Macadamia farming in the Northern Rivers
Here at BCU Bank, the Business Banking team prides itself on building strong relationships with each customer, no matter what industry they work in. But with our heritage in banana farming, it’s no surprise that we’re a trusted financial partner for many businesses within the agriculture industry.
Our team understands farming and agri-business, and more importantly, they’re local to you. They know what is currently happening in your area and the issues that are affecting the community. They are relied upon to provide guidance and expertise personalised to each individual business.
This has been the case for macadamia farmers, Grant and Susan Fleming who are based in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. They’ve been with BCU Bank since 2018 when they left a ‘Big Four’ bank to finance their second farm.
“We were looking for finance at the time, and the rural banker we originally dealt with was very rude. Someone we knew then told us to chat to BCU because they used them, and they had found them to be helpful,” recalls Susan.
“We did, and we’ve found Steven to be very knowledgeable. He knows what he’s talking about and is very easy to work with.”
Living and working on the land, the Flemings have experienced the ups and downs that are often so common in the agriculture industry. From the drop in macadamia sale prices, to interest rate increases and the extreme weather events of the past several years, BCU Relationship Manager, Steven Anderson has always been on hand.
“Steven and the team have always been on the phone to check on us during any of the horrible [weather] events we’ve been through and provide support,” says Susan.
“We've also been proactive with him. Grant and I look at what’s happened and then work with Steven to decide what we’re going to do next before anything gets too drastic.”
This planning has seen Grant and Susan put their smaller farm on the market, and focus their attentions on the 325 acres (and more than 2,000 macadamia trees) that they’ve had for two decades. Grant’s experience with geohydrology and minimising erosion and run-off means that the future is looking bright, and the hope is that they’ll soon be getting a secondary crop. They also plan to add some more cattle into their farming mix.
When asked what she would say to other businesses looking for financing options or considering BCU Bank, Susan didn’t hesitate in giving her answer.
“Go for it. Do it. Go and talk to them before you settle,” she said.
“The Relationship Managers are local and the bank is local. You’re not talking to someone who is not in your own town. They know what’s going on in the area, they know what you’re going through, and it makes so much of a difference.”
Important information
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All quotes and views expressed have been included with the express permission of Grant and Susan Fleming.