New Farmers Resources

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Assistance, grants and tenders
"grants and financial assistance programmes to Australian businesses and individuals to help boost productivity and exports."

A GUIDE TO ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMEMT:
"Acknowledging there is a wide diversity for the reasons why people choose to live on the NSW North Coast and the criteria people use to select an enterprise, there are still three basic criteria to address before starting out in any commercial agricultural pursuit -
1. Check the suitability of your land (a resource audit) -

Including soil, aspect, slope, access to water, frost risk, etc. Remember don’t grow a particular crop just because it will grow well on your land.
Most importantly.........
2. Research your markets -
Visit major markets, speak to consumers, retailers and agents, gather market information from market reporting services, speak to other growers, industry organisations, exporters, processors, etc. Remember beware the DFO (data free observation).
3. Prepare a business plan -
A business plan should answer the following questions:
1. What resources are available? - $, (establishment and on-going), land,
infrastructure (harvesting, transport, processing etc) skills, labour and time.

What are your personal and business objectives? - the balance between lifestyle, off-farm employment and the requirements of the enterprise.
What are the market prospects? - prices, quantities, target markets, growth potential.
What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the enterprise? - investigate local government, Environmental Protection Authority, Land and Water Conservation, National Parks and Wildlife Service, legal requirements.

5. What human resources are required? - personnel, skills and training.

SELECTING HORTICULTURAL CROPS ON THE NORTH COAST
(CLARENCE to the TWEED)

NSW Department of Industry: www.industry.nsw.gov.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries - Water: www.water.nsw.gov.au
NSW Department of Primary Industries - Land and Natural Resources: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/lands
Seasonal Conditions Reports (NSW Department of Primary Industries)
Bureau of Meteorology: www.bom.gov.au
Local Land Services: www.lls.nsw.gov.au
NSW Office of Environment & Heritage: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
Water NSW: www.waternsw.com.au
Department of Agriculture: www.agriculture.gov.au
Centrelink: www.humanservices.gov.au
NSW Fair Trading (services and support for people and businesses experiencing financial hardship): www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Using_credit/Dealing_with_financial_stress.page

Rural Financial Counselling Services (RFCS)

NSW Central Region: www.rfcscr.com.au
NSW Southern Region: www.rfcsnsw-sr.com.au
NSW Northern Region: www.rfcsnsw-northernregion.org