December 2025 Edition
December always seems to arrive faster than expected. One minute we are deep in harvest and the next we are juggling Christmas plans, end of year logistics, and wondering if we have actually stopped long enough to take stock.
Across much of the country, it has been a year of mixed emotions. There has been relief, fatigue, problem solving on repeat, and plenty of moments that stretched all of us. There has also been progress, new opportunities, and a quiet sense of pride in what has been built and carried through another year.
As we reach the final chapter of 2025, I find myself incredibly grateful. To the clients who joined us this year. To the long term clients who continue to trust us with their businesses. To those who attended workshops, reached out for support, shared a win, or worked alongside us through challenges. Thank you for coming on the journey with us. It has been a big year, with no shortage of curveballs, and walking alongside you has been a privilege.
December is also a good time to pause, even briefly, and lift your head to the horizon. The work you do now, in the paddock and on paper, sets the tone for what comes next. The next year. The next plan. The next opportunity to build on what you have learnt.
Wherever December finds you, whether you are still harvesting, finalising your books, preparing for family time, or finally catching your breath, I hope this edition of The Chronicle brings perspective, appreciation, and a reminder that steady progress is what truly moves a business forward.
From all of us at Cross Country Management, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a successful 2026.
Enjoy the December Chronicle.
DECEMBER BLOG
Closing out 2025 and looking ahead to a new year, some friends of CCM reflect on 2025 in our last blog for the year
PODCAST RECOMMENDATION
The Regenerative Journey (Charlie Arnott)
PROJECT UPDATE: FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE
The Roadside Weeds project is full steam ahead!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man.” - George Washington
VICTORIAN DROUGHT SUPPORT
Clear thinking for your farm business when it matters most
WHAT DOES LANDMAN HAVE IN COMMON WITH AUSTRALIAN AG?
Farmers may relate more to Landman than you’d expect
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CCM?
Follow us around the world!
WOW YOUR BANKER
Helping you put your best foot forward
December Blog
Closing out 2025 and looking ahead to a new year.
As we approach the end of the year, I’ve been thinking about what 2025 has meant for me, my clients, and for our broader agricultural community.
Curious about how others were feeling, I reached out to a handful of colleagues, clients, and industry partners and asked them about the year we’ve had and the year ahead.
Their responses were thoughtful, honest, and full of the practical wisdom that comes from lived experience. Here’s what surfaced.
Podcast Recommendation
The Regenerative Journey with Charlie Arnott
A popular Aussie podcast exploring regenerative farming, mindset, land care, and personal growth. Great for producers interested in sustainability and long-term farming resilience.
Project Update: From Both Sides of the Fence
Seed collection is well underway. We have now collected ryegrass and sow thistle seeds from five sites across the Yorke Peninsula, with three ryegrass collections still to be completed on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Workshop dates for the Fleurieu Peninsula are locked in. If you know an interested farmer, council worker or councillor, or a representative from the Landscape Board who would like to be involved, please get in touch and we will send them the invitation.
As summer progresses, we will also be on the lookout for flaxleaf fleabane and Feathertop Rhodes grass. Your observations and local knowledge are always appreciated, so please reach out if you come across either species.
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
“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man" - George Washington
Farming has always been rooted in purpose - feeding communities, caring for the land, and sustaining rural life. But alongside the passion and tradition, agriculture is also a business. Rising costs, changing markets, labour challenges, and unpredictable weather mean that farmers today juggle more complexity than ever before.
That’s why careful management matters. Understanding your numbers, planning ahead, managing risks, and having strong systems in place helps build resilience through every season. Washington's words remind us that while farming is noble work, long-term success comes from treating it as both a calling and a business.
What does Landman have in common with Australian Ag?
It's been a long time since I binge watched a TV series, but this one has been responsible for quite a few late nights in our house recently.
The new series Landman, set in the oil fields of Midland, Texas, is full of risk, grit, and big decisions, and while drilling for oil might seem far removed from running a farm, the parallels are hard to miss. Just like the oilmen gamble on what lies beneath the ground, farmers gamble on the weather, the seasons, and commodity markets. Both industries work with forces they can’t control, yet carry the full responsibility for the outcome.
Whether it’s choosing when to drill or when to plant, both oil operators and farmers need strong planning, resilience, and the courage to make decisions with imperfect information. Landman is a reminder that success in high-risk industries comes from a mix of strategy, instinct, and the ability to adapt - qualities that farmers rely on every single day.
Victorian Drought Support
While conditions across much of Victoria are beginning to improve, the legacy of the past two seasons is still being felt, particularly with cashflow. For many, the question of what comes next is still front of mind.
Through Agriculture Victoria’s drought support program, eligible farmers can access up to 4 hours of 1:1 support with me at no cost. This is your chance to sit down with me, pressure test ideas, build cashflow scenarios, and make clear, considered decisions for your farm business.
Book your 1:1 session with me here 👇
Where in the World is CCM?
Last month's "Where in the World" found CCM visiting Minlaton in South Australia.
See if you can find us this month!
Here are your clues...
1. This location is home to one of the largest concentrations of agricultural and plant science researchers in the Southern Hemisphere, a true hub for all things food, wine, and sustainable agriculture.
2. You’ll find a historic sandstone mansion here, built in the early 1900s, now sitting at the heart of a campus surrounded by vineyards, experimental fields, and leafy walking paths.
3. From wheat breeding to wine innovation, this place is famous for groundbreaking research that helps feed and ‘water’ the world -literally!
WOW Your Banker
Walking into a bank meeting unprepared can be stressful. If you don’t have a clear cash flow plan, you risk tough questions, delays, or even missed funding opportunities. And with the season ahead, now is the time to get on the front foot.
Our Wow Your Banker service helps you take control - so you can walk in with confidence, present your numbers clearly, and secure the financial backing you need.
Get yourself set up for success now - book a discovery call with Paige!