Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW

03/09/2026

The paperwork piles up, the spreadsheet gets outdated, "I'll do it after cropping/shearing/harvest" becomes the excuse. Sound familiar?

Tocal's Plan to Profit course is a chance to change that - 12 weeks, built around your own farm data, so instead of dreading the numbers, you start using them.

You'll cover:
🔹 Gross margins, cost of production and the key ratios banks look at
🔹 A monthly cash flow, plus ways to lift profit or cut debt
🔹 "What if" scenario planning — drought, growth, buying the neighbour's farm
🔹 A 3–5 year business plan

Delivered by Mike Krause and Tony Hudson, two of Australia's most respected names in farm business advice, with confidential 1:1 coaching alongside group sessions. We recommend it for anyone wanting a firmer grip on the numbers.

Fee-free for eligible applicants - worth checking if you qualify. Details and registration: tocal.nsw.edu.au/courses/short-courses/agskilled/plan-to-profit

And if the numbers feel daunting, or you're not sure where to start, that's what your local rural financial counsellor is for. Free, confidential and independent. 1800 319 458 | rfcsnsw.org.au

01/09/2026

First day of spring, and the countdown to Henty Machinery Field Days is officially on!

Behind the scenes, our southern team is already getting ready - Scott, Rhianna, Daniel, Angela, Leanne, Mariné and Jillian will be at Block A, Site 14c from 22–24 September.

Our rural financial counsellors know rural life, because most have lived it, and they'll be there for a chat about whatever's on your mind, whether that's cashflow, a loan, succession planning or just working out where to start. It's free, confidential and independent.

Come find us on site - you might have the best conversation you've had all month.
📍 Block A, Site 14c | 🗓️ 22–24 September – 👋see you then!

31/08/2026

Our latest newsletter is out, and it's full of good ones.

👉A CEO update fresh from the National Bush Summit.
👉A family council tip from a Rabobank succession session that's already changed how one local family talks about the future.
👉A look at some of the ag tech options worth exploring on farm right now.
👉From the Riverina Wool and Sheep Expo in Conargo, a chat with the second-ever financial counsellor in Australia - still showing up, still believing in the work, decades on.
👉There's also a case study on the phone call that changed everything for one farming family, handy tips for your next conversation with the bank, and a few pointers for setting your business up for the new financial year.
👉Plus plenty more ag news, events and opportunities from across the region.

Read the full edition here: https://rfcsnsw.org.au/news/newsletter-august-2026
Subscribe here www.rfcsnsw.org.au

27/08/2026

Danielle Tuckwell, one of our rural financial counsellors, headed to the Women's Fi****ms Safety Workshop at Mendooran Clay Target Club to get across the new fi****ms laws firsthand and build her own knowledge of firearm safety and handling.

The event was hosted by Three Rivers Landcare Dunedoo Coolah Mendooran, funded through the NSW Landcare Enabling Program - supporting local initiatives that build knowledge and connection within farming communities.

26 women came along to learn firearm safety and handling from three experienced local shooters, in what's traditionally a male-dominated sport. Many left feeling far more confident.

Important for farming families:
👉 from 2 November, licensees possessing fi****ms for primary production will be limited to 10 fi****ms
👉 licences will renew every 2 years instead of 5

Worth checking in on how this affects your farm: https://www.nsw.gov.au/legal-and-justice/gun-buyback

27/08/2026

Don't miss this one - a key event on the calendar for the Merino industry 👇
We'll have our rural financial counsellor Vicki Hall there on the day - if you're heading along for the stud displays, wool fashion or the AWI Runway Showcase, swing by and say g'day.

It's a good opportunity to chat about reviewing the year that's been and planning for the financial year ahead, or anything else on your mind. Free, confidential and independent support.

The SWSSMB Field Day is shaping up to be something special!

Join us on 1 September for a full program of stud displays, wool fashion, machinery, technology, judging events, and the always‑popular AWI Runway Showcase.

