Moree area primary producers will have the chance to expand their knowledge at a practical workshop designed to improve the management and efficiency of the “office side” of their farming businesses, when Rabobank brings its Farm Office Efficiency Workshop to town this month.
Rabobank’s NSW Rabo Client Council has partnered with business training provider AgriFocused to deliver the interactive session in Moree on Tuesday, 22 September, from 9am to 3pm. The $30 workshop is open to all farmers, not just Rabobank clients, and will explore simple systems and tools to make farm office tasks more efficient, including record-keeping, bookkeeping, bill payment, managing email overload and time management.
Rabobank’s NSW Client Council chair and Gunning-based sheep and cattle producer Lucy Knight said the demands of running a farm office had increased as farming businesses became larger and more complex.
“Farmers are already juggling a wide range of roles, and the administrative side of the business can easily become overwhelming,” Mrs Knight said.
“With fewer staff and growing record-keeping requirements along with the burden of compliance, there is a real appetite for practical ways to make office processes simpler and more efficient.”
The training will be delivered by AgriFocused founder Carmen Quade, who has worked as a university lecturer in accounting and agribusiness, as well as in local government roles focused on economic and community development and corporate governance. Ms Quade is a partner, alongside her husband, in a cropping business at Tallimba in the Northern Riverina.
“Let’s face it,” Ms Quade said, “farmers rarely start in farming because of an interest in management or administration.”
“However, these skills are essential in managing a farming business. In this workshop, we look at strategies, tools and tips to speed up the office work.
“Staying on top of finances, managing the email load and fulfilling record keeping requirements can take a lot of time, often impacting on farm operations and family life. Efficient and effective systems and a better understanding of tech solutions can win back hours. And timely information can lead to less stress and better decisions.”
Rabobank state manager for NSW Toby Mendl said the bank’s Client Councils, made up of forward-thinking Rabobank farming clients, played an important role in supporting strong, resilient rural communities.
“Working alongside our local Client Council members, we listen closely to the issues that matter most to our clients, their communities and the wider food and agriculture sector,” he said.
Mr Mendl said the Rabo Client Council network turned those insights into practical, grassroots initiatives focused on long-term industry capacity and agricultural education, rural and urban connection, natural disaster resilience and rural wellbeing.
Ms Quade said the workshop was a family-friendly session.
“Feel free to bring the baby, and it you have to arrive late or leave early due to caring responsibilities, that’s ok,” she said.
Mrs Knight said the workshop would be particularly valuable for people who had been “battling in the office for a while” and wanted practical support to change the way they worked.
“The workshop is about building confidence in those ‘non-paddock skills’ that are essential to running a successful farm business,” she said.
“By putting straightforward systems in place, farmers can spend less time dealing with paperwork and more time focused on their business and out in the paddock.”
Morning tea and lunch will be provided at the workshop. Anyone with queries can contact rabocommunity@rabobank.com
Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list.