Small farmers new to the region, or those just starting out farming, will now have access to a supportive year-long program designed to help them get the best results from their land.
AgriFutures Victorian 2018 Rural Woman of the Year, Melissa Joy (formerly Melissa Connors), has teamed up with Cultivate Farms to design a program to help new farmers avoid costly mistakes and enjoy their farming experience.
The ‘Regenerator’ farm management program includes four consulting sessions with specialist farm advisors, social events, monthly workshops with like-minded farmers and specialists, and field trips to working farms to meet people who have already established successful farms in the region.
By the end of the year, participants will have written a farm plan that is specific to their own farm vision. The farm plan will ensure that the slice of land is giving the owner the satisfaction they dreamt of.
Melissa learnt through her own experience how costly mistakes could be when starting out on a larger property.
“I was so excited about living on acreage, but I didn’t really know what I was in for. I thought it would just be a ‘bigger’ suburban block, but there’s so much more to it than that,” she said.
At the end of the series, new farmers will understand the detail of their property and make strong connections with people in their community who can support their successful farm lifestyle.
“Whether you have five acres, or 500, there will be something in this program that everyone can learn from. Plus the supportive environment will help you make friends and connections with others in your local community with similar experiences,” Melissa said.
Cultivate Farms works to connect good people with good farms to produce good food in Australia. Their network of farm advisors, with a focus on regenerative farming and good soil health, walks new farmers through a series of steps to help them identify their goals for their farm and lifestyle.
Over the course of the ‘Regenerator’ program, new farmers learn how to write their own farm plan, put together a financial business plan for their farm, minimise risks, and ensure that their farm is sustainable in the long term.
