RFCS NSW August Newsletter

 

CEO update

Like most businesses, we are well into the reporting season. Our annual organisational report, financial audit and program reports are just about finalised. These will be presented to our members and Board at our Annual General Meeting and Board meeting on 17 September 2026 in Wagga Wagga for approval and public release. I'll provide a highlights summary in the next newsletter.

There was some very welcome rain across a large section of our region this week. I was in Orange on Tuesday and Wednesday where we received around 36mm. Given we had 12mm in Cooma, 26mm in Wagga Wagga, 9mm in Hay, 18mm in Condobolin and 17mm in Walgett, it appears Orange was a bit of an epicentre for this widespread event. The rainfall event continues a pattern of decent rainfall events every three weeks or so since March. What started out to be an uncertain and somewhat pessimistic outlook for the winter cropping season back in February is now looking far more positive.

On Thursday I was in Dubbo for the second day of the National Bush Summit. This annual event is all about critical analysis of the key policy issues in rural and regional Australia. That's why most sessions involved journalists questioning our senior elected representatives, bureaucrats and industry leaders on themes and topics.

From my observation the key policy issues were:

1. High waiting lists and staff shortages at regional hospitals including Dubbo and Orange.
2. Poor productivity achievement and regulatory burden across the economy.
3. Roll out of net zero policy including renewable energy zones and the different impacts it is having on landholders, rural communities, and food security.
4. Policy differences between the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government and other state governments, and the Productivity Commission on GST arrangements.
5. AI data centres and their impact on water and energy prices and availability for farmers and regional communities.
6. Disproportionate rate of youth suicide and road fatalities in the bush as compared to the cities.
7. Insufficient investment in water infrastructure including new dams and buybacks compromising drought mitigation and resilience.
8. The constant challenge of biosecurity – bird flu, varroa mite, locusts, feral animals like pigs, etc.
9. A need to challenge youth crime with more resources and innovative approaches like the drone trial in Moree.
10. Uncertainty about what the right rate and quality of immigration is but there is a high need for skilled migrants to operate regional businesses including farms.

These issues are being addressed at state and/or federal level to some extent. While there are differences between political parties on what those responses look like, everyone agrees on the value of bush, particularly our primary producers.

Speaking of skilled workers, that need isn't just about migration, it's also about training up the people already here. Earlier in the week, I attended a TAFE NSW workshop in Molong looking at the training needs of local businesses and communities and how TAFE can better support them. It's a good fit with our own goals at RFCS NSW too: helping build a more financially skilled and capable region, and making sure the value we add is recognised by the communities and agencies we work alongside.

 

Beyond the dinner table

One conversation from Rabobank's recent succession planning sessions in the Riverina has already changed how a local family talks about the future. Presenter Jim Benson's key piece of advice was setting up a family council - a structured, minuted process for discussing landholdings and business governance, kept separate from day-to-day management, which was noted with interest by RFCs Marine Morton, Rhianna Cameron and Scott Boyle. When Scott shared the idea with a client, it clicked instantly: the client's mother finally understood why one of her children always "arked up" whenever the last 500 acres came up at family gatherings. They're now planning a proper family meeting. Jim's throughline: succession conversations should start early and keep evolving as circumstances change; not wait for a birthday or Christmas lunch to surface old tensions.

Tech options, business plans, sorted

Two rural financial counsellors hit the road for DPIRD courses this month. In Molong, Danielle Davenport joined Agtech Fundamentals to see how the Farms of the Future toolbox and academy help farm businesses cut through the noise on technology choices. Her tip: build a shortlist, weigh it against cashflow, then fold decisions into the wider business plan. Danielle watched scepticism turn into genuine engagement once farmers started mapping their own properties and learning the $1000 SafeWork small business rebate, which covers items like ag drones, can help with the cost.

In Dubbo, Danielle Tuckwell went along to Growing Success: Farm Business Planning Essentials workshop and came back with a simple insight: most farmers already have a business plan, in their head - writing it down means everyone in the business, partners and family included, is clear on the direction things are heading - something our RFCs can help with. Attendees took home the DPIRD Ag Guide, and the course runs online 7–21 October for anyone who missed it.

