Sustainable Farm Finance

John C. H. Mitchell OAM has successfully farmed beef cattle and prime lambs for more than 48 years. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting at The Australian National University and applied much of what he learned there to farm management through succession problems, drought, debt and bushfires. Professor David B. Lindenmayer AO has worked as a researcher on Australian farms for more than 23 years. He has a particular interest in improving environmental conditions on farm properties, including protecting remnant native vegetation as well as restoring and replanting it. He specialises in establishing and maintaining ecological large-scale, long-term research and monitoring programs on farms. Professor Bruce J. Chapman AO is a labour-market and education economist who specialises in public policy related to government financing. He designed the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), the world's first national income-contingent loan for university students, which he believes can be applied effectively to farming. He is actively engaged in The Australian National University's Sustainable Farms project.

Disclaimer

About the authors

Acknowledgements

Glossary

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Taking stock and making plans

Chapter 2: Success begins with a budget

Chapter 3: Increasing your farm’s profitability

Chapter 4: Financing farm expansion

Chapter 5: Achieving environmental sustainability

Conclusion

Appendix 1: Your farm finance checklists

Appendix 2: Adverse-event plans

Appendix 3: Is a new property worth buying?

References

Index