Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW

09/09/2026

Some of RFCS NSW's best conversations start while someone's kicking the tyres on the latest header at a field day - a passing comment turns into a chat, and a five-minute conversation can be the start of something that changes everything.

Our southern team will be at Henty Machinery Field Days, Block A, Site 14c, from 22–24 September. No appointment, no pressure - just someone to talk it through with, whether that's the numbers behind the business, a loan or bank relationship, succession planning, or simply where to start.

Last financial year, RFCs attended more than 460 outreach events including Henty and helped 834 clients:
👉276 came away with a clearer understanding of their financial position
👉166 accessed support they may not have otherwise found
👉161 are now implementing changes to lift profitability
👉104 reported improved financial and business skills and competence

It often starts with a conversation just like the one you could have at Henty. It's free, confidential and independent. Read more about what's involved: https://bit.ly/3SRyPMc

Catch you at Henty!

09/09/2026

You've had a soil test done. But do you actually know what to do with the results?

That's exactly why South East Local Land Services is running the Five Easy Steps workshop series. Over three sessions, you'll learn how to:
👉correctly collect soil samples
👉read and interpret soil test results
👉plan fertiliser use with confidence
👉make informed fertiliser and livestock investment decisions
👉support pasture growth and farm productivity

It's free, includes 2 soil tests per farm business, and places are limited - running in Bega, Yass and the Goulburn/Southern Highlands region. Day 1 kicks off Monday 21 September 2026 so hurry and register here: https://events.humanitix.com/five-easy-steps-sept-2026

09/09/2026

Cutting fuel and power costs is on every farmer's mind. Join RE-Alliance's free webinar tomorrow 12–1pm for learn about alternatives, with lessons from farmers who've already made the switch.

What are the best electrification options for your farm or rural or regional business?

📣 Find out in our webinar next week!

Hear from experts about different electrification options: their benefits and challenges. Then, hear first-hand from people who have electrified their own businesses.

You'll hear from:
⚡ Karin Stark, Narromine farmer and Director of Farm Renewables Consulting
⚡ Andrew Chamberlin, sustainability expert and Director at Limebranch
⚡ Peter Mulheron, fourth-generation Swan Marsh dairy farmer who's installed a microgrid.

📆 Thursday 10 September
⏰ 12-1PM AEST
RSVP via link in comments.

Farmers for Climate Action

08/09/2026

For the last six years, rams from across the country have been pivotal to determining what makes a better lamb. 🐑

Our RFC Dan Brown headed to the Bowan Park Poll Dorset Research Flock sire evaluation field day at Cudal last week, and later sat down with Ruth Klingner from Poll Dorsets, one of the driving forces behind the project.

The research measures on-farm growth, muscle and fat, right through to carcase yield and eating quality. The 2026 cohort drew on the 16 sires via AI, with joined ewes and lambs run in a controlled environment at Bowan Park, set up by the Klingners specifically for the project.

The results are looking strong - genuine, data-backed insights for prime lamb producers making breeding decisions.

Ruth gives a big thanks to the University of Sydney and University of New England, Meat & Livestock Australia, Gundagai Meat Processors, industry bodies, sponsor companies and the Poll Dorset studs who supported the research.

🎥 Full interview on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/nuBR_LhwAj8

🐑 Ridgehaven's ram sale is coming up next Thursday 10 September - keep an eye on ridgehaven.net.au for details

03/09/2026

Friday knock-off, and the boss has clocked on. 🐾

Meet Winston - self-appointed Supervisor of All Ute-Related Activities. Paws up, tongue out, keeping a close eye on the paddocks to make sure everyone's doing it right.

Hope your week wraps up as happily as Winston's does. Have a great weekend, everyone! 🚜🐾

03/09/2026

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Australian agriculture?

For us, it's the farming families and businesses right here in regional NSW, growing the food on our tables and the fibre on our backs. That's over 25,000 farming, forestry and fishing businesses and close to 33,000 people across southern and central NSW, worth an estimated $12.1 billion in production value, according to ABARES.

Which is why this National Ag Day’s theme - Our Farmers, Our Future – seems fitting.

There are plenty of ways to get involved too: plan and register an event, enter the photo & video comp, or grab your Ag Day merch. Head to agday.org.au to for more info.

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 College - RTO 91166’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
🔹 And more.

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 fi***rm 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 fi***rm 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