RFCS NSW October Newsletter
CEO update
On Monday we finally recorded some decent rainfall across our region - 20mm in Wagga Wagga, 14.8mm in Coonamble, 14.4mm in Orange and 10.2mm in Deniliquin for example. This will provide some pasture relief after another month of below average rainfall and hotter than average temperatures across most parts of the state. We now have about half the state affected by dry or drought conditions. This is mainly across the state’s east with the Hunter and Southeast regions most affected. Fortunately, some decent rain is forecast over the next two months, so conditions are expected to improve.
Unfortunately, the forecast improvement in seasonal conditions is offset by the Australian Bureau of Statistics announcement on Wednesday that the Consumer Price Index rose to 4.3% for the 12 months to September 2026. This is the second increase in consecutive months, reversing a four-month downward trend from a 4.6% peak in March 2026. This validates that the ‘cost of living crisis’ continues and the prospect of a further interest rate increase next Tuesday is highly likely.
Last Friday the federal Minister for Agriculture announced an extension of the RFCS program for a further five years (from 1 July 2027) using the existing service providers and regions. This is welcome news for our organisation as it will see our well-established counsellors and stakeholder partnerships continue over the period. A link to the Minister’s announcement can be found here.
Preparations are well advanced for our annual staff conference to be held in Dubbo from 10-12 November. The feature of this year’s conference is the engagement of KLR Marketing. They will be teaching our Rural Financial Counsellors’ strategies to increase profit from buying and selling livestock. This will provide our counsellors with more options for presentation and discussion with their livestock clients in the future. Each year we change the location of our conference to ensure we connect with as many parts of our service region as possible.
The theme for this newsletter is maintaining health and wellbeing. Stress, anxiety and depression are common issues we see with our clients. Improving the finances helps but it needs to be complemented by other strategies for effective management. Exercise, sleep, responsible alcohol consumption, positive social environment and self-esteem and adequate support services are also important. Reaching out to someone who is struggling goes a long way.
Smart moves in tight times
Tight margins and patchy seasons are a reality, but more farmers are adapting and making early, well-planned decisions. That was a key message from the Southern NSW Innovation Hub’s latest Understanding Producer Pressures roundtable. The series started last year and brings together government and key stakeholders to build a shared picture of what producers are facing and line up support. RFCS NSW is one of the stakeholders sharing insights from the ground, with CEO Craig Hough and rural financial counsellor Scott Boyle taking part in the latest session.
Your farm runs on you, so who’s looking after the operator?
Between harvest, spring shearing and weaner sales, it’s easy to put yourself last on the to-do list. At recent Farming Stronger workshops in Bega, Braidwood and Cooma, our rural financial counsellors heard a clear message: how you’re going has a direct effect on how your business performs. Clare, Nikki and Bonnie share what they took away, along with some small, practical steps to help you stay clear-headed through the busy weeks ahead.
ANFD - the word’s getting out
Over three days at this year’s Australian National Field Days, our team had hundreds of conversations with everyone from farmers and stakeholders to curious students. On Saturday, the busiest day, families stopped by to ask how we could help their business. Current clients dropped in with updates, and some past clients said they’d like to re-engage. The students asked thoughtful questions about what we do, and some of them were from farms themselves.
A question Danielle and Olivia heard over and over started with “asking for a friend who’s a farmer”, and it came alongside farmers’ partners coming in to take the first step for their family. We also saw a clear rise in other service providers seeking us out to work together. It’s great to see the word about the RFCS is out there, among farmers and across the wider network of people who support them.
Showing up for Barham
It was great to get behind the Barham Community & Industry Expo again this year, and to be there for local farmers in their own community. Rural financial counsellor Justin Luckel found plenty of interest in how we can help with business planning, cashflow, loans, government assistance and succession, all free, confidential and independent. Around 300 locals came along to see what’s on their doorstep with about 40 stallholders taking part, from ag groups like Hay Inc, Elders, Western Murray Land Improvement Group, Murray Dairy and Murray Hemp to local services, businesses and schools.
