We’re excited to have launched the Good Farm Planning Hub, a bespoke online platform developed by farmers, for farmers, to help improve farm business, productivity and sustainability through good planning. Farmers will be able to get involved through attending talks, local events, reading online resources, or participating in relevant workshops.

The goal of this project is to support and encourage farmers to have their farm’s future plan written down and stored in one place, so that staff, family, industry regulators and farmers can all have clarity on the farm's objectives and requirements.

There have recently been significant changes in external requirements for farmers, so the Good Farm Planning Hub has been created to help farmers understand what is required, why it’s important and how it can benefit them and their business. The idea is that with a good understanding and a strong plan in place, farmers will have the direction they need to achieve their own farm goals. Good Farm will support them to develop this plan.

We have different types of farmers who are at different stages within their planning and business, so we’re trying to offer different areas of focus for everyone to reach a wide range of support, no matter where a farmer might be in their journey.

Good Farm offers three levels of information tailored to farmers at different stages of planning:

• Why Plan? This section introduces the importance of having a long-term goal for your farm, and provides guidance on developing a general business plan, including financial planning. It serves as a starting point to help you figure out your objectives, and getting it down on paper so you can strategise the path forward. It emphasises the benefits of documenting your plan and sharing it with family, staff and regulators, to facilitate collaboration and support.

• What do you need to know? Designed for those seeking clear advice on meeting government regulations, this section helps navigate regulatory challenges. Spending time developing a plan, only to find endless red tape once you put it into action, is costly, time-consuming, and doesn’t make for a happy farmer. Independent farming advisors provide practical advice on current regulations, ensuring compliance and peace of mind.

• Plan with Purpose! For farmers already engaged in planning and keen to stay ahead, this section offers insights into staying ahead in farming amidst changing societal, environmental and regulatory pressures. TCC collaborates with experts to develop solutions and ideas for integrated farm planning.

We hope this project will help farmers improve their businesses, overall wellbeing, and also help our industry move forward together in a positive way. Good Farm is run by TCC and funded by MPI’s Integrated Farm Planning Accelerator Fund.

We are thrilled to be launching a project that is tailored specifically to Taranaki farmers, and know there will be many positives to come from it. For more information, farmers can visit www.goodfarm.nz or stay updated on project developments through their catchment social media pages and coordinators. Stay tuned for further updates on our Facebook account!