Dairy buoyant
The Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found farmers' expectations for their own business operations had also improved, with the net reading on this measure lifting to +37% from +19% previously.
Now in its eighth year, the prestigious Rabobank program offers young farmers from across New Zealand and Australia, and a range of agricultural sectors, the opportunity to develop and enhance their business management skills.
Rabobank business programs manager Nerida Sweetapple says the programme is constantly evolving to reflect the changing challenges and opportunities in agriculture.
"We make adjustments each year to the program content to reflect feedback from participants and our own research,"Sweetapple says. "The recently-added Attitudinal Health sessions have been very valuable. It is important for farm managers of the future to be healthy – both physically and mentally – so they can properly run their businesses."
Delivered in one week-long residential module, the program covers the latest practices in business management, leadership, planning, finance, and communication and how these can be applied directly to participants' farm businesses.
Only a limited selection of high-calibre applicants are accepted for each year's intake, selected from a group of leading farmers from a range of commodities and geographical locations in New Zealand and Australia.
Sweetapple says many past participants credit the Farm Managers Program with giving them the tools and inspiration to develop their farm career and plans to the next level.
"Participants take away many new skills and techniques from the program. They are also guided to develop a commercially-driven perspective on farm management and the ability to put systems and structures in place to manage growth. Participants also gain clarity and confidence from the course and the exchange of information between their fellow participants," she said.
Applications for the 2013 Rabobank Farm Managers Program are open until April 26. This year's program will be held at the Grange Cleveland Winery, Lancefield, Victoria, Australia, from Monday June 17 to Friday 21 June, 2013.
