Boost your Farm Business: Grain Marketing Workshops 2.0

Bec has a Bachelor of Agriculture from UNE and has worked as an agronomist, consulting direct to growers, managing field trials and providing extension activities across northern NSW for seven years. Bec also has a background in relationship building across many areas of agriculture, including most recently as Regional Sales Manager (NSW & QLD) for an ag chem company, and previously as a Territory Sales Manager for a seed company.

Bec is based in Northern NSW in Narrabri, and developed a strong connection to agriculture growing up in the area. Outside work, Bec is actively involved in agricultural shows and is a director with the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW.

Stuart is based in Perth and and has a significant background in supporting grain growers, with experience as a fertiliser area sales manager based in Moora and then Albany for more than 30 years.

Most recently Stuart was an account manager and project lead for a sales software company. Stuart is passionate about the grains industry and rural communities and is excited to connect with growers across Western Australia.

Tom has been a key player at Market Check since 2004 and is one of Australia’s foremost grain marketing analysts and advisors. In that time he has been integral to the company’s growth, as his expert strategy development in grain marketing and price risk management has helped build Market Check’s reputation as the preeminent independent grain marketing firm in Australia.

Tom grew up on the family sheep property near Gunning on the Southern Tablelands in NSW, before graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics.

With a strong background in trading and risk management, and over a decade of industry experience, Nick is well placed to add value to Market Check clients having worked the majority of his career for companies with a focus on servicing Australian grain growers.

Prior to joining Market Check, Nick worked for CHS Inc – the largest co-operative in the US. Nick’s role was assisting CHS (now CHS Broadbent Pty Ltd here in Australia) to establish a footprint in the Australian grain market while also successfully managing the CHS Pool. Both the pool and the trading book meant Nick was managing well in excess of 750,000mt per season.

Nick has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from Sydney University and previous career experience with Agfarm and Meat & Livestock Australia.

Ben has extensive experience in the Australian Grain Industry accumulating and marketing all types of grain and related products domestically and internationally.

Ben grew up in Hay in South West NSW and went on to study Agricultural Economics at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. After graduating with a Bachelor Ag Economics majoring in Agribusiness, Ben began his career in the grains industry with Graincorp as a Country Grain Merchant based in Barellan, NSW.

Ben went on to join Riverina (Australia) Pty Ltd as a Grain Trader, first at their Yanco office and then at their Head Office in Brisbane where he looked after grain trading activities in central and northern NSW.

By 2006, Ben was promoted to Assistant Manager in the International Grain Department where he was in charge of coordinating the exports of all Australian grains into Japan and SE Asia for Mitsubishi Corporation and ultimately developed containerised wheat business into SW Asia and North Asia.

Prior to joining Market Check, Ben worked at Mars Food Australia as a Raw Materials Buyer.

Ben’s role at Market Check is to expand the grain agency operations by drawing on his experience in accumulating, trading and marketing all types of grain domestically and internationally. Ben aims to gain more reliable returns in the long-term for Market Check growers.

Andrew joined Market Check in September 2010, in preparation for one of Australia’s largest ever expected grain harvests. Andrew works in Grower Services, dedicated to ensuring growers receive the best advice in regard to their position and obligations.

Andrew completed his studies for a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Sydney, where he majored in Agricultural Economics and Marketing. During this time he became engrossed with the impact of growing populations, food security and crop technologies.

Prior to starting at Market Check, Andrew spent several months working on a property in Walcha, NSW, where the focus of operations was on fat lambs and cattle. In particular Andrew learned about the importance of soil science, helping to ensure sustainable farming practices for years to come.

Prior to this, Andrew worked with a boutique financial advisory firm assisting clients with their portfolios and risk management strategies. Andrew also forms part of Market Check’s global research platform analysing Australia’s domestic markets.

Tess Walch is a Senior Commodity Advisor with Market Check, based in Adelaide. Tess grew up on a broadacre cropping property in Patchewollock in the Victorian Mallee and has spent considerable time in Streaky Bay on SA’s Eyre Peninsula. She is currently studying her Masters in Global Food and Agribusiness at Adelaide Uni and was a 2018 participant in the Grain Growers Ltd Australian Grain Leaders Program. She is also on the executive committee of GIASA.

Tess re-joined Market Check in 2018 as a regionally based adviser after having previously worked in the Sydney office in 2013 to 2014. Between that time, Tess worked for Clear Grain Exchange based in Melbourne before moving to the EP to work for FE Grain as a grain marketer, leveraging her knowledge of the Australian grain markets and her local presence to help maximise returns for local growers. Tess has a strong knowledge of the South Australian grain market and will apply her passion for price risk management and strong relationship skills to help increase returns for grain for her grower clients in South Australia.