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This ISN'T JUST A TAX. IT'S THE LAST STRAW

With 1175 cows and a 21-member staff, Tim's farm is a bustling hive of activity. But it's not just about the numbers; it's about the way Tim and his team manage it all.

Their secret? A finely tuned work-life balance. Staff enjoy a rotating schedule that ensures they get both weekdays and weekends off, maintaining a healthy equilibrium. 🐄🌞

Tim, as a director and general manager, handles budgeting, strategy, planning, and risk management. His approach focuses on making the farm self-sustainable, so it can keep running smoothly even if he's not around.

But it's not just about the farm's success. Tim's journey is inspiring, he left his career as a valuer in Sydney to support his family. From managing the business end of things to fostering a positive work culture, Tim and his team have created something special. They even have their own branded shirts and jumpers! 

Tim's story is a testament to dedication, resilience, and the importance of work-life balance in the farming world. Check out the blog to read the full interview 🐮👨‍🌾 #FarmLife #SuccessStory #WorkLifeBalance

Nicola and Matt, both from dairy farming backgrounds, entered the dairy industry through their families and a shared love for showing cattle. Originally from Queensland, Nicola's parents managed a predominantly Jersey herd of 350 cows, while Matt's family owned a dairy farm in Nar Nar Goon, Victoria. Matt pursued a unique career as a full-time cattle fitter, traveling worldwide to prepare show and sale cattle, making him one of Australia's pioneers in this field.

Their paths crossed through cattle shows, and they decided to take over Matt's family farm, despite its challenges. Support from both sides of their families proved invaluable. Before settling in Tarwin, the couple worked together in Northern Victoria, testing their compatibility as both life and business partners. Their love for the industry and the friendships they formed within the dairy community kept them motivated and dedicated.

Their journey took an unexpected turn when Matt experienced a car accident, leading to a series of health challenges. Despite initial misdiagnoses, Matt's perseverance and the support of friends and family led him through aggressive cancer treatment. Nicola stood by her husband's side while managing the farm and supporting him through his health battles.

 The couple found strength in the unwavering support of their loved ones, and their passion for dairy farming kept them going. Events like International Dairy Week provided a sense of normalcy and inspiration for Matt to continue pursuing his love for the industry. Their story is a testament to the resilience of those in the dairy farming community and the power of love and friendship during life's most challenging moments.

"You know, it's maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but it works for us. Every farm
is different. We take pride knowing we provide premium milk for Australians and we stand by what we do as being environmentally friendly and sustainable. One of the biggest motivations for this was that we would spend up to $700,000 in fertiliser every year, but we didn't want to put future financial stress on our children. If it won't grow here, we won't try and grow it. 

Many dairy farmers can relate to the relentless, all consuming nature that is dairy farming, and many other farming practices for that matter! Getting off the farm can sometimes feel impossible 'there's too much to do!', but it's so important in regenerating tired batteries and shifting your perspective on life and farming in general, so you can come back better than ever! 

In this months Farming Conversations Calendar Belinda & Stu chat about how they make getting off the farm possible, innovations in dairy farming, the importance of your team, protecting their family time and how to stay married through the calving season! #AnyFarmerCanRelate

"I think if corporations take over the industry, we're all screwed to be honest. Small family farms should all help each other because at the end of the day we all get paid the same milk price. We're not in competition with each other. We need to get back to helping each other more; the blokes around here come and give me a hand moving and sorting cattle and I help them in return. That's how our grandfathers did it. Farmers are in their silos when we should be amongst our community; we’d have better mental health "

The climate challenge as we move forward is about increasing the capacity of our soils and soil function, nutrient cycling, carbon holding capacity, and water holding capacity. I’m finding that a challenge, but an exciting challenge to address. 

Matt Willis has an incredible story and there’s not much he hasn’t faced! At 21 years of age he became an incomplete quadriplegic after a freak accident, keeping the farm going through the drought, then nearly losing the farm in the Black Saturday bushfires, his Mum being diagnosed with Huntingdon’s disease and then nearly losing his Dad in a truck accident. Despite his challenges Matt continues to farm and we think he has an incredible amount to say about mental resilience..

Marcus runs his own business on his family’s third generation farm in Yanakie, Victoria, having taken over the farm in 2020 after his father was seriously injured in an accident. Having lived and worked all over the world across different industries has given him perspective when coming back to the farm ‘When I was working in corporate, there was pressure to meet goals and targets. It felt like every time I achieved a goal I had nothing to show for it; they just moved the goal posts even further. I believe you create your own destiny and with farming I feel that I get to see the results of my work everyday.’ Marcus is also passionate about future proofing his farm and minimising environmental impact. 

‘Open up, find someone to talk to and if you have any underlying issues, just talk. Talking is the best medicine.’ 

Mark Johnston doesn’t steer away from hard conversations, in fact, he welcomes them. Mental health is something that he has experienced within his own family and has helped him relate to others that may be travelling the same road. He is passionate about spreading the word that talking about struggles in life is a valuable tool that can help manage your mental health. 

‘If you want to farm, go out and just give it a crack. There are so many people out there to help, so there is no point feeling like you’re alone. Don’t let pride get in the way either, benchmark yourself against your own business and just enjoy it.’

‘Mental health, like cancer, doesn’t choose who it effects. The thing about mental health is, even though it’s unseen, it’s still an illness’.

No matter what life throws at you, never give up!’

At 21 years old, Jake has been through many trials and challenges, also triumphs.  He possesses a wisdom beyond his years and a fire in his belly born from adversity. To talk to him, you’d come to realise that he is a young man with ambition, strength and smart business savviness.  Yet at the heart of him, he has a sensitive soul, a man who just wants to help those around him and give back to his community. 

‘I was too busy chasing more, that I ended up with less. Don’t take the people in your life for granted in the pursuit of a bigger dream.’

In 2016 Anthony and his partner at the time, Mads, bought 277 acres in Yarram while they were still in their early to mid 20’s. Anthony loved being able to see his two young children during the day. However, he was striving and working so hard to build the farm’s profits that the things he loved most began to slowly slip away. The farm came with great reward, but also a huge private cost. 

‘Don’t conform with everything that’s out there, think outside the box sometimes. Think individually, what’s good for your neighbour isn’t necessarily good for your farm!’