Farming&GrazingforProfit

The RCS Farming&GrazingforProfit school is the Business School for Mixed Farming Enterprises.  It tackles climate variability head on. Nothing is treated in isolation. It gives you the knowledge, principles and management tools needed to build a profitable and sustainable farming and grazing business. 

You will leave knowing how to:

• Manage climate variability in a productive way
• Manage the economics of your business
• Build your farm's ecological health
• Reduce overheads
• Reduce risk
• Develop flexibility between cropping and grazing depending on season and commodity prices
• Increase ground cover and water utilisation
• Control and manage your business
• Integrate pasture cropping to help ensure a successful and profitable mixed farming business

PEOPLE

Vision and Goal Setting  

We will assist you to define your business and lifestyle goals and provide a simple, yet effective method of ensuring you achieve them.  You will then be able to help others in your business set goals and achieve them.

Management Effectiveness

It is possible to be 100% efficient but zero percent effective.  We will introduce you to management effectiveness;  deciding who makes the decision;  and how employees can be motivated to help you achieve your goals.

Time Management

We can only manage ourselves with respect to time. The principles of self-management and staff management are indispensable.

MONEY

Economics

Discover how to structure profit into your business.  Apply the three secrets for improving profit and eliminate dead wood from your operation.

Finance

Avoid expensive forced-action decisioins by applying the three R's of credit to your farm.  Evaluate the value of investments.  Learn the techniques of cashflow planning used by our clients to stay in control.

Accounting

Farming for Profit will provide an incredibly simple system that will lift the veil of confusion that sometimes surrounds the documents your accountant produces.

ECOLOGY AND CROPPING AND GRAZING SYSTEMS

Ecology

Ultimately as farmers we are harvesters of sunlight, rainfall and minerals. The basis of long-term profitability is a healthy farm ecosystem.  You will learn the principles of farm ecology and how livestock can be used to improve the four ecosystem processes in combination with pasture cropping when appropriate.

Soils

Man is dependent on soil as it is the basis of all life.  This section will provide the basis for understanding the structures of soils, the relationships between organic matter, minerals, air and water.

Humus

You will learn how humus is formed and how management can influence the production of this vital substance.

Farming soil micro-organisms

Sustainable farmers farm the micro-organisms and these organisms farm the soil  and plants.  Soil micro-organisms play a very important role in decomposing plants and root residues in the soil  They are also important for making available certain nutrients from the soil particles and facilitate the breakdown of pesticides and herbicides.  Discover the conditiions that promote increased populatons of beneficial soil micro-organisms that actively fight harmful organisms such as nematodes.

PASTURE CROPPING AND LIVESTOCK

Production Principles

You will learn the principles of plant production from a soil and livestock perspective and how plant and animal activity impact on the health and capacity of the system.

Principles of Pasture Cropping

There are some fundamentals that make pasture cropping simple.  Perennial pastures are an important part of the story.  Making sure that these form part of the guiding decision making is critical to its success.

Drought Planning Principles

There are eleven essential drought management principles, that not only ensure mimimum damage to land and pasture, but also ensure minimum damage to the business.  This is a critical element in managing farms in the climate change era.

Crop Management

Learn the benefits and management of in-crop weeds, appropriate seeding techniques, the establishment and maintenance of perennial pastures and enterprise flexibility.

Length of Course

This is a 6½ day intensive management course.  You are encouraged to live in and participate with other students.

The Next Step

To register for Farming&GrazingforProfit, please call 1800 356 004, enquire through one of Enquire Now links or download a Registration Form on the right.