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1. Startup Stories ONLINE

Want to hear a great yarn from a successful young farmers AND NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUCH? Well now you can, because Future Farmers Network's Startup Stories is heading online! 

While our Startup Stories series of events supported by Young Farmer Business Program haven't been able to head out across NSW for the past few months, we've still got so many great yarns to share with you! 

Our very first ONLINE Startup Stories is coming to your screen on Monday 18 May 2020. Cudal mixed-farmers Tim & Lou Carroll will share their warts-and-all story about getting going, and keeping going, in agriculture. Tim is the immediate past-chair of the NSW Young Farmers Council and still sits on the group, as well as being a 2019 NSW Young Farmer of the Year Finalist. 

How do you get involved? CLICK HERE to register, make sure the snacks are stocked, and settle in to chat with the Carrolls, and other like-minded young farmers online on Monday 18 May 2020 at 6.30pm. See you there! 

2. Mentor of the Month Episode 6

EPISODE 6 HAS LANDED!

Our guest this month is Aline Teixeira, the Managing Director Agribusiness at FTI Consulting based out of Brisbane. She has more than eleven years experience in corporate finance transactions and over 15 years commercial experience. Aline has extensive experience in management of the planning and control functions of medium and large enterprises. She also has experience in working through complex investigations and due diligence analysis in various industries, primarily focused on agribusiness, but also including mining, retail and manufacturing.

Working across Australia and Latin America, Aline specialises in advising clients around business transformation and operation performance reviews including financial modelling and cash flow analysis. She has worked extensively on advisory projects and transactions within the beef, horticulture, broad-acre cropping, and a number of sectors of the agribusiness supply chain. Aline owns and operates an Arabica coffee and beef cattle farm business in Brazil, where she is responsible for overseeing all operations of the business and complying with regulatory obligations. Aline is a qualified veterinarian and a CPA. 

Listen HERE! 

3. FFN Community Survey NOW OPEN! 

WE NEED YOU! Future Farmers Network (FFN) has released its annual survey to understand what the gaps and concerns are for young agriculture students and professionals around Australia. CHECK IT OUT HERE!

It will only take a few minutes, and FFN will use the information to better provide the services YOU need!  

FFN’s mission is connect, empower, support and retain young people in Australian agriculture. In support of this, FFN must understand the ever-changing issues and concerns for members as well as the areas that need further support. This survey aims to; 
  • Define the FFN community and explore how they operate in the industry
  • Confirm the requirements of the FFN community are being adequately serviced by FFN
  • Capture the challenges faced by the FFN community and how they can be supported in facing those challenge
 
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY! And go into the draw to win a FFN Prize Pack, including a FREE annual membership. 

Thank you for taking the time to help us support the future of agriculture and rural industries in Australia.

Special thanks to FFN Partner Central Queensland University for supporting this survey. 

4. WoolPoll Review 2020 

Woolgrowers and other key wool industry stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute their ideas to improve the WoolPoll voting mechanism. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment's WoolPoll Review invites woolgrowers to have their say in response to a discussion paper. 

WoolPoll is the three-yearly vote of all wool levy payers, conducted by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), through which the industry decides on its levy rate for investment by AWI in research and development and marketing. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is delivering a review of WoolPoll in 2020, to ensure it remains an appropriate and contemporary process that provides robust assurance about what wool levy payers want their levy rate to be.

Australia’s 60,000 wool producers contribute $4.3 billion in Australian wool exports a year. The wool levy raises around $60 million to be spent on wool industry research and development, marketing and other services each year. EY’s 2018 review of AWI’s performance and governance identified opportunities to improve the way WoolPoll operates, and recommended an independent assessment of the WoolPoll mechanism.

The submissions period will be open until 29 May 2020 and will be followed by targeted virtual consultation conducted by the department in May and June 2020.

Have your say on the WoolPoll Review discussion paper here

5. Strategies to stay calm: Sunsuper 

COVID-19 has created a level of uncertainty around the future of work for many people across multiple industries. This uncertainty is having a significant mental health impact with 1 in 3 calls to Beyond Blue’s mental health line currently coronavirus-related .

Not knowing when you’ll next find work, if you’ll be able to reopen your doors and having to stand-down staff is incredibly stressful at any time. Not knowing what the future holds and whether work may dry up is increasing the mental load on employees and business owners alike.

While it can feel extremely stressful and exhausting having so many unknowns – there are few strategies you can incorporate to help you stay focused and get on top of the things.

Focus on what you can control
While you may be used to planning months or even years ahead, shifting your focus to the immediate future in terms of days and weeks means you can be more responsive to information as it unfolds and your ability to prioritise. This also gives your brain the space to focus on the key priorities around you more effectively.

