Ag Ex Forum Sustainable Financial Modelling 8 th April 2016

Presentation outline  Cost of Administration  Governance & Reporting  Securing long term project funding  Cost of expertise  Growing our membership base

Who is SPAA? SPAA (the) Society of Precision Agriculture Australia Inc.  National group with communications and extension focus

Cost of Administration  Small team of three staff all part-time  Committee meetings via teleconference and webinar  Where we save!  Work out of home office locations given travel needs.  Hire shed storage for equipment  Staff inclusions  Promote the NFP line – discounts a plenty!

Governance & Reporting  Strategic plan conducted every three years  Committee meetings based on these strategic directions  Committee elect on passion for PA, knowledge and skills  Skill set audit upon entry to committee  Active participation in Sub-committees  Staff reporting at each committee meeting  Setting targets and operational plans annually  Independent advice on SPAA performance

Securing long term project funding  Our greatest challenge  Why? Because extension isn’t seen as a long term project unlike research  We don’t do research!  We work with research providers and industry to provide an avenue to disseminate PA findings and developments  Advantage of PA is new innovations will always come out “PA is not just about straight lines!”

Securing long term project funding  Development of project blueprints  Back pocket has a range of ‘ideas’ in preparation for funding opportunities as they arise How are we unique?  Something new in the PA space! Desire to partner Need/ wants  Grower feedback dictates what we apply for/ which locations we head to Non industry specific - ie sectors at different adoption level

Cost of expertise  Due to size, we contract work & source regular contributors for our publications  Increase the collaboration & skills of the PA support industry Training for advisors  Investigate collaboration opportunities for mutual benefit Grower groups Commercial industry Research providers

Growing our membership base  Improve perceived value for money Discount for additional members of family/ team Discount or free entry to events Value their contributions – get them involved! Connecting on social media  Connecting with next generation Student deals & competitions with books and magazines

Growing our membership base  Looking at ways to grow  Options include the provision of incentives for members  NEW ideas to be (?) launched Dual membership with other FSG PAN magazine subscriptions Members only section

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