including Rural Connections.

Rural Connections has a huge network of professionals across Australia who can help you through this process—from the very basic plan through to the advanced. Please phone us on (03) 6257 5234 if we can help you.

Why not get a group of farming friends together to learn about the business planning process together in a group (and save a few dollars).

Let’s get to it.

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.

I recently received this media release from the organizers of the Deni Ute Muster. I found it slightly amusing considering the “Ute-Gate” scandal that is playing out between our pollies however I wanted to give a fair-dinkum, Aussie event a plug:

Due to the ‘ute-gate’ scandal Deni Ute Muster organizers are extremely concerned that the great Aussie ute will get all the blame!

Festival Director, John Harvie feels that this is the time for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to get out in to the bush and meet 20,000 plus ute fans at the Deniliquin Ute Muster.

“We invited the Prime Minister last year, but unfortunately he was unable to attend due to other commitments.

“Another invitation was sent to him today to attend this year as we are worried Mr Rudd will lose the love of the ute due to the ‘ute-gate’ controversy.

We (Deni Ute Muster) and I’m sure thousands of ute lovers would not want that either. Let’s get that ute passion back in to Mr Rudd’s veins this year at the Deniliquin Ute Muster”, he said.

In 1999, the Festival’s first year, a new Guinness World Record was created for the largest parade of legally registered utes being 2,839.

Every year since then the Deniliquin Ute Muster breaks that record with an amazing 7,242 utes in 2008.

John Harvie and the team are aiming high in 2009 hoping to reach 10,000 utes.

“We are calling all ute lovers to make the pilgrimage to Deni this year”.

The Festival is a celebration of all things Australian, bringing together the best of the best for 2 days of top class entertainment for all ages including extreme sports action, competitions and the cream of OZ music both days and nights headlining Powderfinger along with The Angels, Troy Cassar – Daley and a swag load more.

Set on the flattest open plains on earth the site includes a huge Family camping area that caters for sedans, caravans, camper trailers and mobile homes so if you don’t have a ute – don’t despair, everyone can still be part of this national iconic event.

Take advantage of Kevin Rudd’s stimulus package and buy your tickets online today to SAVE $$ on www.deniutemuster.com.au or call 03 5881 3388.

Deni Play on the Plains Festival & World Record Ute Muster is Proudly Australian.

Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 2009, located in Deniliquin, Southern Riverina, New South Wales.

Killafaddy Sale
26 May
Saleyards, Killafaddy (via Launceston)
Contact your local livestock agent

“Where to now with pastures?” field day
26 May
“Montlea”, Lemont
RSVP to Liz Bond on (03) 6336 5285

Killafaddy Sale
26 May
Saleyards, Killafaddy (via Launceston)
Contact your local livestock agent

Clearing Sale A/c: Multi Vendors
29 May
Showgrounds, Ranelagh
Contact Robert Drummond on 0418 132 763

Quoiba Store Cattle Sale
29 May
Saleyards, Quoiba
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

Campbell Town Show
29-30 May
Showgrounds, Campbell Town
Contact Andrew Fisher on 0407 805 624

Clearing Sale A/c: Janefield
31 May
“Janefield”, Blessington
Contact Don Shelton on 0408 019 010

Bridgewater Sale
6 April
Sale Yards, Bridgewater
Contact your local Roberts agent

Killafaddy Sale
7 April
Killafaddy Sale Yards, Via Launceston
Contact your local agent

Ranelagh Sale
8 April
Sale Yards, Ranelagh
Contact Jamie Wooley on 0429 149 181

Soil Health Field Day
8 April
“Lewisham” Midland Hwy Campbell Town
RSVP to Lindsay & Rae Young (03) 6286 3228

Quoiba Store Cattle Sale
9 April
Sale Yards, Quoiba
Contact your local Roberts agent

Flock reduction A/C Dr VR James
16 April
“Mount Morrison” 1758 Tooms Lake Road, Ross
Contact David Robertson on 0409 899 950

Tramontana Angus Bull Sale
17 April
Gunns Plains
Contact Crighton Horton on 0408 834 652

Special Autumn Weaner Sale
17 April
Sale Yards, Smithton
Contact Gavin Coombe on 0428 128 169

Cluden Newry Angus Sale
20 April
Contact Tim Woodham on 0418 323 425

Landfall Angus Sale
20 April
Contact Tim Woodham on 0418 323 425

Chale Angus Bull Sale
21 April
Contact John Wear on (03) 6397 3231

Rosedale Angus Sale
21 April
“Rosedale” Campbell Town
Contact Tim Woodham on 0418 323 425

Woodburn Angus Sale
21 April
Contact your local Elders agent

Dairy Business and Share Farmer of the Year Award
21 April
Togari

Londavra Angus Sale
22 April
Sale Yards, Powranna
Contact Tim Woodham on 0418 323 425

Tamaroo Angus Sale
22 April
Sale Yards, Powranna
Contact Tim Woodham on 0418 323 425

Clearing Sale A/C Montumana Pastoral Company
23 April
749 Montumana Rd, Rocky Cape
Contact Rob Smith on 0418 144 950

Powranna Calf Sale
23 April
Sale Yards, Powranna
Contact your local agent

Clearing Sale A/C Junction Farm
24 April
Junction Farm, Hadspen
Contact Kevin Matkovich on 0417 325 936

Clearing Sale A/C Dalrymple Vineyard
29 April
Dalrymple Vineyard, Pipers River
Contact Kevin Matkovich on 0417 325 936

Powranna Weaner Sale
29 April
Sale Yards, Powranna
Contact your local Roberts agent

On January 20 1824, eight black cattle, then known as Fifeshires, stumbled off the Triton onto Hobart town wharf after a perilous voyage from Scotland and then embarked on a 75km walk to “Dennistoun”.

