Trust is a cornerstone of building a successful team. Trust means having confidence in each other's intentions. Trust is gained when promises are kept and lost when they are broken. The easiest way to foster trust is to only make promises you can keep, and follow through on the promises you make to yourself and others. It is very interesting to see that the things that foster trust are all closely aligned with our values @ The Farm Office.So what can you do to build trust in your team? Lead by e ..read more

So, what's succession planning? It's essentially ensuring your farm can transition smoothly when it's time for you to step back from farming. Whether you're passing it on to the next generation or selling up, having a plan in place saves headaches down the line.During February, some of my clients were confronted by situations that highlighted the importance of early succession planning and the issues of not having a plan yet. Succession planning is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of runnin ..read more

Happy International Women's Day!Today is a great opportunity to honour and celebrate the wonderful women who enrich our lives!My field of bookkeeping and payroll is dominated by women playing a pivotal role in managing the financial affairs of countless businesses. To all my fellow bookkeepers around the globe, here's to your exceptional contributions to the world!On farms, countless women work on the farm and do the HR, payroll, bookkeeping, budgeting, and planning, all while balancing the dema ..read more

Rescue work in bookkeeping is like being a financial detective, and it's a task that many experienced bookkeepers find themselves undertaking at some point. Essentially, it involves helping a client whose books or payroll have fallen into disarray – whether due to falling behind or simply getting things wrong.Picture this: you're tasked with untangling a mess, perhaps even going back to square one, to pinpoint where things went off track and set them right. This often requires a strategic appr ..read more

We started again on the 3rd of January and are finishing our first working week of the year. We feel energised refreshed and ready for 2024. We wish you and your loved ones a year filled with love, health, joy, and prosperity ..read more

We are all taking some time off over Christmas to rest, recharge, and spend time with our family and friends. We are closed on Friday the 22nd and will re-open on the 3rd of January. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ..read more

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today increased its forecast Farmgate Milk Price and earnings guidance for FY24 following a strong start to the year. The forecast Farmgate Milk Price midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25 cents to $7.50 per kgMS, with the forecast range moving from $6.50 - $8.00 per kgMS to $7.00-$8.00 per kgMS. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says the revised forecast reflects recent strengthening in demand for reference commodity products from key importing regions ..read more

This month I got inspired to challenge you to define your values and the mission of your farm and include them in your recruitment process.Why are your values important when recruiting?The reason for struggling to find the right staff or retain staff (even if they have the skills) is that their values do not align with yours. When you hire someone who is inspired by your passion for your farm and shares your values, they may lack some skills, but they will learn the skills they need. Yet if thei ..read more

Farming is not just a profession; it's a way of life deeply intertwined with the rhythms of nature. However, the life of a farmer can be incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally, especially during challenging years when factors like market downturns, cost increases, unpredictable weather, and personal hardships converge to create a perfect storm of stress.In such times, practising self-care is essential, enabling you to navigate adversity with resilience and maintain your own vitality ..read more

This month I have again been confronted by the crunch created by a low payout, high costs, high interest rates and a change in how banks operate with a couple of clients. Ironically, it is the seasoned farmers who get caught out by this. They have been with the same bank for years and are used to a relaxed bank manager. Until recently they got an overdraft by calling their bank manager and the overdraft was available within days. Banks have become much more formal in their processes in the ..read more