In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David sits down with Clare Hamilton to talk about what can change when the farm office becomes more than a compliance job.

Clare has used Agrimaster for years, but for a long time it was mainly where the figures went so the books could be done, the BAS could be lodged and the accountant had what they needed.

That changed when Clare and Sam started investing more time into the business side of their numbers.

Clare shares how building budgets, using worksheets and running scenarios helped them move from a cashbook focus to a clearer understanding of cashflow, risk, finance and opportunity.

She talks through how this changed conversations with the bank, helped them make decisions faster, and gave them more confidence when looking at land purchases, livestock trading, machinery finance and seasonal changes.

Conversation about using the right tools properly, backing yourself in the farm office, and turning your numbers into something that helps run the business.

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Join us for a conversation with Fiona Best from Birchip Cropping Group, one of Australia’s leading farming systems groups based in north-west Victoria.

Founded by farmers in 1992, BCG began with a simple idea: farmers needed access to practical, locally relevant research in their own backyard. More than 30 years later, that same farmer-led approach continues to shape how the group connects research, industry and on-farm decision-making.

Fiona shares how farming systems groups help bridge the gap between science and practical adoption, making sure research is not only technically sound, but also useful, achievable and commercially sensible for growers.

We explore how BCG gathers ideas from farmers, works with researchers and industry, and turns local challenges into research projects, trials, extension and communication.

Fiona also talks about the future of agriculture, including ag tech, AI, Chat BCG, the next generation of farmers, and the important role farming systems groups play in keeping rural communities connected.

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In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David and Natalie look at the business side of farm succession, and why it often needs to start earlier than people think.

Preparing the next generation is not just about handing over assets. It is about helping them take on the books, understand the numbers and step into the business side with confidence.

Because handing over the office does not happen in one conversation. It takes time, trust and a proper apprenticeship, where the next generation learns how the books, budgets, cashflow, reports and financial decisions all fit together.

David and Natalie talk through how to bring the next generation into the office earlier, why they need to understand the value behind the data, and how small jobs like entering transactions, reviewing reports and preparing budgets can build the skills they will need later.

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© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Join us for a conversation with Nick Blomfield, a regenerative cattle producer from the New England Tablelands in New South Wales.

Nick runs 750 hectares of traprock country and has spent years rethinking how his farm produces grass, beef and carbon. What started as a search for a way out of declining pasture response and rising input pressure has reshaped the farm’s grazing system, income mix and long-term business outlook.

Nick shares how rotational grazing, ground cover and rest periods have changed the way his farm responds to rainfall, carries stock and builds resilience through dry seasons.

We explore how soil carbon fits into the business, why Nick sees it as the “cream on the top,” and what other graziers should consider before changing the way they manage pasture, inputs, and livestock.

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© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David and Natalie unpack the year-round farm office habits that make tax time much easier.

The end of the financial year is mainly about tax, reporting and getting your records ready for your accountant, but it is also a useful reminder of why clean records matter. The shortcuts that seem harmless during the year can quickly become cleanup jobs when reporting time arrives.

David and Natalie work through the practical jobs that help keep your farm office in order, from reconciliations and outstanding transactions to payroll checks, super reports, staff leave entitlements and business structure changes.

They also cover common issues like duplicated invoices, false reconciliations and messy outstanding entries, and why doing things properly the first time is one of the best ways to save stress later.

Join us for a conversation with Malinda Guest, a clinical psychologist from Narrabri with roots in farming, who now works closely with rural people, families and communities.

We explore what wellbeing looks like in rural life when the days are busy, the distances are long, and people can be both highly connected and deeply isolated at the same time.

Malinda shares why connection sits at the centre of how she thinks about rural wellbeing, from the simple value of a phone call or cup of tea to the importance of checking in before things become too heavy.

We explore the difference between healthy time alone and loneliness, why different generations often understand stress in different ways, and how families can start better conversations without making them feel forced or awkward.

Disclaimer

© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David sits down with Lisa Jeitz to unpack the hidden cost of using the wrong financial tools in a farm business.

Lisa is a grain grower from Esperance, a former agronomist and farm consultant, and host of the Farm Office Toolbox podcast, where she advocates for financial clarity and better systems in the farm office.

In this conversation, she shares what she learned from moving away from a farm-focused management accounting system, and why a tool that looks simple or cost-effective can quickly become expensive when it costs you time, reporting and confidence.

Join us as David and Lisa focus on the difference between basic transaction processing and real farm business reporting. They cover why the right tools need to support cashflow, budgets, volume tracking and timely decision-making, not just records for tax time.

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© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Join us for a conversation with Neri Roncucci, agronomist, PhD in carbon cycling, and manager of Tenuta di Mensanello, a 300-hectare multifunctional farm in the heart of Tuscany.

We explore how diversification has shaped a farming business that now includes arable crops, Sangiovese vineyards, olive groves, free-range pigs, a restaurant, agritourism accommodation, truffle hunting, cooking classes and other farm experiences.

Neri shares why diversification sits at the centre of how he thinks about resilience, from the financial security of multiple income streams to the climate resilience that comes from healthier soils and less reliance on industrial inputs.

We explore what global supply chain volatility means for farm businesses, why soil health is a long-term strategy rather than just an environmental goal, and what it has been like for Neri to return from academia to a working farm.

He also reflects on farming under the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy, and how agritourism is helping reconnect people with food, farming and the places that produce it.

A global perspective on farming, and a reminder that the fundamentals of resilience look remarkably similar no matter where in the world you farm.

Tenuta di Mensanello: https://www.tenutadimensanello.it/

Disclaimer

© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Engine Room mini-series, David and Natalie tackle one of the most pressing deadlines hitting Australian farm businesses in the new financial year: Payday Super. 

As of the 1st of July, every time you run a pay run, you'll be required to submit superannuation on the same day, with funds hitting your Super Clearing House within seven days or fines will apply. On top of that, the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) is closing on the 30th of June, meaning every farm business still using the service will need to find a new provider.

Join us as David and Natalie focus on the practical side of payroll management for your farm office. They cover how to communicate pay rhythm changes to staff and why cash flow management for small business and farm business owners needs to be updated in your budgets before harvest season hits.

Find resources for Payday Super and End of Financial Year (EOFY) below:

Visit the ATO’s website - Payday Super

View our free guides - Payday Super & Wages Guides

Read our blog - Payday Super: What’s changing for farmers in 2026

Watch our help video - Introducing Payday Super – What You Need to Know (Wagemaster / WageEasy)

Get personalised support - End of Financial Year (EOFY) package

Have something you’d like Natalie and David to discuss on the podcast? Or someone you’d love to hear from as a guest?

Email us at [email protected] or fill out the form and let us know!

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© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Join us for a conversation with John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid, the organisation established during the 2015 drought that now supports more than 18,500 producers across Australia.

In this conversation, we explore the full picture of what recovery looks like after a disaster, from the floods in Northwest Queensland and the bushfires in Victoria earlier this year, to the slow and relentless grind that continues long after the cameras have gone. John highlights mental health and wellbeing as agriculture’s constant challenge, and how Rural Aid’s counsellors, many with agricultural backgrounds, are working to close that gap.

We also get into the role of connection in shrinking rural communities, what volunteers bring beyond physical work, and why initiatives like agritourism and community days are having more impact than many realise.

A practical and honest look at the parts of farming life that are rarely discussed, and why reaching out can make all the difference.

Rural Aid: 1300 327 624 | ruralaid.org.au

Disclaimer

© 2026 Master Group (Aust.) Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.