  • Stop your mind from running ahead to all the ‘what-ifs’ that may never happen, and instead try to deal with those things that are fact-based or require immediate attention
  • Focus on the things that you can do each day, no matter how small. It will help you to re-energise if you tick off small easily achievable goals as you work towards bigger, seemingly insurmountable tasks
  • Keep a calm and practical approach to day-to-day activities as much as possible – this will help you to conserve your mental energy and emotional wellbeing
Prioritise your mental health
You will be far more effective in supporting yourself and those around you, if you’re feeling mentally strong. As the saying goes, ‘put your own oxygen mask on first and then help others’. The National Mental Health Commission has come together with mental health organisations, experts and leaders to launch #InThisTogether – a national conversation that everyone can join in on, sharing practical tips online. Here are some of their recommendations:
  • Get sweaty – exercise is great for your mental health
  • Take breaks when you need them
  • Routine helps – create a new daily routine
  • Follow the facts – pause the scrolling
  • Financial stress is real – talk about it

Help each other
While we are keeping physically distant, it is more important than ever that we remain socially and emotionally connected.
Sometimes it can help to talk to someone about these frustrations. That might be with your partner or a friend, your GP, or calling a support service to talk through your worries. Consider getting involved with volunteer organisations or charities who are providing services to people who need them most right now. We know that people have a remarkable way of pulling together through tough times and if we focus on looking out for one another, we will get to the other side of this.

Be patient with yourself
Do whatever it is that helps you to get some perspective and start to put the stress behind you. Be patient with yourself and remember it’s okay to take some time to work through things.
Remember, this will not last forever
While this has been and will continue to be stressful period, it doesn't mean we are all going to walk out of this period with poor mental health. But it does mean we need to be more conscious about our efforts to support and protect our bodies and minds during this difficult time.

Stay informed
There are so many helpful resources out there to support us through this tough time. Sifting through them can be overwhelming, so sticking to a few reputable resources can help to simplify things.
Below are excellent online resources that will prove helpful during times of uncertainty, so that you can make the best decisions.

If you’re a Sunsuper member and are experiencing financial concerns and want to know more about early access to super, take a moment to visit Sunsuper’s dedicated page at sunsuper.com.au/covid19 or call us on 13 11 84                                                                                   
Disclaimer: This article has been prepared and issued by Sunsuper Pty Ltd ABN 88 010 720 840, AFSL No. 228975, the Trustee and issuer of the Sunsuper Superannuation Fund ABN 98 503 137 921. Sunsuper is not a mental health service or employee wellbeing consultant and does not provide clinical advice or professional services. We’ve put this information together as general information only and as such it doesn’t take into account your organisation’s objectives, situation or needs, or those of your employees.  You should get professional advice before relying on this information.

Job of the Week
Crop Care Technician | Flavorite Hydroponic Tomatoes | Warragul, Vic

Flavorite is Australia's premier grower and marketer of flavoursome vine-ripened, glasshouse grown produce which is stocked in major supermarkets across Australia and overseas.  Established in 1994, Flavorite is a family owned business that maintains its competitive edge through constant innovation.   The farm is in Warragul, which is ideally situated in the Gippsland food bowl and currently covers more than 32 hectares of protected under cover cropping, employing up to 350 employees. Flavorite is undergoing a high level of growth and is looking for interested people to join our Crop Care team.

Duties will involve:
  • Truss Pruning - Selecting the best fruit to achieve optimal truss production
  • Twisting - Training the plants to grow up the string supports
  • Layering - Lowering the plants for picking and de-leafing
  • De-leafing - Removing leaves to improve the growth of the plants and to make the next harvesting truss visible.
  • Other duties such as arch supports, crop spraying, and identifying crop pests and diseases where required.
To see a demonstration of each of these duties, visit our You Tube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/FlavoriteHydroponics

Core capabilities of successful candidates:
  • Able to follow instruction
  • Reliable and motivated
  • Good level of fitness
  • Strong team work abilities
  • High attention to detail
 
These full time ongoing positions represent core roles that are integral to Flavorite’s continued success. Previous experience in the horticulture sector is desirable, but not essential as successful applicants will be provided with intensive training to understand the quality and performance standards required. For more information or to apply, click here.

 
Until next week… 
Future Farmers Network

 
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FFN are proudly supported by the following partners:
 
Gold Bayer, Sunsuper
Silver CQU
Bronze CSU, Nuffield AustraliaRuralBiz Training
Partner     Meat & Livestock Australia, Seftons

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