Power to the paddock

Solar on the farm - worth it? Danielle Tuckwell went to the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference in Orange to find out, connecting with farmers, energy providers and industry experts navigating the shift. Her takeaways: solar pumps for water distribution and shed installs are moving the needle on power costs.

A case study from conference founder Karin Stark drove the point home. Her Narromine farm's solar-diesel pump saved $180,000 in diesel costs and cut emissions by 500 tonnes in year one - though drought exposed some reliability gaps. She's now adding a grid connection, expected to cut energy costs by 50pc and emissions by up to 60pc, while opening a new income stream selling renewable energy certificates. The upside is real, but as Karin found, the path isn't always straightforward.

Timely too: a new $1.4 million Smart Farming Program is opening soon for farmers in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, covering 70pc of eligible agtech costs (up to $35,000) including sensors, monitoring tools and connectivity devices, though an Agtech Fundamentals workshop is a prerequisite. If you're weighing up solar or another renewable investment, our rural financial counsellors can help you go through the numbers.

Easier than you'd think

Turns out making your own silo pressure gauge is easier than you'd think, as farmers found at a recent grain storage workshop at Cowra hosted by GRDC and the local LLS. It's a handy trick - checking silo sealant this way gives a good read on how effective a treatment is likely to be, since insect protectants only do their job if the pressure in the silo is right at the time of application.

GRDC's Chris Warrick covered storage options and the risks of chemicals like phosphine, recommending gas-detecting monitors when handling them. The key takeaway: temperature does most of the work. Above 40°C, seed damage sets in; below 15°C, most insects stop breeding and mould stops developing altogether. Correct aeration is often what keeps grain at its peak.

Rural financial counsellor Vicki Hall attended to build her own knowledge and found it genuinely useful - a good primer for anyone new to grain storage decisions. For farmers wanting to go deeper, and with harvest in mind, she recommends the GRDC Grownotes – Grain Storage (July 2024) – grab a copy here.

Rain, rams and reconnecting

At this year's Riverina Wool and Sheep Expo in Conargo, rural financial counsellor Angela Lonergan found herself chatting with a piece of RFCS history - the second-ever financial counsellor in Australia, now in his 90s, who stopped by to say the work still amazes him, decades on.

Angela and Justin Luckel returned to the expo, reconnecting with past clients along the way. Around 400 people came through the show grounds over six hours, with local stud breeders showing off their best rams and a local butcher drawing a crowd teaching the best way to cut their meat.

The sentiment carried through the day. One breeder, catching up with Angela at the end, came close to tears describing how invaluable RFCS support had been for him in the past. With the season's rain lifting spirits across the district, the mood was hopeful - a good reminder of what a conversation at a show can lead to.

The story farming families know too well

It's been a difficult few years for many Riverina farming families - bushfires, COVID-19, floods and, more recently, dry seasonal conditions have kept input costs high and steadily eroded profitability and serviceability. Recent rain across the region has brought welcome relief, but the forecast El Niño is front of mind for many. When things get hard, the instinct for some is to pull back and go it alone, which is exactly why the community screening of Just A Farmer was timely.

The award-winning Australian film follows a rural family through grief, silence and the weight of things left unsaid. RFCS NSW hosted the free screening thanks to local sponsors Community Bank Narrandera & District, Narrandera Shire Council, Auswild & Broad Accountants, Devlins Bridge Wind Farm, McGraths Estate Agents and Narrandera Bowling & Recreation Club.

The timing tracks with new data: the 2026 Norco National Farmer Wellbeing Report found 54pc of farmers have felt depressed or down in the past two years, and one in seven have experienced thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Seems the film's having a positive impact - audience surveys nationally found 91pc felt more comfortable discussing mental health afterwards, and 81pc said they'd be more likely to reach out for support if they needed it. Financial pressure and mental health are closely linked, which is exactly where our free, confidential and independent service can help.

(Pictured left to right: Guy Sadler of Bendigo Bank Narrandera, RFC Leanne Bode, Councillor Braydon Lyons, filmmaker Leila McDougall, Tallimba farmer Leanne Staniforth, Farm Gate Counsellor Christina Colwill, and RFC Rhianna Cameron)

Machinery and munitions

Two very different days on the road for Danielle Tuckwell this fortnight. At AgQuip in Gunnedah, Australia's largest field day, she joined western team leader Susan Kelly for the NSW Farmers/GRDC/DPIRD Growers Breakfast on nitrogen and crop disease management, then spent the day taking in the latest ag tech, machinery and industry contacts on show.

