Farms and families

I spent the weekend in North East Victoria and the issue of farms and succession was raised in realtion to the next generation and, obviously, the drought and the longer term prospects for family farms.

I am starting to see an increasing theme of the older generation selling off sections of the property to fund their retiremnt and thereby reducing the inability of the next generation to work a sustainable holding for future income and wealth creation. In one example, 800 acres where sold to a blue gum tree investor. Now I can see that any other offer for more land to plant trees will very tempting. As this happens the overall carrying capacity is diminished and the son who is managemnt the farm will also have to consider his future.

The other issue is the tobacco farming community in the King Valley. The industry is closing down, much of the land is not suitable for other food crops due to chemicals used in the past and the economic loss is said to be $90 million to local area. What will happen to the next generation of the families who have been growing tobacco ?

The current drought will only compound the emotional and financial issues faced by many in rural areas.

Some will find an alternative and many other will give up in dispare. There are no easy answers and I feel the frustration when talking to farmers and even more so because I don't have any construction solutions to share.

And, remember that most rural businesses are family businesses.

Bill Winter