February 2026 Edition
February in agriculture is never quiet and this one is feeling particularly full.
It began with the delivery of my first masterclass for the year, then moved into GRDC Updates and the GPSA awards dinner. Early in the month we also celebrated Nigel’s uncle being inducted into the Port Adelaide Hall of Fame. From there it flowed into a tour of Thomas Foods International at Murray Bridge, an export hay session in the Mid North, a joint workshop with Southern Farming Systems in Macarthur, farm visits, and AgCelerate workshops.
And the month is not over yet.
Over the past few weeks I have been in very different environments, however, there is commonality between them all. This is: the people and businesses operating in these spaces are serious about performance. They think beyond the immediate season and don't make significant decisions in isolation.
Across research, processing, grower groups and family farming businesses, direction is shaped by decisions. Those decisions compound.
As we move further into 2026, this newsletter will continue to evolve. The decisions I am working on in my own business, alongside my AgCelerate clients and partner deliverers in workshops, are increasingly focused on 2030 and beyond. There is a defined horizon that influences every decision and they are all centered around profitability and sustainability.
If we fast forward to 2030, are the decisions you are making now strengthen your long term business position?
Or are they simply helping you move through what feels urgent?
My flagship program AgCelerate exists for this reason. It is a structured decision-making framework designed to ensure that significant business decisions align with long-term strategy. It forces clarity around assumptions, it tests financial consequences and it introduces disciplined accountability so leaders are not left carrying pressure alone.
As you read this month’s Chronicle, I challenge you to ask yourself: are the decisions on your desk (or in your head) aligned with where you want your business to be by 2030 and beyond?
Because February will pass and the direction you choose will shape what 2030 looks like.
Enjoy the February Chronicle.
AgCelerate MASTERCLAS: STOP REACTING. START EXECUTIING
Reflections from our first masterclass of 2026.
PODCAST RECOMMENDATION
DairyPod Podcast by Dairy Australia
PROJECT UPDATE: FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE
Workshops for the Roadside Weeds project are locked in!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” – Will Rogers
UPCOMING AGCELERATE WORKSHOPS
Details of upcoming South Australian, face-to-face financial literacy workshops I’m delivering in February and March
VICTORIAN DROUGHT SUPPORT
Clear thinking for your farm business when it matters most
WOW YOUR BANKER
Helping you put your best foot forward
AgCelerate Masterclass: Stop Reacting. Start Executing.
Reflections from our first masterclass of 2026
During the last week of January, I delivered our first masterclass of the year: Stop Reacting. Start Executing. With over 130 people registered, one thing stood out almost immediately: the majority of participants did not have a written business plan (when surveyed during the session). Of those who did, most had never shared it with anyone else involved in the business.
That falls in line with what I see across the industry. Farming businesses are complex, and strategy often lives in someone's head rather than on paper.
But when strategy stays in your head, decisions become heavier.
The strongest businesses I work with are not necessarily the largest or the ones having the best season. They are the ones who pause, articulate their vision, and act with intent rather than urgency.
The purpose of the masterclass was to create clarity. To give business owners a framework they can lean on when the season gets busy again. The masterclass gave people a starting point. Our flagship program AgCelerate takes it further, revisiting the plan regularly and testing decisions against it.
That discipline of stepping back, even briefly, can change the trajectory of a year.
We will be running quarterly masterclasses throughout 2026. If you would like to be invited to the next one, simply hit reply and we will add your name to the list.
Podcast Recommendation
DairyPod Podcast by Dairy Australia
Stay up to date with the latest in Australian dairy.
DairyPod shares practical tips, expert insights, and stories from dairy farmers, covering productivity, herd management, and industry trends - perfect for anyone working in or connected to the sector.
Project Update: From Both Sides of the Fence
Workshops are now locked in for early March. They will provide a practical forum for landholders, council staff and
Landscape Board representatives to discuss what best practice roadside weed management looks like in the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsula regions, and how greater alignment and collaboration
can be achieved in practice.
Workshop details are below, including registrations links:
Fleurieu:
Farmer focused workshop: Monday 2 March 2026, 2:30pm-5:30pm, Strathalbyn Racing Club, 164 Dry Plains Rd, Strathalbyn, SA. Register here.
Landscape board focused: Tuesday 3 March 2026, 9:30am-12:30pm, Strathalbyn Racing Club, 164 Dry Plains Rd, Strathalbyn, SA. Register here.
Yorke Peninsula:
Farmer focused workshop: Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:30am-2:30pm, Minlaton District Community & Sports Centre, Lot 279 West Tce, Minlaton, SA. Register here.
Landscape board focused: Thursday 12 March 2026 10:00am-1:00pm, NYLB Kadina Office, 35 Frances Tce, Kadina, SA. Register here.
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
“The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” – Will Rogers
Farming is full of uncertainty. Weather, markets, machinery, and livestock can all test even the most experienced operators.
Yet it is optimism that keeps farmers moving forward - planning the next season, taking calculated risks, and trusting that effort today will pay off tomorrow.
A positive outlook doesn’t ignore challenges; it equips you to tackle them with resilience, creativity, and determination.
Upcoming AgCelerate Workshops
I wanted to share details of upcoming South Australian, face-to-face financial literacy workshops I’m delivering over the coming weeks.
Running a farming business in 2026 requires clear financial understanding and confident decision making. Rising input costs, increasing machinery expenses and seasonal variability mean that being across your numbers is more important than ever.
These one-day workshops are designed to support farmers and business partners to strengthen financial literacy, improve cashflow understanding, and make better-informed decisions within their business. The style and approach of these sessions is very much aligned with the Stop Reacting. Start Executing masterclass I facilitated recently, just with more time and space to go deeper into the numbers and practical application.
Upcoming workshops
Jamestown
Friday 20 February (8:45am to 3:30pm)
Full-day financial literacy workshop
Register here.
Strathalbyn
Wednesday 18 March (8:45am to 3:30pm)
Full-day financial literacy workshop
Register here.
Robertstown
Thursday 26 March
Details TBC
On the day, participants will work through the financial information that underpins their operation, with a strong focus on:
Cashflow budgeting and timing
Debt and working capital considerations
Understanding how current decisions impact future outcomes
Improving internal business conversations around the numbers
These sessions are designed to be practical and relative to farming businesses in South Australia. This is not a theoretical workshop. You’ll work with tools and templates that can be taken away and used directly in your business.
The workshops are particularly valuable for farming partners and family members who want greater clarity around the numbers and more confidence when making financial decisions together.
If you’d like to talk through whether one of these workshops is the right fit for you or your business, don't hesitate to send me an email via the link below.
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 6 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 below.
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!