Less driving, more doing
How many hours a week go into driving out to check a trough? At recent DPIRD agtech events in Yanco and Young, our rural financial counsellors Leanne Bode, Justin Luckel and Vicki Hall saw tools at every price point that can cut labour and travel and help you make better calls on production.
Worth a look:
- Water and soil monitoring: check troughs, tanks and soil moisture from an app (Sentek probes were demoed at Yanco)
- Livestock: virtual fencing (eShepherd), in-paddock weighing (Optiweigh) and saliva testing for sheep worms
- Planning: the free Farming Forecaster tool from Local Land Services
- Safety: SafeWork NSW’s $1,000 safety rebate can help cover safety upgrades
The first hurdle: connectivity. Before you buy anything, map out where you need coverage, which options suit your country and who needs to be involved. NSW DPIRD’s free agtech training program is a good place to start. Thinking about investing in agtech? Have a chat with your local rural financial counsellor about how it fits your budget and business goals.
From pig sheds to paddock trials
From pig sheds to crop trials, rural financial counsellor Marine Morton has been keeping across the latest research to share with farming clients. At NSW Farmers’ Pork Industry Update late last month, research showed that older weaning lifts piglet survival and lifetime growth. Other topics included managing gestational diabetes through diet, cutting cost of production, the new PigPass 2.0 movement app to trace movements, and the pork committee’s work on mandatory country of origin labelling. Interesting fact: Did you know pork’s share of the meat market rises from 12.5pc to 15pc over Christmas? At Wallendbeen, FAR Australia opened its NSW Crop Technology Centre for field walks and the latest results from its variety trials, along with talks on disease management, nutrition and crop phenology.
Season snapshot, and support on hand
It’s a mixed bag across NSW this spring according to the latest NSW DPIRD Seasonal Update, with good outlooks for the far west and parts of the Central West, Murray and Riverina. But a dry September has deepened drought further north, in parts of the Central Tablelands and on the south coast, while the Griffith and Tumut areas also remain Drought Affected. The NSW DPIRD forecast to 31 December expects this pattern to hold, although several regions should ease.
If you’re facing drought conditions, these tools and resources can help:
- Drought tools and resources: Drought in NSW
- Feeding during dry times: Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator
- Confinement feeding: A guide to confinement feeding sheep and cattle in NSW
- Confinement feeding: A-Z confinement feeding webinar Part 1
- Confinement feeding: A-Z confinement feeding webinar Part 2
- Feeding livestock: Feeding livestock in drought, flood or fire
- Free feed tests: Feed testing
- Free water tests: Water quality testing
- Calculating dry matter: comms.lls.nsw.gov.au
- Monitor seasonal conditions: Farm Tracker app
- Financial assistance: NSW Rural Assistance Authority
- Financial assistance: Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW
- Mental health support: Rural Adversity Mental Health Program
Benchmark your farm business
How does this season really stack up against previous years? Local Land Services is inviting livestock producers to join the Farm Business Monitor Project. Participants will receive a confidential, individualised report comparing their production and economic performance over time. That kind of report can back on-farm decisions and support a loan application. You’ll provide a financial year’s income, costs, livestock and cropping details, and assets and liabilities. For more info, contact Ross Kuchel, Senior Ag Advisor, LLS, at
Pruned back, not out
Forty years ago, wine pioneer Juliet Cullen discovered Tumbarumba had a climate much like Burgundy’s, and helped build a wine region on it. She was one of the first women in the area to own and run a vineyard, growing super-premium pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc and sangiovese. But after the region’s driest autumn on record in 2025, followed by a dry winter and summer heatwaves, Juliet lost 40pc of her production and reached out to the RFCS NSW. Her local rural financial counsellor knew which Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) loan fit her situation and worked through the application with her step by step. Juliet is now replanting and on track to lift production by more than 30pc. She says it was a relief to work with people who understood farming, and encourages other producers to talk to their local RFCS about whether a RIC loan could help. If dry times are hitting your cashflow, we can help you find the right support. Free, confidential and independent - 1800 319 458 | rfcsnsw.org.au
National Ag Day coming up
Every meal, every piece of clothing and every thriving country town starts with agriculture, yet many Australians know little about the people behind it. This year’s National Agriculture Day theme, Our Farmers, Our Future, puts those people in the spotlight: the ones growing our food and fibre, caring for the land and keeping regional communities going. Join us in thanking and celebrating our farmers. Find or register an event, grab some Ag Day merch, and join the conversation with #AgDayAU.
