With Covid restrictions loosening across the country, some of Australia's most progressive farmers are set to gather once again as they apply for a sought-after spot on Rabobank's Business Management Programs after a two-year hiatus.
Tailored for farmers at different stages in their career, the two programs on offer – the Executive Development Program for farm business owners or senior managers and the Farm Managers Program for up-and-coming farmers – are designed to equip farmers with the latest in business management thinking.
Announcing the opening of applications for 2022, Rabobank Australia CEO Peter Knoblanche said it was an exciting prospect for top producers to once again gather and learn from each other.
"There has never really been a better time to join one of the programs as we emerge from Covid restrictions and look to gather once again with like-minded producers from across the country and different sectors," he said.
"And with the strong tailwinds in agriculture at the moment – including generally good seasonal conditions and strong commodity prices across the board – it's an opportunity for farmers to develop the skills to capitalise on these strong fundamentals."
Next year, the Executive Development Program will commence in April – covering topics including strategic planning, financial management, communication, governance, negotiation, global trends, innovation and risk. And this cohort, Mr Knoblanche said, will be given the rare opportunity to complete the program, delivered through two separate week-long modules, in the one calendar year with the second module scheduled for September 2022.
"The farmers who join us next year will be able to fast track their learning experience to complete the program in the one year, joining the ranks of more than 700 farmers who have graduated from the program over the past two decades," he said.
The Farm Managers Program, a week-long course developed for primary producers in the earlier stages of their career wanting to build management skills and increase their confidence and ability to influence business decisions, will be run in both Sydney and Christchurch next year, Mr Knoblanche said.
"The Farm Managers Program really helps up-and-coming producers to get out of that day-to-day thinking and start to look at the business with a more strategic mindset around business planning, people management and financial analysis," he said.
Positions on the programs are set to be highly contested, with farmers selected to attend from a wide range of commodities and geographical regions across Australia and New Zealand.
Applications are open until 6 December 2021 for the first intake of the Executive Development Program and Farm Managers Program as follows:
· The Farm Managers Program, 27 February to 4 March 2022 in Hawkesbury Valley, New South Wales.
· The Executive Development Program, 3 to 8 April 2022 followed by the second module from 4 to 9 September 2022 in Hawkesbury Valley, New South Wales.
Expressions of interest are also sought for programs scheduled to run later in 2022 and 2023, with applications opening early next year:
· The Farm Managers Program, 19 to 24 June 2022 in Christchurch New Zealand.
· The Executive Development Program, 2023 in Hawkesbury Valley, New South Wales.
