If you chat with any farmer across Australia, one of the first things they’ll mention they love most about farming, is the lifestyle. Working with plants and livestock and seeing the work they do make a difference to millions of lives in Australia and internationally. Ben Salisbury, a farmer from near Monto in Central Queensland who runs a mixed cropping and livestock property is one such person.
Back on the farm now for eight years, Ben went to get a trade after high school but has ended up back home on the farm, working with his family to run their business.
“I was born into farming and grew up here in Monto. I’m an electrician by trade, moved away when I finished school and then came back to the family farm. I farm with my parents - Dad still actively works in the business and mum has semi retired along with 10 other full time staff”
He’s found since coming home, that the biggest difference between working in cities and in regional areas (and the biggest issue for their property) is the lack of skilled labour available.
“Staffing is the biggest issue for us and attracting skilled labour and trades, like mechanics, electricians, and builders. They’re just not moving to the regions; a lot seem like they’re not sure if they want to move rural, but I also just don’t think people have the knowledge of whether they’d like it or not. It’s a big commitment.”
While Ben recognises it’s a big commitment, he also notes that there’s nothing else quite like it. Farming, he says, sustains the country, from the food right down to clothes people wear and he’d love people to get more involved and even consider farming a viable career option.
“I would like people to come and look at our farms and see what we do and how we do it. I’d love to help people understand that farming is a really great industry and there’s a lot of careers to be made in agriculture that are not just a farm hand in overalls. I’m lucky, I enjoy what I do – I like working outdoors and I like the industry. It’s not the same as when I was a sparky back in the big corporate game. There’s a bit more freedom in how you work and what you do with it.”