If you have experienced recent rain and resulting pasture growth you may be lulled into a false sense of seasonal recovery, which is fraught with risk, says Rural Business Tasmania chief executive Elizabeth Skirving.
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"The short break in conditions presents an ideal time to check your business health and put in place measures now that can ensure your business survival and prosperity throughout the year."
The Rural Business Tasmania Business Health Check asks a series of business critical questions about various facets of a primary production operation and serves to highlight areas that need to be considered and addressed.
"From the increase in people accessing our Rural Financial Counselling Service, and the number of Rural Relief Fund applications received in recent times, we know that many are already experiencing financial and personal stress, and demand is going to continue to rise," Ms Skirving said.
"Many of our colleagues, particularly in the dairy industry, are reaching out for assistance and we anticipate that despite cash flow injections from destocking and some cropping wins that our graziers and croppers will soon feel the pressure of seasonal conditions also."
To minimise impact it's Rural Business Tasmania's recommendation people undertake the health check and then access the services available, and to do it now rather than later.
"The forum of rural stakeholders that includes government, industry and service provider members, have worked together to produce a directory of rural sector support services," she said.
"The Helping Our Farmers: Tasmanian Rural and Regional Service Providers directory essentially lists all financial and social support services available in the state, and we encourage everyone as part of their forward planning to download a copy by searching www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/seasonal and clicking on "key contacts."
In addition to support tool development, the state government has committed resources to help the rural sector including additional funding for the Rural Relief Fund and for Rural Alive and Well's regional outreach programs.
This is a sentiment shared by all involved in the forum of rural stakeholders that there is no quick fix and support, be it emotional or through financial guidance, must be ongoing.
"The key is in knowing what can be accessed and then reaching out for assistance. Suffering in silence is ill advised and unnecessary so whether it is financial or emotional pressure you are under, pick up the phone."