4 NOV | CSIRO Advancing Farm Productivity Seminar (online)
Hear the latest CSIRO research on lifting farm productivity with Biopesticides in this one-hour online session, 2–3pm AEDT. Open to farmers, advisers and anyone working in agriculture. Register here.
4–25 NOV | Lunch & Learn: Farm Finance Beyond the Basics (online)
Use your lunch break to take your farm finance know-how to the next level. Register here.
6 NOV – 8 DEC | H5 Bird Flu Biosecurity sessions
Get prepared and protect your flock with practical biosecurity advice for poultry producers.
- 6 Nov, pastured poultry (online): Register
- 13 Nov, shedded poultry (online): Register
- 8 Dec, Cowra (in person): Register
7–8 NOV | Two-Day Advanced Drone Course
Take your drone skills further with two days of advanced, hands-on training. Register here.
10–24 NOV | Growing Success: Farm Business Planning Essentials
Get the building blocks of a solid farm business plan in place. Run online, with in-person sessions in Blayney and Cumnock.
12 NOV | Over the Gate 26: Livestock Producers Forum, Goulburn
A one-day forum for sheep and cattle producers, bringing together industry experts, market insights and practical on-farm knowledge. Register here.
26 NOV | AI in Agribusiness: From Hype to Action (online)
Cut through the hype and find practical ways AI can work in your business. Register here.
NOV | Native Vegetation Mapping On Your Land: NSW Farmers sessions
The Native Vegetation Regulatory Map has applied to rural NSW farmland since 31 August, and many landholders are still working out what it means for their place. NSW Farmers’ information sessions will help you. Find one near you.
NOV | What’s on in your LLS patch
Field days, workshops and training from Local Land Services across NSW. See events here.
FEB 2027 | Plan to Profit (online course)
Learn to read the financial story of your business: what’s actually making money, how to manage risk, and how to answer the “what-if” questions that matter most. Designed by agribusiness adviser Mike Krause (P2PAgri) and delivered with Tony Hudson, former Director of Farm Business Management at Marcus Oldham College. Strong interest is expected, so register early. Register here.
ANYTIME | Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training (online)
Need certification to control feral pigs, rabbits, wild dogs or foxes with restricted pesticides like 1080, Pindone, RHDV or PAPP? This upgraded online course gives you five years of certification. Register here.
ANYTIME | Natural Capital Course (online)
A free course on understanding the value of natural capital, and how to capture and grow it on your property. Register here.
Inland Rail Community Grants Program
Round 4 of $1,000–$4,000 grants open for community-led projects, events or activities along the Inland Rail route that support local prosperity, wellbeing and sustainability. Apply here.
CSIRO Kick-Start
Got an R&D idea but need support to move it forward? CSIRO Kick-Start pairs businesses with CSIRO experts and offers dollar-matched funding of $10,000–$50,000 to investigate challenges, refine concepts and move ideas closer to market. Apply anytime.
2027 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship
$5,000 annual bursaries, industry work placements, professional development and networking for undergraduates in agriculture-aligned degrees, across their final two years of study. Applications close Friday 13 November. Apply here.
Women on Agricultural Boards 2027
Ready to take a seat at the table? Australian Women in Agriculture’s WOAB program builds skilled, confident and connected women for boards across Australian agriculture, through governance training, mentoring, networking and industry connections. It suits everyone from emerging leaders to women actively seeking board roles. Applications close 15 November. Apply here.