Then it was over to Mendooran, where Danielle joined 26 women at a Women's Firearms Safety Workshop hosted by Three Rivers Landcare (Dunedoo Coolah Mendooran) - building her own knowledge of firearm handling in what's traditionally a male-dominated space, with many participants leaving far more confident. Worth noting for farming families: from 2 November, primary production firearms licences will be capped at 10 firearms and will renew every two years instead of five. Worth checking out how it affects your farm.

Wentworth Show and other events: out and about roundup

Also out and about: Stephen Morris and Graeme Witte represented RFCS NSW at the Wentworth Show over the weekend - one of the first ag shows to kick off the show season.

Here's where you'll find our rural financial counsellors over the coming weeks - make sure you drop by and say hello.

• 1 SEPT: South West Slopes Stud Merino Breeders Field Day attended by Vicki Hall and Kerry Connor.
• 2 SEPT: CSIRO Boorowa Agricultural Research Station Open Day, also attended by Vicki.
• 3 SEPT: From Pest ID to Better Decisions at Parkes attended by Danielle Davenport.
• 3 SEPT: Feed, Forecast and Flock field day at Jindera attended by Jillian Boon.
• 8 SEPT: Financial Decision Making event at Blayney attended by Olivia Coulahan.
• 10–16 SEPT: Empowering Farmer workshops at Wilcannia (10th, Stephen Morris), Broken Hill (11th, Stephen Morris), Pooncarie (14th, Graeme Witte), and Hillston (16th, Leanne Bode)
• 15 SEPT: Financial Decision Making session at Bega attended by Bonnie Hayes.
• 19 SEPT: Ardlethan Show attended by Rhianna Cameron.
• 22–24 SEPT: Henty Machinery Field Days attended by the RFCS southern team.

 

Small sessions, real impact

Financial counsellor Fiona Barca recently ran financial literacy workshops for Mission Australia's Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Carer groups across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, as part of FCS NSW's broader community education program. She's also been asked to deliver workshops every eight weeks with a local Aboriginal women's refuge.

The sessions are hands-on: participants work through a mock budget, sort real spending into needs versus wants, and unpack their own money habits before moving into practical ground - prioritising bills, spotting spending leaks, and knowing how to approach a hardship team when a payment's fallen behind. Everyone leaves with a take-home budget template.

If you or someone you know is experiencing financial hardship, FCS NSW's free, confidential and independent counselling is there to help.

Say g'day, see what happens

A simple g'day and a five-minute chat with a rural financial counsellor at an event could be the best move you've made - just ask the many farming families who've gone on to see better outcomes with the help of their local RFC.

Last financial year, RFCs attended more than 460 outreach events across southern and central NSW, helping 834 clients with everything from rising debt to succession planning. Primary producers are often the last to ask for help, so rather than waiting for people to come through the door, RFCS NSW counsellors go to where farmers already are.

The call that changed everything

Richard and Jasmine Blundell knew what farming looked like before they took on a run-down inherited remote block in the Snowy Monaro. What they didn't expect was owing more than $1 million to family members, running stock on a high-cost livestock loan with no commercial bank relationship to fall back on, and watching a wet season deliver barber's pole worm to their flock while the sheep yards fell down around them.

They had a vision for the place. They just couldn't see a way to pay for it. Frustrated, and after hearing RFCS NSW was free and confidential, Jasmine called local counsellor Clare Boardman. That call changed everything.

Getting ready to negotiate

Falling behind on repayments doesn't have to mean facing your bank or lender alone, and how you go into that conversation can make all the difference. More farming families are turning to RFCS NSW for help with debt mediation, and a big part of that support is simply knowing how to prepare.

We've put together a free checklist covering the five steps to prepare for exactly this kind of conversation, from getting your numbers in order to knowing what to ask for. It's the difference between walking in on the back foot and walking in with a plan.

