More than 1500 of New Zealand and Australia’s most forward-thinking farmers and growers have completed Rabobank’s Business Management Programmes over the past quarter century.
And in 2026, another group will have the chance to join them, with applications now open for the upcoming intake.
Designed for farmers and growers at different career stages, Rabobank’s two flagship programmes – the Executive Development Programme (EDP) for farm business owners and senior leaders, and the Farm Managers Programme (FMP) for emerging managers – provide participants with access to contemporary business management skills and thinking.
Announcing applications for the 2026 programmes, Rabobank New Zealand CEO Todd Charteris said both courses bring together driven primary producers who want to strengthen their business capability.
Farm Managers Programme - 2025
“These programmes create a unique environment where farmers from both sides of the Tasman can step out of their day-to-day roles, share experiences and learn from each other,” Mr Charteris said.
“Participants consistently tell us the opportunity to connect with producers from different sectors and regions is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”
Mr Charteris said changing geopolitical and market conditions, ongoing cost pressures and evolving environmental expectations had reinforced the importance of long-term planning for farm businesses.
“The past year has shown how important it is for farmers to pause occasionally, take stock and work on the strategic foundations of their businesses,” he said.
“Strengthening that long-term resilience is not only beneficial during challenging periods – it sets farming operations up to take advantage of future opportunities.”
Mr Charteris said the 2026 FMP will be run in Victoria’s Yarra Valley from June 14 – 19 this year.
FMP alumni and winner of the 2025 FMP Management Project Award – a prestigious trans-Tasman business prize awarded annually as part of the programme – Adam Jory said the programme had expanded his mind and allowed him to develop his critical thinking.
Mr Jory, who is the operations general manager at Horowhenua-based commercial grower Woodhaven Gardens where he oversees around 180 staff, said he applied what he learnt on the course to measure and improve business performance.
“My management project looked at the metrics in the business that are the key to success and made use of several of the tools and frameworks introduced in the programme,” he said.
“Doing the project was a great way to hold myself accountable and to work through how we can be that little bit better.
“The FMP is a fantastic programme and I really enjoyed getting to know farmers and growers from right across New Zealand and Australia’s agricultural sectors.
“The course has a top line up of speakers and I can’t speak highly enough of it.”
Mr Charteris said the 2026 EDP, which runs as two one-week long residential modules approximately a year apart, will be held at Macquarie University in Sydney, with the first module running from August 23 to 28 this year and the second scheduled for late July 2027.
“The EDP is delivered across two week-long modules held a year apart,” Mr Charteris explained.
“In the second module, we invite participants’ partners to join for several days of joint learning on succession, wellbeing and people management – topics that are key to the sustainability of any family enterprise.”
With numbers on each course limited to maintain group dynamics, positions on the programmes are set to be highly contested, with farmers selected to attend from a wide range of commodities and geographical regions across New Zealand and Australia.
Further information and applications can be found on the Rabobank website, or at Business Management Programmes.