Farm management planning tactics

Step 1: Assess your approach to risk

Consider your personal approach to risk in business, every individual has a different approach. As part of this process identify and measure the extent of the risk, evaluate risk management alternatives and tailor the risk advice according to the risk level that you are comfortable with. attitude. The risk of frost can often drive conservative farming practices, which should be carefully and regularly reviewed in light of the latest research.

Step 2: Assess your on-farm frost risk

Carefully consider the risk of your property incurring frosts due to the location. Use historic seasonal records and forecasts. Spatial variability (topography and soil type) across the landscape should also be considered as cold air will flow into lower regions. Temperature monitoring equipment, such as Tiny Tags, iButtons and weather stations can determine temperature variability across the landscape.

Step 3: Diversify the business

A range of enterprise options should be considered as part of a farm management plan to spread financial risk in the event of frost damage. This is subject to the location of the business and skillset of the manager but the largest financial losses with frost have occurred where growers have a limited range of enterprises or crop types. Intensive cropping systems especially focused only on canola and spring wheat are often at the mercy of frost, more than a diversified business as both crops are highly susceptible to frost damage.

Read the Managing frost risk tips and tactics fact sheet for more information.