Wendy Sawyer has been actively involved in J&B Sawyer Wimmera Farm in Dalwallinu since 2009, managing financial records and supporting farm operations. But her connection to the land runs much deeper—having lived there for 37 years, she’s seen firsthand the evolution of farming and financial management. As one of WA’s largest grain-growing families, J & B Sawyer have been a part of the Dalwallinu community for generations, producing wheat, canola, and barley.
Learning the ropes of farm finances
“When I first came to farming, I had no idea about it. I had zero knowledge. I didn’t know the costs, what was involved—none of it,” Wendy recalls.
Her early experience working in finance at a John Deere dealership gave her a foundation in farm financials. But when she took on the responsibility of managing payments on the farm, reality hit hard. “I remember writing cheques and second-guessing myself—did I put the comma in the right place? Did I accidentally add an extra zero? It was frightening. And then, over time, you get used to it. But even now, I’ll sit back and think, ‘That bill today was mind-blowing. Could you imagine telling someone we just paid that much?’”
Taking control with Agrimaster
J & B Sawyer had already been using Agrimaster when Wendy took over bookkeeping. The system provided structure and clarity, making the transition smooth.
Wendy is particularly fond of the Full Budget functionality of Agrimaster that she adopted shortly after getting involved with the farm’s finances.
“I believe the full budgeting process was a great thing. It gave us full control of our position and a much deeper understanding of where our funds were being utilised.”
Each month, Wendy updates the budget and forwards it to their bank manager. This allows both J & B Sawyer and the bank to know their exact position at any given time and allows for a much faster approval process if the farm requires funding for unexpected expenditure that isn’t on the budget.
Facing challenges with an optimistic outlook
Farming is full of uncertainties, but Wendy has observed that the best farmers often thrive under pressure. Farming is stressful, but according to Wendy, some farmers actually thrive on the stress. There’s a challenge every day, whether it’s pricing, input costs, or global market fluctuations. Wendy says that farmers have an incredibly optimistic outlook. Even after a bad year, they always say, ‘Next year will be better.’
This resilience is a crucial part of farm management, both in production and finance. Wendy and her husband Rob are always thinking strategically. Wendy explains when a season starts turning bad, it becomes about loss mitigation. She further explains that in farming it is not about chasing big wins; it’s about making sure they’re set up for the next season.
The future of farm finances
As agriculture continues to evolve, so does Agrimaster. Wendy appreciates how the software keeps up with the changing needs of farm businesses. “There’s always room for improvement, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the software continues to develop to support farmers like us.”
As part of the farm’s succession planning, Wendy is now passing on the knowledge she has gained over the years to the next generation, preparing them to take over the farm’s finances.
Interested in joining the J & B Sawyer team? Get in contact with them through their Facebook Page >
