The Farm Business Resilience Program & associated workshops were designed to take an evidence-based approach to build the strategic management capacity of graziers to prepare and manage farm business and climate risks.

Pictured: Delivery team for the grazing farm planning resilience workshops: (L-R) Lewes Golden, Rural Financial Counselling Service; Jodie Ward, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Marc Leman, Healthy Land & Water; Greg Bath, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Bruce Lord, Healthy Land & Water and Brian Coe of Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).

The aim is to help producers improve their economic, environmental, and social resilience.

The sessions provide a great opportunity for primary producers to develop a Farm Business Resilience Plan for their property.

The Farm Business Resilience Plan summarises the process of identifying business goals, risks, and actions to build resilience to risks including drought & climate variability. It outlines an approach to implementation, ongoing monitoring, and mitigating risks. It considers natural resource management, production, and financial and personal goals.

The Plan also acts as a template that can be used by landholders when applying for the Queensland Government’s new drought assistance through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).

The sessions are being supported through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.

The new drought assistance will help Queensland primary producers better manage future drought through proactive measures including tailored training, grants, and loans. The new drought preparedness measures will be open to all primary producers without needing a drought declaration.

The plan includes:

1) About the business.

2) Motivation.

3) Goals (production-Natural Resource-Business-Personal)

4) Managing risks.

5) Managing dry conditions and drought-drought recovery plans.

6) New actions and implementation plans to improve the business.

7) Consultation and advice-reviewing-record and completed plan activities.