Show, don't just tell

Speaking of loans, did you know newspaper articles, photos of drought or flood impacts, and even your local BOM rainfall data can strengthen a RIC loan application? That was one of the standout tips from rural financial counsellors on a recent Get RIC Ready webinar. The assessor doesn't know your farm so it's up to you to paint the picture, and evidence is what makes it stick.

Worth gathering: BOM rainfall data, photos or articles documenting damage or losses, crop data sheets for high-yielding varieties, and a clear diagram of your business structure. A few more tips: be clear about the sequence of events behind your financial difficulty, loop your bank in early, and don't rush the application - draft it, step away for 24 hours, then review again.

Nine ways to set up the financial year

New financial year, fresh focus be it a business review, bank prep, succession planning or something else. If you want a clearer head start on where to start, this one's for you. Our Unlocking Success booklet walks through nine practical ways our rural financial counsellors support farmers across southern and central NSW, from spotting opportunities and building a solid plan, to succession, bank review prep, and knowing what to expect when negotiating with creditors. Download it at rfcsnsw.org.au, or grab a copy from a counsellor next time you see us out at an event.

A welcome tax bill

The $20,000 instant asset write-off is now permanent. New legislation recently passed Parliament, extending the write-off - good news for farm businesses planning equipment and machinery purchases with more certainty going forward.

Building biosecurity know-how

National Biosecurity Week (24–30 August) was a timely reminder to do our bit and get ahead of the next incident before it happens - from bird flu and varroa mite to locusts and feral pigs, biosecurity remains a constant challenge for the bush. The National Biosecurity Training Hub was set up in response to rising pressure on Australia's biosecurity system, bringing together online training to help build preparedness and response capability for animal, plant, aquatic and natural disaster incidents.

Bird flu - where things stand

As of the 31st, 418 positive events nationally, 16 in NSW (mostly south coast, two mid coast, one at Wentworth). While there's been recent confirmation of bird flu in a fur seal and red fox in SA, it has not been detected in any commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or other birds in Australia. The NSW Government is reminding poultry producers that on-farm biosecurity practices remain crucial to protecting their flocks. Public reporting is critical to the response – record and report sick or dead birds or animals to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Meet the predator drone

Did you know native birds cause an estimated $300 million in damage to Australian fruit and grain crops every year? A drone that mimics a predator is now being trialled as a humane way to keep them off crops.

20pc off solar cost for farm sheds

The federal government is broadening its rooftop solar subsidy scheme to bring in farms, warehouses and other large buildings. The change lifts the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme threshold from 100 kilowatts, meaning farmers can claim about 20pc off rooftop solar systems up to 1 megawatt from 1 October. Applications yet to open.

50 robots, one catalogue

Comparing farm robotics used to mean chasing specs from fifty different suppliers. The new VegMech Technology Catalogue fixes that, bringing together commercial specs, running costs and ROI estimates for more than 50 automated field solutions for vegetable growers worldwide.

Have your day on sheep and goat ID

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development wants to hear from you as part of the final review of the sheep and goat electronic identification (eID) program in NSW. A short survey is open now, covering the benefits, any issues you've run into, and how well the program is understood in your community or industry.

No signal? ACCC's looking into it

The ACCC has launched a 12-month inquiry into domestic mobile roaming - technology that would let phones automatically switch to another network if your own provider has no coverage where you are. Impacted by poor connectivity? Make a submission: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bushfire risk on the rise

Less rain, drier soils and higher fuel loads are lifting bushfire risk across parts of Australia this spring, with the AFAC Spring 2026 Seasonal Bushfire Outlook particularly flagging higher risk across northern and southeastern NSW. It's not a prediction of where fires will strike and everyone's encouraged to stay alert regardless of local risk rating. NSW's official bushfire danger period starts 1 October.

National Ag Day: Our farmers, our future

National Ag Day lands on 20 November this year, with the theme 'Our Farmers, Our Future' – a reminder to the nation that every meal, every fibre of clothing, every thriving community, is powered by agriculture. Running an event of your own? You can register it on the National Ag Day site to have it included. Merch (t-shirts, hats) is back in the online store, and there's a hashtag to get behind: #AgDayAU.

