AgRi-Silience Program
Humans of Agriculture Podcasts

Darren Thomas, the CEO of Thomas Foods International, discusses his journey in the agricultural industry and the growth of his family business.

He highlights the importance of being present and connected with employees and customers, as well as the advantages of being based in South Australia.

Darren also shares the key moments and decisions that have shaped the success of Thomas Foods International, including the expansion into processing and the strategic acquisition of plants in strategic locations around the world, the moments that have challenged and defined his career so far and overcoming adversity to find opportunity.

Livestock SA Partnership:

This episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.

Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

In this episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, Oli Le Lievre chats with clinical psychologist Kate Gunn, the founder of iFarmWell, an online mental health resource designed specifically for farmers.

Kate shares her journey of growing up on a farm in South Australia, pursuing a career in psychology, and her deep connection to agriculture that led her to create iFarmWell.

She discusses the importance of farmer wellbeing, how factors beyond the farm gate like public perception can affect mental health, and practical strategies farmers can use to manage stress. The conversation also explores the evolution of iFarmWell, its community-based approach, and how Kate is working to break down the barriers around mental health support in rural communities.

Livestock SA Partnership:

This episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.

Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

Chris Schied has been a business advisor for more than the last 25 years. Across his career he's learnt a few things about what it takes for family business and farming businesses to succeed.

A few things we chat about:

Family boards are essential in agriculture for effective strategy, governance, risk management, and succession planning.

Family boards should meet at least twice a year, with an annual general meeting to review past performance and plan for the future.

Non-returning family members and external advisors should be involved in family board meetings.

Emotion should not be removed from decision-making in family businesses, as it plays a role in succession planning and understanding the purpose of the business.

Livestock SA Partnership:

This episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.

Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

Jenny Stanton wears multiple hats as a farmer, agronomist, netball coach, and community leader on Kangaroo Island (KI). She shares her story of resilience, having survived the devastating 2020 bushfires, which wiped out livestock and infrastructure, and how her family rebuilt both their farm and their lives. Jenny discusses the journey of running a family farm, including succession planning and the balancing act of managing daily operations, community roles, and personal well-being.

We dive into topics such as:

How her family navigated succession planning after the fires.

The importance of community and their "Fat Farmers" initiative to improve physical and mental health.

Jenny's passion for soil health, sustainable farming practices, and the challenges of finding natural solutions to pest problems.

The role of Farm Owners Academy and the Australian Rural Leadership Program in shaping their business and personal growth.

Livestock SA Partnership:

This episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.

Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Richie Kirkland shares his love of popping off on the buggies, hunting rabbits, and enjoying the life afforded as a farm boy in South Australia. His father showed him how to shear and he quickly realized how wool spun into a nice chunk of change for his teen years. Life in the business has had its highs and lows and he’s realized the importance of a forward mindset in the industry. By focusing on sustainability, innovations, and engaging with the community, Richie believes storytelling and sharing thoughtful perspectives will lead to a more resilient wool sector.

Takeaways:

Understanding the shifts over the decades in the shearing business shows pivotal moments of what direction the industry has taken.

Sustainability and Environmental Practices are important to ensure long-term productivity and environmental health.

Technology and innovation in modern farming will help to meet industry demands and address challenges.

Community, collaboration, and storytelling foster resilience within agricultural communities.

Resilience and adaptation during tough seasons are essential for navigating the agriculture sector.

Support and training for agricultural workers and those new to the industry is crucial in the future of the industry.

Livestock SA Partnership:

This episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.

Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

In this episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, host Oli Le Lievre explores the multifaceted operations of a South Australian farm with Alex McGorman. The conversation delves into the history of the farm, the evolution of farming practices, the importance of relationships in agriculture, and the role of family boards and external support in business growth. Alex shares insights on transitioning from a traditional farming mindset to a more business-oriented approach, emphasizing the significance of consistency, adaptability, and good people in achieving success in the agricultural industry.

Takeaways:

The importance of relationships in agriculture cannot be overstated.

