Agri Insights. Queensland. Understanding Australian farmers intentions for the coming 12 months. October 2014

Transcription

1 Agri Insights Queensland Understanding Australian farmers intentions for the coming 12 months. October 2014

2 Positive trend continues for Australian agribusiness. 1,500 Aussie farmers tell us what they think Agri Insights canvasses 1,500 Australian farmers about their plans for their farm enterprise over the coming 12 months. The research explores 14 areas of managing an agribusiness, across the physical aspects (including production scale and land size), financial investment intentions and people aspects (regarding people working in and for the farm business). The results from each element are averaged to develop people, financial and physical indices. These indices are then averaged to calculate an overall Agri Insights Index. Index 8.5 Change +1.5 Index 7.0 Change +3.7 The results from the second Agri Insights survey show farmers in Queensland intend to invest in all three areas, with the overall index remaining positive at 7.0, up 3.7 since May 2014, the greatest point change of any state index. National May-14 Queensland Oct-14 1

3 What farmers plan for the coming year. On the physical side, we expect to see continued investment in fixed infrastructure and plant and equipment. On the financial side, the investment focus will be on technology and innovation. And on the people side, the focus will be on education and training. May-14 Oct-14 Physical 0 Change 6.9 Index 4.6 Financial Change 3.2 Index 10.9 People Change 0.8 Index 5.4 On the physical side the strong increase is due to the improved outlook for some commodity sectors most notably summer grain and beef and investment in fixed infrastructure. 2

4 Physical investment intentions. Land and infrastructure A key investment area for Queensland farmers over the next 12 months is fixed infrastructure. Plant and equipment also continues to be a focus area to reinvigorate profitability and off farm efficiency. Investment in new land continues to be a lower priority. Fixed infrastructure (Sheds, fences, dams, etc.) 33% 27% Plant and equipment 16% 10% Area of land 2% 2% National Queensland Q. Where do farmers intend to focus their investment for their land, equipment and farm infrastructure for the next 12 months? 3

5 Physical investment intentions. Commodities and scale of operations: national Intentions indicate most commodity sectors will be stable or expand over the coming year, apart from cotton. In particular, farmers intend to expand operations in summer grain, prime lamb and dairy. Horticulture 2% Winter grain 7% Sugar cane 7% Prime lamb 14% Dairy 18% Wool 5% Summer grain 25% Beef 1% Cotton -51% May 2014 Q. What proportion of farmers intend to increase or decrease scale of operation over the next 12 months? 4

6 Physical investment. How CommBank can help with the physical aspects of farming CommBank can help you finance the equipment and infrastructure you need to optimise your business, and provide insights and solutions that will help you generate the best returns from your operations. Commodity inventory finance unlocking value from grain inventories Solutions for improving efficiency No deposit and fixed interest equipment finance Strategies for hedging commodities Short term working capital and flexible long term loans Insights about global and local weather trends Analysis of industry trends Trade finance to bridge cashflow gaps 5

7 Financial investment intentions. Inputs, investments and employment Intentions for the next twelve months are focused on investment in farm technology and innovation to improve efficiencies. There is increased interest in off farm employment and off farm investment compared to six months ago. Farm technology & innovation 20% 17% Off farm employment 6% 9% Off farm investment 14% 6% National Queensland Q. Where do farmers intend to focus their investment for financial aspects of their operations over the next 12 months? 6

8 Financial investment intentions. How CommBank can help with the financial aspects of farming Enhanced cash flow and smart money management are vital to agribusiness success. CommBank can help you manage costs, minimise your risks and sustain your business through unpredictable seasons. Insights on input cost management Business and property insurance Personalised advice on growth strategies Tax effective asset finance options Access to alternative funding sources Advanced exchange rate lock in Strategies for managing working capital Commodity price risk management 7

9 People intentions. Farmers, family and outside resources Building on the trend from the May edition of Agri Insights, education and training remains a key focus area and is the leading area of focus in the people category. Queensland farmer intentions to increase their own involvement in the business is well ahead of the national result. Further education 18% 16% Use of consultants 4% 2% Other family involvement 7% 6% Use of contractors 4% 1% Your involvement -1% Number of employees 1% 6% 1% National Queensland Q. What are farmers intentions for the people aspects of their operations over the next 12 months? 8