Accompanied by a piper, two handlers and some Angus cattle re-enacted arrival. Tasmania’s Minister of Primary Industries and Water, the Hon David Llewellyn, performed the ceremony on Dennistoun Road opposite Bothwell’s Visitors’ Information Centre assisted by Angus Australia’s president, John Young, from Western Australia.

Dennistoun today is a 4000 hectare property run by Henry Edgell and his family. The property runs a herd of 120 commercial Angus females as well as sheep with its main activity irrigated cropping.

After the Low Stress Stockhandling School held at “Malahide” in April last year I’m continually asked “when is the next one?”

Click here to find out more about Low Stress Stockhandling

The LSS Stockhandling School is relevant to all livestock production industries and the people who work within them. Past participants have varied in age from 4 to 73 with skill levels ranging from very experienced and competent stock people through to total beginners. All you need is a willingness to learn.

I am organising this event through my business, Rural Connections, on a not for profit basis. Why you may ask?!?!? Because I’ve participated in this training the past and believe that everyone should do it – it’s fantastic…it will change your paradigms! (and so we all can think about something else other than drought)

Registrations close at 5pm on Friday the 10th of April.

Please feel free to forward this to your family and friends who may also be interested.

Bridgewater Sale
2 March
Bridgewater Saleyard, Bridgewater
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

Serrated Tussock Identification Workshop

2 March
Richmond Hall Tea Rooms

3 March
The Stables, 85 High St, Oatlands

4 March
Council Hall, Campbelltown

5 March
Bayside Inn, St Hellens

5 March
Fingal Pub, Fingal

12 March
Lilydayle Memorial Hall, Lilydale

Contact project manager (03) 6234 2939

Killafaddy Sale (Sheep and Cattle)
3 March
Killafaddy Saleyards, Killafaddy
Contact your local Elders, Roberts or Landmark livestock agent
 
Antu Angus Stud Sale
4 March
The Gardens, St Helens
Contact Tim Woodham 0418 323 425 or Jock Gibson 0418 133 595
 
Merino Sheep Auction A/c E.A Cameron “Kelvin Grove”
5 March
Conara
Contact David Bennett 0439 623 374

Quarter Way Angus Stud Sale
5 March
North Scottsdale, Scottsdale
Contact Tim Woodham 0418 323 425 or Jock Gibson 0418 133 595
 
Suffolk & While Suffolk Sheep Auction A/c Salmon Pastoral “Ashton”
5 March
Ouse, Tasmania
Contact John Denholm 0418 122 422

Oatlands Sheep Sale
5 March
Oatlands Saleyards, Oatlands
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

Cattle Auction A/c Rushy Lagoon
6 March
Contact Warren Johnston 0419 326 348 or Malcolm Davey 0418 130 834

Dunlop Park Angus Stud Sale
6 March
Thirlstane
Contact Tim Woodham 0418 323 425 or Jock Gibson 0418 133 595

Quoiba Store Cattle
6 March
Quoiba Saleyards, Quoiba
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

Gowrie Park Rodeo and Ute Muster
7 March
Gowrie Park, 15km from Sheffield
Contact 0409 381 619

Bridgwater Sale
10 March
Bridgewater Saleyards, Bridgewater
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

Southern Farming Systems – Stubble Bash Machinery Field Days

12 March
“Oakdene” Perth, Tasmania

13 March
University Farm Cambridge

Contact Sarah Cole 0407 051 047

Wynyard Show
13-14 March
Wynyard Showgrounds, Wynyard

Powranna Calf Sale
13 March
Contact David Robertson 0427 631 104

Clearing Sale A/c Estate N L Purdy
14 March
290 New Bed Road, Railton, Tasmania
Contact Geoff Atkinson 0418 994 343

Bridgewater Store Cattle
16 March
Bridgewater Saleyards, Bridgewater
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

Ranelagh Sale
18 March
Ranelagh Saleyards, Ranelagh
Contact Jamie Woolley 0429 149 181 or Robert Drummond 0418 132 763

Red Meat Targets Beef Project
18 March
Winnaleah
Contact Peter Williams 0408 131 209 or Leon Quillam 0409 542 172

Clearing Sale A/c MJ & HF Lawrence
19 March
South Rhodes, Tasmania
Contact Drew Skinner 0408 130 809 or Philip Brazendale 0418 123 798

Quoiba Store Cattle
20 March
Quoiba Saleyards, Quoiba
Contact your local Roberts livestock agent

100% of Woolworths Profits will be donated to CWA to benefit communities impacted by drought
20 February

Wrightson Seeds Field Days

25 February
Kevin Wagner, Racecourse Road, Winnaleah

27 February
Gary & Sheryl Van Der Drift
980 Myalla Road, Milabeena

Contact David Squibb 0425 790 222

Sheep Dispersal & Machinery Reduction Sale A/c Mount Morriston
27 March
Ross
Contact Ben Grubb 0419 515 783 or David Robertson 0427 631 104 (Machinery)
Contact Randall Crosswell 0427 517 161 or David Talbot 0409 899 950 (Sheep)