August 2026 Edition
Hello there!
Welcome to the August edition of the Cross Country Chronicle!
Spring is rapidly approaching and, for many, the season is progressing well. But that's certainly not the story everywhere. Some are dealing with too much rain, while others remain firmly in drought conditions. Wherever the season has you at the moment, we're here to support you through the challenges and decisions that come with running a farming business.
The past few weeks have had me on the road, delivering Know Your Numbers workshops in Temora and Harden, working with clients, and attending the WoTL conference in Bendigo. I continue to invest in professional development and networks because what I learn and who I meet feeds back into the work I do with clients and across the industry.
One thing these conversations continue to reinforce is that businesses don't flourish by accident.
We need to know where we're heading, understand the numbers that matter and stay curious about the tools that can help us run our businesses better.
Right now, one of those tools is AI.
As business owners and managers, we're often time poor but curious. I see AI as another tool in our toolkit. We don't need to use it for everything, but there is a real opportunity to understand what it can do, how to use it appropriately and where it can genuinely make running a farming or agricultural business easier.
It's an area I'm passionate about, and I'm seeing the opportunities continue to expand. That's also why the first module in the new AgCelerate Academy is the AgCelerate AI Sprint, starting Monday 17 August.
There's plenty happening as August progresses. Whatever the next few months hold for your business, keep asking questions, stay across your numbers and don't be afraid to explore the tools that might help.
Enjoy the August Chronicle.
BLOG - AUGUST
Benchmarking is a tool, not a scorecard
CASUAL EMPLOYMENT IN 2026: TIME FOR A CHECK IN?
Now is a good time to check that your casual employment arrangements still reflect how those employees actually work
PODCAST RECOMMENDATION
AgWatchers - hosted by Andrew Whitelaw and Matt Dalgleish
PROJECT UPDATE: FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE
The true cost of roadside weeds
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin
THE AGCELERATE AI SPRINT STARTS 17 AUGUST
A 6-week programme designed specifically for farming businesses and owner-operated businesses servicing agriculture
WOW YOUR BANKER
Helping you put your best foot forward
Blog - August
Benchmarking is a tool, not a scorecard
Farmers are handed benchmarks for all sorts of things: cost of production, gross margin, return on assets, equity, operating costs, yield and stocking rates.
And the instinct when a figure lands in front of you is almost always the same. Am I above or below the benchmark? It's a natural question, and it's rarely the most useful one.
Casual Employment in 2026: Time for a Check-In?
If you employ casual staff, now is a good time to check that your employment arrangements still reflect how those employees actually work.
Under the Employee Choice pathway, eligible casual employees can request to move to permanent employment if they believe they no longer meet the definition of a casual employee.
It’s worth reviewing work patterns, expectations around ongoing work, casual loading and whether the required Casual Employment Information Statements have been provided. A quick compliance check can help ensure your paperwork and employment arrangements match what’s actually happening in the workplace.
For more information, visit the South Australian Business Chamber website here.
Podcast Recommendation
AgWatchers
Hosted by Andrew Whitelaw and Matt Dalgleish, AgWatchers combines agricultural commodity and market updates with interviews from across the ag supply chain. It tackles serious industry and business topics in a relaxed, light-hearted way, making it an informative but easy listen for anyone involved in Australian agriculture.
Project Update: From Both Sides of the Fence
The true cost of roadside weeds
When we think about the cost of weeds, the herbicide bill is often the first thing that comes to mind. But through this project, conversations with councils, landholders, contractors and government agencies are highlighting just how much further those costs extend.
Established weeds cost Australian agricultural producers over $4 billion each year through control costs, lost production and reduced carrying capacity. But there are also costs that are harder to measure. A missed control window can mean more seed, larger infestations and a much bigger job next season. Resistant weeds that survive today can also make future control more difficult and expensive.
Roadside weeds don't recognise property boundaries. Seed can move through wind, water, machinery and vehicles, turning a roadside infestation into an on-farm problem, or vice versa. That's why early intervention and coordination are so important.
One of the clearest messages from the project's workshops has been the value of better communication. Landholders want earlier information about roadside control works, while councils want emerging weed pressure flagged before it becomes a bigger problem. Sometimes improving outcomes can start with something as simple as an earlier conversation.
Ultimately, roadside weed management isn't just about protecting your own patch. The cost of weeds - and the cost of doing nothing - is often shared across farms, roadsides and the wider community. Acting early gives us the best chance of preventing today's small patch from becoming tomorrow's much bigger problem.
To stay up to date with this project and other CCM activities, visit our website or follow us on social media. You can find more information about this project here.
Quote of the Month
“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin
Good ideas and intentions are important, but it’s what we do with them that makes the difference.
In farming and business, progress comes from following through -making the decision, having the conversation, improving the process or simply getting the job done. Often, it’s consistent action rather than big promises that delivers the strongest results over time.
WOW Your Banker
Annual review season is rapidly approaching. Imagine having your information prepared and feeling in charge of the next conversation you have with your bank manager, wouldn't it be nice to 'wow' them?
Our 'wow your banker' service is designed to do exactly that. Book a discovery call today and know you will be walking in with confidence, presenting your numbers clearly, and secure the financial backing you need.
Get yourself set up for success now - book a discovery call with Paige!
Thanks for joining us again this month. As always, if there is anything we can help you with, or something you would like to see featured in next month's chronicle, please reach out. We'd love to hear from you!
Paige & Elise