Massey University and Masterton-based farm finance platform Farm Focus are running a pilot programme where second-year students complete a series of farming financial budgeting and cashflow forecasting assignments, based on real-life data.
The partners produced a comprehensive agricultural programmes curriculum that saw students participate in a range of educational activities that replicated the daily reality of modern agricultural businesses. Over the course of the first semester 2024, students have been accessing, implementing and testing real farming financial data to better understand on-farm finances and the importance and application of budgeting tools.
In partnership with Massey, Farm Focus provided students access to its specialised software, enabling them to take a hands-on approach to learning and implementing financial tools for farm business management. In doing so, students could develop an accurate depiction of on-farm financials whilst becoming familiar with essential planning and business management tools.
Students partook in workshops, specialised quizzes, and customised data assignments alongside additional avenues of educational support, each curated to deliver a unique and results-driven learning experience.
Annie Cates, agri training advisor, and partnership lead at Farm Focus for the pilot project, says that it has been a rewarding experience being part of the students’ educational journey.
“These students are the next generation of our farming industry, so it’s incredible to be able to contribute to the success of their studies in a meaningful way; enabling them to learn and experiment with real-life data that we hope will one day serve them well in their future careers.
“Farm Focus is passionate about education and empowering farmers to make informed decisions with their finances. The opportunity to partner with Massey University on this pilot project was a no-brainer,” says Cates.
Professor Peter Tozer, Professor in Farm Management at Massey University, says the partnership has enabled students to focus more on their practical learnings thanks to the user-friendly nature of Farm Focus’ software.
“In previous years, the students completed their assignments using Microsoft Excel. However, this year, they switched to using Farm Focus’ platform, finding it much easier to navigate. As a result, they have spent more time understanding and learning practical farm management.”
