They Turned Drought Survival Into a Smarter Farming Business with Nick & Chris Blunt (RIC Partner episode)

This week, Oli sits down with farmers Chris and Nick Blunt at their family farm near Orange, NSW.  The Blunts know the importance of water, and Chris can use his water divining skills to find it, but he needed the capital in order to support the business survive and ultimately rebound from the drought. In this episode, Chris Blunt shares how a lifetime on the land has helped him build deep instincts and partnering that with his son Nick’s background in finance - they’re building a thriving future fit business. The Blunt’s used a low-interest loan through the Regional Investment Corporation, to build water security for their business and help to secure its future direction. RIC is the Australian Government’s farm business lender providing low-interest loans for farmers and farm-related small businesses to prepare for, manage through and recover from tough financial times.Key insights from the conversation:Multi-generational farming and succession in practiceDecision-making under pressure (drought context)The role of financial literacy in modern farmingBlending instinct with data and external adviceUsing finance to rebuild and growChapters:00:00 Introduction to Family Farming and Legacy01:43 Chris’s Spiritual Connection to the Land04:36 The Importance of Safety in Farming07:05 Navigating Drought and Financial Challenges12:57 Collaboration Between Generations17:30 Decision Making During Crisis and Drought21:20 Utilising a RIC Loan for Growth25:43 The Benefit of having a career outside Farming 28:24 Water Security and Its Impact30:12 Future Aspirations and Innovations in Farming