Building confidence in financial decision making is key to running a resilient and profitable farm business.
B+LNZ is inviting Expressions of Interest from farmers in Wairarapa or Tararua to join a Financial Management Focus Group focused on understanding bank requirements, managing business risk, and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
What is a Focus Group?
A Focus Group is a small group of farmers who come together around a shared topic to drive meaningful, practical change in their farm businesses. Focus Groups are topic focused and outcomes driven, designed to support real on farm improvements rather than theory alone. Groups meet regularly over one to two years and are limited in size to ensure everyone can actively participate and gain value from the discussions.
Why join this Focus Group?
By joining this Focus Group, you will:
- Build confidence in financial decision making and conversations with your bank
- Gain a stronger understanding of your farm financials, including profit and loss, balance sheets and cashflow
- Strengthen your ability to manage risk and plan for uncertainty
- Develop practical budgeting, forecasting and benchmarking skills
- Learn alongside other motivated farmers facing similar challenges
- Hear from experienced facilitators and subject matter experts
- Apply practical tools and insights directly to your own business
- Build trusted relationships with like minded farmers
The programme is designed to help you move confidently towards your goals while improving the profitability and resilience of your farming business.
Financial Management Focus Group overview
This Financial Management Focus Group consists of eight workshops delivered over two years. The programme has been designed & run by B+LNZ Extension Manager Lesley Coppell, drawing on more than 20 years of banking experience. The content focuses on what farmers need to know to confidently engage with banks and key stakeholders, understand their financial position, and make informed decisions in a changing and uncertain operating environment.
Workshop topics
While the programme is structured, the content remains flexible to reflect the needs of the group. Planned workshops include:
- Understanding your financials, KPIs and benchmarking
- Budgeting and forecasting for farmers
- Livestock flows, cashflows and variance analysis
- Improving business efficiency and using AgTech effectively
- Banking 101 including interest rates, debt structuring and alternative capital
- Identifying and managing business risk
- Farm investment strategies and opportunity analysis
- Long term financial planning and succession
Most sessions are expected to fit between school hours where possible.
Programme requirements
Participants will be expected to:
- Actively participate and commit to agreed actions
- Share a small amount of financial and performance data
- Share learning and experiences with the group
The programme is funded by the B+LNZ Levy. Participant costs are limited to travel only.
Who should apply?
This Focus Group is suited to farmers who:
- Are actively working on a sheep and beef or grazing stock property
- Can commit to attending all Focus Group sessions (except where unavoidable circumstances arise)
- Are open to learning new skills
- Want to better understand what drives strong financial and production outcomes
Places are limited.
Register your interest today to take the next step towards a stronger, more resilient farm business.