Excellent Excel Training
Harden Murrumburrah Landcare Group sponsored members of their Ladies on the Land group (and family members) to attend Microsoft Excel Training for the Farm Office, with funding from an Agrifutures Australia grant designed to increase access to technology for farmers in the region.
Capacity building - LEP23_036_LLC5_4
The issue
Across the 2023–2024 Agtech workshops delivered by the Harden Murrumburrah Landcare Group with Agrifutures Australia, producers consistently identified Excel training as a skill they want to strengthen. Modern farming now relies on accurate records, confident data analysis, and practical spreadsheets to guide calculations and decisions. These capabilities are crucial for running a productive, compliant, and environmentally responsible business on the land.
The solution
Carmen Quade from AgriFocused delivered a training day on Microsoft Excel for Farm Business. The day was organised by Harden Murrumburrah Landcare group, with support from the Murrumbidgee Landcare Local Landcare Co-ordinator, and held at the Rural Fire Service Facility near Harden. Carmen provided skilled training with each participant working on their own laptop and facilitated to learn at their own pace. Easy to use templates and “cheat sheets” of formulas and commands, as well as real life examples using the spreadsheets in a farming setting were well received by participants. Afterwards, for a small fee, all participants were provided with ongoing access to the AgriFocused platform Excel module to continue their learning at home.
The impact
Twelve participants, ranging from beginners to advanced users, took part in the course and all shared positive feedback about both the content and the overall experience. Carmen proved to be a skilled, relatable presenter with a strong grasp of agriculture and Excel, and the small group setting encouraged open discussion and shared learning. Break times became opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange on broader Landcare topics, and genuine community support.
It was interesting how even though the topic related to the farm office, Landcare group members were empowered to apply these skills to decision- making which will not only make their businesses more robust, but also more sustainable and therefore more environmentally responsible as well. Assisting landholders in all aspects of their businesses is a part of Natural Resource Management that may be underestimated at times. Also, courses that bring farmers together contribute to building community and therefore support mental health and personal resilience as well.
Key facts
- * Agtech and data analysis assist in sustainable agricultural production
- * Having "hands on" training helped participants apply their learning straight away
- * Landcare groups play a crucial role in bringing together a co-ordinated approach to funding and opportunities for landholders
- * Any event that brings farmers together can be an opportunity for increasing community and knowledge as well as mental health and support.