From risky to ready: Taking control of farm risks
As a grower, you are your business.
You know it all – from the soil, to the lay of your land, who to call when that tractor plays up, even everyone’s wages.
But what happens if you’re suddenly off-farm? Whether it’s due to illness, injury, a natural disaster, or simply on a long-overdue holiday. How would your business carry on without you?
Recently, Growcom’s Farm Business Resilience Program delivered another practical, grower-focused activity: Risk Management 101. Nearly 30 growers took part in the course, led by Rebecca Fing, founder of House Paddock Training and Consulting.
A farmer herself, Bec understands the juggle between paddock work and management, and the course helped break down the growers’ risks into practical and achievable goals.
The course resonated deeply with growers with one participant sharing:
“Our biggest problems are tree health, weather, pests, diseases, and stopping the big growers from picking early for a good price.”
For this grower, the course helped put words to the complex challenges they face daily - and more importantly, it created space to think about how those risks impact business sustainability. It sparked reflection, highlighted available support, and encouraged more proactive planning.
Another participant noted, “We’re seeing more severe storms - we need to start planning better.”
Top three tips
Don’t just identify risks, manage them.
It’s one thing to know what your risks are, but do you have systems in place to respond? If not, now’s the time to build
them.
Paperwork is powerful.
Up-to-date documentation is vital for business continuity. Do you have: a written business continuity plan, current will, and list of key contacts?
Risk management isn’t a one-off job.
It’s a process. Rather than tackling everything at once, could you set a focus each week? Upskill a group of staff in another area of operations, or update one section of your business plan.
Learn more
Want to learn more about how to take practical steps toward future proofing your farm, contact the Farm Business Resilience Team at Growcom.
The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.
