Farmers and farm managers boosted their “boss skills” at a workshop in Tamworth on Tuesday.
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About 10 people went along to hear about managing and hiring employees, record-keeping and award updates.
And information on succession planning was was particularly well-received, according to both an organiser and a participant.
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NSW Farmers Industrial Relations manager Gracia Kusuma said one of the key points at the event, held at the Tamworth Hotel, was that succession planning “has to be done way in advance”.
“It’s not an inheritance but rather a transfer of business from one generation to another, so they really need to do it during life, and it requires a lot of communication between family members, to clarify expectations and how to get there.”
Duri farmer Rachel McRae said it was “always good to hear information about succession planning, and it reinforces ... that we have to keep thinking about this”.
She and husband Phil have Angus cattle, Dohne ewes and broadacre crops on a total of almost 5500 acres.
They have two employees, one of whom is their eldest daughter.
“I think my husband’s family showed us how not to do succession,” Mrs McRae said.
“The whole thing fell apart; there was no communication and it all got very unpleasant.
“Luckily he had a bit of land in his name, so we sold that and bought again.”
However, Mrs McRae said that the advice to start planning early was difficult in practice, when they had another two daughters who may or may not wish to return to the farm in the future.
“They say start early, but … there’s nearly a point where it seems to be too early, trying to put things in place that might change.”
Mrs Kusuma’s presentation focused on employment-related matters such as workplace relations, industrial award obligations and changes, and tips to manage difficult employees.
There was information about superannuation products and services, as well as Single Touch Payroll, a reporting change for some employers that starts on July 1.
They say start early, but … there’s nearly a point where it seems to be too early.
- Rachel McRae
Mrs Kusuma said questions that arose during the workshop were the difference between contractors and employees, and and the obligations from the farming business to the two different groups.