A farewell at 999,999 clicks

A west Victorian stock agent has retired his 2009 Toyota LandCruiser - deliberately parked 300 metres short of 1 million kilometres so the buyer gets the honour of clicking it over. Gary Driscoll averaged more than 180km a day driving to properties across the Wimmera, and the Horsham Toyota dealership reckons it's the most-serviced vehicle they've ever seen. It's gone to auction and no one's game to guess what happens to the odometer once it ticks past a million.

Upcoming events

8 SEPT | Producer Forum: Farming 2027 - Cowra
Join industry experts to unpack seasonal forecasts, sustainability trends, food security and emerging on-farm technologies shaping the year ahead. RSVP: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

9 SEPT | Spring Decisions That Drive Results Webinar
A timely look at the decisions that matter most heading into spring, to help set the season up for results. Register here.

14–15 SEPT | Drones in Ag and Farm Mapping Course - Bourke
A hands-on Tocal short course covering drone use for farm mapping, from the basics through to practical on-farm application. Register here.

14–15 SEPT | RAI Regions Rising National Summit
Regional Australia Institute's national gathering on the future of regional Australia - population, investment, infrastructure and the policy settings shaping regional communities. Register here.

16 SEPT | Measured Goats Field Day 2026 - Condobolin
A field day for goat producers covering measurement, management and marketing insights to lift productivity and returns. Register here.

16 SEPT | Mixed Farming Forum - Wellington
A Central West forum on cropping and livestock integration, helping mixed farming enterprises balance risk and returns. Register here.

17 SEPT | GRDC Farm Business Update Webinar - Busy Running the Farm to Creating Time for Building the Business
A practical session on stepping back from the day-to-day to focus on the bigger business decisions that drive long-term performance. Register here.

23 SEPT | Agtech Discovery Day - Trangie
See the latest agtech in action at this Central West field day, with hands-on demonstrations of tools and technology for the farm. Register here.

24 SEPT | RIC at Henty Machinery Field Days
The Regional Investment Corporation will be on the ground at Henty - catch RIC Agri Lending Manager Nick Garton's session on loan uses, eligibility and how to apply at the Country Lifestyle Pavilion, 10am. More on RIC events here.

25, 29 & 30 SEPT | Agtech Fundamentals - Crookwell, Euston & Balranald
Three more chances to get across Farms of the Future's agtech toolbox and academy, region by region. Register here.

1–22 OCT | Lunch and Learn: Farm Finance Beyond Basics - Online
A free lunchtime online series digging deeper into farm finance fundamentals, running through October. Register here.

Grants & opportunities

CRDC Grassroots Grants
Up to $10,000 for Cotton Grower Associations to fund capacity-building projects - grower engagement, regional issues, skills and networks. Opens annually 1 July, assessed first-come first-served, so move early. Review guidelines to apply. More info: 6792 4088 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Strengthening Rural Communities - Prepare & Recover
Grants up to $25,000 to help rural communities prepare for or recover from climate-related impacts. Closing 17 September 2026. Apply here.

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital
Funding for community-led projects in small, remote and very remote communities - grants up to $10,000, or up to $50,000 for larger leverage projects. Closing 17 September 2026. Apply here.

Safer Farms Ambassador Network
Know a young person passionate about agriculture? FarmSafe Australia wants future industry leaders to build hands-on experience and become farm safety advocates. Apply here.

2027 Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program - Applications Open
Backed by AgriFutures, this program builds leadership skills, confidence and networks for emerging rural leaders. Apply here.

Are Our Education Providers Setting Your Community Up for Success? Survey
Grandparent, parent or considering study yourself? Share your view on education in the regions. Take part.

Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training – Online
Want to control feral pests like pigs, rabbits, wild dogs or foxes on your property? In NSW you'll need certification to use restricted pesticides such as 1080, Pindone, RHDV, and PAPP. The upgraded online course provides five years of certification. Register here.

Natural Capital Course – Online
Enrol in this free online course to understand the value of natural capital, and how you can capture and increase it on your own property. Register here.

CSIRO Kick-Start
For many start-ups and SMEs, progressing an R&D idea can be challenging without the right support. CSIRO Kick-Start pairs businesses with CSIRO experts and offers dollar-matched funding of $10,000 to $50,000 to help investigate challenges, refine concepts and move ideas closer to market. Apply anytime.