Consistency in operations leads to long-term success.

Transitioning to a business mindset is crucial for growth.

Family boards can provide valuable external support.

Good people are the backbone of any successful operation.

Adaptability is key in the face of changing market conditions.

Farming is a trust-based industry that relies on integrity.

External advice can help navigate complex business challenges.

Investing in branding and marketing is essential for growth.

There are numerous opportunities in agriculture for those willing to innovate.

Livestock SA Partnership:

Today's episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.

Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

In the first episode of this special AgRi-silience series, we visit Mark and Rachel McInerney at Riverton, South Australia, to hear how they navigate adversity by redefining their roles on the farm and turning professional development into a catalyst for business renewal.

In this chat you'll hear:

How an HR masterclass became the starting point for major business change

The impact of back-to-back climate challenges and how they planned through uncertainty

How weekly planning, clear roles, and external coaching transformed their partnership

The story behind launching their direct-to-consumer beef business

How involving their children is shaping a future-ready sixth generation

Key Takeaways:

Resilience isn’t just surviving tough years, it’s planning for the next ten

Ground rules and family meetings can turn tension into teamwork

Professional development is for every age, every stage

Balancing passion with profitability is possible, even during drought

About AgRi-Silience:
Today's episode is part of our partnership with Livestock SA's AgRi-Silience program, designed to improve strategic planning and long-term resilience for forward-looking South Australian livestock and broadacre enterprises.
Participants of the program get one-on-one coaching, tailored advice from a consultant and get the chance to meet a network of other farmers enabling long term strategic planning to sustain your business into the future.

Funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia as part of the Future Drought Fund’s Farm Business Resilience Program, AgRi-Silience has already helped over 1000 South Australian farmers build financial literacy, confidence in decision-making, and essential resilience skills.

It's not often you get the chance to hit the pause button, zoom out and look at the bigger picture of your farming business.

Farmers are often great at being operational - getting the crop in, or managing livestock cycles - but perhaps not as well practiced at thinking through a strategic plan: where you want your business to go and how you want to go about it.

Many of us tend to simply let things unfold and that's why Jeanette Long's pearls of wisdom are so helpful - she's a director, trainer and coach for Ag Consulting Co, which delivers the Livestock SA AgRi-Silience program.

She takes a strategic planning approach to help farmers reflect on their business decision processes and build not just business resilience, but personal resilience too.

We hope this chat with Jeanette helps you make some of those big (and small!) decisions in your farming and family lives, no matter what seasonal conditions are thrown at you.

Key takeaways:

aim to have a plan in place with prior thought-out 'trigger points', so decisions are made when you're in a good headspace, rather than during stress

there's always value in networking and keeping connected with others in the industry

understanding your core purpose and values, noticing triggers of stress, and building tools to manage it is crucial for long-term success

external support can aid in decision-making during crises and times of overwhelm

The drought gripping much of South Australia is enough to make anyone’s motivation slide. But Baroota mixed farmer Jono Mudge says he’s gradually learning to “let go of ego” and open up to outside help to guide his business.

The expert mentors he’s connected with through Livestock SA’s AgRi-Silience program have helped shift his mindset and given him a renewed sense of enthusiasm across his home and work life.

“We’re a young couple taking over a family business and we don’t want to stuff it up,” he says.

“We wanted to learn more about our business and how we can make it better - resilience, sustainability, that sort of thing… to future-proof it.

“It was a no brainer.”

The AgRi-Silience program came at the perfect time to help Jono deflect his attention away from the seemingly endless dust, to what he can control.

“We always talk about having goals, but you never actually sit down and do it. Looking at a strategic plan was a key thing straight up.”

From the humble workshop whiteboard to navigating new apps, Jono finds simple tools are leading him to better communicate with family members and a smoother operation of his business day-to-day.

Key takeaways:

Engaging outside experts was key in shifting Jono's mindset and setting strategic goals

Professional development is a crucial part of building a sustainable and resilient business

Planning family time before farm expansion helps maintain a healthy work-life balance