10 People. How CommBank can help with the people aspects of farming People are at the heart of agribusiness. CommBank helps you make the most of your most valuable resource through training and recognition programs, and involvement with the communities you live and work in. Working with skills and education providers Working with industry bodies Advice from industry experts Sponsorship of community events and field days Host community business forums Recognise the achievement of community leaders Mentor women through the Women in Focus program Share business intelligence and commodity market updates 9

11 Topical insight. Asian market opportunities Close to half of Queensland s farmers are already selling their products into Asia. On a national basis, dairy, cotton and grain are the most popular commodities sold into Asia. National 49% Queensland 48% Dairy Cotton Grain Beef / Sheep Sheep Horticulture Grain / Livestock Beef Sugar 78% 70% 62% 55% 48% 45% 45% 39% 37% Sell to Asian market - Farm type (national data) Q. Do you sell any of your farm output to the Asian market, either directly or indirectly through another party? 10

12 Topical insight. Asian market opportunities Farmers in Queensland are in line with the national trend when ranking the importance of factors to opening up trade opportunities in Asia. Overcoming barriers to competitiveness clearly ranks as the highest with improvements to Australian infrastructure and the creation of links with Asian businesses sitting equally as the next most important. Overcome barriers to competitiveness 59% Improve Australian infrastructure 47% Create links with Asian businesses before other countries do 47% New products to suit Asian markets 36% Increase production capacity to meet demand 37% Don t know / not important Very important Q. How do you rate the importance of these factors in opening up Asian market opportunity? 11

13 Topical insight. How CommBank can help with Asian market opportunities Australian agribusinesses operate in a complex market environment within a rapidly evolving global economy. CommBank can help you take advantage of the opportunities. Expert analysis of market trends Currency options Foreign exchange and interest rate forecasts CommBiz tradexchange to create, monitor and accept documentary credits online International branches in strategic global locations Commodity price risk management tools Trade and commodity finance Working capital and long term finance Forward foreign exchange lock-in Structured asset finance 12

14 Who did we talk to? We spoke to a representative sample of rural producers across Australia, including a mix of states, genders, ages and farm sizes. The commodities represented included horticulture, winter and summer grain, dairy, beef, cotton, and sheep for both wool and prime lamb. By state 22% NSW 16% VIC 14% QLD 17% SA 19% WA 12% TAS By farm size 34% 17% 23% 26% <400ha ha 800-1,999ha 2,000+ha By age 3% 11% 26% 33% 27% By gender Female Male 28% 72% Fieldwork was executed by Fairfax Agricultural Research and Marketing using its database of more than 100,000 rural producers. Calls were conducted between 9 July and 13 August 2014 with 1,500 farmers. The results in this overview indicate the net change (the total intended % increase minus the total intended % decrease) for all variables within each category. Individual indices are calculated by averaging the net change within each category and the overall index is the average of all three indices. 13

15 Talk to us Contact your Regional and Agribusiness Banking Relationship Manager. Visit commbank.com.au/agribusiness Call hours a day, seven days a week. Things to know before you Can. This brochure has been prepared without taking account of your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances. Product disclosure statements for the products mentioned in this brochure are available from your Agribusiness Manager, online at or from any Commonwealth Bank branch, and should be considered before making any decision about these products. If you have a complaint, the Commonwealth Bank dispute resolution process can be accessed by calling We do not charge any fee for the advice provided. You may be charged fees in relation to the financial products the Bank provides. These are set out in the relevant product disclosure statements. Our employees receive a salary and do not receive any commissions or fees. However, they may be eligible for a bonus payment from us based on a number of factors relating to their overall performance during the year. Our employees may also receive benefits such as tickets to sporting and cultural events, corporate promotional merchandise and other similar benefits. Applications for finance are subject to the Commonwealth Bank s normal credit assessment and approval. Full terms and conditions will be included in the Bank s offer of finance. Other terms and conditions are available on application. Other fees and charges are payable. Issued by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN AFSL and Australian Credit Licence Registered office: Ground Floor, Tower 1, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW Wealth Specialist Financial Advisers are authorised representatives of Commonwealth Financial Planning ABN AFSL , a wholly owned but non-guaranteed subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank of Australia. 14