It’s a day that brings our Merino community together — breeders, producers, families, and industry partners.

We can’t wait to welcome you.

27/08/2026

Central West based rural financial counsellor Danielle Davenport wanted to know exactly what Farms of the Future's agtech resources actually offer farmers - so she went and did the Fundamentals course herself, in Molong last week.

Her takeaway: the Agtech Toolbox and Academy is genuinely easy to use, and worth a proper look. Her advice if you're curious but not sure where to start: set aside an afternoon, have a browse, and build a simple shopping list. Weigh the costs against your cashflow, work out your ROI, and start folding the tech that makes sense into your business plan - whether that's for safety, efficiency or a better work/life balance.

It wasn't a hard sell either. The room started with some sceptical, but by the afternoon farmers were genuinely engaged, working through their own tech plans and seeing the practical value first-hand.

Worth knowing too: the $1000 SafeWork small business rebate covers eligible items like ag drones, so there's real support available to help get started. https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/1000-safework-small-business-rebate

And if you're not sure where agtech fits into your own farm's numbers, that's exactly the kind of thing your rural financial counsellor can help you work through - free, confidential and independent.

👉 rfcsnsw.org.au | 1800 319 458

26/08/2026

Danielle Tuckwell, one of our rural financial counsellors, went along to the Growing Success: Farm Business Planning Essentials workshop in Dubbo to see firsthand what it offers and how it could help clients working through their own business planning.

Her big takeaway: most farmers already have a business plan - it's just living in their head, not on paper. Writing it down means everyone in the business, partners and family included, is clear on the direction things are heading.

The workshop was delivered by Ben and Brooke Watts of Bralca and attendees took home the DPIRD Ag Guide. Couldn't make it to Dubbo? The course runs online 7–21 October with more courses like it here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/nswfbrp

Starting a plan from scratch or updating one for succession? Rural financial counsellors can help farm businesses work through business planning - free, confidential and independent. 👉 rfcsnsw.org.au | 1800 319 458

25/08/2026

Don’t miss this opportunity 👇

Financial Decision Making: A practical workshop for livestock producers

Join us for a practical half-day workshop to help you make confident financial decisions.

You’ll cover:

Livestock gross margins
Cash flow when margins are tight
“What if?” scenarios for price, production and costs
Decision trigger points — knowing when to act
Practical ways to manage risk and plan ahead

Dubbo - Western Plains Cultural Centre - 76 Wingewarra St, Dubbo
Tuesday 1 September | 9.30am–2.30pm
Morning tea and lunch provided
Free to attend

👉 Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/financial-decision-making-dubbo

NSW Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded by the NSW Government and the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

25/08/2026

🌏 It’s National Biosecurity Week and this year’s campaign steps up the call for action - reaching beyond government to everyday Australians.

Biosecurity isn’t just for farmers or people in hazmat suits - it’s about protecting our environment, food supply, economy, and lifestyle.

Biosecurity action is simple, practical, and powerful:
🥾 Clean your shoes before visiting farms, parks or nature reserves.
🐛 Report anything unusual such as pests, diseases, weeds, or animals.
📚 Take a few minutes to learn how biosecurity protects your community.

If you want to know more, you can explore the free National Biosecurity Training Hub - https://bit.ly/461eMPe

Visit the NSW Government's website for more information https://bit.ly/41izAz7

☎️ Still have questions? Our team is available on 1300 795 299.

25/08/2026

Some welcome rain on a farm near Corowa this week, caught on camera. 🌧️

Did you spot the ants working overtime on the gauge? Old bush wisdom reckons they always know before we do.

Follow-up falls like this across parts of southern and central NSW will bring some comfort for crops, pastures and livestock heading into the warmer months, with rain fairly frequent in some areas over the past few weeks.

We know it's a different picture in some parts of the state where dry conditions are still very much front of mind. Here's hoping for more timely and widespread rain in the weeks ahead.

How much have you had in your area? Let us know in the comments, and we'd love to see a pic of your rain gauge too, modern or inventive.