EVENTS
Collaborative farming in focus Can we work together? That’s the biggest question growers need to consider when going into business with someone else, according to collaborative farming innovator and advocate John Gladigau. John delivered this advice, discussing the benefits and challenges of farmer collaboration, as part of Dried Fruits Australia’s new event series, We’re Growing Live. Online events were held across the month of October, taking the place of DFA’s traditional grower forum. Growers also heard from GrowCare’s Peter Magarey on DFA’s new downy and powdery mildew alert system; processors Sunbeam Foods, Australian Premium Dried Fruits and Murray River Organics on the 2020 harvest; and Rachael McClintock from Sheehan Genetics on new dried grape varieties. The presentations are now available to watch on the DFA YouTube channel.
Farming’s “sexiest” topic John likely holds the record for the most speaking engagements of
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any Nuffield scholar in at least the last decade. Thirteen years after he travelled the world on a scholarship from Nuffield Australia, looking at some of the best collaborative businesses, people still want to know about it. “Collaboration is still a really sexy topic, but it’s one thing to talk about it and another to take the big step do it,” he said. “We believe it’s been well worth it, and others who’ve done it would say the same, but it’s the perception of what you’re giving up – the perception that you’re giving up your freedom, your independence and your flexibility. “But the things people believe constrain us or see as negatives, we’d actually say are the biggest positives – we have created more flexibility and freedom for ourselves.” It’s been 12 years since John and his wife Bronwyn, in partnership with Robin and Rebecca Schaefer, formed Bulla Burra – a collaborative family farm in Loxton and Alawoona, South Australia. They are now cropping about 8500 hectares annually, with a legume and cereal focus.
John said the key drivers for creating Bulla Burra were economics and efficiency. However, looking back now, he said it’s the people and relationships that stand out as the biggest benefits. “Setting up the right collaborative model gives you great potential to increase efficiency and profitability,” John said. “It also allows you to work in areas of the business that you’re passionate about. Within a collaborative business, you can be involved in the area where you add the most value. For me, that’s the marketing, the finance, the people side. Whereas for Robin, it’s the practical side – he likes to be out in the soil every day. “Robin and I also have our weekends back, we take four weeks of annual leave, and don’t tend to work public holidays. It’s up to the business to ensure everything gets done.” John said the business also shared its decision making, so the burden of creating strategies and dealing with day-to-day decisions and emotional issues doesn’t rest on one person or one family.
