A business kick-start for young farmers and fishers

Jason Finlay with his dog at his oyster farm

Six farming businesses from across NSW have been selected to participate in the NSW Department of Primary Industries Young Farmer Business Program’s individual coaching program.

Young Farmer Business Program Coordinator, Tim Flynn, said they were excited to receive over 40 applications from across NSW.

“We had applications from Wilcannia all the way to the coast and the standard of applications set the bar extremely high,” Mr Flynn said.

“We know that starting, running or growing a farming or fishing business isn’t easy, but a business coach will help these passionate young producers get the skills they need to run more productive and profitable businesses.”

The 10-month program provides one-one-one business coaching with Richard Groom, a business coach with over 20 years experience working with primary producers to help young primary producers to expand their business aspirations and to reach their goals.

“It’s great that we have a mix of enterprises participating in the program,” Mr Flynn said.

Participants in this round of the individual coaching program include:

  • Billy Browning, manages his family’s irrigated and broad-acre cropping farm near Narromine in Central West NSW.
  • Jason Finlay is an oyster farmer from Moruya, who, together with his two brothers-in-law, supplies oysters to top-end restaurants, as well as wholesale and local markets.
  • Doug and Georgie Kelly run a mixed farming enterprise at Gulargambone, which is currently comprised of winter cropping and Angus cattle. Doug and Georgie are in the process of transitioning into management/ownership of Doug’s family business through succession planning.
  • James and Kimberley McClure operate a mixed farming enterprise of Merino and Demara sheep, rangeland goats and cattle near Wilcannia.
  • Tom and Joscelin McMillan, free-range pastured egg farmers from Bemboka, who operate their business on leased land.
  • Henry and Rosie Moxham from Coonamble operate a dryland cropping, cattle and Merino sheep farm near Coonamble as well as a contracting business.

The participating businesses will be sharing their learnings throughout the coaching journey with the Young Farmer Business Program’s broader community via monthly video blogs on social media.

“Our entire community will benefit from these young primary producers’ passion and drive to enhance their businesses for strong future growth,” Mr Flynn said.

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